Genome wide association of reproductive traits in Nellore cattle, including phenotypic information from NON-GENOTYPED animals

• Grant number: 13/17396-4
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• Start date: March 01, 2014
• End date: February 28, 2015
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Animal Husbandry - Genetics and Improvement of Domestic Animals
• Principal Investigator: Roberto Carvalheiro
• Grantee: Thaise Pinto de Melo
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias e Veterinárias (FCAV). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Jaboticabal. Jaboticabal , SP, Brazil
• Associated scholarship(s): 14/09603-2 - Importance of incorporating phenotypic information of NON-GENOTYPED animals in Genome-Wide Association Studies, BE.EP.MS

Abstract

Reproductive traits are closely associated with the success of the production system of cattle, because females that calve early have more chance to leave more offspring throughout its productive life than late females. The inclusion of genomic information by DNA markers can improve the accuracy of breeding values for reproductive traits. Furthermore, when distributed throughout the genome, the markers allow carrying out genome-wide association studies (GWAS) to identify regions with significant effect on the traits of interest. The objective of this project is to carry out GWAS for the reproductive traits age at first calving and reconception of primiparous Nellore females in order to detect possible genomic regions associated with the expression of such traits. Phenotypic records and pedigree from Aliança Nelore database, and genomic information of 2,000 females genotyped with the Illuminaâ Bovine HD panel will be used. Statistical analysis of GWAS will be performed using the methodology "Weighted Single Step GBLUP". We expect that the results of this project can help professionals and farmers to evaluate the feasibility of including genomic information in Nellore breeding programs in order to maximize the genetic progress of reproductive traits and, as a consequence, to increase productive and economical efficiency of zebu cattle in Brazil.

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

MELO, THAISE P.; TAKADA, LUCIANA; BALDI, FERNANDO; OLIVEIRA, HENRIQUE N.; DIAS, MARINA M.; NEVES, HAROLDO H. R.; SCHENKEL, FLAVIO S.; ALBUQUERQUE, LUCIA G.; CARVALHEIRO, ROBERTO. Assessing the value of phenotypic information from non-genotyped animals for QTL mapping of complex traits in real and simulated populations. BMC GENETICS, v. 17, JUN 21 2016. (09/16118-5, 14/09603-2, 13/17396-4)

GARCIA, BALTASAR FERNANDES; DE MELO, THAISE PINTO; DE REZENDE NEVES, HAROLDO HENRIQUE; CARVALHEIRO, ROBERTO. Comparison of GWA statistical methods for traits under different genetic structures: A simulation study. LIVESTOCK SCIENCE, v. 241, NOV 2020. (14/09603-2, 13/17396-4)

Academic Publications

(References retrieved automatically from State of São Paulo Research Institutions)

MELO, Thaise Pinto de. Genome-wide association study of reproduction traits in Nelore cattle, including additional phenotypic information from non-genotyped animals. 2015. Master's Dissertation - Universidade Estadual Paulista (Unesp). Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias e Veterinárias. Jaboticabal Jaboticabal.