Reproduction in Domestic Animals

Management of Goat Reproduction and Insemination 383the husbandry system, the method assumes that thereare some genetic links between herds, all these linksbeing called genetic connectedness. The main source ofconnectedness is AI.Genetic evaluation of French dairy goats for productiontraits is computed for all flocks recorded for milkproduction, but breeding values are published only forconnected herds, that is, for herds which participate inthe selection programme. Methods used to evaluateconnectedness are based on the percentage of goats withAI sires, but also on other source of connectedness, inparticular, the use of goats with an AI paternal grandsire(Fouilloux et al. 2007), as the majority of naturalmatingbucks are sired by AI.For genetic evaluation of type traits, connectedness isnot a problem, because approximately two-thirds ofscored goats are daughters of AI bucks and type scoringis performed only in flocks using AI. Thus, breedingvalues are calculated and published for a subpopulationof connected herds.Creation of genetic improvementA major step in the selection programme conducted in1992 with the creation of a structured selection nucleusformed with goat breeders highly interested in selectionand genetic improvement. These breeders must inseminate30% of their goats, at least, and use 30% ofprogeny tested semen for their inseminations. In return,breeders enjoy technical advice for selection and get thelargest access to the best AI semen. In 2006, the selectionprogramme involved 160 000 goats owned by 800breeders.Planned matingThe most important step in the genetic improvementprogramme is to breed AI males of high genetic level.They will come from planned matings between the bestfemales and the best males in the population. Therefore,elite females selected to be dams of the next AI buckgeneration are inseminated with frozen semen from thebest AI males, named Sires. Dams and Sires are selectedaccording to their breeding values on production andtype traits, combined in a global index. Planned matingis determined to avoid inbreeding and to preservegenetic variability.Sanitary and individual controlEvery year, 350 males born from planned mating areinspected on farm by Capri-IA in order to select the bestfor the semen production centre. They are examined forpedigree (DNA validation), breed standard and sanitarystandard. The sanitary standard of each dam and eachherd is also tested. According to the tests’ results, 200males are selected for the quarantine of the semenproduction centre, where they are controlled on thebasis of sanitary standards and growth. At the end ofthe quarantine, only 120 males enter the semen productioncentre, where they are controlled on the basis ofsexual behaviour (libido and ability to give semen in anartificial vagina), semen production (semen quantity andquality) and sperm survival after deep freezing-thawing.After these controls, remaining 70 males are progenytested to determine their genetic level. All eliminatedmales are slaughtered.Progeny testingFor progeny testing, 200 inseminations are performedper male across milk-recorded herds. The goal is toobtain a minimum of 30 milk-recorded daughters pertested male (the average number is 80 daughters permale). Milk records and type appraisal of the daughtersare used to compute the breeding value of each male.The 35 best males are selected and the other ones areslaughtered.ConclusionThis review has mainly addressed the methods and thetechniques that have provided improvements to routinepractical AI programmes and genetic improvementprogrammes. An important consideration is the timingof the AI, which should be performed close to the timeof ovulation in the females. Accurate and carefuldetection of oestrus or control of oestrus and ovulationare necessary to reach a satisfactory fertility level.Validation of new procedures such as the use of themale effect in highly seasonal goats will be required tomeet to the new expectations of the animal industriesand consumers which are opposed to the use of syntheticchemicals and hormonal treatments. The efficiency ofthe French selection programme is now widely provedand recognized. It fits with most dairy goat breeders’objectives, but further studies are still in progress tointegrate new selection criteria and to adapt selectionobjectives to new needs and diversified market demands.The goat genetic map is being constructed, thus givingthe basis for QTL (Quantitative Trait Loci) detection.Molecular information will be particularly useful forgenetic improvement of dairy traits.ReferencesAmills M, Sanchez A, Manfredi E, 1999: Allelic frequencies ofthe Mhc class II DRB gene in caprine arthritis-encephalitisvirus infected goats. 2nd Annual Conference on new andRe-Emerging Infectious Diseases, University of Illinois,Urbana-Champaign, pp. 23.Analla M, Jime´nez-Gamero I, Mun˜ oz Serrano A, SerradillaJM, Falagan A, 1996: Estimation of genetic parameters formilk yield and fat and protein contents of milk fromMurciano-Granadina goats. 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