Browsing by Subject "Organic production system"

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    Analyses of quantitative traits in varying environments in pigs and Brown Swiss cattle
    (2020) Imort-Just, Nina Annik; Bennewitz, Jörn
    Complex breeding programmes are used worldwide to achieve genetic progress in quantitative traits. These programmes are basically similarly structured, independent of breed and species, and are characterised by successive steps. The adjustment and revision of breeding programmes is of ongoing interest due to several reasons, e.g. research findings and various political, economic, social and ethical aspects. For the long-term improvement of livestock populations, multiple traits are included in the breeding goals of such programmes. Unfavourable genetic correlations between economically important production traits and functional traits compromise the genetic progress in animal health and welfare. Novel functional and behavioural traits and the adjustment of relative economic weights for the optimisation of total merit indices are investigated in research projects. In addition, genotype by environment interactions (GxE) can influence the genetic improvement of livestock populations and their consideration is crucial due to the globalisation of breeding structures and associated varying production environments. The main objectives of this thesis were 1) to investigate novel behavioural traits in pig breeding, 2) to derive environmental-specific relative economic weights based on consumers preferences for Brown Swiss cattle, 3) to estimate GxE at a trait and an index level by applying bivariate sire models in Brown Swiss cattle and 4) to analyse GxE for different production and functional traits in Brown Swiss cattle using reaction norm models. In Chapter 1 genetic parameters for mothering ability traits were estimated. Heritabilities (h²) were estimated by applying a linear mixed- and a threshold model, ranging between 0.02 to 0.07 and 0.05 to 0.15, respectively. The slightly higher estimates for the repeatability ranged from 0.05 to 0.09 and from 0.08 to 0.17, indicating the influence of the permanent environment. Highest h² were found for the group- and nursing behaviour of the sows. Highest genetic correlations were found between group-/nursing behaviour and litter balance and piglet weaning weight with estimates between 0.71 and 0.86. Accelerating genetic gain for improved mothering ability in sows is possible. In Chapter 2, the importance of breeding traits of Brown Swiss cattle in terms of selection decisions of farm managers was evaluated by using a discrete choice experiment (DCE). Environment-specific relative economic weights (REW) and the marginal willingness to pay were estimated by using a conditional logit model. Several trait complexes, the semen price, interactions between these traits and specific characteristics of the farms were included. Farmers showed highest preferences for the milk value, conformation/udder and fitness. Interactions indicated a great importance of the fitness trait complex for organically managed farms compared to conventional farmers. The latter weighted the milk value and the trait complex conformation/udder high. The method is suitable to judge farmers’ preferences for specific traits, especially those which have not yet been monetarily evaluated. Chapter 3 investigated GxE at a trait and an index level for Brown Swiss sires. Bivariate sire models were used to estimate genetic correlations between organic and conventional production systems and two altitude level of the farms for milk production traits and several functional traits. Furthermore, to determine possible GxE and rerankings at an index level, total merit indices for the sires were calculated. The genetic correlations were high between the analysed environments, ranging from 0.79 (first insemination to conception between different altitude levels) to 0.99 (calving to first insemination, cystic ovaries, maternal stillbirth between production systems). The results indicate no severe GxE at a trait level. No putative GxE effects were found for the production system environments at an index level. In Chapter 4, GxE for various production and functional traits in Brown Swiss cattle were analysed using random regression reaction norm models. The continuous environmental descriptor milk energy yield (MEY) was calculated as a linear combination of average herd effects, obtained from the routine breeding value estimation, of milk-, fat- and protein yield. The applied reaction norm model included a random sire effect and a random sire slope effect (environmental sensitivity), i.e. the random regression coefficient of the regression of a specific sire on the environmental descriptor MEY. To investigate putative GxE effects, breeding values for the sires were estimated. Results showed no severe GxE for the functional traits but for the production trait fat yield. In addition, the slope variances as descriptors of the environmental sensitivity and the Spearman rank correlations between the estimated breeding values of the sires at different environmental levels indicate no severe GxE for the investigated traits.