Today, breeding value estimation is a frequently applied method of animal improvement. In the last years more Ph.D. students joined to researches applying the best linear unbiased selection (BLUP) method. Beside the prediction of the heritability of economical values, the evaluation of the genetic structure of breeds registered in higher numbers and exploration of the genetical linkages were also carried out. The adaptation of the milking in day model to Hungarian conditions started, as well. Research is carried out for the prediction of genetic value also in the Hungarian Grey and Hungarian Simmental breeds. In case of Hungarian Simmental Cattle there are models ready for practical application, especially in the dual purpose variety. The basic research is finished for the breeding value prediction of Hungarian sheep populations.
Pedigree analyses were carried out in several Ph.D. works for different farm animals, their results are important for the breeding value estimation. The heritability values of the examined characteristics were determined from the sporting horse mare’s exams and the genetical/phenotypical correlations between those. Breeding value indices were made for the groups of characteristics of mare exams. The jumping results are confirmed by mathematical calculations in a running doctoral theme.
Survival analysis was carried out for exploring the genetic value of the Hungarian sporting horses based on the results in jumping competitions. The applied milking in day model of dairy cattle could be used also for jumping horses.
Preservation of genetic resources is getting more and more important world-wide. Not only the rare wild species, but also domestic animals need protection as the populations size of local, less important breeds is decreasing, some of them totally disappear. Their cultural importance cannot be questioned as the traditional breeds of domestic animals are the products of human activities of generations built on each-other and also carrying aesthetic qualities. We serve the demands of a fare invisible future and honouring the brilliant breeding works of our ancestors in the same time.
Excavation of genetical and economical values of traditional breeds of domestic animals is carried out in the frame of this programme. The goal is creating a data bank of great scientific pretensions able to serve the animal breeding also in the fare future. The Ph.D. students take their parts of this great work within their dissertations.
Using the possibilities offered by population genetics and computer technology we started with the population genetical and population structural analysis of some horse breeds focusing on the characterization of genetic diversity. A Ph.D. dissertation is dealing now with the molecular genetic investigation of pedigree data, with the possibility given by the matroclin inheritance for controlling the data of the maternal side of the pedigrees. The joint knowledge of pedigree and molecular genetic data makes the more accurate characterization of the fundamental maternal ancestors possible, giving a base of the diverse preservation of historical horse breeds.
The traditional in vivo gene preservation of more species and breeds is going on in in situ and ex situ form on our experimental farm and with cooperating partners. Beside the in vivo preservation the in vitro preservation of gametes, embryos, cell cultures, cultivable cells and DNA parts, partly cryopreserved, plus the reintroduction programmes of species (wisent, black grouse) extirpated from Hungary are going on. We are dealing also with the collection of literature sources (in libri gene preservation) of the history of old breeds (Carpathian Braunvieh, screw horned sheep, Mangalica pigs, Hungarian horse breeds).