Goat Breeding Programs Under The Microscope: Inbreeding Control Pays Off

The inbreeding increase per generation is no longer structurally too high in five Dutch goat breeding programs. The adjustments in the breeding policy since 2016 have had an effect in practice. This is the outcome of the evaluation of these breeding programs by the Dutch Organization for Goat Breeding (NOG).

A good and effective breeding policy is important to maintain the characteristics of the breed and to keep the breed vital. Breeding policy works in practice if individual breeders use it in their breeding decisions. The Centre for Genetic Resources, the Netherlands (CGN) , part of Wageningen University & Research, has evaluated the breeding programs of the Dutch goat breeds, White, Pied and Toggenburg goat. In addition, also those of the Nubian and Boer goat. The NOG is a recognized studbook for these breeds. In total, data from more than 182,000 animals were analyzed.

Inbreeding decrease
In every breeding program, the balance between realizing genetic progress towards the breeding goal and controlling the increase in inbreeding per generation is important. The increase in inbreeding per generation is no longer structurally too high in all breeds, as was the case until 2016. In the last generation, inbreeding has even decreased. This is because the breeding regulations have been adjusted so that a broader selection of bucks can be used and by using bucks from foreign populations. Maintaining the active breeding population, selecting sufficient young animals as breeding animals that are as little related to the population as possible and limiting the influence of an individual breeding animal on the next generation (not too many animals from one father) are also important to consider.

Keep enough bucks for breeding
The size of the Boer goat and Toggenburg populations is relatively small and in small populations it is extra important to keep enough young bucks for breeding each year. Routine calculation of the “mean kinship” (average relationship of an animal to a group of animals) with the active breeding population can provide insight. In order to control the number of breeding animals per sire, breeders need up-to-date information on the number of breeding animals that have already been selected per sire.

Addition to gene bank
For the three Dutch breeds (White, Pied and Toggenburg goat) bucks have been identified that are an addition to the gene bank for farm animals of CGN. The advice is to collect semen from these bucks to freeze for the gene bank.