scholarly journals Validation of single-step genomic predictions using the linear regression method for milk yield and heat tolerance in a Thai-Holstein population

2021 ◽  
pp. 3119-3125
Author(s):  
Piriyaporn Sungkhapreecha ◽  
Ignacy Misztal ◽  
Jorge Hidalgo ◽  
Daniela Lourenco ◽  
Sayan Buaban ◽  
...  

Background and Aim: Genomic selection improves accuracy and decreases the generation interval, increasing the selection response. This study was conducted to assess the benefits of using single-step genomic best linear unbiased prediction (ssGBLUP) for genomic evaluations of milk yield and heat tolerance in Thai-Holstein cows and to test the value of old phenotypic data to maintain the accuracy of predictions. Materials and Methods: The dataset included 104,150 milk yield records collected from 1999 to 2018 from 15,380 cows. The pedigree contained 33,799 animals born between 1944 and 2016, of which 882 were genotyped. Analyses were performed with and without genomic information using ssGBLUP and BLUP, respectively. Statistics for bias, dispersion, the ratio of accuracies, and the accuracy of estimated breeding values were calculated using the linear regression (LR) method. A partial dataset excluded the phenotypes of the last generation, and 66 bulls were identified as validation individuals. Results: Bias was considerable for BLUP (0.44) but negligible (–0.04) for ssGBLUP; dispersion was similar for both techniques (0.84 vs. 1.06 for BLUP and ssGBLUP, respectively). The ratio of accuracies was 0.33 for BLUP and 0.97 for ssGBLUP, indicating more stable predictions for ssGBLUP. The accuracy of predictions was 0.18 for BLUP and 0.36 for ssGBLUP. Excluding the first 10 years of phenotypic data (i.e., 1999-2008) decreased the accuracy to 0.09 for BLUP and 0.32 for ssGBLUP. Genomic information doubled the accuracy and increased the persistence of genomic estimated breeding values when old phenotypes were removed. Conclusion: The LR method is useful for estimating accuracies and bias in complex models. When the population size is small, old data are useful, and even a small amount of genomic information can substantially improve the accuracy. The effect of heat stress on first parity milk yield is small.

2020 ◽  
Vol 98 (Supplement_4) ◽  
pp. 246-247
Author(s):  
Matias Bermann ◽  
Andres Legarra ◽  
Mary Kate Hollifield ◽  
Yutaka Masuda ◽  
Daniela Lourenco ◽  
...  

Abstract The objective of this study was to determine whether the linear regression (LR) method could be used to validate genomic threshold models used for analysis of categorical data. Statistics for the LR method were computed from estimated breeding values (EBVs) using the whole and truncated datasets. The method was tested using simulated and real chicken datasets. The simulated dataset included ten generations of 4,500 birds each; genotypes were available for the last three generations. Each animal was assigned a continuous trait, which was converted to a binary score assuming an incidence of failure of 7%. The real dataset included the survival status of 186,596 broilers (mortality rate equal to 7.2%) and genotypes of 18,047 birds. Both datasets were analyzed using Best Linear Unbiased Predictor (BLUP) or single-step GBLUP (ssGBLUP). The whole dataset included all phenotypes available, whereas in the partial dataset, phenotypes of the most recent generation were removed. In the simulated dataset, the accuracies based on the LR formulas were 0.45 for BLUP and 0.76 for ssGBLUP, whereas the correlations between true breeding values and EBVs were 0.37 and 0.65, respectively. The gain in accuracy by adding genomic information was overestimated by 0.09 when using the LR method compared to the true increase in accuracy. However, when the estimated ratio between the additive variance computed based on pedigree only and on pedigree and genomic information was considered, the difference between true and estimated gain was less than 0.02. Accuracies of BLUP and ssGBLUP with the real dataset were 0.41 and 0.47, respectively. Smaller improvements in accuracy when using ssGBLUP with the real dataset were due to population structure and lower heritability. The LR method is a useful tool for estimating improvements in accuracy of EBVs due to the inclusion of genomic information when traditional validation methods are not applicable.


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.


Heredity ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 126 (1) ◽  
pp. 206-217
Author(s):  
Xiang Ma ◽  
Ole F. Christensen ◽  
Hongding Gao ◽  
Ruihua Huang ◽  
Bjarne Nielsen ◽  
...  

AbstractRecords on groups of individuals could be valuable for predicting breeding values when a trait is difficult or costly to measure on single individuals, such as feed intake and egg production. Adding genomic information has shown improvement in the accuracy of genetic evaluation of quantitative traits with individual records. Here, we investigated the value of genomic information for traits with group records. Besides, we investigated the improvement in accuracy of genetic evaluation for group-recorded traits when including information on a correlated trait with individual records. The study was based on a simulated pig population, including three scenarios of group structure and size. The results showed that both the genomic information and a correlated trait increased the accuracy of estimated breeding values (EBVs) for traits with group records. The accuracies of EBV obtained from group records with a size 24 were much lower than those with a size 12. Random assignment of animals to pens led to lower accuracy due to the weaker relationship between individuals within each group. It suggests that group records are valuable for genetic evaluation of a trait that is difficult to record on individuals, and the accuracy of genetic evaluation can be considerably increased using genomic information. Moreover, the genetic evaluation for a trait with group records can be greatly improved using a bivariate model, including correlated traits that are recorded individually. For efficient use of group records in genetic evaluation, relatively small group size and close relationships between individuals within one group are recommended.


