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  • Perception of robustness traits in breeding goal for dairy cattle in a new EU country
    Klopčič, Marija, 1962- ; Kuipers, Abele
    The objective of this study was to examine the farmers's perception of robustness (sustainable) traits in the breeding goal, and any associations of this perceptions of the perception with the farm's ... and farmers' characteristics and plans for the future in countries in transition to the EU environment. As a case, the new member state country of Slovenia was taken. As a tool, a questionaire was used: 1,114 questionaires, about 20% of the distributed ones, were anonymously returned. This implies that 12% of the dairy farmers' population is part of the analysis. The farmers were asked if they desired more emphasis on a variety of traits, e.g. production and robustness traits. The robustness traits was constructed afterwards from the fertility, health and longevity traits and siply calculated as the sum of the answere on the question whether (1) or not (0) more emphasis should be placed on the trait in the breeding goal. It was analysed whether the perception of these traits was associated with farm and farmers' characteristics, and interest in different aspects of farming. Also the relations with breed of heard and plans for the future of farmers were studied. Principal components, characterised as 'age of farmer', 'size of farm' and 'number of activities other than dairy farming' were indicated as main factors characterising the farm and farmer. A total of 25% of the farmers did not see a need to change the emphaisis in the existing breeding goal. A majority of the farmers would like more emphasis to be placed on health traits (62%), fertility traits (55%) and protein content (56%). The perception of farmers was significantly dependent on farm size, breed of heard and plans for the future. In the farmers' population in transition, a positive attitude towards sustainable traits was found. A general interest for animal breeding work was not associated with a desired increase in emphasis on a specific trait. This is different for economically oriented farmers and farmers who are interested in feeding od calf rearing practices. These farmers focus more on, respectively, longevity, health and fertility traits. This indicates that it may be worthwhile to think further about the comparison of the working group(s) to be involved in the preparation of breeding goals to obtain a well balanced sustainable breeding program. Moroover, it would provide valkuable insight in addition to model calculations and the results of this study, when trying out a Profile experiment in combination with other techniques in some farmers' populations in the transition countries.
    Source: Breeding for robustness in cattle (Str. 249-264)
    Type of material - article, component part
    Publish date - 2009
    Language - english
    COBISS.SI-ID - 2437256

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