English (United Kingdom)

https://curated-unify.zendy.io/wp-json/zendy-region/v1/featured_content/oa?rat=en

https://curated-unify.zendy.io/wp-json/zendy-region/v1/highlighted_journal/

Global: Zendy Plus annual

Presents the access of premium content as premium feature

Premium Content

Presents the keyphrase highlighting as premium feature

Keyphrase Highlighting

Presents the summarisation as premium feature

Summarisation

Insights

Presents the pdf analysis as premium feature

PDF Analysis

Presents the zaia usage as premium feature

ZAIA

Global: Zendy Plus monthly

Global: Zendy Tools annual

Global: Zendy Tools monthly

Global: Zendy Free Plan

ContextBreech flystrike is a costly trait to measure. Industry investment into genetic solutions for breech flystrike has resulted in the availability of estimated breeding values for indicator traits, such as breech wrinkle, breech cover and dag. However, selection is based on indicator traits rather than breech flystrike itself, and genetic gains could be enhanced through genomic selection approaches.AimThis study investigated whether genomic approaches based on major genes, such as marker-assisted selection, or genomic selection based on genomic breeding values, would be the most efficient application of genomic information to enhance genetic gains for breech flystrike resistance.MethodsThe analysis comprised 1535 sheep of the Merino Breeding for Breech Flystrike Resistance Resource flocks from New South Wales and Western Australia with high density genotypes (actual and imputed). A genome-wide association study was conducted on breech flystrike and its indicator traits, namely, breech wrinkle, dag and breech cover. The study also estimated genomic breeding values and their accuracy.Key resultsThe SNP associations found in this study did not point to the existence of few genes with major effects on breech flystrike resistance or its indicator traits. Throughout the genome, associations of small effect were found, which enabled the estimation of genomic breeding values. However, these were of low accuracy, as expected for the size of the dataset.ConclusionGenomic prediction of breeding values for breech flystrike resistance is a feasible tool for applying genomic technology in the Merino industry.ImplicationsA reference population of appropriate size needs to be established for this difficult-to-measure trait, and a dispersed reference population could be an effective option.

Exploring genomic approaches to fast-track genetic gains in breechstrike resistance in Merino sheep