Integration of genomic resources in beef cattle breeding program: a collaborative effort between UNL and ESALQ

• Grant number: 17/50044-5
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: November 01, 2017
• End date: April 30, 2020
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Animal Husbandry - Genetics and Improvement of Domestic Animals
• Agreement: University of Nebraska - Lincoln
• Mobility Program: SPRINT - Projetos de pesquisa - Mobilidade
• Principal Investigator: Gerson Barreto Mourão
• Grantee: Gerson Barreto Mourão
• Principal researcher abroad: Gota Morota
• Institution abroad: University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL) , United States
• Host Institution: Escola Superior de Agricultura Luiz de Queiroz (ESALQ). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Piracicaba , SP, Brazil
• City of the host institution: Piracicaba
• Associated research grant: 12/23638-8 - Molecular basis of meat quality in Nelore beef cattle, AP.TEM

Abstract

Beef cattle production is an integral part of the agricultural economy in Brazil and the United States. In the State of São Paulo, there are about 11.7 million head, close to 6% of the Brazilian herd. Nebraska ranks 1st in the number of cattle on feed and 2nd in the number of all cattle and calves in the U.S. with approximately 6,450,000 head. Both ESALQ-USP and UNL are widely recognized by academia and industry as having strong beef cattle research and extension programs. Being located in the center of beef production of each country, the collaboration between ESALQ-USP and UNL joins complementary resources and capabilities of the two institutions, strengthening the scientific efforts in beef cattle research. We are in a position to leverage the use of available genomic and phenotypic resources across institutions to further enhance genetic progress ultimately benefiting beef producers in both countries. Through these collaborative efforts, we seek to develop the understanding of underlying biology, to improve the profitability and sustainability of beef operations, and to increase our contribution to global food security. The SPRINT funding will strengthen the links between the institutions of the two countries; furthermore, it will encourage new forms of bilateral cooperation in scientific research. The goal of our joint research project is to increase the impact and applicability of an ongoing FAPESP project coordinated by EMBRAPA in partnership with ESALQ-USP by harnessing additional inputs of the UNL team with a specific focus on beef cattle genomics. (AU)