Contact

Areas of expertise

Quantitative genetics, genomic selection, complex trait genetics, statistical genetics, population genomics, genetic and genomic evaluation

Education

B.S., Animal Science, Shiraz University, 2005

M.S., Animal Breeding and Genetics, University of Guilan, 2007

M.S., Animal Breeding and Genetics, The University of Georgia, 2015

Ph.D., Animal Breeding and Genetics, The University of Georgia, 2018

Sajjad Toghiani is a Research Geneticist (Animals) at the USDA-ARS Animal Genomics and Improvement Laboratory (AGIL) in Beltsville, Maryland. He leverages his cross-disciplinary skillset in statistics, genetics, genomics, and data science to contribute to the field of animal breeding and genetics. His primary focus is on utilizing cutting-edge genomic research in animal breeding to develop decision-making tools and improved algorithms that can improve animal health and welfare, environmental sustainability, climate adaptability, and productivity for producers. Additionally, he prioritizes innovation in animal genetic research to address challenges such as improving genomic prediction from high-density genotypes, reducing environmental footprint, adapting to climate change, enhancing disease resistance, and preserving genetic diversity while maintaining or increasing productivity.

Google Scholar Sajjad Toghiani

• Projects

  Increasing Accuracy of Genomic Prediction, Developing Algorithms, Selecting Markers, and Evaluating New Traits to Improve Dairy Cattle In-House Appropriated (D)   Accession Number:442491

• Publications

  • (Clicking on the reprint icon will take you to the publication reprint.)
  • Validating genomic predictions for economic traits in purebred U.S. dairy heifers -(Peer Reviewed Journal)
    Toghiani, S., Van Raden, P.M., Null, D.J., Miles, A.M., Van Tassell, C.P. 2024. Validating genomic predictions for economic traits in purebred U.S. dairy heifers. Journal of Dairy Science. https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.2024-25267.
    
  • Dry matter intake in US Holstein cows: exploring the genomic and phenotypic impact of milk components and body weight composite -(Peer Reviewed Journal)
    Toghiani, S., Van Raden, P.M., VandeHaar, M.J., Baldwin, R.L., Weigel, K., White, H., Penagaricano, F., Koltes, J.E., Santos, J.P., Parker Gaddis, K.L., Tempelman, R.J. 2024. Dry matter intake in US Holstein cows: Exploring the genomic and phenotypic impact of milk components and body weight composite. Journal of Dairy Science. 107(9):7009–7021. https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.2023-24296.
    
  • Genetic and genomic evaluations of milking speed and duration from automated milk recording-(Abstract Only)
    O'Connell, J.R., Miles, A.M., Hutchison, J.L., Toghiani, S., Fourdraine, R.H., Van Raden, P.M. 2024. Genetic and genomic evaluations of milking speed and duration from automated milk recording [abstract]. Journal of Dairy Science. 107(Suppl. 1):41(abstr. 1197).
    
  • Validation of genomic prediction for economic traits in heifers across five U.S. dairy breeds-(Abstract Only)
    Toghiani, S., Van Raden, P.M., Null, D.J., Miles, A.M., Van Tassell, C.P. 2024. Validation of genomic prediction for economic traits in heifers across five U.S. dairy breeds [abstract]. Journal of Dairy Science. 107(Suppl. 1):129(abstr. 1513).
    
  • Inbreeding depression for producer-recorded udder, metabolic, and reproductive diseases in US dairy cattle -(Peer Reviewed Journal)
    Lozada Soto, E., Parker Gaddis, K., Tiezzi, F., Jiang, J., Ma, L., Toghiani, S., Van Raden, P.M., Maltecca, C. 2024. Inbreeding depression for producer-recorded udder, metabolic, and reproductive diseases in US dairy cattle. Journal of Dairy Science. 107(5):3032-3046. https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.2023-23909.
    
  • Modeling identical twins and clones in genetic evaluations-(Proceedings)
    Van Raden, P.M., Fok, G.C., Toghiani, S., Nicolazzi, E.L. 2023. Modeling identical twins and clones in genetic evaluations. Interbull Bulletin. 59:63-68.
    
  • Imputation accuracy from low- to medium-density SNP chips for US crossbred dairy cattle -(Peer Reviewed Journal)
    Deru, V., Tiezzi, F., Van Raden, P.M., Lozada-Soto, E.L., Toghiani, S., Maltecca, C. 2024. Imputation accuracy from low- to medium-density SNP chips for US crossbred dairy cattle. Journal of Dairy Science. 107(1):398-411. https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.2023-23250.
    
