Advanced search
Start date
Betweenand


Genetic groups on selection efficiency for composite beef cattle (Bos taurus x Bos indicus

Full text
Author(s):
Juliana Petrini
Total Authors: 1
Document type: Master's Dissertation
Press: Piracicaba.
Institution: Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Escola Superior de Agricultura Luiz de Queiroz (ESALA/BC)
Defense date:
Examining board members:
Gerson Barreto Mourão; Luiz Lehmann Coutinho; Sandra Aidar de Queiroz
Advisor: Gerson Barreto Mourão
Abstract

The inclusion of genetic groups in sire evaluation has been widely used to represent genetic differences among animals not accounted by the absence of parentage information. However, the definition of these groups is still arbitrary, and research assessing the effects of genetic grouping strategies on the selection efficiency is rare. Thus, the aim of this study was to compare genetic grouping strategies in breeding values prediction, determining the appropriate structure for the genetic evaluation. Data on birth weight, weaning weight, post-weaning weight gain, scrotal circumference and muscling score of Montana Tropical composite beef cattle population were used. Grouping strategies involving birth season of the animal (SAF), sex of the unknown parent (SEX), birth farm of the animal (FAZ), path selection (SEL), breed composition (RACA), birth season of the animal and sex of the unknown parent (SAFSEX), birth farm of the animal and sex of the unknown parent (FAZSEX), birth season and farm of the animal (SAFFAZ), and birth season and farm of the animal and sex of the unknown parent (SAFFAZSEX) were evaluated. For each strategy, one hundred analyses were performed to predict breeding values, simulating a loss of genealogy information of 10, 30 and 50% of individuals. Thereafter, these breeding values were compared to those obtained in an analysis involving the complete relationship matrix, in order to estimate the selection efficiency and the correlations between breeding values and animal rankings. The grouping strategies SAF and RACA showed high selection efficiencies and correlations, regardless of the trait and sample of animals with unknown parentage considered, and therefore, they are suitable for sire evaluation and selection. High selection losses were observed for SAFFAZ and SAFFAZSEX, possibly due to the formation of many groups with few animals, since this could lead to some confounding with other fixed effects and hamper the estimation effects of genetic groups. These results allow to conclude that the definition of grouping strategy must consider the decisions regarding the selection and the number of genetic groups formed, so that genetic groups represent the genetic differences in population and allow an adequate prediction of breeding values. (AU)

FAPESP's process: 10/14118-5 - Genetic groups on the efficiency of selection in composite beef cattle (Bos Taurus x Bos indicus)
Grantee:Juliana Petrini
Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master