In this study, we characterized genetic diversity in the gene bank for Dutch native cattle breeds. A total of 715 bulls from seven native breeds and a sample of 165 Holstein Friesian bulls were included. Genotype data were used to calculate genetic similarities. Based on these similarities, most breeds were clearly differentiated, except for two breeds (Deep Red and Improved Red and White) that have recently been derived from the MRY breed, and for the Dutch Friesian and Dutch Friesian Red, which have frequently exchanged bulls. Optimal contribution selection (OCS) was used to construct core sets of bulls with a minimized similarity. The composition of the gene bank appeared to be partly optimized in the semen collection process, i.e., the mean similarity within breeds based on the current number of straws per bull was 0.32% to 1.49% lower than when each bull would have contributed equally. Mean similarity could be further reduced within core sets by 0.34% to 2.79% using OCS. Material not needed for the core sets can be made available for supporting in situ populations and for research. Our findings provide insight in genetic diversity in Dutch cattle breeds and help to prioritize material in gene banking.
Before methane (CH4) emission can be mitigated with animal breeding, breath measurements have to be recorded on a large number of cows. Our aim was to estimate heritabilities for, and a genetic correlation between, CH4 recorded by GreenFeed and sniffers. Repeated records were available for CH4 production (g/cow/day) by GreenFeed and for CH4 concentration (ppm) by sniffers. The data included 24,284 GreenFeed daily means from 822 cows, 172,948 sniffer daily means from 1,800 cows, and 1,787 daily means from both devices on the same day from 75 cows. Additionally, records were averaged per week. The datasets were analyzed using bivariate animal models. The results show that CH4 emissions recorded by either device has a moderate heritability (0.18-0.37). Furthermore, the genetic correlation between weekly mean CH4 recorded by GreenFeed or by sniffers was high (0.77). This suggest that the measurements can be used in the same genetic evaluations.
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