Integration of genomic information into national cattle and sheep evaluations – past, present and future — ASN Events
  1. Schedule
  2. Plenary Session 1
  3. Integration of genomic information into national cattle and sheep evaluations – past, present and future

Integration of genomic information into national cattle and sheep evaluations – past, present and future (#1)

Donagh Berry 1 , Francis Kearney 2 , Noirin Mchugh 1 , Eamonn Wall 3 , Deirdre Purfield 1 , Andrew Cromie 2
  1. Teagasc, Fermoy, CO CORK, Ireland
  2. Irish Cattle Breeding Federation, Bandon, Co Cork, Ireland
  3. Sheep Ireland, Bandon, Co Cork, Ireland

National (two-step) genomic evaluations exist for Holstein-Friesian dairy cattle in Ireland since 2009; retrospective analysis reveals minimal bias in prediction and more accurate ranking of animals compared to pedigree index. The size of the training population for dairying (up to 5,105 animals) has increased 5-fold in recent years through sharing of genotypes. One-step multi-breed genomic predictions for beef cattle are expected to become official in autumn 2015 based on a genotyped population of over 100,000 individuals. Genotypes of all cattle are from the custom International Dairy and Beef genotype panel developed in Ireland; this panel consists of 18,217 SNPs. Genotyping of 11,400 sheep for the development of genomic predictions has just begun.

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