In Udmurtia, the first in Russia economic breeding index of the breeding value of animals has been developed

In the livestock breeding of Udmurtia in 2022, one of the priorities remains the transition to genomic selection in cattle breeding. During the first two years of work in this direction, some experience has been gained - the livestock breeders of the republic are beginning to monetize their new knowledge and skills, the press service of the regional Ministry of Agriculture reported.

On February 1, for the breeding farms participating in the general project launched in the industry, the first joint event this year was organized - a practical seminar. it was held with the participation of Moscow colleagues on the basis of one of the leading enterprises for artificial insemination of livestock of the republic, Mozhgaplem LLC.

Specialists of Xiveliu LLC (Moscow) presented the interim results of work for 2020-2021. Thus, advanced breeding technologies are being studied by 14 leading agricultural enterprises of the republic, 191,439 breeding animals have been assessed and selected by origin. And today, 13 thousand 300 genotypes are already presented in the reference database.

How to put into practice genomic assessments and benefit from genotyped stock was the main focus of the training. Based on the collected data, at the end of 2021, the first economic breeding index of animal breeding value in RUSSIA was developed. It can be used to calculate the economic efficiency of each animal, taking into account nine important production indicators. Among them are MILK yield for 305 days of completed lactation, fat and protein content, productive longevity, intercalving interval, the period from the first to productive insemination in heifers and cows, etc. The index takes into account the characteristics of production and the economy of each individual farm and the average prices for the industry.

Udmurt livestock specialists now have an excellent modern tool for accurate and reliable ranking of animals and accelerated genetic progress in the herd. In general, in the coming years, a whole range of measures outlined by the Ministry of Agriculture of Udmurtia in the field of introducing genomic selection will have to be implemented. This is the development of a comprehensive index of breeding value, including at least seven breeding traits, the creation of an information and analytical center and an auction site for the sale of breeding animals, the development of in vitro embryo transfer of cattle - this is when calves spend the first days of their embryonic life in a laboratory test tube, as well as establishing cooperation with other agricultural regions of the country on the formation of an interregional database of genotypes and phenotypes and other projects.