23 April 2009

Release of bovine genome

Strictly embargoed until 6.00am (NZ time) Friday 24 April 2009

AgResearch scientists have played a key role in genetic research that will transform the future selection and breeding of cattle worldwide. The results of this work are being published this week in one of the world's leading scientific journals.

A paper describing the bovine genome and another on cattle genetic variability are scheduled to be published in the prestigious scientific journal Science. This is a weekly publication produced by the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS).

The presentation of this research, that will hugely speed up the rate of genetic gain in both the dairy and beef industries, is the culmination of a massive international research collaboration including scientists from New Zealand, USA, Canada and Australia. AgResearch Ltd, Meat & Wool New Zealand and DairyNZ all contributed to this very large project.

In addition to this, stud breeders and the Livestock Improvement Corporation (LIC) contributed examples of local Friesian, Jersey, Angus and Hereford breeds.

This represented a significant contribution by a small country. In return AgResearch scientist John McEwan says that this allowed New Zealand early access to data and, crucially, influence in the decision to prioritise the bovine genome definition over that of other species.

“The importance of this should not be underestimated as New Zealand will benefit greatly from this research due to its economic dependence on products from ruminants” he says. Mr McEwan noted that last year around 38% of the $43 billion of New Zealand exports was derived from dairy, sheep and beef products.

He says this research has already had a major impact on New Zealand farming systems. A technology known as "SNP Chips" was used to survey the genetic variability of the bovine gene pool and the variants discovered as part of the associated DNA sequencing have already been adapted by both of New Zealand’s leading breeding companies, LIC and CRV Ambreed, to speed up genetic progress in improving dairy production. LIC released the technology, known as DNA proven, last winter. Estimates since then suggest that it will increase the rate of genetic gain in the dairy industry by 50 to 70 percent.

The beef industry has been slower to benefit, but a number of systems influenced by the research are beginning to emerge that will improve the rate of genetic gain in meat yield and quality, feed efficiency and disease resistance.

But it is not only the dairy and beef industries that stand to gain from this technology. The sheep genome has many features in common with the bovine genome. Thus the New Zealand sheep industry has already been a major beneficiary of the genomic information. It was instrumental in the development of a series of DNA marker based sheep products developed through Ovita - a joint venture between AgResearch and Meat & Wool New Zealand. These products include LoinMax, MyoMax, Wormstar and i-scan; these are currently being marketed by Pfizer Animal Genetics.

John McEwan also says the recent separate creation of a sheep SNP chip that looks for genetic difference was developed by New Zealand and Australian researchers, primarily because the bovine genome was available as a framework.

Following on from the bovine genome release, a number of important papers, to which AgResearch scientists are contributing, will find their way into various scientific journals around the world. John McEwan says the value of this work is not just in what is achieved to date, but what will be achieved in future by researchers using this resource to investigate how the ruminant genomes work. “Exciting times lie ahead for agricultural scientists,” he says.

ENDS