Potential genetic gains from producing bulls with only sires as parents.
Micromanipulation of sperm and ova has been suggested as a means to produce progeny of two sires instead of a sire and dam. Selection schemes taking advantage of this technology could produce genetic gains 1.5 to 2 times current gains. An optimum strategy both genetically and economically would be to breed 99% of the population to young sires and 1% to progeny-tested sires. The genetic pathway from sires to sons could become the only pathway affecting genetic gain; this would eliminate problems of cow evaluation and would give artificial insemination organizations more control over quality of young sires. Inbreeding would not be a problem, and few other technologies could offer superior rates of genetic gain.
D000818:Animals; D001947:Breeding; D002417:Cattle / Q000235:genetics*; D002875:Chromosomes; D004624:Embryo Transfer / Q000662:veterinary; D005818:Genetic Engineering / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary*; D007178:Inbreeding; D008297:Male; D008846:Micromanipulation / Q000379:methods; D008957:Models, Genetic; D012744:Sex Ratio; D013094:Spermatozoa