Genomics

Genomic testing and marker-assisted genetic evaluations have completely changed the mating, marketing and selection of males and females as parents of the next generation. While genomic selection started with the genotyping of breeding males, female genomic testing has soared in recent years. With genotyping at affordable levels for commercial herds, genomic evaluations have become an indispensable tool for mating, culling and herd management decisions in herds worldwide.

The U.S. was among the pioneers that led the research, development and adoption of genomic selection. Geneticists at the U.S. Department of Agriculture developed innovative methodologies that are now foundational and adopted in many other countries. Through collaboration among many organizations and countries, the U.S. National Cooperator Database has grown to be the world’s largest animal database, strengthened with sophisticated data quality assurance.

Through this innovation, leadership and the broad acceptance by dairy producers, genomic selection has doubled the annual rate of genetic gain in U.S. Holsteins.