Project: Towards preventive health management in native dual-purpose cattle adapted to organic pasture based production systems via novel breeding strategies based on novel trait recording
The objective is an in-depth evaluation of novel functional traits and associated environmental descriptors as a pre-requisite for the implementation of organic breeding strategies for local dual-purpose cattle kept in organic production systems, and necessary for preventive livestock health management. Based on an interdisciplinary research design involving the disciplines animal breeding, animal husbandry, animal nutrition, and agricultural engineering / precision livestock farming, the most relevant European dual-purpose cattle breeds will be evaluated with regard to within and across breed comparisons for novel traits, for selection signatures and biodiversity, and for organic breeding strategies in grassland systems. The overall objective includes both perspectives adaption of the dual-purpose cow to pasture based production systems, and vice versa adaption (improvement) of the system for improving functional (health) traits. The "red line" for identical health trait recording across country borders is based on SensOor® technology (www.agis.nl), which will be implemented in dual-purpose cattle experimental / contract herds. Relevant European dual-purpose cattle are located in pasture-based systems in Belgium (Partner ULg), France (Partner Idele), Germany (Partner UNI-KS), The Netherlands (Partner WU-FSE), Poland (Partner IGAB and R-Ju) Slovenia (Partner UL), Switzerland (Partner QAG), and Turkey (Partner TAGEM). Main tasks address the following five topics a) production systems, b) novel data recording, and c) genetic evaluations, resulting all together in d) optimized breeding program designs, and e) optimized farm management in pasture based systems. In consequence, the following 10 work packages (WP) are included: WP1: Trait recording, WP2: Environmental descriptors (pasture based system and herds), WP3: Breed comparisons in local environments, WP4: Genetic evaluations for novel traits, WP5: Identification of breed characteristics, WP6: Economic weights for novel traits, WP7: Organic breeding goals, WP8: Organic breeding strategies, WP9: Dissemination of trait recording techniques, WP10: Dissemination of results to organic breeders and breeding organizations.
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