GENOMIC SERVICES FOR THE SOUTH AFRICAN DAIRY INDUSTRY

 

MEDIA RELEASE
SA Stud Book is proud to announce that its Genetic Merit Predictions for Dairy Cattle now also include genomic information. This very important and logical step in enhancing the breeding value predictions resulted from SA Stud Book’s participation in the Dairy Genomics Program (DGP), funded by the Technology Innovation Agency (TIA). Other participants in the DGP included the three major Breeders’ Societies (SA Holstein, Jersey SA and the Ayrshire Breeders’ Society of South Africa), the major universities with Animal Science departments, under the leadership and management of the University of Pretoria, Two of the Artificial Insemination companies, the Agricultural Research Council and the Milk Producers Organisation.

The inclusion of genomic information in predicting the genetic merit of animals adds a fourth source of information to BLUP breeding value predictions and is therefore additional to the use of the complete pedigree, phenotypic information (eg. milk production, milk constituents, functional properties, herd life, udder health, etc.) and genetic parameters (heritabilities and genetic correlations among traits) unique to the specific population (breed within country).

Predicted breeding values (genetic merit) is specific to the breed and, more importantly, the population where the progeny of selection candidates (those animals considered as parents for the next generation) must perform.

SA Stud Book’s Genomic Breeding Values are unique because it enhances the reliability of BLUP predictions for all the traits and properties of genotyped Holstein, Jersey and Ayrshire cattle based on the genetic levels of our local population. This is also combined with the valuable information obtained from SA Stud Book’s participation in international evaluations by Interbull and the incorporation thereof in the local evaluations. South African dairy farmers can therefore directly compare any global AI bull, local AI bull or potential young sire, replacement heifer and production female on exactly the same scale and merit. SA Stud Book’s web portal: www.SADairyBulls.com enables any user to look up the genetic values of local as well as international bulls. Users can also set their own objectives and breeding criteria, based on their own profitability, to rank local and global dairy bulls accordingly. Participants in SA Stud Book’s Logix Milk services can also carry out optimal selection in their own herd, seek for the best global AI bulls available and ensure optimal matings to curb accelerated inbreeding wile reaching breeding objectives.

Although Genomic Tests are primarily for the inclusion in genetic merit prediction, many single trait tests are also included in SA Stud Book’s genomic services. Users are therefore aware where potential selection candidate are carriers of unwanted (eg. BLAD, DUMPS, certain haplotypes, etc.) or desirable (eg. polledness, A2 milk, DGAT – fat enhanced gene, etc.) genes.

The launch of this unique service took place via Zoom and the video recordings are available at:
https://youtu.be/UGKegvfSBZk (English launch, 15 July 2020)
https://youtu.be/sGrHcStOzYQ (Afrikaans launch, 8 July 2020)

Dr Japie van der Westhuizen (japie@studbook.co.za)
General Manager
22 July 2020

 

MEDIAVRYSTELLING
GENOMIESE DIENSTE VIR DIE SUID-AFRIKAANSE SUIWELBEDRYF

SA Stamboek is trots om aan te kondig dat ons plaaslike genetiese merietevoorspellings vir melkbeeste ook nou genomiese inligting bevat. Hierdie baie belangrike en logiese stap in die verbetering van die voorspelling van teelwaardes het voortgespruit uit die deelname van SA Stamboek aan die Suiwelgenomika-program (DGP), befonds deur die Technology Innovation Agency (TIA). Ander deelnemers aan die DGP het die drie belangrikste telersgenootskappe (SA Holstein, Jersey SA en die Ayrshire Telersgenootskap van Suid-Afrika), die belangrikste universiteite met departemente vir Veekunde, onder leiding en bestuur van die Universiteit van Pretoria, twee van die kunsmatige inseminasie-ondernemings, die Landbounavorsingsraad en die Melkprodusente-organisasie.

Die insluiting van genomiese inligting in die voorspelling van genetiese meriete van diere dra ‘n vierde inligtingsbron by tot die voorspellings van die BLUP-teelwaardes en is daarom addisioneel tot die gebruik van die volledige stamboom, fenotipiese inligting (soos melkproduksie, melksamestelling, funksionele eienskappe, kuddelewe, uiergesondheid, ens.) en genetiese parameters (oorerflikhede en genetiese korrelasies tussen eienskappe) wat uniek is vir die spesifieke bevolking (ras binne die land).

Voorspelde teelwaardes (genetiese meriete) is spesifiek vir die ras en, nog belangriker, die populasie waar die nageslag van seleksiekandidate (dié diere wat as ouers vir die volgende geslag beskou word) moet presteer.

Die Genomiese Teelwaardes van SA Stamboek is uniek omdat dit die betroubaarheid van BLUP-voorspellings vir al die eienskappe van gegenotipeerde Holstein-, Jersey- en Ayrshire-beeste verhoog, gebaseer op die genetiese vlakke van ons plaaslike bevolking. Dit word ook gekombineer met die waardevolle inligting verkry deur die SA Stamboek se deelname aan internasionale evaluerings deur Interbull en die insluiting daarvan in die plaaslike evaluerings. Suid-Afrikaanse melkboere kan hulle dus direkte vergelyk met alle oorsese KI-bulle, plaaslike KI-bulle of enige potensiële jong bul, vervangingsverse en produksie-koeie op presies dieselfde skaal en meriete. Die SA Stamboek webportaal:
www.SADairyBulls.com stel elke gebruiker in staat om die genetiese waardes van plaaslike sowel as internasionale bulle op te soek. Gebruikers kan ook hul eie doelstellings en teel-kriteria stel, gebaseer op hulle kudde se eie winsgewendheid, om plaaslike en wêreldwye melkbulle daarvolgens te rangskik. Deelnemers aan SA Stamboek se Logix-melk kan ook optimale seleksie in hul eie kudde uitvoer, soek na die beste internasionale KI-bulle wat beskikbaar is en sorg vir optimale parings om versnelde intelingvlakke te beperk en teeldoelwitte vinnig te bereik.

Alhoewel Genomiese toetse hoofsaaklik bedoel is vir die voorspelling van genetiese meriete, is baie enkelkenmerktoetse ook by die SA Stamboek se genomiese dienste ingesluit. Gebruikers weet dus van potensiële seleksiekandidate wat draers is van ongewenste (bv. BLAD, DUMPS, sekere haplotipes, ens.) of gewenste (bv. Poenskop, A2-melk, DGAT-vetverbeterde geen, ens.) gene.

Die bekendstelling van hierdie unieke nuwe diens het via Zoom plaasgevind en die video-opnames is beskikbaar by:
https://youtu.be/UGKegvfSBZk (Engelse bekendstelling, 15 Julie 2020)
https://youtu.be/sGrHcStOzYQ (Afrikaanse bekendstelling, 8 Julie 2020)

Dr Japie van der Westhuizen (japie@studbook.co.za)
Algemene Bestuurder
22 Julie 2020

Mediavrystelling – 22 Julie 2020

Published on Friday, 24th July 2020 - 14:40

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