The Effect of Dams of Sire Path Management on Genetic and Economic Parameters in a Simulated Genomic Selection Program

A deterministic model based on the gene flow method, considering the features of Iranian Holstein cattle population, was implemented in this study to evaluate the effect of altering the number of age-classes in the dams of future sire (DS) path and the number of dams required for breeding a young bull (YB), to be evaluated as future sire, on genetic gain and resultant economic efficiency of a genomic selection program for milk production as a selection goal. Based on the simulation, changing the number of age-classes from 10 to 1 resulted in higher replacement rate of DS path (from 0.22 to 1) and shorter generation interval. Consequently, the economic efficiency of the program increased up to a maximum point and then a descending trend was observed. The maximum economic efficiency (25.68) was obtained when 7 age-classes in DS path was assumed. By chaining the number of dams required for breeding a YB from 7 to 1, the genetic gain in selection goal increased from 0.0232 to 0.0264 kg per dairy cattle and therefore, the economic efficiency rose from 25.42 to 28.52. The results revealed that a decrease in generation interval does not necessarily result in maximum economic efficiency and there is an optimum level for generation interval. Less number of required dams per YB could result in higher economic efficiency and therefore should be considered as an effective management strategy to improve the economic efficiency of a genomic selection program for milk production.