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ARS Home » Northeast Area » Beltsville, Maryland (BARC) » Beltsville Agricultural Research Center » Animal Genomics and Improvement Laboratory » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #353484
Research Project: Improving Feed Efficiency and Environmental Sustainability of Dairy Cattle through Genomics and Novel Technologies

Location: Animal Genomics and Improvement Laboratory

Title: A progress report for the efficient dairy genome project

Author
item MIGLIOR, FILIPPO - Canadian Dairy Network
item BAES, CHRISTINE - University Of Guelph
item CANOVAS, ANGELA - University Of Guelph
item COFFEY, MIKE - Scottish Agricultural College
item Connor, Erin
item DE PAUW, MARY - University Of Alberta
item GODDARD, ELLEN - University Of Alberta
item HAILU, GETU - University Of Guelph
item LASSON, JAN - Aarhus University
item MALCHIODI, FRENCESCA - University Of Guelph
item OSBORNE, VERN - University Of Guelph
item PRYCE, JENNIE - Agriculture Victoria
item SARGOLZAEI, MEHDI - Semex Alliance
item SCHENKEL, FLAVIO - University Of Guelph
item WALL, EILEEN - Scottish Agricultural College
item WANG, ZHIQUAN - University Of Alberta
item WEGMAN, SILVIA - Collaborator
item WRIGHT, TOM - Collaborator
item STOTHARD, PAUL - University Of Alberta

Submitted to: American Society of Animal Science
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/28/2018
Publication Date: 7/8/2018
Citation: Miglior, F., Baes, C., Canovas, A., Coffey, M., Connor, E.E., De Pauw, M., Goddard, E., Hailu, G., Lasson, J., Malchiodi, F., Osborne, V., Pryce, J.E., Sargolzaei, M., Schenkel, F., Wall, E., Wang, Z., Wegman, S., Wright, T., Stothard, P. 2018. A progress report for the efficient dairy genome project [abstract]. American Society of Animal Science and Canadian Society of Animal Science Annual Meeting. Paper No. 324.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: The Efficient Dairy Genome Project is an international research initiative led by Canada that brings together research and industry experts and is focused on developing genomic selection tools for improving feed efficiency (FE) and decreasing methane emissions (ME) in dairy cattle. Genotypes and phenotypic data for FE, ME, and milk MIR spectral data from research herds in six countries are being collated in a secure project database for the continuous data exchange among country members. Consolidated data will be used to implement genomic evaluations for the novel traits using a combined reference population. As the 4-year project enters its final year, results in various areas are accumulating: structural variants, economic weights and selection index, consumer and producer level social studies. The project generated whole-genome sequences for 32 Holstein bulls which was combined with existing sequence data on another 451 Holstein animals from previous projects. This information has been used to find structural variants in the genome that may be contributing to or affecting these traits. Such variants will help us understand the underlying biology of these traits and/or serve as genetic markers to select desired animals.