Molecular genetics is an additional tool which provides information for the detection and exploitation of genes or chromosomal regions with large influence on economic traits. This comes from the development of dense maps of linkage disequilibrium among genetic markers for many livestock species. Although each type of genetic marker has advantages and disadvantages, the only polymorphisms with enough density to meet important requirements for gene mapping are the Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms

Status: Completed     Start date: Tue Jan 01 00:00:00 GMT-03:00 2013

This project articulates, in conjunction with the Brazilian Association of Holstein Cattle Breeders, dairy cooperatives and artificial insemination centers, the restructuring of the management of zootechnical data bases in order to carry out studies on new methodological procedures, essential for the modernization the current genetic evaluation system. The action plans include technical cooperation activities with educational and international research institutions and the affiliation of Brazil

Status: Completed     Start date: Sat Sep 01 00:00:00 GMT-03:00 2012

raditional breeding has generated significant genetic gain over time. However, this strategy falls short of yielding information on the biological processes involved. Additionally, there are great difficulties for the genetic improvement of characteristics which are measured solely in one gender and/or late in the life span of the animal. With the development of DNA chips it became possible maximizing genetic gain by reducing the generation interval and increasing the intensity of selection. The

Status: Completed     Start date: Wed Sep 01 00:00:00 GMT-03:00 2010

The productivity indices of dairy farming in Brazil are low when compared to countries with technologically advanced dairy farming. Productivity can be significantly improved through the use of animals with higher genetic value for milk production and appropriate management techniques. Worldwide, the Holstein breed is predominant for milk production, being also the most used in Brazil, both as a pure breed and in crosses, as a contribution to the development of the Girolando breed. In this proje

Status: Completed     Start date: Sat Sep 01 00:00:00 GMT-03:00 2007

The technology for gene editing based on the CRISPR / Cas9 system (Clustered Regularly-Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats associated to Cas9 endonuclease) consists of an endonuclease (Cas9) guided by RNA (guide RNA - sgRNA), which is capable of editing the genome with accuracy. This system enables the inactivation of genes through cleavage followed by repairing the strands by non-homologous end joining (NHEJ) leading to the knockout of the expression, which results extremely useful to prevent

Status: Completed     Start date: Mon Jan 01 00:00:00 GMT-03:00 2018

The use of nanotechnology has been putting nanoparticles and nanostructures in contact with live organisms in ways not yet fully understood. In agriculture, this interaction can occur on a large scale, such as in the applications of controlled release nanostructure-encapsulated pesticides whose toxicity inherent to the drug release system still requires continual verification. Cases like this have motivated the proposal of this project, whose objective was to evaluate the potential impact on liv

Status: Completed     Start date: Fri Apr 01 00:00:00 GMT-03:00 2011

The Red Sindhi breed is an important genetic resource to be preserved and used in tropical conditions. Some studies have shown small effective population size and high coefficient of inbreeding. These aspects show increased risks of loss of genetic diversity, impairing possible genetic gains to be achieved with selection, and even increasing the risk of future extinction of the breed. The following partner institutions worked on the project: Embrapa Dairy Cattle, Embrapa Tropical Semi-Arid, Emep

Status: Completed     Start date: Sun Apr 01 00:00:00 GMT-03:00 2012

Pasture as an exclusive feeding source accounts for almost 90% of the beef consumed in Brazil and for most of the nearly 35 billion liters of milk produced annually in the country. It is estimated today that, in Brazil, grasses of the genus Brachiaria are cultivated in approximately 84 million hectares. In Brazil, the most cultivated species of Brachiaria are B. decumbens, B. brizantha, B. humidicola and B. ruziziensis. With the increasing agricult ...

Status: Completed     Start date: Tue Jul 01 00:00:00 GMT-03:00 2008

Pastures assume a prominent position in the Brazilian agricultural scenario, covering about three quarters of the cultivated area nationwide. In addition to the physical aspect, pastures are the main feeding source for the Brazilian herd. Pastures account for almost 90% of the beef consumed in Brazil and for most of the 21 billion liters of milk produced annually in the country. It is estimated today that in Brazil grasses of the genus Brachiaria are cultivated in approximately 84 millio

Status: Completed     Start date: Tue Jul 01 00:00:00 GMT-03:00 2008

In the last century, the wide use of Guzerá breed in crossbreeding led to the expressive reduction of their effective population size, to worrying numbers. Due to its adaptation to diverse environmental conditions, its potential for dual-purpose production (i.e. meat and milk), and its risk of extinction, in 1991, this breed was included by FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations) in the list of genetic resources to be preserved. In view of this, and due to the demand for br ...

Status: Completed     Start date: Tue Jul 01 00:00:00 GMT-03:00 2008