Genetic Adaptability of Livestock to Environmental Stresses

Abstract

The concept of adaptability revolves around fitness describing relative ability of an individual to survive and reproduce next generation to ensure continued survival of the population and is the result of natural selection over many generations. Current trend in genetic selection has severely eroded the genetic base ignoring the diversity of the production milieu, importance of adaptation, production of multiple products and social value of the livestock. The problem has been compounded with non-capturing of environmental costs though animal genetic resources (AnGR) on extensive and intensive scale are affected by direct impacts of climate change. Unplanned genetic introgression and crossbreeding has contributed to the greatest extent toward the loss of indigenous breeds. The genetic mechanism influencing fitness and adaptation is not well explored and adaptation traits are usually characterized by low heritability. Further, it may be difficult to combine the adaptation traits with high production potential as there seem to be different physiological and metabolic processes involved. Though decision regarding matching genotypes with environment or vice versa will be situation specific, the low and intermediate level of animal production in many parts of the world suggests that increased yields and efficiency will be more environmentally sustainable than extensive goals ensuring genetic diversity, environmental soundness, animal health and welfare, and social viability. Breeding for climate change adaptation or mitigation will not be necessarily different from existing

Effects of location and season on productivity and productive adaptability of two parent stock exotic layer chicken strains in a warm-wet environment

“…The genetic mechanism influencing fitness and adaptation is not well explored, and adaptation traits are usually characterized by low heritability. Furthermore, it may be difficult to combine adaptability traits with high production potential, as there seem to be different physiological and metabolic processes involved (Naskar et al 2012). Favorable correlation suggests that if major importance is placed on performance traits in stressful environments, adaptability traits would not be compromised and thus the most productive and adapted animals for each environment would be identified for breeding purposes (Naskar et al 2012).…”

“…The concept of adaptability revolves around 'fitness' describing the relative ability of an individual to survive and reproduce the next generation to ensure continued survival of the population (Naskar et al, 2012). Adaptability is the ability of an animal to adjust to fit or produce better under multiple conditions or for some purposes (Webster, 2017).…”

“…A d a p t a t i o n t o t h e environment in which any animal is being reared for production is very important. Genetic Slippage (Dickerson 1955) -a phenomenon where performance of the individuals reared in a specific environment degrades when forced to perform in different environment (Naskar et al, 2012) -usually results when temperate genetics are imported to the tropics. Adaptability therefore is an advantage in the harshly competitive global economy (Oxford, 2017).…”

Benefits of Farm Animals Genetic Adaptation: A Review

“…The fastest growing world human population demand for food is becoming beyond the carrying capacity of the land. As a result, the farm animals' contribution to fill the food demand gap is getting an attention and different improvement programs were established in different parts of the world [24][25][26][27][28]. Accordingly, Genetic adaptation determines the effectives of production, behavioral and survival capacity of animals.…”

Sürdürülebilir Sığır Islahında Coğrafik Ağırlıklı Regresyon Kullanılarak Süt Verimi Rolü Analizi

“…As a consequence, the process of genetic erosion in native breeds is accelerated (FAO 2007). At the same time, livestock biodiversity is exposed to genetic erosion because of climate change (Naskar et al 2012). Livestock populations are influenced by natural disasters, particularly drought, and when environmental change makes a breed unfavorable in a given habitat (Blench 2005).…”