Progeny Testing Evaluation of breeding bulls and Genetic Gain under Progeny Testing

The main objective of progeny testing is to evaluate the breeding bulls based on sire indices using their daughters 305 day milk yield in single / multiple herd. The progeny testing programme involves the following strategy

                                       2n    

Sire Index  =  m    +  -- ---------- ( D – CD )

                                     n +12

Where, m = Overall average of daughters 305 days first lactation milk yield. n = No. of daughters / sire. D= Daughters average 305 days first lactation milk yield and CD = Contemporary daughters (over single or multiple herds ) average 305 days first lactation milk yield.

• All the sires will be ranked on the basis of their sire index of which 20-30 % top ranking bulls shall be selected for future use as proven bulls for production of superior germplasm. This has ensured sustained maintenance and production of improved germplasm on a large scale for use in cattle and buffalo improvement programme and for establishing linkages with other institutions in India.
• The conventional breeding programmes have no doubt made significant contribution in terms of genetic gain for milk production. The expected genetic gain for milk production in developed and developing countries varying from 1-2 % / year over the herd average in cattle and buffaloes. The set wise expected genetic improvement / response per generation and per year in NDRI buffalo herd was estimated using average daughters first lactation 305 days milk yield of proven bulls and average first lactation 305 days milk yield of all daughters. The set wise expected genetic improvement / response per generation and per year varied from 61.69 Kg and 10.29 Kg in first set to 138.63 Kg  and 27.95 Kg in seventh set, with overall 102.67 Kg / generation and 20.61 Kg / year, respectively. The genetic gain under the breeding programme varied from 0.61 % in first set to 1.56 % in seventh set with overall 1.17 % of the herd average. In another study during 1993-94 to 2006-07, the expected genetic improvement / response per generation and per year in the center was estimated as 145.08 Kg and 28.24 Kg ( 1.447 % of the herd average ) using 1003 lactations of buffaloes.

Use and Dissemination of Superior Germplasm

A.I  from Karan Fries and Murrah bulls were performed in the buffaloes of 15 villages around the institute and as a result 48.9 % and 40.99 % conception rate was obtained in the farmers’ herds.  The germplasm of genetically superior progeny tested proven bulls are being used on elite cows at organized herds for production of high-pedigreed bulls for multiplication and production of superior germplasm and establishment of elite herds.

Superior semen of proven and high-pedigreed bulls of NDRI center are being used by various dairy development agencies and dairy farmers for bringing genetic improvement of cattle and buffaloes in India.