Location: Animal Genomics and Improvement Laboratory
Project Number: 8042-31000-113-015-S
Project Type: Non-Assistance Cooperative Agreement
Start Date: May 22, 2023
End Date: May 21, 2025
Objective:
Genomic selection began a decade ago using random genetic markers across the chromosomes but farmers now can directly test more of the genes and DNA mutations that cause traits to differ. Quality control measures will be applied to genotypes of 7 million US dairy cattle to test effects of important individual genes on economically important traits. Strategies that emphasize causal variants and account for gene interactions should better predict future performance. Such variants can have major effects on selection and marketing of individual animals. The overall goals of this project are to: (1) apply quality control measures to genotypes of 7 million US dairy cattle to test effects of important individual genes on economically important traits and (2) develop methods to estimate the gene content for millions of non-genotyped animals using their pedigree relationships with genotyped relatives to allow for direct selection in a genetic index. Strategies that emphasize causal variants should better predict future performance.
Approach:
Selected causal alleles (QTLs), sequence variants, and markers are now included in genotyping arrays. Several QTLs are directly reported to and used by dairy cattle breeders to avoid mating carriers of harmful recessives or to enhance their herds for alleles with beneficial, marketable properties such as protein quality. The research will investigate statistical properties of those QTLs and develop quality control measures to improve past and future data. Methods will be developed to estimate the gene content for millions of non-genotyped animals using their pedigree relationships with genotyped relatives such as sires or grandsires to allow for direct selection in a genetic index.
