Investigating the genetic gain resulted from use of sexed sorted semen in embryo transfer program in dairy cattle

Authors

1 M.Sc. Graduated, Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture Science and Natural Resources, University of Mohaghegh Ardabili, Ardabil, Iran

2 Assistant professor, Faculty of Agriculture Science and Natural Resources, University of Mohaghegh Ardabili, Ardabil, Iran

3 Assistant professor, Department of Animal Science, Moghan College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Mohaghegh Ardabili, Ardabil, Iran

Abstract

Investigating the genetic gain resulted from use of sexed sorted semen in embryo transfer program in dairy cattle
Abstract
Background and objectives
In dairy cattle industry, there is a great interest in pre-selecting the sex of offspring. Use of sex-sorted sperm is instrumental method for production of female offspring. This reproductive technique could lead to more genetic progress and more economic profitability. On the other hand, the use of sex-sorted sperm in multiple ovulation and embryo transfer (MOET) programs is regarded because of its potential for producing more female progeny from superior dams. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of using sexed semen in MOET program on the genetic gain in Holstein dairy cattle.
Materials and methods
True breeding values (TBVs) and estimated breeding values (EBVs) of a herd with 30,000 heifers, 24,900 cows in parity 1 and 19,671 cows in parity 2 were simulated in Visual Basic 6. The traditional evaluation (TE) and genomic evaluation (GE) methods were considered for genetic evaluation. Four strategies were assumed. In the first strategy, 750 heifers were considered as donors and sexed semen was used for inseminating these donors. In the second strategy, 750 superior heifers, 622 superior cows in parity 1 and 492 superior cows in parity 2 were donors and conventional semen was used for inseminating these donors. In the third strategy the number of donors was the same as those described for strategy 2 but in this strategy conventional semen was used for inseminating all donors. In strategy 4, sexed semen was considered for insemination of heifer donors and conventional semen was used for other donors.
Results
The genetic gain of strategy 4 was more than other strategies. For example, using traditional evaluation, genetic gain of strategies 1 to 4 was 51/7, 75/6, 102/4 and 110/5 Kg, respectively. Using sexed semen for insemination of heifer donors had positive effect on genetic gain, but when cows in parity 1 and 2 were donors, using conventional semen had more potential to increase the genetic gain. Our results also showed that the improved genetic gain resulted from reproductive techniques, is lower than the genetic gain of sire selection in dairy herds.

Conclusion
In conclusion, use of sexed sorted semen in combination with MOET for heifer donors improved the genetic gain in the herd but when cows in parity 1 and 2 were donors, using sexed semen was not profitable.

Key words:
Conventional semen, Female offspring, Sexed sorted semen, Embryo transfer and Genetic gain.

