Current Status of Genomics in Italy

Stefano Biffani (IBBA-CNR)
28th October 2014

ReprodAction Scientific Meeting

Cattle in Italy - Overview

Total number of animals

  • Dairy : 2.64 mil
    • heifers + cows = 1.3 mil
  • Beef : 2.55 mil (calves + heifers + cows)
  • Mixed : 290k (calves + heifers + cows)

Cattle in Italy - Overview

Genomics?

Dairy: YES

Beef: NOT YET

Dairy Cattle in Italy - Overview

Italian Holstein

Italian Holstein

Italian Holstein

  • 2011: North American + UK Consortium

Italian Holstein

  • 1st Genomic Evaluation
    • Bulls: Dec 2011
    • Cows: Dec 2012

Italian Holstein

Italian Holstein

Italian Holstein

Italian Holstein

Italian Holstein - Selection Index

Italian Holstein

  • Fertility:bulls Genetic trend

Brown Swiss

  • COws: Milk recorded and registered to herd book

Brown Swiss

Brown Swiss

  • 1st Genomic Evaluation:

    • Bulls: December 2011

    • Develop a common genomic evaluation program for the Brown Swiss breed at Interbull.
    • cows: July 2012

Brown Swiss

  • 1st Genomic Evaluation:

    • Bulls:

Brown Swiss

  • cows: July 2012

Brown Swiss

  • Simulation: how much will you gain using genomic + sexed semen?

Brown Swiss

  • Selection Index

Italian Simmental - Pezzata Rossa

  • Double aptitude (milk + beef)

  • Juvenile selection scheme

Italian Simmental - Pezzata Rossa

  • Genomic: bulls February 2012
    • cows: in progress (472 cows)

Italian Simmental - Pezzata Rossa

No weight on fertility

Considerations

  1. Genomic running fast on the male side

Considerations

  1. Genomic running fast on the male side
  2. appreciable impact on “difficult” traits (i.e. fertility)

Considerations

  1. Genomic running fast on the male side
  2. appreciable impact on “difficult” traits (i.e. fertility)
  3. a standard farmer does not feel the benefit yet (Am I going to genotype my animals?)

Acknowledgements

  • Maurizio Marusi (ANAFI)
  • Daniele Vicario (ANAPRI)
  • Enrico Santus (ANARB)
  • Giorgio Valla & Ceva