A review on the application of genomic selection in the improvement of dairy cattle productivity

Abstract

The scope of the present review is to highlight and discuss the application of genomic selection to the improvement of dairy cattle productivity in the face of climate change. The field of genomics is conceived as the scientific study of a species' genome's structure and function using several nucleotide sequences. Genomic selection is the selection of a population based on estimated genomic breeding values. It has been applied as an invaluable tool for increasing the rate of genetic gain with reduced generation intervals while maintaining a good level of selection accuracy. Moreover, it has been widely used for the selection of superior animals with great accuracy at an early age, resulting in enhanced productivity in dairy cattle populations. Genomic selection is particularly efficient in improving low-heritability traits related to the efficiency of feed conversion, reproduction, adaptation to changing production environments, and resistance to various disease transmitting pathogens and vectors. Genomic selection implementation requires careful model selection, and one of the popular models is best linear unbiased prediction (BLUP). Most studies have shown that pure breeds' genomic evaluation can be utilized to improve productivity, efficiency, and genetics by providing a large reference population for dairy cows with high milk production. Research concentrating on the use of genomic selection on Bos indicus cattle is required to assess its effect on the productivity of tropical cattle breeds, as the majority of research studies have been carried out using Bos taurus cattle.