engleski

The dark side of selection: negative side-effects of selection for high productivity

Long-term systematic selection has considerably increased livestock productivity. However, the selection for economically interesting production traits has influence on growth, metabolism and reproduction parameters. In most livestock species, beside the breeding goal to achieve high economic production efficiency (which usually means high production combined with low feed intake and the regular repetition of reproductive cycles), some negative side effects of selection have become apparent. This is based on the fact that production traits are the result of different synchronous metabolic processes that are to some extent genetically determined. Therefore, the biochemical reactions and gene control mechanisms influence several traits, some of which are desirable, and some are considered “negative” for animal welfare and longevity. Having that in mind, selection programs should include genetic correlations between favourable production traits and accompanying metabolic, reproductive and health traits in farm animals. In such a way, the breeding goal will be turned toward sustainable production, i.e. the breeding of animals with a long (re)productive life at an economical production level, without disturbed welfare.

Long-term selection ; production efficiency ; negative side effects ; selection programs

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