ARS | Publication request: Logistics for Working Together to Facilitate Genomic/Quantitative Genetic Prediction

Submitted to: Beef Improvement Federation Proceedings
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: February 12, 2009
Publication Date: April 13, 2009
Citation: Thallman, R.M., Pollak, J. 2009. Logistics for Working Together to Facilitate Genomic/Quantitative Genetic Prediction. Proc., Beef Improvement Federation 9th Genetic Prediction Workshop, Kansas City, MO. December 8-10, 2008. pp. 101-108.

Technical Abstract: The incorporation of DNA tests into the national cattle evaluation system will require estimation of variances of and covariances among the additive genetic components of the DNA tests and the phenotypic traits they are intended to predict. Populations with both DNA test results and phenotypes will be required to estimate these parameters. Populations with DNA tests from multiple companies and with different versions of DNA tests for the same traits from the same company will also be required. Therefore, population requirements in the future will be even more demanding than have been required for validation of DNA tests over the past several years. Cooperation among a number of public and private entities appears to be the most practical way to assemble the necessary population resources. A pilot project that draws upon such cooperation is proposed. This pilot project will focus on birth weight, weaning weight and yearling weight. The reasons for this choice of traits include: they are the traits for which phenotypes are most abundant, even in animals that have been extensively genotyped and phenotyped for other traits, they are the traits for which it will be easiest to succeed, and there has been less investment by the DNA testing companies in proprietary technology for these traits. The pilot project will involve multiple stages of discovery and validation, including large numbers of performance-recorded purebred cattle in large, influential herds. A panel of, perhaps, several hundred DNA markers that predicts the weight traits will be developed and validated in the industry purebred cattle. It is hoped that this pilot project will include a large enough number of animals that the population requirements for successful development and implementation of DNA tests can be determined.