Research

The aim of the project was to develop methods for the use of genomic information in local site-adapted livestock breeds (=animal genetic resources). Using the example of Angler cattle, Angler saddleback pigs, German white-headed meat sheep, German noble goat, and Schleswiger Kaltblut, the analysis of genomic data, pedigrees, and a strengths-weaknesses-opportunities-risk analysis was carried out. This project was an EIP project with regional linkage to Schleswig-Holstein.

Operational Group (OG) "Future Strategies for the Animal Genetic Resource Angler Cattle" as part of the European Innovation Partnership (EIP) "Productivity and Sustainability in Agriculture"

Livestock farming is undergoing profound change. Both the changing social demands on animal husbandry and climate change are placing great importance on the genetic adaptability of our livestock breeds. The preservation of the Angler cattle as a locally adapted breed and its independent genetic diversity is therefore also an urgent task from a cultural and social perspective. Ensuring genetic diversity within a breed is an essential prerequisite for adapting to changing production and environmental conditions and therefore makes a substantial contribution to the sustainable development of rural areas.

Climate protection and climate impact adaptation represent a major challenge for agriculture. This applies in particular to milk and beef production, as these are inevitably associated with the emission of climate-damaging gases such as methane and nitrous oxide. It is known that there is an animal-specific variation in methane emissions that points to a genetic component. Previous research in this direction has been carried out almost exclusively on the Holstein Friesian or Fleckvieh breeds. For cattle breeds that are classified as animal genetic resources, there is currently no information on this important and socially relevant topic.

For a long time, society's interest in the production of animal foodstuffs was primarily focused on security of supply and quality, but now relates more strongly to the method of production. This generally includes the environmental impact, which is directly related to the use of resources and nutrient efficiency. Furthermore, a very high need for action is seen with regard to animal welfare, which is reflected in the reports of the Borchert Commission and the Commission for the Future of Agriculture. These reports clearly point out that the transformation processes in animal production must be perceived as a task for society as a whole and cannot be borne by farmers alone. Animal genetic resources, such as the Angler cattle, play a central role in this. The Angler breed is characterized by high functionality and is superior to the dominant Holstein Friesian breed for animal welfare-relevant traits, such as health or calving behaviour, which are among the main reasons for cattle leaving the herd. From a breeding perspective, this means that advantageous gene variants associated with the desired traits occur more frequently and allow for efficient breeding.

Overall, Schleswig-Holstein has an animal genetic resource in Angler cattle with a high potential for adapting to socio-political framework conditions in agriculture, which makes efficient use of the nutrients used and ensures a high level of animal welfare. For innovative digital technologies, there is still a clear need for optimization beyond the current applications with regard to the efficient use of existing information for the breeding improvement of future-oriented traits. Compared to other federal states, Schleswig-Holstein is in a good starting position, as there is still an active breeding program for Angler cattle in which new trait complexes such as animal welfare, climate and nutrient efficiency can be integrated with the help of digital technologies.

The aim of ReDiverse is to improve the breeding of local red cattle breeds so that they can compete with Holstein-Frisian and thus contribute to their preservation. To this end, genomic marker data and complete gene sequences of the animals are collected and analyzed. Scientific and methodological issues also play a major role. This is a European collaborative project in which the Department of Animal Breeding is involved in the management.

Project website: https://era-susan.eu/content/rediverse

This title covers several smaller projects that aim to carry out comprehensive genomic analyses of the Angler Saddleback pig and the Mangalitza woolly pig. This includes the detection of relationships and inbreeding in the populations in Germany as well as the analysis of diversity and population structure. This data will be linked to existing pedigrees and used as a basis for the development of sustainable breeding strategies. The aim is to contribute to the long-term conservation of these breeds.

The aim of this project is to design breeding programs to improve the milk yield of Butana cattle in Sudan. On the one hand, the results should help practical animal breeding under smallholder conditions in Sudan, and on the other hand, this project should show how breeding programs can be set up in countries with similar conditions.

When selecting dairy cows of the Holstein Friesian breed, breeding activities focus in particular on the milk yield and functionality of the animals as well as fertility parameters. The breeding goal of the breed is set by the German Holstein Association (DHV) and is adjusted at regular intervals. At animal shows, those animals are presented that embody the breeding goal of the time. They are compared with each other in classes according to lactation number and ranked. Of particular interest in this context is which characteristics of the cows presented are especially important for a high ranking. At the show, it is mainly the judge's impression of the conformation that is evaluated and not the direct performance of the cow.

The research project concentrates on identifying traits and trait complexes that lead to a high ranking at cattle shows. Furthermore, genetic parameters for performance and fertility traits of premium Holstein cows will be estimated taking into account their ranking. Linear models and various threshold models will be used for this purpose.

Furthermore, the influence of sires who are possible sires for the breeding of show lines is of interest. A comparison with the population of cows that are not presented at animal shows can also show the extent to which the winning cows are also the top performers in the overall population.

Another sub-project is the characterization of breeders with regard to their motivation to participate in animal shows and their selection criteria when breeding for the trait 'show success'. Using hierarchical cluster analysis, it is possible to highlight particular characteristics of individual types of farmers (cf. Wilson, 2007). As part of the survey, it is also planned to determine economic weights for characteristics that appear relevant from the point of view of show participation.

This research project is being carried out as part of the LOEWE project 'Animal-Human Society' and is funded by the Hessian Ministry of Science and Art.

Project management: Prof. Dr. Sven König, University of Kassel

Editing: Julia Anthe (M. Sc. Agr.)