Genetic structure of the Montana Beef Composite, a program to increase beef production in tropical and subtropical environments

Author(s)

Oliveira, E. C. M. ; Medeiros, G. C. ; Baldi, F. S. ; Giacomini, G. ; Nunez-Dominguez, R. ; Eler, J. P. ; Espigolan, R. ; Gama, L. T. ; Ferraz, J. B. S.

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: Genetics and Molecular Research; v. 23, n. 1, p. 15-pg., 2024-02-29.

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to describe in detail the development, over 30 years, of a large-size composite cattle population, destined for meat production in challenging environments in the tropical and sub-tropical regions of South America. Montana cattle were developed using crosses between Bos taurus and Bos indicus animals, and here we present details regarding the evolution of the breed, both numerically and in terms of the racial composition of the animals, and we assess the levels of heterosis and recombination and the genetic structure of the breed. Overall, given the continuous introduction of external germplasm, Montana Composite cattle have retained high levels of heterosis while maintaining inbreeding at very low levels. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 18/20393-0 - Optimization of production performance in composite beef cattle through the use of alternative genomic approaches
• Grantee: Laís Grigoletto
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Doctorate
• FAPESP's process: 22/05406-4 - World Congress on Genetics Applied to Livestock Production
• Grantee: José Bento Sterman Ferraz
• Support Opportunities: Research Grants - Meeting - Abroad
• FAPESP's process: 22/00686-9 - Genomic prediction of breeding values for reproductive and carcass traits in montana tropical composite cattle
• Grantee: Gabriel Costa Medeiros
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Scientific Initiation