Concerted action to detect the genes

Since more than 8,000 years humans select cattle and for at least 7,900 they relied alone on their eye and their experience. Animals were assessed by their appearances and sometimes on certain easy-to-measure traits, but no systematic performance recording was done. Nevertheless excellently adapted and well performing breeds were developed.

In the last few decades new systems of performance recording were established and more sophisticated methods for the estimation of breeding values introduced. In some breeds these innovation lead to extraordinary genetic progress, especially in international dairy breeds. However, in breeds which require more adaptation, results are mixed as some breeders tend to rely on EBVs estimated under different environmental conditions.

Since very shortly also molecular information based on DNA analysis can be used, particularly for parentage control, but also certain traits like beef quality, feed conversion efficiency or polled. It is expected that such “molecular” breeding methods will get increasingly important, as recent scientific findings will facilitate the development of such tools.

Integration of information obtained from all these sources can represent a very powerful tool to enhance breeding progress.