Conservation & local programs

Embrapa Geneplus Program: consulting services in genetic improvement of beef cattle

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Abstract

The Embrapa Program for Beef Cattle Breeding - Geneplus is one of the most important beef cattle breeding programs in Brazil, originating from a public-private partnership in 1996, between the Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation (Embrapa) and Geneplus Agricultural Consulting Ltd. Currently, more than six hundred farms are served by Geneplus in Brazil, Paraguay, Bolivia and Colombia, involving 13 beef breeds (zebu, taurine and composite). The main goal is to provide specialized consulting services to beef cattle breeders, enhancing their genetic selection processes and mating plans. Considering the production system and selection objectives of each breeder, the Program helps to design and execute customized breeding projects. Geneplus has three main groups of professionals that play synergistic roles. The first group is formed by data analysts and software developers who are responsible for maintaining and organizing databases for genetic evaluations, as well as developing solutions for optimizing the delivery and use of EPD (Expected Progeny Difference) in the herds. The second group consists of qualified field technicians (animal scientists and veterinarians) who are in charge of carrying out the breeding project designed by each breeder, playing an important role in activities such as data collection, farm team training, and application of genetic evaluation results on selection, culling, and mating processes. The third group is compounded by geneticists who are responsible for genetic evaluations and for providing a specialized background to software development. One of the technologies developed by Geneplus is a website called GP PLUS On, where genetic evaluation results and related statistics can be easily assessed by breeders. This tool allows the user to apply filters and to rank the animals by several criteria. Another one is GP PLUS, an offline software available for each served farm with the information for the genomic genetic evaluation and some tools, such as genetic trends, selection by the Genetic Qualification Index (IQG, composed with production and reproduction traits), mating, problem level and coancestry. The Embrapa Geneplus Program serves all levels of the organizational structure of meat production supporting nucleus herds, multiplier herds, and commercial herds. Thus, selectors would be providing genetically superior males and females breeding stock that should transmit half of its sample of germplasm to facilitate an additional gain in meat or of live weight in the progeny. On the other hand, the commercial producers sell kilograms of meat, not genetic value. However, they need to acquire animals that possess desirable genetic values to obtain advantages for all traits, especially reproductive traits. The genetic progress quantified through the genetic trends of the IQG, as example for the Nellore breed is 1,88 standard deviations per year and for the Senepol breed is 1,42 standard deviations per year.

Keywords: 2026

How to Cite:

Nobre, P. & Menezes, G., (2026) “Embrapa Geneplus Program: consulting services in genetic improvement of beef cattle”, World Congress on Genetics Applied to Livestock Production Digital Archive 2026(1): 2287032. doi: https://doi.org/10.31274/wcgalp.24199

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