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

The breeding programs of Dairy Gir, Guzerat, Red Sindhi and Girolando breeds are conducted at Embrapa Dairy Cattle in work integrated with the respective breeders' associations, as follows: ABCGIL (Brazilian Association of Dairy Gir Breeders), CBMG2/ACGB (Brazilian Center of Guzerat Genetic Breeding / Association of Guzerat and Girolando Breeders Brazil), ABCSindi (Brazilian Association of Red Sindhi Breeders) and Girolando Association. It also includes the participation of the following institu

Status: Completed     Start date: Fri Aug 01 00:00:00 GMT-03:00 2014

There is pressure from society for sustainable production systems, which makes it necessary the establishment of sustainability parameters for the production systems. In this regard, animal nutrition can influence the viability and sustainability of the production system, not only by the herd feeding impact on milk production cost but also by the emission of greenhouse gases and excretion of pollutants. The basic premise of precision nutrition is the knowledge of the animal nutritional requireme

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

Reproductive biotechnologies, particularly in vitro embryo production, can be useful to improve the milk productivity in Brazil by accelerating the genetic gain and reducing the intervals between generations. Genomic selection associated with reproductive biotechnology may be applied at the embryonic stage to promote the selection of embryos with desirable genetic traits and disposal of those with undesirable traits; consequently, maintenance costs of recipient cows would be reduced and efforts

Status: Completed     Start date: Sun Jun 01 00:00:00 GMT-03:00 2014

Selection for desirable bovine phenotypes has been practiced since the domestication of cattle, which occurred approximately 10,000 years ago. This process of domestication has brought about a marked change in behavioral and morphological characteristics in the subspecies and, together with the development of breeds and genetic breeding programs, has given rise to the enormous variety of patterns and racial types known today. Since then, traditional breeding tools, based on quantitative theory,

Status: Completed     Start date: Thu Jan 01 00:00:00 GMT-03:00 2015

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