Abstract
Genomic selection (GS) approaches, in combination with reproductive technologies, are revolutionizing the design and implementation of breeding programs in livestock species, particularly in cattle. GS leverages genomic readouts to provide estimates of breeding value early in the life of animals. However, the capacity of these approaches for improving genetic gain in breeding programs is limited by generation interval, the average age of an animal when replacement progeny are born. Here, we present a cost-effective approach that combines GS with reproductive technologies to reduce generation interval by rapidly producing high genetic merit calves.
Highlights
Genomic selection (GS) approaches, in combination with reproductive technologies, are revolutionizing the design and implementation of breeding programs in livestock species, in cattle
Single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP)-based enhanced genotyping can improve the accuracy of selection, while multiple ovulation, embryo transfer, and in vitro fertilization (IVF) can improve the intensity of selection
whole genome amplification (WGA) from a limited number of embryonic cells can result in excessive allele dropout rate, which leads to lower SNP call rates relative to the threshold standards needed for genomic enhanced genetic analysis[9,10]
Summary
All in vivo procedures in this study were carried out in accordance with International Embryo Transfer Society guidelines[12]. Oocytes were collected in Vigro Flushing Solution (Bioniche Animal Health, Pullman, WA). After 18 h of coincubation, oocytes were vortexed to remove the cumulus and sperm cells, washed once in SOF culture medium and cultured for 7 d in SOF containing 6-well plates under mineral oil in an incubator set up with 5% O2 and 5% CO2 air at 38.5uC. Day 7 grade 1 and 2 (Ref. 11) in vitro produced embryos derived from oocytes retrieved from donor Jersey cows and in vitro fertilized with Jersey sperm were selected and loaded 3–6 embryos per straw and transferred nonsurgically into day 7 synchronized recipients. Bovine fetal fibroblast cell lines were established using a modification of a method described earlier[17]. Kasinathan, P. et al Effect of donor cell cycle and age on development of bovine nuclear transfer embryos in vitro. Concordance percentages were computed by dividing the number of loci with identical genotypes by the total number of loci meeting the above criteria in a given pairwise comparison
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