TITLE:
Evaluation of Models for Longevity in a Closed Nucleus Breeding Programme: A Case Study Kenyan Sahiwal
AUTHORS:
Benjamin Musyimi Musingi, Leah Mumbi Mahianyu, E. Dorcas Mutheu Musingi
KEYWORDS:
Linear Models, Longevity, Sahiwal, Threshold Models
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Animal Sciences,
Vol.11 No.2,
April
28,
2021
ABSTRACT: Longevity and stay ability are parameters in any breeding programme. The Overstaying of any animal on a farm has got negative
effects on the farmer. Short stay also means early exit of good animals that could have been used
for a longer time and more productive. The intention of this review paper is to
emphasize the importance of models that an upcoming breeding program can use
without affecting the quality of the herd. In this paper, longevity is taken purely
on the performance measure. The functional and type traits of longevity should
be studied further before all models are put into play. But the case of closed
breeding programmes, performance traits are easily measurable because many
animals will exit the herd as they have been sold to farmers hence many
functional straits will be expressed outside the herd. Genetic evaluation of
the Kenyan Sahiwal should account for inbreeding. This study has also provided genetic and phenotypic parameters to
enable the inclusion of longevity in the breeding objective for
the Sahiwal cattle improvement programme.