International cooperation: The pathway for cattle genomics

Abstract

• Genomic selection tools are radically changing the way dairy cattle genetics is organized worldwide by providing the means to reduce generation intervals and accelerate genetic progress. As a result, young genomically selected bulls are quickly replacing progeny-tested bulls in the top lists. • To achieve moderate reliabilities in genomic predictions, large reference populations of progeny-tested animals have to be assembled, and this number increases dramatically for traits with low heritability. International cooperation becomes imperative, both for joining databases of genotypes and for obtaining phenotypic information translated into the respective national scale (Interbull multiple-trait across-country evaluation estimates). • Keeping the Interbull conventional international evaluations (based on national conventional estimated breeding values) as a source of phenotypic information for the national genomic predictive models requires maintaining conventional evaluation models at the national level. • Interbull is establishing a new framework to incorporate genomics into international evaluations. The main actions include intensifying networking opportunities; validating national genomically enhanced breeding values; and developing genomically enhanced multiple-trait across-country evaluations, Intergenomics, and a genomic data repository.