P30914 LRG Newsletter December 2014_FA

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Animal Selection
Genetics and
Genomics Network
At the latestmeeting of the LivestockResearchGroup in Yogyakarta, Indonesia, the progress of the Animal Selection,
Genetics and Genomics Network (ASGGN) was presented by Yvette de Haas, the current convenor of the network.
The main aim of ASGGN is to provide a forum
to foster discussion and debates to reach
agreement on a variety of topics, like:
(1) The methane phenotype,
(2) An international database, and
(3) Synergies between adaptation and
mitigation strategies.
The Methane Phenotype Working Group
searched the literature for definitions of
methane emissions, published existing
variations in methane emissions between
animals, but also during a day or lactation,
the relations to feed intake, methods for
methane measurements, and the potential
change in methane emission by genetic and
genomic selection. The conclusions were
that methane emissions are heritable, and
that emissions can be measured with many
different systems, but they have different
strengths and requirements. The outcomes
will be published in a literature review in
“Animal”.
The International Database Working Group
has joined with the International Committee
for Animal Recording (ICAR) and set the
structure for data that needs to be collected
in order to perform international analyses
and meta-analyses. Important data included
data on the animal identity plus pedigree,
animal information (e.g., date of birth,
species, herd, sex etc.), the measured trait
(e.g., description, unit etc.), measuring
information (e.g., method, date, frequency
etc.), and related traits (e.g., live weight,
time fed etc.). The next step is to actually fill
the international database with some data
and perform analyses.
The Adaptation Working Group will work on
a white paper addressing questions related
to the livestock systems in developing
countries, low quality diets, heat stress,
disease resistance, parasitism, resilience
etc. The results will be presented at the next
ASGGN meeting at the GGAA conference to
be held in Melbourne, Australia, in February
2016.
If you want to learn more about the
network, participate in the debates or
contribute with data, please contact
Yvette de Haas
More information can also be found at
Updates from the Research Networks