Genotype by Environment Interaction and Selection Response for Milk Yield Traits and Conformation in a Local Cattle Breed Using a Reaction Norm Approach

SIMPLE SUMMARY: This study aimed at investigating the impact of genotype by environmental interaction (GxE) in local dual-purpose cattle. Environmental conditions were based on altitude, housing, feeding system, and use of summer pasture. Genetic variability for production traits was larger in farms in plain areas, without the use of summer pasture, with loose housing and feeding of total mixed rations. On the other hand, a greater response for most conformation traits was found for mountain farms, using loose housing, hay-based feeding, and no summer pasture. This study confirms the relevance of considering GxE in local breeds reared in various environments. ABSTRACT: Local breeds are often reared in various environmental conditions (EC), suggesting that genotype by environment interaction (GxE) could influence genetic progress. This study aimed at investigating GxE and response to selection (R) in Rendena cattle under diverse EC. Traits included milk, fat, and protein yields, fat and protein percentage, and somatic cell score, three-factor scores and 24 linear type traits. The traits belonged to 11,085 cows (615 sires). Variance components were estimated in a two-step reaction norm model (RNM). A single trait animal model was run to obtain the solutions of herd-EC effect, then included in a random regression sire model. A multivariate response to selection (R) in different EC was computed for traits under selection including beef traits from a performance test. GxE accounted on average for 10% of phenotypic variance, and an average rank correlation of over 0.97 was found between bull estimated breeding values (EBVs) by either including or not including GxE, with changing top ranks. For various traits, significantly greater genetic components and R were observed in plain farms, loose housing rearing system, feeding total mixed ration, and without summer pasture. Conversely, for beef traits, a greater R was found for mountain farms, loose housing, hay-based feeding and summer pasture.