EVOLUTION OF GENETIC IMPROVEMENT AND PROGRAMS USED IN SHEEP AND GOATS

Abstract

The evolution of genetic improvement in goats and sheep in Brazil is associated with the adoption of strategies aimed at increasing productivity, improving the quality of animal products and adapting herds to environmental conditions. In this scenario, sheep and goat farming has great economic and social importance, especially in semi-arid regions, contributing to food security and income generation. Despite this potential, production systems still have limitations, such as low adoption of technologies, restricted use of improvement programs and fragility in the organization of the production chain. In addition, the deficiency in technical assistance and in the structure of production systems compromises zootechnical indices. Genetic improvement consists of the selection and mating of animals with desirable characteristics, such as productive performance, disease resistance, food efficiency and product quality, in order to increase the frequency of favorable genes over generations. This process promotes cumulative and permanent genetic changes, resulting in more efficient and adapted herds. Given this context, this work aims to analyze the evolution of genetic improvement in sheep and goats, highlighting the main programs and technologies used, as well as their contributions to the increase in productivity and the sustainable development of activity in Brazil. Currently, advances such as the use of DEP, reproductive biotechnologies and molecular tools have accelerated genetic progress. However, challenges such as low technological adoption and the need for greater integration between research and producers still limit its development.