  • Effect of germplasm exchange strategies on genetic gain, accumulation of homozygosity, and genetic diversity in dairy cattle stud populations: A simulation study-(Abstract Only)
    
    
  • Implementation of feed efficiency in Iranian Holstein breeding program -(Peer Reviewed Journal)
    Nadri, S., Sadeghi-Sefidmazgi, A., Zamani, P., Ghorbani, G., Toghiani, S. 2023. Implementation of feed efficiency in Iranian Holstein breeding program. Animals. 13(7):1216. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani13071216.
    
  • Genetic architecture of a composite beef cattle population -(Peer Reviewed Journal)
    Hay, E.A., Toghiani, S., Roberts, A.J., Paim, T., Kuehn, L.A., Blackburn, H.D. 2022. Genetic architecture of a composite beef cattle population. Journal of Animal Science. 2022. Article 230. https://doi.org/10.1093/jas/skac230.
    
  • Genetic analysis of retained placenta and its association with reproductive disorder, production, and fertility traits of Iranian Holstein dairy cows -(Peer Reviewed Journal)
    Mahnani, A., Sadeghi-Sefidmazgi, A., Ansari-Mahyari, S., Ghiasi, H., Toghiani, S. 2022. Genetic analysis of retained placenta and its association with reproductive disorder, production, and fertility traits of Iranian Holstein dairy cows. Theriogenology. 189:59-63. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.theriogenology.2022.04.008.
    
  • Phenotypic and genotypic impact of milk components and bodyweight composite on dry matter intake-(Abstract Only)
    Toghiani, S., Van Raden, P.M., Parker Gaddis, K.L., Vandehaar, M.J., Tempelman, R.J. 2022. Phenotypic and genotypic impact of milk components and bodyweight composite on dry matter intake [abstract]. Journal of Dairy Science. 105(Suppl. 1):200(abstr. 1499V).
    
  • National index correlations and actual vs. expected use of foreign sires-(Proceedings)
    Toghiani, S., Van Raden, P.M. 2021. National index correlations and actual vs. expected use of foreign sires. Interbull Bulletin. 56:52–59.
    
  • Grid search approach to discriminate between old and recent inbreeding using phenotypic, pedigree and genomic information -(Peer Reviewed Journal)
    Sumreddee, P., Hay, E.A., Toghiani, S., Roberts, A.J., Aggrey, S., Rekaya, R. 2021. Grid search approach to discriminate between old and recent inbreeding using phenotypic, pedigree and genomic information. Biomed Central (BMC) Genomics. 22.Article 538. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12864-021-07872-z.
    
  • Net merit as a measure of lifetime profit: 2021 revision-(Government Publication)
    Van Raden, P.M., Cole, J.B., Neupane, M., Toghiani, S., Parker Gaddis, K.L., Tempelman, R.J. 2021. Net merit as a measure of lifetime profit: 2021 revision. AIPL Research Reports. NM$8(05-21).
    
  • Index correlations and actual vs. expected use of foreign sires-(Abstract Only)
    
    
  • Runs of homozygosity and analysis of inbreeding depression -(Peer Reviewed Journal)
    Sumreddee, P., Toghiani, S., Hay, E.A., Roberts, A.J., Aggrey, S., Rekaya, R. 2020. Runs of homozygosity and analysis of inbreeding depression. Journal of Animal Science. 98(12):1-11. https://doi.org/10.1093/jas/skaa361.
    
  • Impact of cold stress on birth and weaning weight in a composite beef cattle breed -(Peer Reviewed Journal)
    Toghiani, S., Hay, E.A., Roberts, A., Rekaya, R. 2020. Impact of cold stress on birth and weaning weight in a composite beef cattle breed. Livestock Science. 236:104053. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.livsci.2020.104053.
    
  • Genotype by environment interaction in response to cold stress in a composite beef cattle breed -(Peer Reviewed Journal)
    Toghiani, S., Hay, E.A., Fragomeni, B., Rekaya, R., Roberts, A.J. 2020. Genotype by environment interaction in response to cold stress in a composite beef cattle breed. Animal. 1-12. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1751731120000531.
    
  • A weighted genomic relationship matrix based on Fixation Index (Fst) prioritized SNPs for genomic selection -(Peer Reviewed Journal)
    Ling-Yun, C., Toghiani, S., Hay, E.A., Aggrey, S., Rekaya, R. 2019. A weighted genomic relationship matrix based on Fixation Index (Fst) prioritized SNPs for genomic selection. Genes. 10(11):922. https://doi.org/10.3390/genes10110922.
    
  • Increasing accuracy of genomic selection in presence of high density marker panels through the prioritization of relevant polymorphisms -(Peer Reviewed Journal)
    Chang, L., Toghiani, S., Aggrey, S.E., Rekaya, R. 2019. Increasing accuracy of genomic selection in presence of high density marker panels through the prioritization of relevant polymorphisms. BMC Genetics. 1-10. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12863-019-0720-5.
    

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