Genomic Selection in New Zealand Dual Purpose Sheep

Abstract Text: Genomic selection allows prediction of genetic merit and selection of superior animals for breeding, on the basis of data from many genetic markers. Here we describe the application of this methodology in the New Zealand dual purpose sheep industry using a mixed breed (Romney, Coopworth and Perendale) training set. The gBLUP method was used, and accounting for breed structure in the genomic relationship matrix was found to be important for calculating model-based accuracies, but the predictions were similar with and without this adjustment. Realized accuracies were lower than model-based accuracies, particularly for early life traits, reflecting a selection effect in the animals chosen for genotyping. The results of this research are available commercially in New Zealand for the breed types used in the training set and for composites that include these breeds.

Keywords:

breeding values

genetic markers