Genomic prediction for sex-dependent traits in Nellore cattle

• Grant number: 19/25266-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• Start date: June 01, 2020
• End date: July 31, 2024
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Animal Husbandry - Genetics and Improvement of Domestic Animals
• Principal Investigator: José Bento Sterman Ferraz
• Grantee: Felipe Eguti de Carvalho
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Zootecnia e Engenharia de Alimentos (FZEA). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Pirassununga , SP, Brazil
• Associated scholarship(s): 21/14641-4 - Study of the genetic architecture and genomic prediction for seminal traits and female reproductive efficiency in nellore cattle, BE.EP.DR

Abstract

The complexity of reproductive traits as well as their gender-dependent phenotypic expression, it is crucial to explore/evaluate new methodologies and understand the implications of applying genomic predictions in order to improve the reproductive efficiency of bulls, heifers, and cows by obtaining information creating opportunities to improve the reproduction of Nellore animals through genomic selection. The aim of this study will be to evaluate the inclusion of genomic information in the prediction of genetic values, using pseudophenotypes in sex-dependent reproductive traits for males and females in Nellore cattle. The database used will be approximately 540,000 phenotypic data, 600,000 pedigree animals and 7,000 genotyped animals for reproductive traits. For the regression will be used two methods to obtain the pseudophenotypes. The prediction of genetic/genomic values will be used three statistical methods (BLUP; GBLUP and ssGBLUP) the prediction ability will be performed to evaluate the impact of different reference groups through cross-validation and additionally conduct broad genomic association study (GWAS) for the traits studied using as pseudophenotypes and to use markers associated with phenotypes of interest in the prediction of genetic values, as well as to evaluate the impact of this use on the prediction accuracy. The results from this project may provide important subsidies for future implementations in beef cattle breeding programs. (AU)

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)

CARVALHO, FELIPE E.; FERRAZ, JOSE BENTO S.; PEDROSA, VICTOR B.; MATOS, ELISANGELA C.; ELER, JOANIR P.; SILVA, MARCIO R.; GUIMARAES, JOSE D.; BUSSIMAN, FERNANDO O.; SILVA, BARBARA C. A.; CANCADO, FERNANDO A.; et al. Genetic parameters for various semen production and quality traits and indicators of male and female reproductive performance in Nellore cattle. BMC Genomics, v. 24, n. 1, p. 16-pg., 2023-03-27. (19/25266-0, 21/14641-4)