Utility of pooled DNA samples for estimating a flock profile

Abstract

<p>The flock profile product by Sheep Genetics allows commercial Merino breeders to benchmark their flock's genetic merit based on the genotypes of 20 animals. Sheep breeders collect DNA samples from their sheep using Tissue Sampling Units, which are then sent to the DNA laboratory and converted into genotypes for the 20 animals, which are used to calculate individual animal breeding values. The final reported value provided to the breeder is the mean of the estimated ASBVs for the 20 animals. This study documents an in-silico investigation to determine if the individual animal genotypes can be combined into an allele frequency, which is used instead to estimate the flock profile breeding value. The mean correlation across traits was 0.99999, while the mean regression slope was 0.9999 These results show that it is possible to calculate the flock profile breeding values based on the allele frequencies. Further research is now required to research and develop procedures on a commercial scale and examine the correlation between a genotype from a pooled sample and the allele frequencies calculated from individual genotypes at this scale.</p>