Anuario Raza Polo Argentino Anuario2017 | Page 253

found in the DNA of each individual since its birth,
which means that its use can be had precociously.
Also, this technology has become much less
expensive in latter years and the advantage is
that its analysis is automatic and objective, which
means that results are reliable. Lastly, it must be
noted that analyses are carried out based on a small
sample of the individual’s genetic material (DNA),
thus providing a complete profile of the individual’s
genome. These samples may be extracted from a
simple lock of its mane or a small blood sample,
which makes it easy to take and send, as well as
being inexpensive and bloodless.
Genomics and Animal Genetic
Improvement
The development of assisted selection by genomic
information (assisted selection by markers),
above all in birds, swine and bovine for producing
milk was so great in these last years, that it
substantially modified the average genetic merit
of the productive nature of selected populations
in these species, duplicating the genetic profit
rates per generation. In the milk bovine, for
example, value predictions for an individual as a
breeder are currently determined using information
obtained from molecular markers, which make it
possible to select calves only a few months old
and know the performance of its offspring with a
reliability that would have been unthought-of 10
years before. Furthermore, this technology allows
one to distinguish between the genetic merit
of full brothers (same father and mother) which
otherwise would be impossible to differentiate. It
has also made it possible to reduce the interval
between generations (the new individuals produce
offspring being younger), which undoubtedly will
optimize the use of genetic resources in the case
of polo, allowing mares that have not been highly
considered, to enter early in TE programs. In the
case of horses, whose performance assessment is
usually carried out on adult individuals, it will permit
a very importa