Breeding programs are usually the responsibility of the breeders’ association(s) for that breed. In some cases, they may be the responsibility of public or private institutions. In Spain, they must be officially recognized and must ensure the maintenance of the Herd Book, the implementation of selection programs and the dissemination of improvement, among other things.
In any breeding program, or in this case, the first step is knowledge of the breed. The populations that follow a selection program are populations that are not in danger of extinction, with genealogical books that have been established for generations and with historical data collected on their production. Therefore, when establishing a selection program or a revision thereof, the first step is a thorough review of the history and current situation of the population, its production system, census and geographical distribution, which will allow us to establish the objectives and selection criteria and a schedule for the implementation of the program, among others.
Selection Objectives
A selection program usually establishes an overall selection objective and a number of specific objectives. In the case of beef cattle in extensive systems, normally native breeds adapted to their environment, the general objective usually reflects the search for the ideal animal, an animal with good meat yield, in a sustainable manner and adapted to the environment, taking advantage of the strengths of the breed.
Other breeds, more specialized in meat production and with an international character, have other objectives. It must be taken into account that these breeds and their selection program have been in place for several generations, so the situation and production is different. In the case of some of them, such as the Limousin breed or the Blonde d’Aquitaine breed, they follow the specifications of an international program known as IBOVAL. This is the case of the Asturiana de los Valles breed, a native Spanish breed that is used in extensive systems in several Spanish geographical areas and has even been taken to other countries with a good adaptation.
Its general objective is “the differential increase of productive efficiency, maintaining hardiness and improving maternal qualities within its usual environment”. Other Spanish native breeds have different general selection objectives depending on population conditions. Thus, the general objective of the Rubia Gallega breed is to “improve the productive efficiency of this breed, which is based on obtaining quality meat from a calf slaughtered before 10 months of age and raised in a specific production system, with a natural lactation of around 7 months from birth”.
Limousin and Charolais
The general objective of the Limousin breed in Spain is “to increase the productivity and profitability of purebred and industrial crossbred herds”, while that of the Blonde d’Aquitaine breed is “to improve the productive efficiency of this breed and to contemplate the simultaneous improvement of meat aptitudes and maternal qualities, taking into account the characteristics of the environment in which the cattle are raised”.
The Charolais breed aims to “increase the economic profitability of the Charolais breed by improving the traits associated with such profitability: growth rate, meat conformation, maternal aptitudes and fertility.4 5 This general objective is translated into specific objectives for each breed. Thus, in the Asturiana de los Valles breed, the following are found:
- Improvement of maternal aptitude, which can be defined as the cow’s capacity to become pregnant, have a calf with an easy calving, with great growth capacity and good qualities to raise it.
- Maximize the amount of meat sold per calf.
- Minimize loss of biological efficiency by monitoring related reproductive traits.
Avileña-negra Ibérica
In the case of the Avileña-Negro Ibérica breed, there are some established objectives and others to be incorporated in the short and medium term. Those already developed are:
- Improve the quantity of quality final product per breeding female.
- Improve the productive capacity of traits associated with profitability and efficiency in their means of production.
- Improving milk production without detriment to genetic growth potential (females).
- Improve weaning weight without decreasing the milk production potential that the male transmits to his daughters (males).
- Improved weight and growth rate in animals destined for fattening.
- Improve carcass conformation and maintain the optimum fat cover within the carcass typology marketed under the PGI “Carne de Avila”.
- Improve the overall carcass weight and yield of animals destined for meat production.
- Improvement of female fertility.
Galician blonde
In the Rubia Gallega breed, the specific objectives are:
- Obtain ease of delivery.
- Achieve the average daily gain during the preweaning period on the farm.
- Increase the maternal capacity of the mothers and the growth capacity of the calves.
- Conformation of live animals, meat yield, carcass and meat characteristics.
Limousine
In the Limousine breed, a very wide range of selection objectives associated with the selection criteria is established:
- Maintain the birth easiness.
- Preserve the inherent bone fineness of the breed, which results in easier calving, easier births and a higher carcass yield, as well as a higher butcher yield at cutting.
- Increase growth potential, achieving heavier animals in less time.
- Improve carcass conformation to achieve higher yields and a greater proportion of noble pieces of higher economic value. Thus, it would result in a higher value for the animals.
- Conserve the maternal and fertility characteristics.
- Raise individuals with a docile character
- Detect through genetic evaluation those animals that provide desirable traits and use them as breeding stock.
Stock improvement programs: selection criteria
A selection criterion is a morphological, productive, reproductive or behavioral parameter that can be quantified and is associated with one of the breed’s selection objectives. In some cases, the selection criteria are a combination of different parameters, generating what is known as a composite index. In the case of Asturiana de los Valles, two types of selection criteria are used:
- Production criteria:
- Ease of delivery
- Birth weight
- Weaning weight (180 days)
- Preweaning daily gain
- Carcass weight
- Channel Conformation
- Morphological criteria
- Final rating
- Butcher format
- Testicular circumference
- Raised
- Curvature of the buttock
- Body length
- Croup lengths
- Dorsolumbar line
Avileña-Negra Ibérica classifies the productive life in three phases with the following criteria:
- Preweaning Phase
- Weight at weaning, associated with an economic value: Kg weaned per cow per year (herd productivity).
- The Postweaning Phase
- Weight at 365 days old
- Growth at 365 days old
- Slaughter phase
- Carcass weight
- Channel performance
- Channel greasing
- Channel conformation
Livestock care from the veterinary point of view
Adequate livestock development is based on building diversity and variety within a cattle group. This procedure must be carried out carefully taking into account the different characteristics of each breed and their strengths and weaknesses. It is there where the need for a professional with extensive knowledge in the field becomes present, thus adjusting the necessary information to the needs of those who require it.
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