scholarly journals Changes in genomic predictions when new information is added

2021 ◽  
Vol 99 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jorge Hidalgo ◽  
Daniela Lourenco ◽  
Shogo Tsuruta ◽  
Yutaka Masuda ◽  
Stephen Miller ◽  
...  

Abstract The stability of genomic evaluations depends on the amount of data and population parameters. When the dataset is large enough to estimate the value of nearly all independent chromosome segments (~10K in American Angus cattle), the accuracy and persistency of breeding values will be high. The objective of this study was to investigate changes in estimated breeding values (EBV) and genomic EBV (GEBV) across monthly evaluations for 1 yr in a large genotyped population of beef cattle. The American Angus data used included 8.2 million records for birth weight, 8.9 for weaning weight, and 4.4 for postweaning gain. A total of 10.1 million animals born until December 2017 had pedigree information, and 484,074 were genotyped. A truncated dataset included animals born until December 2016. To mimic a scenario with monthly evaluations, 2017 data were added 1 mo at a time to estimate EBV using best linear unbiased prediction (BLUP) and GEBV using single-step genomic BLUP with the algorithm for proven and young (APY) with core group fixed for 1 yr or updated monthly. Predictions from monthly evaluations in 2017 were contrasted with the predictions of the evaluation in December 2016 or the previous month for all genotyped animals born until December 2016 with or without their own phenotypes or progeny phenotypes. Changes in EBV and GEBV were similar across traits, and only results for weaning weight are presented. Correlations between evaluations from December 2016 and the 12 consecutive evaluations were ≥0.97 for EBV and ≥0.99 for GEBV. Average absolute changes for EBV were about two times smaller than for GEBV, except for animals with new progeny phenotypes (≤0.12 and ≤0.11 additive genetic SD [SDa] for EBV and GEBV). The maximum absolute changes for EBV (≤2.95 SDa) were greater than for GEBV (≤1.59 SDa). The average(maximum) absolute GEBV changes for young animals from December 2016 to January and December 2017 ranged from 0.05(0.25) to 0.10(0.53) SDa. Corresponding ranges for animals with new progeny phenotypes were from 0.05(0.88) to 0.11(1.59) SDa for GEBV changes. The average absolute change in EBV(GEBV) from December 2016 to December 2017 for sires with ≤50 progeny phenotypes was 0.26(0.14) and for sires with >50 progeny phenotypes was 0.25(0.16) SDa. Updating the core group in APY without adding data created an average absolute change of 0.07 SDa in GEBV. Genomic evaluations in large genotyped populations are as stable and persistent as the traditional genetic evaluations, with less extreme changes.

2018 ◽  
Vol 98 (3) ◽  
pp. 565-575 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mario L. Piccoli ◽  
Luiz F. Brito ◽  
José Braccini ◽  
Fernanda V. Brito ◽  
Fernando F. Cardoso ◽  
...  

The statistical methods used in the genetic evaluations are a key component of the process and can be best compared by using simulated data. The latter is especially true in grazing beef cattle production systems, where the number of proven bulls with highly reliable estimated breeding values is limited to allow for a trustworthy validation of genomic predictions. Therefore, we simulated data for 4980 beef cattle aiming to compare single-step genomic best linear unbiased prediction (ssGBLUP), which simultaneously incorporates pedigree, phenotypic, and genomic data into genomic evaluations, and two-step GBLUP (tsGBLUP) procedures and genomic estimated breeding values (GEBVs) blending methods. The greatest increases in GEBV accuracies compared with the parents’ average estimated breeding values (EBVPA) were 0.364 and 0.341 for ssGBLUP and tsGBLUP, respectively. Direct genomic value and GEBV accuracies when using ssGBLUP and tsGBLUP procedures were similar, except for the GEBV accuracies using Hayes’ blending method in tsGBLUP. There was no significant or slight bias in genomic predictions from ssGBLUP or tsGBLUP (using VanRaden’s blending method), indicating that these predictions are on the same scale compared with the true breeding values. Overall, genetic evaluations including genomic information resulted in gains in accuracy >100% compared with the EBVPA. In addition, there were no significant differences between the selected animals (10% males and 50% females) by using ssGBLUP or tsGBLUP.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mayara Salvian ◽  
Gabriel Costa Monteiro Moreira ◽  
Ândrea Plotzki Reis ◽  
Brayan Dias Dauria ◽  
Fabrício Pilonetto ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: Traditionally, breeding values are estimated based on phenotypic and pedigree information using the numerator relationship (A) matrix. With the availability of genomic information, genome-wide markers can be included in the estimation of breeding values through genomic kinship. However, the density of genomic information used can impact the cost of implementation. The aim of this study was to compare the rank, accuracy, and bias of estimated breeding values (EBV) for organs [heart (HRT), liver (LIV), gizzard (GIZ), lungs (LUN)] and carcass [breast (BRST), drumstick (DRM) and thigh (THG)] weight traits in a broiler population using pedigree-based BLUP (PBLUP) and single-step genomic BLUP (ssGBLUP) methods using various densities of SNP and variants imputed from whole-genome sequence (WGS). Results: For both PBLUP and ssGBLUP, heritability estimates varied from low (LUN) to high (HRT, LIV, GIZ, BRST, DRM and THG). Regression coefficients values of EBV on genomic estimated breeding values (GEBV) were similar for both the high density (HD) and WGS sets of SNPs, ranging from 0.87 to 0.99 across scenarios. Conclusion: Results show no benefit of using WGS data compared to HD array data using an unweighted ssGBLUP. Our results suggest that 10% of the content of the HD array can yield unbiased and accurate EBV.


