Reflection of Genomic Selection in Practice – use of Genomic Brown Swiss Bulls in Slovenia
Summary
For seven years Slovenia has been collaborating in international genomic Brown Swiss cattle evaluation - InterGenomics project. Th is research aimed to provide an estimation of practical contribution of genomic selection. For that purpose, data records of routine breeding value evaluations (EBV12) for Slovenian Brown Swiss cattle were used. Th e data for years 2013 – 2016 were obtained for up to 877 herds. Region (P = 0.0032) and year (P = 0.0063) significantly affected percent of genomically evaluated bulls used in herd. Th is percent most greatly and significantly decreased with an increase of the average parity (b = -3.93%, P < 0.0001). Although these effects had no statistically significant effect, the increase in the estimated value for herd based on a test day milk yield evaluation breeding value and the total merit index for dual purpose justifies the use of genomically evaluated bulls to some extent (about 25% of all bulls). Results did not confirm connection between greater genetic gain and breeders’ choice of genomically evaluated bulls.
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