International Journal of Molecular Zoology 2024, Vol.14, No.5, 265-272 http://animalscipublisher.com/index.php/ijmz 265 Research Insight Open Access Impact of Genomic Selection on Fertility Traits in Beef Cattle JunLi Animal Science Research Center, Cuixi Academy of Biotechnology, Zhuji, 311800, Zhejiang, China Corresponding email: jun.li@cuixi.org International Journal of Molecular Zoology, 2024, Vol.14, No.5 doi: 10.5376/ijmz.2024.14.0024 Received: 11 Jul., 2024 Accepted: 22 Aug., 2024 Published: 13 Sep., 2024 Copyright © 2024 Li, This is an open access article published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. Preferred citation for this article: Li J., 2024, Impact of genomic selection on fertility traits in beef cattle, International Journal of Molecular Zoology, 14(5): 265-272 (doi: 10.5376/ijmz.2024.14.0024) Abstract Fertility traits play a critical role in the overall productivity and profitability of beef cattle production. This study examines the impact of genomic selection on improving fertility traits in beef cattle, highlighting its advantages over traditional breeding methods. Genomic selection, leveraging advances in genomic technologies, allows for more precise identification and selection of key fertility-related genes, leading to significant genetic gains in reproductive efficiency. Through a case study focusing on a specific beef cattle breed, applying genomic selection techniques to enhance fertility traits and analyzed the improvements in reproductive performance. Findings suggest that genomic selection not only accelerates genetic progress but also has considerable implications for the beef industry in terms of profitability and sustainability. Looking forward, integrating genomic selection with other breeding strategies and advancing genomic technologies may further revolutionize cattle breeding. Continued research and ethical considerations are essential for maximizing the potential of genomic selection in enhancing fertility traits in beef cattle. Keywords Genomic selection; Beef cattle; Fertility traits; Reproductive efficiency; Genetic improvement 1 Introduction Fertility is a critical component of beef cattle production, directly influencing the efficiency and profitability of the industry. Reproductive performance in beef cattle encompasses a range of traits, including age at puberty, age at first calving, and pregnancy status, which are essential for maintaining a productive herd (Toghiani et al., 2017). Historically, the heritability of these traits has been low, making genetic improvement challenging through traditional selection methods (Berry et al., 2014). Fertility traits are paramount in beef production as they determine the reproductive efficiency and overall productivity of the herd. Efficient reproduction leads to more calves per cow over her lifetime, reducing the cost per calf and increasing the overall profitability of beef operations (Miglior et al., 2017). Traits such as pregnancy rate, calving interval, and age at first calving are directly linked to the economic viability of beef production systems (Keogh et al., 2020). Moreover, improved fertility can mitigate the economic losses associated with subfertility and reproductive failures (Fonseca et al., 2020). Genomic selection (GS) is a revolutionary approach that leverages high-density single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) data to predict the genetic potential of animals for various traits, including fertility (Xu et al., 2015). This method enhances the accuracy of selection by incorporating genomic information, thereby accelerating genetic gain, especially for low heritability traits (García-Ruiz et al., 2016). GS has been successfully implemented in dairy cattle, leading to significant improvements in fertility, longevity, and health traits. In beef cattle, GS holds promise for similar advancements, although its application has been less widespread compared to dairy cattle. This study evaluates the impact of genomic selection on fertility traits in beef cattle, using genomic data to assess the heritability of key reproductive traits, comparing the accuracy of genomic predictions with traditional pedigree-based methods, and identifying potential genetic markers associated with improved reproductive performance, aiming to provide insights into the effectiveness of genomic selection for enhancing fertility traits and contributing to the development of more efficient beef cattle breeding programs.
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