Industry information paper on genomic selection: Final Report APL Project 2015/064

Abstract

Genomic methods involve reading DNA to some level of precision and analysing data to estimate associations between genotype and phenotype. These methods are being increasingly widely used in most farmed species of livestock and plants, because they offer increased accuracy of estimation of genetic merit for individuals that have limited phenotypes available at the time of selection. Depending on the species, this provides scope for earlier and/or more accurate selection and hence faster genetic progress. While there are a range of approaches to using DNA information in estimating genetic merit, the most widespread approach depends on having a reference population of animals with both performance records (phenotypes) and SNP data (genotypes) recorded. This reference population provides the basis for estimating genetic merit for the recorded traits based solely on the genomic similarity between candidate animals and the reference population. This approach is known as genomic selection. Implementing genomic selection almost invariably increases costs of a breeding program, mainly due to the cost of genotyping. Where additional traits are recorded, this will also increase costs, but this is to increase the power of genomic selection, rather than to make it possible in the first instance. Accordingly, careful benefit-cost analysis should be conducted prior to introducing genomic selection.