Investigating and implementing international multi-trait genetic evaluations for beef cattle

Summary

This project focused on developing a commercial pipeline that would allow international evaluations to be conducted routinely, using BREEDPLAN technology in the calculation of Estimated Breeding Values (EBVs). Alternative pipelines and analytical services available for international beef evaluations were reviewed.

Objectives

This project reviewed the following points that are important considerations for multi-country genetic evaluations:

• Multi-country genetic parameters
• Multi-country estimates of genetic relationships between beef populations
• Multi-country multi-trait genetic evaluations
• Multi-country datasets
• Genetic linkage
• Multi-source-data extracts
• Genetic parameters
• International collaboration
• Pipeline processes
• Models of evaluation
• Data reporting
• Data sharing agreements

Key findings

• International evaluations have potential to enhance Australia’s high-value genetic export opportunities by demonstrating how Australian genetics compare to other genetics available internationally for a range of production traits.
• For seedstock breeders and for those involved in the international marketing of semen and embryos, access to large-scale international evaluations for a given breed is viewed as a higher priority than access to multi-breed evaluations.
• A commercial pipeline of processes is necessary for international beef evaluations to be conducted on a routine basis.
• Routine international genetic evaluations could be considered as supplementing current national evaluations, rather than replacing them.
• Regardless of breed, there will be specific populations needed to provide the genetic linkage on which international evaluations depend.
• Opportunities for the on-going development of international BREEDPLAN evaluations will depend on strategic collaborations between breed associations and service provider combined with continued enhancement of the BREEDPLAN technology to better service the requirements of an international market.

Benefits to industry

Where national breed-specific evaluations were once common place, there is now a growing interest and opportunity for countries to combine their pedigree, performance and genomic data into larger-scale multi-country genetic evaluations. This allows individual animals to be compared directly on Estimated Breeding Value (EBV) across countries, allowing breeders to take a more informed approach to the selection of possible genetics from "beyond the borders". This also means that superior local genetics can be more accurately identified when benchmarked within the wider international gene pool.

MLA action

As one of the BREEDPLAN Owners MLA need to consider how the findings of this project relate to the delivery of the national genetic evaluation service for beef cattle in Australia.

Future research

• Opportunities for the on-going development of international BREEDPLAN evaluations will be dependent on the international reputation of each being reinforced through strategic collaborations (via ABRI) and continual enhancement of the BREEDPLAN technology to better service the requirements of the international market.
• The marketing strength and speed of delivery of other organisations, such as IGS and Theta Solutions, does mean the priority given to developing international evaluations requires careful consideration of the models and methods available. The growing interest in these other service providers becoming evident within Australian breed associations should not be taken lightly, given their capacity to facilitate multi-country evaluations.