Intensive livestock recording for sustainable breeding programs and adaptation strategy to climate change

Abstract

The hypothesis that, intensive recording is needed for sustainable breeding programs in developing countries in the face of climate change was tested.Using stochastic simulation, genetic gain realised by breeding strategies using local and imported genetic materials under limited and intensive recording in the local population was compared. Local breeding strategy (LBS) was within breed selection based on local breeding goal. Imported strategies were admixture conventional (ACS) and organic (AOS). They involved importationof semen from conventional (ACS) and organic (AOS) breeding programs in developed countries to inseminate local sows. All candidates in ACS and AOS were recorded for all traits in the index. Only 0.25% of the candidates in LBS were recorded under limited recording. Thereafter, intensity of recording in LBS was increased from 0.25-100%. With limited recording, LBS realised genetic gain of €13.87 compared to €44.89 and 55.59 for ACS and AOS, respectively. The LBS, however, outperformed ACS and AOS as intensity of recording increased. At 20% recording LBS realised 49 and 37%more genetic gain than ACS and AOS, respectively. The LBS realised genetic gain of €142.09, compared to €56.55 and 70.75 for ACS and AOS, respectively, when all candidates were recorded.These findings confirm that intensive recording would be required to sustain the local breeding programs and make the within breed selection attractive as an intervention strategy to climate change. Intensive recording could be realised by creating awareness among farmers on importance of records in farm management and adoption of new technologies likegenomic selection.