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Title: Invited Review: Reliability of Genomic Predictions for North American Holstein Bulls

Author
item Vanraden, Paul
item Van Tassell, Curtis - Curt
item Wiggans, George
item Sonstegard, Tad
item SCHNABEL, R - UNIV OF MISSOURI
item TAYLOR, J - UNIV OF MISSOURI
item SCHENKEL, F - UNIV OF GUELPH

Submitted to: Journal of Dairy Science
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/19/2008
Publication Date: 1/1/2009
Citation: Van Raden, P.M., Van Tassell, C.P., Wiggans, G.R., Sonstegard, T.S., Schnabel, R.D., Taylor, J.F., Schenkel, F.S. 2009. Invited Review: Reliability of Genomic Predictions for North American Holstein Bulls. Journal of Dairy Science. 92(1):16-24.

Interpretive Summary: Genomic predictions of genetic merit were tested using 2003 historical data for 3,576 bulls born before 1999 to predict current data for 1,759 bulls born from 1999 to 2002. Genotypes for 38,416 markers were included for each bull. Reliability for young bulls was 50% for genomic predictions compared with 27% for traditional parent averages, an average increase of 23% across all traits. Genomic predictions will greatly enhance the information available to dairy producers in selecting young animals.

Technical Abstract: Genetic progress will increase when breeders examine genotypes instead of only pedigrees and phenotypes. Genotypes for 38,416 markers and August 2003 genetic evaluations for 3,576 Holstein bulls born before 1999 were used to predict January 2008 daughter deviations for 1,759 bulls born from 1999 through 2002. Genotypes were generated using the Illumina BovineSNP50 BeadChip and DNA from semen contributed by US and Canadian artificial-insemination organizations to the Cooperative Dairy DNA Repository. Genomic predictions for 5 yield traits, 5 fitness traits, 16 conformation traits, and net merit were computed using a linear model with an assumed normal distribution for marker effects and also using a nonlinear model with a heavier tailed prior to account for major genes. The official parent average from 2003 and a 2003 parent average computed from only the subset of genotyped ancestors were combined with genomic predictions using a selection index. Combined predictions were more accurate than official parent averages for all 27 traits. The coefficients of determination (R2) were 0.02 to 0.38 higher with nonlinear genomic predictions included than from parent average alone. Linear genomic predictions had R2 similar to those from nonlinear predictions but averaged just 0.01 lower. Largest benefits of genomic prediction were for fat percentage because of a known gene with large effect. The R2 were converted to realized reliabilities by dividing by mean reliability of 2008 daughter deviations and then adding the difference between published and observed reliabilities of 2003 parent averages. When averaged across all traits, combined genomic predictions had realized reliabilities that were 23% higher than reliabilities of parent averages (50 versus 27%), and gains in information were equivalent to 11 additional daughter records. Reliability increased more by doubling the number of bulls genotyped than the number of