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AIPL conducts research to enhance genetic evaluation techniques and improve efficiency of dairy animals for yield, fitness, and various production and fitness traits. The laboratory collaborates with various organizations and universities to leverage genomic evaluations for impactful genetic enhancements in the dairy industry.
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Mission • Conduct research to discover, test, and implement improved genetic evaluation techniques for economically important traits of dairy cattle and goats • Genetically improve efficiency of dairy animals for yield and fitness
Production traits evaluated • Yield • Milk • Fat • Protein • Component percentage • Fat • Protein
Fitness traits evaluated • Type (conformation) • Productive life (longevity) • Somatic cell score (mastitis resistance) • Fertility • Daughter pregnancy rate (cow) • Estimated relative conception rate (bull) • Calving ease and stillbirth (service sire and daughter)
National Dairy Genetic Evaluation Program PDCA DHI NAAB AIPL CDCB Universities AIPL Animal Improvement Programs Lab., USDA CDCB Council on Dairy Cattle Breeding DHI Dairy Herd Improvement (milk recording organizations) NAAB National Association of Animal Breeders (AI) PDCA Purebred Dairy Cattle Association (breed registries)
Current research • Improved evaluations for male and female fertility • Improved evaluations of calving traits by accounting for genetic differences by parity • DNA information used in evaluations
Genomic evaluations • Joint project with Bovine Functional Genomics Laboratory • Over 38,000 SNP informative for Holsteins • Over 6000 bull and cows genotyped so far • SNP effects estimated from animals with evaluations • Evaluations of young animals • Increased accuracy over parent information
Current status • Field test results distributed for 750 nominated animals • Extension to Jersey and Brown Swiss in progress • Transition to commercial genotyping labs • Extension to cows planned for June
Possible impact • Genomic evaluations received on bull calves before purchase • Genotyping required for bull dams • Decreased number of bulls in waiting • Marketing based on genomic evaluations • Increased rate of genetic improvement
Summary • Genetic evaluations developed by AIPL are basis of impressive rate of genetic improvement • Frequent innovations improve accuracy and add traits of economic importance • Genomic information expected to lead to large changes in animal breeding industry