2015 ◽  
pp. 4739-4753 ◽  
Author(s):  
Juan Zambrano A ◽  
Juan Rincón F ◽  
Albeiro López H ◽  
Julián Echeverri Z

ABSTRACT Objetive. To estimate and compare breeding values (EBV) using the conventional method (BLUP) and genomic breeding values (MEBV and GEBV) estimated through bayes C method for milk yield and milk quality traits in dairy cattle in Antioquia, Colombia. Materials and methods. Two methods were used to estimate breeding values: BLUP to estimate conventional breeding value (EBV) and bayes C to estimate genomic values (MEBV and GEBV). The traits evaluated were: milk yield (PL), protein percentage (PPRO), fat percentage (PGRA) and score somatic cell (SCS). The methods (BLUP and bayes C) were compared using Person correlation (rp), Spearman rank correlation (rs) and linear regression coefficient (b). Results. The Pearson and Spearman correlations among EBVs and genomic values (MEBV and GEBV) (rpMEBV;EBV and rsGEBV;EBV) were greater than 0.93 and the linear regression coefficients of EBVs on genomic values (MEBV and GEBV) (bMEBV;EBV, and bGEBV;EBV) ranged between 0.954 and 1.051 in all traits evaluated. Conclusions. The predictions of genomic values (MEBV and GEBV), using bayes C method were consistent with the predictions of the EBVs estimate through the conventional method (BLUP) in conditions of high Colombian tropic, allowing to obtain high associations between the breeding values.


2020 ◽  
Vol 44 (5) ◽  
pp. 994-1002
Author(s):  
Samet Hasan ABACI ◽  
Hasan ÖNDER

This study aims to compare the accuracy of pedigree-based and genomic-based breeding value prediction for different training population sizes. In this study, Bayes (A, B, C, Cpi) and GBLUP methods for genomic selection and BLUP method for pedigree-based selection were used. Genomic and pedigree-based breeding values were estimated for partial milk yield (158 days) of Holstein cows (400 individuals) from a private enterprise in the USA. For this aim, populations were created for indirect breeding value estimates as training (322–360) and test (78–40) populations. In animals genotyped with a 54k SNP, the marker file was encoded as –10, 0, and 10 for AA, AB, and BB marker genotypes, respectively. Bayes and GBLUP methods were performed using GenSel 4.55 software. A total of 50,000 iterations were used, with the first 5000 excluded as the burn-in. Pedigree-based breeding values were estimated by REML using MTDFREML software employing an animal model. Correlations between partial milk yield and estimated breeding values were used to assess the predictive ability for methods. Bayes B method gave the highest accuracy for the indirect estimate of breeding value.


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.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hossein Mehrban ◽  
Masoumeh Naserkheil ◽  
Deukhwan Lee ◽  
Noelia Ibáñez-Escriche

There has been a growing interest in the genetic improvement of carcass traits as an important and primary breeding goal in the beef cattle industry over the last few decades. The use of correlated traits and molecular information can aid in obtaining more accurate estimates of breeding values. This study aimed to assess the improvement in the accuracy of genetic predictions for carcass traits by using ultrasound measurements and yearling weight along with genomic information in Hanwoo beef cattle by comparing four evaluation models using the estimators of the recently developed linear regression method. We compared the performance of single-trait pedigree best linear unbiased prediction [ST-BLUP and single-step genomic (ST-ssGBLUP)], as well as multi-trait (MT-BLUP and MT-ssGBLUP) models for the studied traits at birth and yearling date of steers. The data comprised of 15,796 phenotypic records for yearling weight and ultrasound traits as well as 5,622 records for carcass traits (backfat thickness, carcass weight, eye muscle area, and marbling score), resulting in 43,949 single-nucleotide polymorphisms from 4,284 steers and 2,332 bulls. Our results indicated that averaged across all traits, the accuracy of ssGBLUP models (0.52) was higher than that of pedigree-based BLUP (0.34), regardless of the use of single- or multi-trait models. On average, the accuracy of prediction can be further improved by implementing yearling weight and ultrasound data in the MT-ssGBLUP model (0.56) for the corresponding carcass traits compared to the ST-ssGBLUP model (0.49). Moreover, this study has shown the impact of genomic information and correlated traits on predictions at the yearling date (0.61) using MT-ssGBLUP models, which was advantageous compared to predictions at birth date (0.51) in terms of accuracy. Thus, using genomic information and high genetically correlated traits in the multi-trait model is a promising approach for practical genomic selection in Hanwoo cattle, especially for traits that are difficult to measure.


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