Validation of genomic tools to improve production efficiency, health resilience and the carbon footprint of beef production

Abstract

Genomic tools and accuracy of molecular breeding values (MBVs) for economically important traits continue to improve and are being applied in commercial crossbred beef cattle. Ge­nomic breed composition and retained heterozygosity of an individual animal can be used to further improve female fertil­ity, stayability, lifetime productivity and calf health resilience. But this is just the first step. Within specific crossbred popula­tions, researchers at Livestock Gentec have used large numbers of cattle phenotypes and genotypes, combined with advanced statistical genomic analyses to generate MBVs for 18 traits with moderate to moderately-high accuracy (0.35 to 0.60). This accu­racy is equivalent to 10 to 20 progeny records. These MBVs are economically balanced into multi-trait profit indices such as the Replacement Heifer Profit Index Score and the Feeder Profit In­dex. The use of these genomic tools will improve the sustainabil­ity of beef production by improving profitability, lowering the carbon footprint, and improving an animal’s ability to adapt to changing environments. The following paper outlines the valida­tion of these genomic tools and their potential benefits.