2021 ◽  
Vol 99 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yutaka Masuda ◽  
Shogo Tsuruta ◽  
Matias Bermann ◽  
Heather L Bradford ◽  
Ignacy Misztal

Abstract Pedigree information is often missing for some animals in a breeding program. Unknown-parent groups (UPGs) are assigned to the missing parents to avoid biased genetic evaluations. Although the use of UPGs is well established for the pedigree model, it is unclear how UPGs are integrated into the inverse of the unified relationship matrix (H-inverse) required for single-step genomic best linear unbiased prediction. A generalization of the UPG model is the metafounder (MF) model. The objectives of this study were to derive 3 H-inverses and to compare genetic trends among models with UPG and MF H-inverses using a simulated purebred population. All inverses were derived using the joint density function of the random breeding values and genetic groups. The breeding values of genotyped animals (u2) were assumed to be adjusted for UPG effects (g) using matrix Q2 as u2∗=u2+Q2g before incorporating genomic information. The Quaas–Pollak-transformed (QP) H-inverse was derived using a joint density function of u2∗ and g updated with genomic information and assuming nonzero cov(u2∗,g′). The modified QP (altered) H-inverse also assumes that the genomic information updates u2∗ and g, but cov(u2∗,g′)=0. The UPG-encapsulated (EUPG) H-inverse assumed genomic information updates the distribution of u2∗. The EUPG H-inverse had the same structure as the MF H-inverse. Fifty percent of the genotyped females in the simulation had a missing dam, and missing parents were replaced with UPGs by generation. The simulation study indicated that u2∗ and g in models using the QP and altered H-inverses may be inseparable leading to potential biases in genetic trends. Models using the EUPG and MF H-inverses showed no genetic trend biases. These 2 H-inverses yielded the same genomic EBV (GEBV). The predictive ability and inflation of GEBVs from young genotyped animals were nearly identical among models using the QP, altered, EUPG, and MF H-inverses. Although the choice of H-inverse in real applications with enough data may not result in biased genetic trends, the EUPG and MF H-inverses are to be preferred because of theoretical justification and possibility to reduce biases.


2020 ◽  
Vol 98 (Supplement_4) ◽  
pp. 9-9
Author(s):  
Johnna L Baller ◽  
Stephen D Kachman ◽  
Larry A Kuehn ◽  
Matthew L Spangler

Abstract Economically relevant traits (ERT) are routinely collected within commercial segments of the beef industry but are rarely included in genetic evaluations because of unknown pedigrees. Individual relationships could be resurrected with genomics, which would be costly; pooling DNA and phenotypic data provides a cost-effective solution. A simulated beef cattle population consisting of 15 generations was genotyped with approximately 50k markers (841 quantitative trait loci were located across the genome) and phenotyped for a moderately heritable trait. Individuals from generation 15 were included in pools (observed genotype and phenotype were mean values of a group). Estimated breeding values (EBV) were generated from a single-step GBLUP model. The effects of pooling strategy (random and minimizing or uniformly maximizing phenotypic variation), pool size (1, 2, 10, 20, 50, 100, or no data from generation 15), and generational gaps of genotyping on EBV accuracy (correlation of EBV with true breeding values) were quantified. Greatest EBV accuracies of sires and dams were observed when no gap between genotyped parents and pooled offspring occurred. The EBV accuracies resulting from pools were greater than no data from generation 15 regardless of sire or dam genotyping. Minimizing phenotypic variation increased EBV accuracy by 8% and 9% over random pooling and uniformly maximizing phenotypic variation, respectively. Pool size of 2 was the only scenario that did not significantly decrease EBV accuracy compared to individual data when pools were formed randomly or by uniformly maximizing phenotypic variation (P > 0.05). Pool sizes of 2, 10, 20, or 50 did not generally lead to EBV accuracies that were statistically different than individual data when pools were constructed to minimize phenotypic variation (P > 0.05). Pooled genotyping to garner commercial-level phenotypes for genetic evaluations seems plausible, although differences exist depending on pool size and pool formation strategy. The USDA is an equal opportunity employer.


