Genomic application in sheep and goat breeding

Abstract

• Genomic studies in small ruminants were first possible in 2009 with the development of the 50K ovine SNP chip. • Genomic evaluation has now been implemented in sheep in New Zealand and Australia, dairy sheep in France, and in goats in France and the UK. • Specific issues of genomic selection for these species include: small reference population sizes, low linkage disequilibrium, multi-breed evaluations, lack of phenotype recording in many countries, and marginal cost-benefit at historic genotyping costs. • Rapidly reducing genotyping cost coupled with a better understanding of how to maximize benefits of genomic selection mean adoption is poised to rise dramatically.