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Toward genomic breeding programs in French dairy sheep and goats

Monday, August 18, 2014: 1:30 PM
Bayshore Grand Ballroom A (The Westin Bayshore)
Hélène Larroque , INRA, UMR 1388 GenPhySE, Castanet-Tolosan, France
Francis Barillet , INRA, UMR 1388 GenPhySE, Castanet-Tolosan, France
Guillaume Baloche , INRA, UMR 1388 GenPhySE, Castanet-Tolosan, France
Jean-Michel Astruc , Institut de l'Elevage, Castanet-Tolosan, France
Diane Buisson , INRA, UMR 1388 GenPhySE, Castanet-Tolosan, France
Félicien Shumbusho , INRA, UMR 1388 GenPhySE, Castanet-Tolosan, France
Virginie Clément , Institut de l'Elevage, Castanet-Tolosan, France
Gilles Lagriffoul , Institut de l'Elevage, Castanet-Tolosan, France
Isabelle Palhière , INRA, UMR 1388 GenPhySE, Castanet-Tolosan, France
Rachel Rupp , INRA, UMR 1388 GenPhySE, Castanet-Tolosan, France
Céline Carillier , INRA, UMR 1388 GenPhySE, Castanet-Tolosan, France
Christèle Robert-Granié , INRA, UMR 1388 GenPhySE, Castanet-Tolosan, France
Andres Legarra , INRA, UMR 1388 GenPhySE, Castanet-Tolosan, France
Abstract Text: Genomic selection opens new perspectives for breeding programs of dairy ruminants. In France, several projects have enabled the creation of reference populations in dairy sheep and goats. Early studies have shown that the reliability of genomic evaluations using a GBLUP method in these species is lower than in Holstein dairy cattle breed. The single-step approach gives best predictions for candidates at birth (genomic evaluation accuracy obtained by cross validation for milk yield of 0.47 in Lacaune dairy sheep and 0.43 in goats’ breeds). The multi-breed approach is effective in goats by blending Alpine and Saanen breeds, but not in sheep. Finally, switching to genomic selection is planned in Lacaune dairy sheep and is under consideration for other sheep breeds. In goats, inclusion of major genes in genomic evaluations should be explored before switching to genomic breeding programs.

Keywords:

Dairy goats

Dairy sheep

Genomic selection