WP5 - Genome-based management indexes; on-farm tools to optimising replacement strategies taking into account expected life-time R&E in dairy and beef cattle

WP leader: Donagh Berry - Agriculture and Food Development Authority (TEAGASC)
Associate WP leader: Sinead McParland - TEAGASC
Involved partners: TEAGASC, AU, IDELE, NOLDUS, RAFT, DLO // WR, VIKING, ALLICE
Multiple factors influence whether a cow should be culled or not; this decision in part will be a function of the future propensity of the cow to be long-term resilient, efficient and therefore profitable. The expected future performance of a cow is influenced by many factors including the genetic merit (i.e., DNA merit) of the animal for performance, the environmental effects the animal has been exposed to since conception (e.g., rearing strategy as a heifer), but also the genetic merit of the animal for future resilience, manifesting itself as a greater survival potential. Currently the farmer has to make a best guess of many of these farmers and then optimally combine all information sources in his/her head to identify the cows that are expected to be least profitable. A decision support tool that provides a single rank figure from the optimal combination of all available data sources will be useful tool to aid decision making.
 
WP5 offers producers the opportunity of a real-time bespoke management decision tool which exploits both DNA information and high granularity data collected on farm to develop an index which identifies female culling candidates (WP4). Moreover, decision-making on farm can be further improved by optimizing the use of sexed semen and/or crossbreeding. Results will be transferred to the relevant stakeholders in conjunction with WP7.
Objectives
WP5 will develop an easy-to-use, real-time and dynamic tool for producers to rank beef and dairy females on expected subsequent life-time performance and suitability as parents of the next generation thereby facilitating more precise, objective replacement and mating strategies.
Tasks
  • T5.1 – Precision ranking tool on expected lifetime female performance and resilience
  • T5.2 – Precision genomic matings accounting for non-additive genomic effects
  • T5.3 – Precision breeding and reproduction management
  • T5.4 – Long-term consequences of adopting breeding management indexes
PROJECT
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