Herd clustering strategies and corresponding genetic evaluations based on social-ecological characteristics for a local endangered cattle breed.

ABSTRACT: The accuracy of breeding values strongly depends on the population and herd structure, i.e., the number of animals considered in genetic evaluations and the size of contemporary groups (CGs). Local breeds are usually kept in small-sized family farms under alternative husbandry conditions. For such herd structure, consideration of classical herd or herd-test-day effects in CG modeling approaches implies only a few records per effect level. In consequence, the present study aimed on methodological evaluations of different herd clustering strategies, considering social-ecological and herd characteristics. In this regard, we considered 19 herds keeping cows from the small local population of German Black Pied cattle (Deutsches Schwarzbuntes Niederungsrind; DSN), 10 herds keeping Holstei

SUBMITTER: Herold J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8182665 | biostudies-literature | 2021

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature