Genetic  Evaluation  of  Criollo Cattle  and  Their  Crossbreds in  Colombia

Mauricio A.    Elzo; Carlos    Manrique P.; Gustavo    Ossa S.

Genetic Evaluation of Criollo Cattle and Their Crossbreds in Colombia

Autores

Mauricio A. Elzo

Carlos Manrique P.

Gustavo Ossa S.

Editor

Corporación Colombiana de Investigación Agropecuaria

Descripción

Colombia has seven Criollo breeds of cattle adapted to tropical conditions, with a total number of purebreds of about r8.ooo, and about 5o.ooo cattle if Criollo crossbreds are also considered. The rg86 Livestock Development Project suggested increasing their numbers and developing animal improvement programs at a farm level. These goals can be achieved through the development of a national genetic evaluation program involving all Criollo breeds and their crossbreds. The basic population and data structures that would allow the realization of a national genetic evaluation are presented and discussed in terms of the Colombian situation. Current unibreed and multibreed linear methodolog¡ and comPutational procedures, are discussed, and computer software programs are suggested. A general strategy to develop a National Genetic Evaluation Program is outlined, and specific points discussed in further detail from a Colombian perspective. The implementation of a large national genetic evaluation program will not only benefit the Criollo breeds and their crossbreds, but it can serve as a model for the genetic evaluation of all cattle breeds and their crossbreds in Colombia.