Breeding / Selection of Salers

Genetic improvement in time allows populations to evolve, by favourising the phenotypes most interesting from an economic point of view. Two interlinked tools are used to this end : firstly evaluation and indexation of animals and secondly selection and rationalised matings.
Selection aims to detect the breeding males and females showing the genetic values estimated to be highest. This allows a rationalised breeding programme based on the indices. In simple terms, indexing an animal estimates its genetic merit from all the data available. This has to be distinguished from the environment effects.

1 - consultation with the industry

Before putting into place a breeding or selection programme, it is necessary to define the objectives of the selection. This initial phase allows one to choose :

- The breed orientation : this must respond to the needs of the production, transformation and distribution chain and agents serving this chain. The orientation is unavoidably tied to the market.

- The breeding objectives : a character or a combination of characteristics to be changed, "improved" by genetic progress. The characteristics are not always measurable directly on the candidate animal (for example milk production in a bull).

- Selection/breeding criteria : they class and select the breeding animals. As far as possible, they reunite several conditions to optimise breed improvement. Obviously a selection criteria is most effective when it can be measured on an individual and its kin and that the heritability is good. Rapidly available data (in relation to the lifespan of the animal evaluated) accelerates the genetic progress

2 - The objectives ans selection criteria of salers

• Weanling Production

- Pure bred weanlings : 320 kg at 9 months without supplementary concentrate feeding (ie a growth rate of 1-1,1 kg/d), minimum conformation R +
- cross bred weanling : 350 kg in the same conditions (ie a growth rate of 1,1 to 1,2 kg / day), conformation U=

Notes: only  good maternal milking ability (from 1,8 to 2 kg milk minimum) allows this type of production without supplementary feeding.

• Bull beef

- pure bred bulls : 400 kg carcasses classed U-/ R + at 18 months
- cross bred bulls : 410 kg classed U= / U+ at 17 months

• Production of butchers heifers

- pure bred heifers at 36 months (+ 6 months), 350 kg (+ 20 kg), conformation minimum R+
- cross bred heifers at 36 months (+ 6 months), 380 kg (+ 30 kg), conformation minimum U-

• Production of steers

Pure bred steers of 32 (+ 8 months), 400 kg (+ 50 kg), conformation minimum R

• Production of cull cows

- cows less than 9 years old with a minimum carcass weight of 350 kg and a minimum conformation of R
- cows older than 9 years exceptionally, used for renewal, cows of very high genetic potential

3 - The selection system

• The constitution of an elite nucleus of females

This nucleus (Bull mothers) has as objective the breeding of males capable of providing the next generation. A programme of matings with current bulls corresponding to the objectives can then be undertaken (provided the health status of the herds are adequate).

These rational matings for the selected females are based on their own performance (production and reproduction) and take into account the scores at weaning (Iboval index) and the scores of the Salers Herd Book assessment.

The objective is to programme these matings over about 150 females. For that, 250 potential females are retained to allow for wastage (animals sold, eliminated and non-co-operation of some breeders…).

The bulls born from these matings are proposed for entry to the Test Station (if the birth requirements correspond) or from a catalogue for those born outside the Test Station birth period.

Equally they can be kept by the breeder. In any event, the evaluation of males by a commission is the desired objective (which implies a need to stay within “connected herds”).

The best bulls will be taken for AI provided they comply with health norms. The females born from this controlled breeding will provide the potential population of bull mothers.

• The selection criteria

It is important to retain the fundamental characteristics of the breed : calving ease or calf birth weight (95%), calving interval (390 days), milk, temperament, udder quality. While there is no temperament index at the moment, all “wild” cows are eliminated whatever their indices.

The inclusion in the selection nucleus (Top category for females) from the female data base and connected herds is done by retaining the animals satisfying the following conditions :

The setting up of this programme of genetic improvement  for the Salers breed has been possible because of the willingness of each interested organisation to work together. Thus the initiative involves the personel of Bovins Croissance, the Herd Book Salers and the UALC. Each has been able to take their place and act within a common project.

* generation interval : average age of parents at the birth of their products to be considered for breeding

* heritability : for a given trait, it is the part of the variability which is genetic, as say opposed to environmental.