Keywords

Main Subjects

References

1. Boustan, A., Nejati Javarami, A., Hedayat Evrigh, N., Ebrahimi, M. and Seyed Sharifi, R. 2017. Effects of using superior animals in training set on the accuracy of genomic evaluation for high
and low heritability traits in dairy cattle. Journal of Ruminant Research. 5(1): 63-80. 2. Boustan, A., Nejati Javaremi, A. and Moradi Shahrbabak, M. 2014. Economic and genetic aspects of using sexed semen in traditional and genomic evaluation of Iranian Holstein dairy cattle: A Simulation Study. Journal of Agricultural Science and Technology. 16: 801-810.
3. Boustan, A., Nejati Javaremi, A., Rezvannejad, E. and Mojtahedin, A. 2015. Genetic and economic aspects of applying embryo transfer in traditional and genomic evaluation in Iranian Holstein dairy cattle. Iranian Journal of Applied Animal Science. 5(4): 807-811.
4. Bouquet, A., Sørensen, A.C. and Juga, J. 2015. Genomic selection strategies to optimize the use of multiple ovulation and embryo transfer schemes in dairy cattle breeding programs. Livestock Science. 174: 18-25.
5. DeJarnette, J.M., Nebel, R.L. and Marshall, C.E. 2009. Evaluating the success of sex-sorted semen in US dairy herds from on farm records. Journal of Theriogenology. 71: 49-58.
6. Dekkers, J.C.M., Vandervoort, G.E. and Burnside, E.B. 1996. Optimal size of progeny groups for progeny testing programs by artificial insemination firms. Journal of Dairy Science. 79: 2056-2070.
7. Hasler, J.F. 2006. The Holstein cow in embryo transfer today as compared to 20 years ago. Journal of Theriogenology, 65: 4-16.
8. Hasler, J.F., Cardey, E., Stokes, J.E. and Bredbacka, P. 2002. Nonelectrophoretic PCR-sexing of bovine embryos in a commercial environment. Journal of Theriogen-ology. 58: 1457–69.
9. Hayakawa, H., Hirai, T., Takimoto, A., Ideta, A. and Aoyagi, Y. 2009. Superovulation and embryo transfer in Holstein cattle using sexed sperm. Journal of Theriogenology. 71: 68-73. 10. Joezy Shekalgorabi, S. and Shadparvar, A. 2014. Impact of applying sex sorted semen in heifers on genetic improvement of dam of dams selection pathway. Iranian Journal of Animal Science Research. 6(3): 258-264.
11. Kaimio, I., Mikkola, M., Lindeberg, H., Heikkinen, J., Hasler, J.F. and Taponen, J. 2013. Embryo production with sex-sorted semen in superovulated dairy heifers and cows. Journal of Theriogenology. 80: 950–954.
12. Larson J.E., Lamb G.C., Funnell B.J., Bird S., Martins A. and Rodgers J.C. 2010. Embryo productionin superovulated Angus cows inseminated four times with sexed-sorted or conventional, frozen-thawed semen. Journal of Theriogenology. 73: 698–703.
13. Lohuis, M.M. 1995. Potential benefits of bovine embryo - manipulation technologies to genetic improvement programs. Journal of Theriogenology. 43(1): 51-60. 14. MonteiroJr, P.L.J., Batista, A.M., Almeida, F.C., Figueiredo, A.E.S., Soares, P.C., Carneiro, G.F. and Guerra, M.M.P. 2016. Fertilization rate and embryo production of superovulated dairy cows after insemination with non-sorted and sex-sorted semen. Animal Reproduction. 13: 112-116.
15. Norman, H.D., Hutchison, J.L. and Miller, R.H. 2010. Use of sexed semen and its effect on conception rate, calf sex, dystocia, and stillbirth of Holsteins in the United States. Journal of Dairy Science. 93: 3880–3890.
16. Panarace, M., Medina, M., Cattaneo, L., Caballero, J., Cerrate, H. and Dalla Lasta, M., et al. 2003. Embryo production using sexed semen in superovulated cows and heifers. Journal of Theriogenology. 59: 513. 17. Sá Filho, M.F., Nichi, M., Soares, J.G., Vieira, L.M., Melo, L.F., Ojeda, A., Campos Filho, E.P., Gameiro, A.H., Sartori, R. and Baruselli, P.S. 2014. Sex-sorted sperm for artificial insemination and embryo transfer programs in cattle. Animal Reproduction. 11(3): 217-224.
18. Sahebhonar, M. 2008. Estimation of genetic trend of production traits and determination of some effective factors on it in Iranian Holstein population.
M.S. thesis, Tehran University, Karaj, Iran.
19. Schenk, J.L., Suh, T.K. and Seidel, G.E. 2006. Embryo production from superovulated cattle following insemination of sexed sperm. Journal of Theriogenology. 65: 299–307.
20. Seidel, G.E. 2003. Economics of selecting for sex: The most important genetic trait. Journal of Theriogenology. 59: 585-598.
21. Shea B.F. 1999. Determining the sex of bovine embryos using polymerase chain reaction results: a six-year retrospective study. Journal of Theriogenology. 51:841–54.
22. Sorensen M.K., Voergaard, J., Pedersen L.D., Berg P. and Sorensen, A.C. 2011. Genetic gain in dairy cattle populations is increased using sexed semen in commercial herds. Journal of Animal Breeding and Genetics. 128: 267–275.
23. Thomasen, J.R., Willam, A., Egger-Danner, C. and Sorensen, A.C. 2015. Reproductive technologies combine well with genomic selection in dairy breeding program. Journal of Dairy Science. 99: 1331-1340.
24. VanRaden, P. 2008. Efficient methods to compute genomic predictions. Journal of Dairy Science. 91: 4414–4423.
Journal of Ruminant Research
Volume 6, Issue 3
December 2018
Pages 1-11

Files

Share

How to cite

Statistics