Genomic selection in longevity and milk yield traits in buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis) based on single-step GBLUP

Abstract

Longevity is a trait highly related to the profitability of dairy activity. The stayability of a female in the herd mostly depends a lot on its milk yield. Therefore, the selection based on milk yield may indirectly improve longevity. Nowadays, the genomic selection approach has been widely intensified in many livestock breeding programs. This has allowed increasing the accuracy and to reduce the bias on breeding values. However, studies based on this approach for longevity in dairy buffaloes are still scarce in the literature. Therefore, this study aims to: 1) estimate genetic parameters in Murrah buffaloes for longevity and milk yield traits using bi-trait animal model and the single-step Genomic Unbiased Predicton (ssGBLUP) approach; 2) evaluate the prediction accuracy and the bias of the genomic estimated breeding values (GEBVs); and 3) estimate the genetic gain for longevity through direct and indirect selection. The to be used data refer to six farms located at three Brazilian states. A total of 5,078 Murrah buffaloes born between 1987 and 2020, of which 978 animals were genotyped using the Axiom® Buffalo Genotyping Array 90K (Affymetrix) will be evaluated.The evaluation of these traits will allow their incorporation in breeding programs. (AU)