The effect of a strict breeding strategy on overall growth and the prevalence of inherited disorders in the double-muscled Belgian Blue beef breed

Muscular conformation is the main breeding goal in the double-muscled (I)M) Belgian Blue beef breed (BBB). In recent years the muscularity has improved enormously, though at the same time the growth rate has decreased and the prevalence of a number of inherited disorders has increased. Professionals working in the cattle breeding industry are encouraging the development of breeding strategies that will increase overall growth and decrease the amount of inherited disorders. One such breeding strategy that was tested in the field neither reduced the prevalence of inherited disorders nor improved overall growth. It can be concluded that breeding strategies should be based more on the relevant genetic values than on the phenotypic values of the parental generation