Genetics & Breeding Research Site Logo
ARS Home About Us Helptop nav spacerContact Us En Espanoltop nav spacer
Printable VersionPrintable Version     E-mail this pageE-mail this page
Agricultural Research Service United States Department of Agriculture
Search
  Advanced Search
Programs and Projects
 

Research Project: EVALUATION, DEVELOPMENT, AND USE OF GENETIC RESOURCES TO IMPROVE LIFE-CYCLE EFFICIENCY OF BEEF CATTLE AND SHEEP

Location: Genetics & Breeding Research

Title: Opportunities for embryo transfer in the age of DNA testing

Author

Submitted to: American Embryo Transfer Association
Publication Type: Proceedings/Symposium
Publication Acceptance Date: September 5, 2008
Publication Date: N/A

Interpretive Summary: Embryo transfer (ET) has contributed to increasing selection intensity in cattle breeding for many years. Preimplantation DNA testing offers the opportunity to increase selection response further through increasing within-family selection intensity. Further increases in between-family selection intensity, such as through producing more progeny per donor would likely be counterproductive as it would increase inbreeding even faster. DNA testing now offers the promise of increasing the accuracy of selection. It must be emphasized that this promise has not yet been fully realized to the extent of accounting for most of the genetic variation for any quantitative trait. However, it seems reasonable to assume that within the foreseeable future, the accuracy of DNA testing will reach the point that progeny testing and selecting directly on phenotypes acquired late in life will become unnecessary. Therefore, generation interval may soon become the limiting factor determining response to selection. Advanced reproductive technologies associated with ET have great potential to increase selection response through reducing generation interval.

Technical Abstract: Embryo transfer (ET) has contributed to increasing selection intensity in cattle breeding for many years. Preimplantation DNA testing offers the opportunity to increase selection response further through increasing within-family selection intensity. Further increases in between-family selection intensity, such as through producing more progeny per donor would likely be counterproductive as it would increase inbreeding even faster. DNA testing now offers the promise of increasing the accuracy of selection. It must be emphasized that this promise has not yet been fully realized to the extent of accounting for most of the genetic variation for any quantitative trait. However, it seems reasonable to assume that within the foreseeable future, the accuracy of DNA testing will reach the point that progeny testing and selecting directly on phenotypes acquired late in life will become unnecessary. Therefore, generation interval may soon become the limiting factor determining response to selection. Advanced reproductive technologies associated with ET have great potential to increase selection response through reducing generation interval.

   

 
Project Team
Leymaster, Kreg
Bennett, Gary
Kuehn, Larry
Keele, John
Thallman, Richard - Mark
Jenkins, Thomas - Tom
 
Publications
   Publications
 
Related National Programs
  Food Animal Production (101)
 
 
Last Modified: 11/09/2008
ARS Home | USDA.gov | Site Map | Policies and Links 
FOIA | Accessibility Statement | Privacy Policy | Nondiscrimination Statement | Information Quality | USA.gov | White House