Improved dairy cattle mating plans at herd level using genomic information

From 2012 to 2018, 223 180 Montbéliarde females were genotyped in France and the number of newly increased at a rate about 33% each year. With female genotyping information, farmers have access genomic estimated breeding values their herd carrier status for genetic defects or major genes segregating breed. This combined with coancestry, can be used when planning matings order maximize expected on-farm profit future offspring. We compared different mating allocation approaches capacity gain while limiting progeny inbreeding probability conceive an offspring homozygous lethal recessive allele. Three mate strategies (random (RAND), sequential (gSEQ€) linear programing (gLP€)) on 160 actual herds using male information. Then, we assessed benefit information by comparing planned only pedigree equivalent strategy measured adding risk conception allele Net merit plans. The influence three constraints was tested: relaxing constraint availability particular semen type (sexed conventional) bulls, upper limit 8.5% coancestry between pairs more stringent maximum use bull (5% vs 10%). instead improved method terms merit, diversity Optimizing programming constraining per pair reduced average small impact Merit. In summary, selection pathways, is efficient than study also underlines key role associated algorithm maintaining