Use of molecular technologies for the advancement of animal breeding: genomic selection in dairy cattle populations in Australia, Ireland and New Zealand
Richard J. Spelman A D , Ben J. Hayes B and Donagh P. Berry C
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A Livestock Improvement Corporation, Private Bag 3016, Hamilton, New Zealand.
B Department of Primary Industries, GPO Box 4440, Melbourne, Vic. 3001, Australia.
C Animal & Grassland Research and Innovation Centre, Teagasc, Moorepark, Fermoy, Co. Cork, Ireland.
D Corresponding author. Email: rspelman@lic.co.nz
Animal Production Science 53(9) 869-875 https://doi.org/10.1071/AN12304
Submitted: 24 August 2012 Accepted: 2 February 2013 Published: 24 April 2013
Abstract
The New Zealand, Australian and Irish dairy industries have used genomic information to enhance their genetic evaluations over the last 2–4 years. The improvement in the accuracy obtained from including genomic information on thousands of animals in the national evaluation system has revolutionised the dairy breeding programs in the three countries. The genomically enhanced breeding values (GEBV) of young bulls are more reliable than breeding values based on parent average, thus allowing the young bulls to be reliably selected and used in the national herd. Traditionally, the use of young bulls was limited and bulls were not used extensively until they were 5 years old when the more reliable progeny test results became available. Using young sires, as opposed to progeny-tested sires, in the breeding program dramatically reduces the generation interval, thereby facilitating an increase in the rate of genetic gain by 40–50%. Young sires have been marketed on their GEBV in the three countries over the last 2–4 years. Initial results show that the genomic estimates were overestimated in both New Zealand and Ireland. Adjustments have since been introduced into their respective national evaluations to reduce the bias. A bias adjustment has been included in the Australian evaluation since it began; however, official genomic evaluations have not been in place as long as in New Zealand and Ireland, so there has been less opportunity to validate if the correction accounts for all bias. Sequencing of the dairy cattle population has commenced in an effort to further improve the genomic predictions and also to detect causative mutations that underlie traits of economic performance.
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