Review regarding the genomic evolution in sheep milk production and their application to improve the selection criteria

Abstract

Genomic era beginning in 2009 when a lot of studies were undertaken in small ruminants to revel the animal genomes and this new technology make possible this achievement with specific tools like ovine SNP chip. First countries with tradition in sheep production that participated and implemented this new technology for Genomic evaluation were Australia, New Zealand followed by France that applied genomics in dairy sheep and goats. Researches were made recently to fill the existent gap for sheep dairy breeds having in mind the examples from dairy cattle from United States of America. The complex mechanism of milk production involves many genes responsible with different tasks. Some of this genes had the expression in the mammary gland. Genomics helps a lot sheep breeders by minimizing genotyping cost with a better understanding of how to maximize benefits of genomic selection. To be able to accomplish worldwide foods necessities for human requirements, we must have in mind the demographic explosion, the climate change and the eminent crises that will appear soon, in agriculture and animal science and start to found sustainable solutions for these problems. Genomic information helps a lot to take the most appropriate decision when is all about how to select an animal that must be genetically conserved, avoiding the biased estimating breeding values and keeping the genetic diversity.