2020 ◽  
Vol 52 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Harly J. Durbin ◽  
Duc Lu ◽  
Helen Yampara-Iquise ◽  
Stephen P. Miller ◽  
Jared E. Decker

Abstract Background Heat stress and fescue toxicosis caused by ingesting tall fescue infected with the endophytic fungus Epichloë coenophiala represent two of the most prevalent stressors to beef cattle in the United States and cost the beef industry millions of dollars each year. The rate at which a beef cow sheds her winter coat early in the summer is an indicator of adaptation to heat and an economically relevant trait in temperate or subtropical parts of the world. Furthermore, research suggests that early-summer hair shedding may reflect tolerance to fescue toxicosis, since vasoconstriction induced by fescue toxicosis limits the ability of an animal to shed its winter coat. Both heat stress and fescue toxicosis reduce profitability partly via indirect maternal effects on calf weaning weight. Here, we developed parameters for routine genetic evaluation of hair shedding score in American Angus cattle, and identified genomic loci associated with variation in hair shedding score via genome-wide association analysis (GWAA). Results Hair shedding score was moderately heritable (h2 = 0.34 to 0.40), with different repeatability estimates between cattle grazing versus not grazing endophyte-infected tall fescue. Our results suggest modestly negative genetic and phenotypic correlations between a dam’s hair shedding score (lower score is earlier shedding) and the weaning weight of her calf, which is one metric of performance. Together, these results indicate that economic gains can be made by using hair shedding score breeding values to select for heat-tolerant cattle. GWAA identified 176 variants significant at FDR < 0.05. Functional enrichment analyses using genes that were located within 50 kb of these variants identified pathways involved in keratin formation, prolactin signalling, host-virus interaction, and other biological processes. Conclusions This work contributes to a continuing trend in the development of genetic evaluations for environmental adaptation. Our results will aid beef cattle producers in selecting more sustainable and climate-adapted cattle, as well as enable the development of similar routine genetic evaluations in other breeds.


2006 ◽  
Vol 57 (6) ◽  
pp. 651 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. L. Greenwood ◽  
G. E. Gardner ◽  
R. S. Hegarty

This study examined influences of sire (n = 9) estimated breeding values (EBVs), sire-group (Muscle, Growth, and Control), and nutrition (low and high quality and availability pasture) from birth to slaughter at ~8 months of age on indices of muscle cellularity and transcriptional and translational capacity in 56 castrate lambs. Effects of nutritional systems to 8 months of age were greater, overall, than those due to EBVs or sire-group. Amount of DNA increased with increasing EBV for post-weaning eye muscle depth (PEMD or Muscle EBV) in longissimus but not in semimembranosus and semitendinosus muscles, while Muscle EBV also had an inverse association with concentration of DNA. Protein to DNA and RNA to DNA were related positively to Muscle EBV, the associations being strongest for the semitendinosus muscle. Post-weaning weight (PWWT or Growth) EBV correlated positively with the RNA to DNA ratio and, among high but not low nutrition lambs, was inversely related to concentration of muscle DNA, whereas post-weaning fat depth (PFAT or Fat) EBV was correlated positively with RNA concentration. Overall, the magnitude of effects of sire-group was less than for sire EBVs, presumably due to differing selection pressures for muscling, fatness, and growth. High nutrition lambs had more protein to DNA than low nutrition lambs in the longissimus and semitendinosus muscles, but not in the semimembranosus muscle. In low compared with high nutrition lambs, concentration of DNA was greater in the longissimus and semitendinosus muscles. Total amount of DNA was reduced by more in low compared with high nutrition in the longissimus and semimembranosus than in the semitendinosus, and amount of protein was reduced by more in low compared with high nutrition in the longissimus than in the other two muscles. We conclude that genetic selection for eye muscle depth in sheep has differing effects on cellular characteristics of the longissimus, semimembranosus, and semitendinosus muscles, and has greater effects on muscle cellular characteristics than genetic selection for post-weaning weight or fat depth.


