Inbreeding versus Crossbreeding: the Potential Bias of Breeding Values in Dutch Dairy Cattle

Authors

  • Jikke Snelder Van Hall Larenstein

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.25609/sure.v5.4168

Keywords:

Dairy cattle, EBVs, inbreeding depression, heterosis.

Abstract

Inbreeding and crossbreeding oppositely affect the performance of livestock; inbreeding negatively- and crossbreeding positively affects all traits. This study examined if it is appropriate that breeding value estimations (EBVs) in Dutch dairy cattle only take into account the effects of crossbreeding (heterosis). Performance and EBVs for milk yield, fat, and protein; somatic cell count; and fertility of 219 purebred Holstein Friesian cows and 191 crossbred cows were compared. The outcomes suggest a bias in the EBVs for milk yield, and fat; and fertility, that may very well be caused by inbreeding depression.

Additional Files

Published

2019-12-03

How to Cite

Snelder, J. (2019). Inbreeding versus Crossbreeding: the Potential Bias of Breeding Values in Dutch Dairy Cattle. Student Undergraduate Research E-Journal!, 5, 1–4. https://doi.org/10.25609/sure.v5.4168

Issue

Vol. 5 (2019): Student Research Conference 2019

Section

HBO Planet

License

Permission to make digital or hard copies of all or part of this work for personal or classroom use is granted under the conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike (CC BY-SA) license and that copies bear this notice and the full citation on the first page.