Economic Evaluation of Genomic Selection in Lithuanian Dairy Cattle

Abstract

The pilot study was conducted to evaluate economic benefit of application of genomic selection in Lithuanian dairy cattle. Igenity dairy cattle genomic profile was determined for each cow, including traits of productive life, somatic cell count, milk yield, fat amount, fat %, protein amount, protein %, dairy form. Application of genomic selection in dairy cattle has enabled the authors to evaluate dairy cattle genomic potential, increase accuracy of selection, choose different selection models and increase selection intensity, all together resulting in the new selection tool taking into account economic benefit of usage. Genomic selection method is recommended to be applied not only to separate cattle herds, but also whole dairy breed (Lithuanian Black and White, Lithuanian Red, Holstein) selection programs, as the genomic information of each animal is ranked on the basis of international data enabling international breeding value evaluation and participation in cross-country international dairy cattle breeding programsLietuvos sveikatos mokslų universitetas. Veterinarijos akademijaVytauto Didžiojo universitetasŽemės ūkio akademij