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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Athens, Georgia » U.S. National Poultry Research Center » Poultry Microbiological Safety and Processing Research Unit » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #426159
Research Project: Alternatives to Antibiotics and Genomics of Antimicrobial Resistance to Control Foodborne Pathogens in Poultry

Location: Poultry Microbiological Safety and Processing Research Unit

Title: Genomic Regions Associated with Bovine Respiratory Disease in Holstein Calves in the Southern United States

Author
item HERRICK, ALLISON - Washington State University
item KISER, JENNIFER - Washington State University
item White, Stephen
item NEIBERGS, HOLLY - Washington State University

Submitted to: Genes
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/24/2025
Publication Date: 6/26/2025
Citation: Herrick, A.L., Kiser, J.N., White, S.N., Neibergs, H.L. 2025. Genomic Regions Associated with Bovine Respiratory Disease in Holstein Calves in the Southern United States. Genes. 16(7):741. https://doi.org/10.3390/genes16070741.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/genes16070741

Interpretive Summary: Background/Objectives: Bovine respiratory disease (BRD) is a common disease impacting cattle throughout the US. Disease risk varies with environmental conditions and contributing pathogens, making BRD a multifactorial disease. Genetic selection for enhanced BRD resistant cattle can aid in reducing BRD. Objectives of this study were to identify genes associated with BRD in pre- and post-weaned Holstein cattle in southern US conditions. Cases consisted of 2,147 and 5,607 calves treated for BRD as pre-weaned (0-60 days old) and post-weaned (61-420 days old) calves, respectively. Controls consisted of calves untreated for BRD that remained in the herd for 61 (n = 14,219) days for pre-weaned or 421 (n = 12,242) days for post-weaned calves. In pre-weaned calves, 62 genomic regions and 123 positional candidate genes were associated with BRD. In post-weaned calves, 181 genomic regions and 185 positional candidate genes were associated with BRD. These data from large numbers of southern US cattle identified many genomic regions and genes associated with BRD 1) at higher resolution and 2) in a different environment than many prior studies. These results provide further insight into genomic regions that can enhance genetic selection programs for BRD resistance and for healthier cattle.

Technical Abstract: Background/Objectives: Bovine respiratory disease (BRD) is a common disease impacting cattle throughout the US. Disease risk varies with environmental conditions and pathogens, making BRD a multifactorial disease. Selection for enhanced BRD resistant cattle can aid in reducing BRD. Objectives of this study were to identify loci, gene sets, and genes associated and enriched for BRD in pre- and post-weaned Holstein cattle. Methods: Cases consisted of 2,147 and 5,607 calves treated for BRD as pre-weaned (0-60 days old) and post-weaned (61-420 days old) calves, respectively. Controls consisted of calves untreated for BRD that remained in the herd for 61 (n = 14,219) days for pre-weaned or 421 (n = 12,242) days for post-weaned calves. A genome-wide association analysis (GWAA) identified loci and positional candidate genes associated with BRD (uncorrected p < 1 x 10-5) for additive, dominant, and recessive inheritance models. A gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA-SNP) identified gene sets and leading-edge genes enriched (NES = 3) for BRD. Results: In pre-weaned calves, 62 loci and 123 positional candidate genes were associated (p < 1 x 10-5) in addition to 12 gene sets and 126 leading edge genes were enriched (NES = 3) for BRD. In post-weaned calves, 181 loci and 185 positional candidate genes were associated (p < 1 x 10-5) and 63 gene sets and 849 leading edge genes were enriched (NES = 3) for BRD. Conclusions: These results provide further insight and validation of genomic regions that enhance selection for BRD resistance and for healthier cattle.