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The Nordic countries are committed to conserving farm animal genetic diversity. National reports on phenotypic and genetic characterization point towards a lack of characterization for many Nordic native breeds. Little to no knowledge on the traits of the animals and their derived products leads to potential remaining untapped. The objective of this study was to provide a quantitative assessment of phenotypic and genetic characterization of Nordic native breeds, through a literature search and obtaining census data. Six species and a total of 85 breeds were included. Studies were classified according to six different categories of characterization. Results showed that a large percentage of the breeds are not characterized at all. Moreover, most breeds have extremely low census sizes. A substantial effort to increase population sizes and document characteristics of Nordic native breeds, to promote conservation and sustainable use, is needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To improve genetic gain of breeding programs for village poultry production, breeding schemes with observations obtained in village production systems using individual (VIO) and group recording (VGO) were examined under different levels of genotype-by-environment-interactions (GxE). GxE was modeled by varying the correlation between traits measured in the breeding station and village environments for bodyweight (rg_BW) and egg production (rg_EP). Relative and absolute genetic gains obtained from VIO and VGO were used for comparison between the schemes. Results showed that village observations significantly improved genetic gains compared to the scheme without birds tested in the village. The improvement was only slightly larger with individual observations than with group observations. Higher rg_BW and rg_EP led to lower relative genetic gain, but a higher absolute gain of VIO and VGO. It is recommended to apply a breeding scheme using group recording of village performance when strong GxE in breeding for village poultry is expected. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, genetic parameters were estimated for the Danish populations of Danish Marsk, Finnish Landrace, Gotland Pelt and Spel for birth weight (BW), average daily gain until two months (DG2) and litter size (LS). A multivariate animal model was used for estimation of genetic parameters, including fixed effects, both direct and maternal additive genetic effects, common litter effects and permanent environmental effects. Mean birth weight and DG2 ranged from, respectively, 3.39 kg and 262 g to 4.61kg and 286 g. Litter size ranged from 1.60 to 2.07. Direct heritability for BW ranged from 0.12 to 0.24, and maternal heritability for BW was about 0.23 for all breeds. Direct heritability of DG2 ranged from 0.19 to 0.33. The heritability for LS was between 0.08 and 0.13. The significant genetic correlations between the direct and maternal effect on both BW and DG2 were negative. The genetic correlations between the growth traits and LS were not uniform. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objectives were to derive economic values (EVs) and their standard deviations for dairy cow traits in Denmark under future possible production circumstances using a stochastic bio-economic farm model. EVs were derived for three different scenarios with the first representing current Danish production circumstances. The other two scenarios were based on a report with predictions of expected developments in the Danish agricultural sector with respect to structural development and market situation. The three scenarios differed with respect to herd size, level of trait, prices and presence of milk quota. EVs for functional traits differed only slightly between scenarios, but without a milk quota the relative importance of milk yield compared to the functional traits increased. Under current production circumstances with milk quota. EVs of milk yield and body weight were 0.13 and -0.51 &Jukey;/kg per cow-year. For milk fever, mastitis, retained placenta and laminitis EVs were - 277. - 124. -39 and - 127 &Jukey;/incidence/cow-year. The EVs for involuntary culling, stillbirth, conception rate and days from first calving to first heat were -5.2, -0.61. 1.69 &Jukey;/%/cow-year and - 0.62 &Jukey;/day/cow-year. Standard deviations of EVs expressing variation in realised farm profit were lower in a situation with fixed number of cows on the farm than in a situation with milk quota. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Investigates mink dam weight changes during the lactation period. Estimate of the genetic parameters; Parturition to post-partum; Estimate of the direct additive effects and effects of permanent environment; Heritability of direct additive effect.