Genetic evaluation programs and future opportunities

1 Genetic evaluation programs and future opportunitiesJames Rowe (Sheep CRC, Australia) Raul Ponzoni(Universidad de la Rep blica) Daniel Brown (Sheep Genetics, Australia)Julius van der Werf(UNE, Australia)10thWorld Merino Conference 2018, MontevideoGenetic evaluation estimating Genetic merit (breeding values)NOT what sort of sheep to breed NOT what sort of sheep to produceGenetic gaindetermined by: accuracy of estimating Genetic merit generation interval 0 1 0 1 2 3 Accuracy Age (years) Assumed heritability = 25%; Accuracy of genomic test = 50% Performance record Progeny Parent EBVs No performance records Parent Performance Weighing the fleece (George Lambert 1921, Wanganella)Average fleece weights Australia fleece weight (kg/head )Trait trends in Australian Merinos (Swan et al.)

2 2017)Fining the clipFDYWTI ncreasing meat incomeCFWF ocus on fleece weightMPP (Mer)200020052010201504080 Year of birthContribution to index gain (%)YWTAWTEMDWECNLWCFWFDSSE volution of Sheep Genetics Genetic evaluationEstimating Genetic merit (breeding values)PedigreePerformanceGenotype (DNA)Estimated Breeding Values(ASBV) IndexesRate of Genetic Gain (index trends)Maternal1990199520002005201020150 12345 Year of birthIndex trend (SD)MATDOL (BL)MATDOL (CM)Merino199019952000200520102015012345 Year of birthIndex trend (SD)MPP (Mer)Terminal199019952000200520102015012 345 Year of birthIndex trend (SD)CPLUS (Term)Swan et al.

3 , 2017 AAABGM aternalMerinoTerminalRate of gain Index trend (SD) 2000 2005 2010 Net Present Value ($1000 units)YearsFaster Genetic gain drives profit(Extra net income per 2,000 ewes) (Granleese2018)Stud gains(Index points/yr)6421 Genetic evaluation is a key tool-helps achieve rapid Genetic gain -contributes to well-balanced Genetic expensive Performance recording Reference flocks R&D of the Genetic evaluation system Database management and computing Costly development of analytical tools Single step, MateSel, RamSelect, Flock profilingStrong case for International collaboration Competing against other breeds & species not against Merino breeders in other countries Cloud computing makes data sharing easy Compelling economies of scale in genomics StandardisedDNA testing in multiple countries Good examples in dairy and beef breeding G x E concerns increasingly well understood Shared access to tools (Single Step, MateSel, RamSelect, Flock Profiling.)

4 MERINOSELECT evaluation for Australia and New Zealand (Brown & AGBU)G x E interactions ?13 Studied a range of traits many environments Accounted for sire by flock & year (SxF) interactionConclusions All traits investigated had high Genetic correlations when Sire x Flock interaction included Breeders can select on MERINOSELECT ASBVs regardless of the country of origin MERINOSELECT is open to concept of hosting single international evaluation for Merinos. ????Tools for improved Genetic gain MateSelavailable to Sheep Genetics client s to help with mate selection. SingleStepevaluation analysis incorporating:pedigree, performance & genomics web-based app to help identify rams for specific breeding objectives Genomic Flock Profiling average flock breeding values from DNA testing 20 latest drop progeny.

5 A benchmark to guide ram Analysing Genetic gain (From Swan et al 2017) How does actual gain for Merinos compare to potential gain? How do individual ram breeders compare?Actual gain as % of potential gain(Swan et al. 2017)Maternal2000200520102015255075100 Year of birth% potential gainMATDOL (BL)MATDOL (CM)Merino2000200520102015255075100 Year of birth% potential gainMPP (Mer)Terminal2000200520102015255075100 Year of birth% potential gainCPLUS (Term)MaternalMerinoTerminal100755025200 0 2005 2010 20152000 2005 2010 20152000 2005 2010 2015 Comparing gains for individual breeders)-20020406080100120140 MPP (Mer)CPLUS (Term)Top 20%Bottom20%Top 20%Bottom20%MerinoTerminals(From Stephen et al 2018)

6 Full pedigree data is one problem020406080100 MerinoTerminal(From Stephen et al 2018)Top 20%Bottom20%Top 20%Bottom20%MerinoTerminals% of animals with full pedigreeGenomic Selection: the big picture21(Photo: Julius van der Werf2018)Information Nucleus innovation platformInformation NucleusDNAMeatWoolSheepPhenotype data1. Understanding complex phenotypes2. Quantifying G x E3. Genomic prediction of breeding values4. Bio-bank (DNA and database)Genomics 207 Blending GBLUP EBVs with ASBVs (2012)Single Step CarcaseAnalysis (2016)Full Single step in Main Analyses (2017)Impact on industry through genomics ( Genetic gain -index points/year)2000-20102011-2017 DifferenceMerinos(MP+) +39%Terminals (C+) +11%Terminals (LEQ) +47%Some Confounding Index development & Reference population(Brown et al 2018)Prediction accuracy.

7 Meat Traits in Accuracy50K50K+Top Seq (2)Value of genomicsearly information and difficult to measure traits0 1 0 1 2 3 Accuracy Age (years) Assumed heritability = 25%; Accuracy of genomic test = 50% Performance record Progeny Parent EBVs No performance records Parent Performance GenomicConventionalDNA tests getting cheaper and predictions more accurateSigns of rapid changey = - 69117 - 50 100 150 200 250 300 350 400 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012 2014 2016 2018 Number of studs registered in MERINOSELCT Increase in membership of MERINOSELECTR apid increase in poll ram semen sales(Note: DNA test developed 2009)04000800012000160002005200720092011 20132015 Doses sold (NSW AASMB)Increase in poll ram sales ( Top 20 NSW studs)(Note.)

8 DNA test developed 2009)Rams sold (NSW AASMB top 20)0200040006000800010000200520072009201 1201320152017 PollHorn - 20,000 40,000 60,000 80,000 2010 2012 2014 2016 2018 (a) DNA parentage test numbers (per year) - 5,000 10,000 15,000 20,000 2010 2012 2014 2016 2018 (b) Genomic test numbers (per year) Increasing use of DNA (Genomic) testingConcluding comments Genetic evaluation programs are crucial for rapid and well-balanced Genetic gain Many Merino breeders can achieve much faster Genetic gain for a range of traits required by their clients Genomics offers huge potential for Merinos New tools and services (Single Step, MateSel, RamSelect, Flock Profiling) assist in making best use of genetically superior sheep International collaboration a strong case a single evaluation program based on MERINOSELECT?

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