2016 ◽  
Vol 51 (11) ◽  
pp. 1848-1856
Author(s):  
Alessandro Haiduck Padilha ◽  
◽  
Jaime Araujo Cobuci ◽  
Darlene dos Santos Daltro ◽  
José Braccini Neto

Abstract The objective of this work was to verify the gain in reliability of estimated breeding values (EBVs), when random regression models are applied instead of conventional 305-day lactation models, using fat and protein yield records of Brazilian Holstein cattle for future genetic evaluations. Data set contained 262,426 test-day fat and protein yield records, and 30,228 fat and protein lactation records at 305 days from first lactation. Single trait random regression models using Legendre polynomials and single trait lactation models were applied. Heritability for 305-day yield from lactation models was 0.24 (fat) and 0.17 (protein), and from random regression models was 0.20 (fat) and 0.21 (protein). Spearman correlations of EBVs, between lactation models and random regression models, for 305-day yield, ranged from 0.86 to 0.97 and 0.86 to 0.98 (bulls), and from 0.80 to 0.89 and 0.81 to 0.86 (cows), for fat and protein, respectively. Average increase in reliability of EBVs for 305-day yield of bulls ranged from 2 to 16% (fat) and from 4 to 26% (protein), and average reliability of cows ranged from 24 to 38% (fat and protein), which is higher than in the lactation models. Random regression models using Legendre polynomials will improve genetic evaluations of Brazilian Holstein cattle due to the reliability increase of EBVs, in comparison with 305-day lactation models.


2010 ◽  
Vol 53 (1) ◽  
pp. 26-36 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Bene ◽  
I. Füller ◽  
A. Fördős ◽  
F. Szabó

Abstract. Weaning weight, preweaning daily gain and 205-day weight of Hungarian Fleckvieh calves (n=8 929, bulls =4 539, heifers =4 390) born from 232 sires between 1980 and 2003 were examined. Variance, covariance components and heritability values and correlation coefficients were estimated. The effect of the maternal permanent environment on genetic parameters and breeding values were examined. Two animal models were used for breeding value estimation. The direct heritability (hd2) of weaning weight, preweaning daily gain and 205-day weight was between 0.37 and 0.42. The maternal heritability (hm2) of these traits was 0.06 and 0.07. The direct-maternal correlations (rdm) were medium and negative −0.52 and −0.74. Contribution of the maternal heritability and maternal permanent environment to phenotype is smaller than that of direct heritabilities (hm2+c2< hd2). The ratio of the variance of maternal permanent environment in the phenotypic variance (c2) changed from 3 to 6 %. Estimated breeding values changed whether the permanent environmental effect of dam wasn’t taken into consideration but the rank of the animals was not modified. The genetic value for weaning results of Hungarian Fleckvieh population has increased since 1997.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rafet Al-Tobasei ◽  
Ali R. Ali ◽  
Andre L. S. Garcia ◽  
Daniela Lourenco ◽  
Tim Leeds ◽  
...  

Abstract BackgroundOne of the most important goals for the rainbow trout aquaculture industry is to improve fillet yield and fillet quality. Previously, we showed that a 50K transcribed-SNP chip can be used to detect quantitative trait loci (QTL) associated with fillet yield and fillet firmness. In this study, data from 1,568 fish genotyped for the 50K transcribed-SNP chip and ~774 fish phenotyped for fillet yield and fillet firmness were used in a single-step genomic BLUP (ssGBLUP) model to compute the genomic estimated breeding values (GEBV). In addition, pedigree-based best linear unbiased prediction (PBLUP) was used to calculate traditional, family-based estimated breeding values (EBV). ResultsThe genomic predictions outperformed the traditional EBV by 35% for fillet yield and 42% for fillet firmness. The predictive ability for fillet yield and fillet firmness was 0.19 - 0.20 with PBLUP, and 0.27 with ssGBLUP. Additionally, reducing SNP panel densities indicated that using 500 – 800 SNPs in genomic predictions still provides predictive abilities higher than PBLUP. ConclusionThese results suggest that genomic evaluation is a feasible strategy to identify and select fish with superior genetic merit within rainbow trout families, even with low-density SNP panels.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document