Functional variants selected from whole-genome sequencing to improve feed efficiency in Bos indicus breeds

• Grant number: 25/10754-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Doctorate
• Start date: October 01, 2025
• End date: August 31, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Animal Husbandry - Genetics and Improvement of Domestic Animals
• Principal Investigator: Fernando Sebastián Baldi Rey
• Grantee: Miller de Jesus Teodoro
• Supervisor: Angela Canovas
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias e Veterinárias (FCAV). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Jaboticabal. Jaboticabal , SP, Brazil
• Institution abroad: University of Guelph, Canada
• Associated to the scholarship: 23/13805-9 - Quantitative study of functional genetic variants for feed efficiency in Nellore cattle, BP.DR

Abstract

Feed efficiency in beef cattle ensures sustainable, competitive, and environmentallyresponsible protein production. Nellore cattle, the dominant breed in Brazilian beefproduction, benefit from extensive phenotypic and genomic records, providing a valuableresource for functional variants. In contrast, smaller breeds like Guzerat face datalimitations, hindering their genomic selection progress. To address this, multi-breedgenomic evaluations using Nellore as a reference offer a promising strategy to enhancegenetic progress in smaller breeds and strengthen tropical beef production systems. Thisstudy aims to improve feed efficiency in tropical beef cattle through advanced genomicselection strategies. By leveraging the genomic data of Nellore and its genetic similaritywith Guzerat, multi-breed evaluations are proposed to enhance prediction accuracy insmaller breeds. The project will identify functional variants associated with feed efficiencytraits using whole-genome sequencing data from Nellore, enabling their integration intogenomic prediction models for Guzerat cattle. Genome-wide association studies,functional enrichment, and protein-protein interaction networks will identify candidatevariants for feed intake, residual feed intake, and residual weight gain. The models trainedin Nellore will be validated in the Guzerat population, assessing the cross-populationapplicability of the selected variants. The expected outcomes will support selecting moreefficient and sustainable animals, contributing to climate change mitigation and globalfood security. The developed models will promote more sustainable, cost-effective, andimpactful breeding programs by improving genomic prediction accuracy, particularly forunderrepresented breeds.