Animal Molecular Breeding 2024, Vol.14, No.1, 27-35 http://animalscipublisher.com/index.php/amb 31 Figure 2 Breeding analysis of the whole genome association study of Holstein cows in china These research examples illustrate how GWAS findings can guide dairy cattle breeding strategies, from identifying genetic markers for selection to understanding the genetic basis of complex traits. By integrating GWAS results into breeding programs, the dairy industry can achieve genetic improvements in milk yield and quality of cows, contributing to more efficient and productive dairy farming. 3 Challenges and Solutions in Breeding Practices 3.1 Balance between genetic diversity and breeding objectives The balance between genetic diversity and breeding objectives is a complex and important topic in modern agriculture and animal husbandry. Genetic diversity is the basis for the health, adaptability and long-term survival of biological populations. It ensures that populations are able to adapt to environmental changes, resist diseases, and maintain their functions in the ecosystem. However, when pursuing specific breeding goals, such as increasing milk yield or improving traits such as meat quality, over-selection can lead to a narrowing of the genetic base, which can reduce the genetic diversity of populations. Genetic diversity is not only essential for the conservation of wild species, but is equally important for plant and animal populations in agricultural production systems. It increases the resistance of populations to disease, enhances their adaptability to environmental change and contributes to the stability and sustainability of production systems. In breeding practice, maintaining genetic diversity means retaining more genetic variation, which is a potential resource for future breeding improvement (Huang et al., 2023). Breeding goals are often focused on improving specific economic traits, such as increased yield, improved quality, or enhanced disease resistance. To achieve these goals, breeders may tend to select those best performing individuals for breeding, which often leads to a narrowing of the genetic base. How to maintain genetic diversity while pursuing breeding goals has become a major challenge in breeding. Balancing genetic diversity and breeding objectives is a process that requires long-term attention and efforts. By adopting scientifically sound breeding strategies and utilizing modern biotechnology, not only can we achieve continuous improvement of breeding objectives, but we can also conserve and enhance the genetic diversity of populations, thus providing a solid foundation for future breeding efforts and biodiversity conservation. This is a sign of responsibility not only for current production but also for future generations and ecosystems (Figure 3). 3.2 Interaction between environmental and genetic factors The interaction of environmental and genetic factors plays a complex and critical role in animal breeding, especially in dairy cattle breeding. Genetic factors determine the potential productive performance and adaptive capacity of an animal, while environmental factors such as feed quality, climatic conditions, and feeding
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