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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 #364055
Research Project: Improving Dairy Animals by Increasing Accuracy of Genomic Prediction, Evaluating New Traits, and Redefining Selection Goals

Location: Animal Genomics and Improvement Laboratory

Title: Comparison of gene editing versus conventional breeding to introgress the POLLED allele into the tropically adapted Australian beef cattle population

Author
item MUELLER, MACI - University Of California
item Cole, John
item CONNORS, NATALIE - University Of New England
item JOHNSTON, DAVID - University Of New England
item RANDHAWA, IMTIAZ - University Of Queensland
item VAN EENENNAAM, ALISON - University Of California

Submitted to: Association for the Advancement of Animal Breeding and Genetics (AAABG)
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/19/2018
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Breeding polled (hornless) cattle is a long-term solution to the costly and increasingly unacceptable cattle management practice of dehorning. This study simulated introgression of the POLLED allele into a tropically adapted Australian beef cattle population via conventional breeding or gene editing for multiple polled mating schemes and compared results to baseline selection on genetic merit using the Japan Ox Economic Index ($JapOx) alone, over the course of 20 years. Overall, our simulations show that given the limited number of polled Brahman sires, conventional breeding to increase the POLLED allele frequency will have to occur gradually to prevent major impacts on the rate of genetic gain. Furthermore, this study demonstrates how gene editing could help to ameliorate these impacts if a rapid decrease in HORNED allele frequency is required due to public pressure or legislation requiring the immediate cessation of dehorning practices.