GENOMAD Operational Group: Implementation of genomic selection in dairy cattle in the Community of Madrid
- Type Operational group
- Status Filled
- Execution 2018 -2021
- Assigned Budget 164.200,00 €
- Scope Autonómico
- Autonomous community Madrid, Comunidad de
- Main source of financing PEPAC 2014-2020
The project was conceived to improve farm management in various areas of significant economic and social interest, such as animal performance, welfare, and health. These aspects will have a significant impact on the quality of the final product intended for human consumption.
To achieve this, the approach was to perform genomic analyses of all animals born, and to collect additional health and behavioral traits. The combination of both tasks will yield a genetic profile that will provide all the necessary verified information about the individual under study, enabling farmers to make sound decisions when managing their selection and breeding programs on farms.
- Sampling of all calves born on farms included in the project.
- Genotyping and genomic evaluations (Including production, type, functionality and health evaluations, kinship verification and determination of special traits such as the Polled gene, diseases of genetic origin or milk protein type).
- Analysis of results. Collection of phenotypes.
- Data analysis and report design.
- Advice and couplings.
- Preliminary genotyping of males.
- Advertising and dissemination.
General Objective: Implementation of genomic selection in dairy cattle in the Community of Madrid.
Specific objectives:
- Increase the reliability of population genetic assessments.
- Fix registry errors.
- Increase the genetic progress of the population.
- Reduce population defects by detecting haplotypes and recessives.
- Start collecting new characters.
- Integrate the information collected to improve advice to farms.
- Genotypes of all or almost all of the animals to evaluate these new traits.
- Search for stallion mothers.
- Identification of potential future stallions.
The females born during the four years have been genotyped, integrating this information into the national genetic program in which AFRIDEMA participates. In this way, each animal has a highly reliable genetic assessment for traits of economic interest, allowing for better breeding selection. Genealogy errors have been verified and corrected, and genes of particular interest have been identified, such as those related to genetic diseases that are now easily preventable through the mating program, along with the search for the most suitable sire for the genetic characteristics of each breeder. It has also been possible to begin selecting more favorable strains of milk protein, such as beta-casein A2.
The project has provided detailed knowledge of the status of our farms with respect to the main diseases affecting milk production, analysis of results, advice focused on improvement, and integration of genotypes and phenotypes into the reference population for these traits. The best cow families on farms in the Community of Madrid, eligible for selection as candidates for AI sires, have been identified. Preliminary genomic testing has been performed on male calves descended from the identified families and mated with top-level international sires. Finally, a male with a superior genetic level has been identified and selected as a future AI sire.
- Coordinator/entity name: AFRIDEMA
- Postal address: Calle Barcelona 50, right floor, ground floor C 28936, Móstoles, Madrid
- Coordinator/entity email: afridema.aab@gmail.com
- Telephone: 670282418
- AFRIDEMA
- MIGUEL GONZÁLEZ DE PARLA (maykol92@hotmail.com)
- RUFINO DE LA IGLESIA GIL (delaiglesia.valdenebro@gmail.com)
- IMIDRA (imidra@madrid.org)
- AFRIDEMA
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