Identifying animals with Genomic information

Several initiatives have either been completed or are nearing completion with regards to the analysis of genomic information within the Angus BREEDPLAN genetic evaluation.

New Genomic Trait Indicators

New trait indicators are now available to assist with the identification of whether animals’ have had genomic information included in the calculation of their Angus BREEDPLAN EBVs.

Animals for which genomic information is included in Angus BREEDPLAN will have one of the following trait indicators, subject to the genomic information that is analysed and the analytical methodology utilised.

• Genomics(CE) – indicating the animal has a genomic prediction incorporated in the calculation of their Calving Ease EBVs
• Genomics(S-Step) – indicating the animal has a low or high density genotype (i.e. > 10,000 SNPs) incorporated in the calculation of their EBVs for all traits within the main single step component of the Angus BREEDPLAN analysis (i.e. includes all traits except calving ease, docility and structural soundness)
• Genomics(CE,S-Step) – indicating the animal has both a genomic prediction incorporated in the calculation of their Calving Ease EBVs, and a low or high density genotype incorporated in the calculation of their EBVs for all traits within the main single step component of the Angus BREEDPLAN analysis

Genomic information is not currently included in the calculation of EBVs for docility and the structural soundness traits for any animals.

The new genomic trait indicators can be viewed by searching for an animal in the Angus Database Search facility, and then selecting the EBVs tab. The trait indicators are displayed within the traits observed section, which is towards the bottom of the EBV table.

Additionally, the number of progeny from a particular sire or dam who have genomic information analysed in the main single step component of Angus BREEDPLAN are now also displayed in the traits observed section within the Angus Database Search.

Development of Genomic Exclusion Reports

In association with the implementation of the new single step analytical software into the December 2017 Angus BREEDPLAN genetic evaluation, a range of comprehensive quality assurance checks are now applied before genomic information is included into the analysis.

The quality assurance measures not only review the quality of the genotypes for measures such as call rate and the level of heterozygosity, but identify any discrepancies between the genomic information and the information recorded on the Angus Australia database. For example, discrepancies in the pedigree, gender and breed that is recorded for the animal.

Angus Australia’s software development team is now actively working on the development of herd reports for each member of Angus Australia that is enrolled in Angus BREEDPLAN that identify any genomic information that has failed the quality assurance checks and been excluded from the Angus BREEDPLAN analysis.

Notification will be sent to Angus Australia members once the new genomic exclusion reports are available.