ARS | Publication request: Genome Signature of Artificial Selection for High Milk Yield in Holstein Cattle

Submitted to: Plant and Animal Genome Conference Proceedings
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: January 5, 2009
Publication Date: January 12, 2009
Citation: Sonstegard, T.S., Ma, L., Cole, J.B., Wiggans, G.R., Crooker, B.A., Van Tassell, C.P., Mariani, B.D., Da, Y. 2009. Genome Signature of Artificial Selection for High Milk Yield in Holstein Cattle. Plant and Animal Genome Conference Proceedings.

Technical Abstract: Artificial selection for high milk yield in Holstein cattle during the past forty years achieved tremendous increases in milk yield but had an unintended consequence of reduced fertility. It was unknown how artificial selection changed the Holstein genome and what genome changes were associated with the phenotypic changes. By contrasting the genome-wide single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) of cattle that had or had not been subjected to selection pressure, and by comparing cattle in different selection stages, extensive allele frequency changes acrosss the Holstein genome were revealed. Using genomehttp://www.intl-pag.org/cgi-bin/pag17.cgi (1 of 2) [10/1/2008 12:54:25 PM] PAG-XVII Abstract Submission Form wide analysis of selection sweep and SNP-phenotype association between the selected and unselected populations, a number of selection signatures associated with milk yield were localized to specific genes and chromosome regions. Some of the regions had opposite effects on fertility measured by daughter pregnancy rate, suggesting an antagonistic mechanism underlying milk yield and fertility.