Page 2 - APN March 2017

Genomic selection – opportunities for industry
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Pig Industry Calendar of Events
2017
APR 24 - 26 – Livestock Philippines 2017, Passay City, Phillipines www. livestockphilippines.com
MAY 3 - 5 – ESPHM European Symposium on Porcine Health Management, Prague, Czech Republic www.esphm2017.org
MAY 18 - 20 – China Animal Husbandry Expo, Qingdao International Expo Centre, China www.caaa.com.cn
MAY 18 - 20 – VIV Russia, Moscow, Russia www.vivrussia.nl/en/Bezoeker. aspx
JUN 7 - 9 – World Pork Expo, Des Moines, Iowa, US www.worldpork. org
JUN 11 - 14 – 10th International Conference on Pig Reproduction, Columbia, Missouri, US www.muconf. missouri.edu/ICPR2017/Index.html
JUL 21 - 25 – AVMA Convention, Indianapolis, Indiana, US www.avma. org
AUG 29 - 31 – SIAVS - International Poultry and Pork Show, São Paulo, Brazil www.siavs.org.br/?lang=en
SEP 5 - 8 – International Conference on the Assessment of Animal Welfare at Farm and Group Level, Wageningen, The Netherlands www.wafl2017.com
SEP 12 - 15 – SPACE, Parc-Expo de Rennes, France uk.space.fr/en/ welcome.aspx
SEP 16 - 19 – Allen D. Leman Swine Conference, Saint Paul, Minnesota US www.cceevents.umn.edu/allen-d- leman-swine-conference
OCT 22 - 24 – Leman China Swine Conference, Nanjing, China www. vetmed.umn.edu/news-events/leman- china-swine-conference
NOV 7 - 9 – Pig Welfare Symposium, Des Moines, Iowa US www.pork.org/ pig-welfare-symposium
NOV 19 - 22 – Australasian Pig Science Association (Inc) conference, Melbourne, Victoria www.apsa.asn. au
NOV 20 - 22 – International Tropical Agriculture Conference, Brisbane, Queensland www.tropagconference. org
2018
MAR 3 - 6 – Annual Meeting of the American Association of Swine, San Diego, California, US www.aasv.org/ annmtg
Jun 18 - 20 – IPVS, Chongqing, China
Jun 20 - 22 – VIV Europe 2018, Utrecht, The Netherlands www.viveurope.nl/ en/Bezoeker.aspx
How to supply event details: Send all details to Australian Pork Newspaper, PO Box 387, Cleveland, Qld 4163, fax: 07 3821 2637, email: ben@porknews.com.au
porknews.com.au
TRADITIONALLY, breeding programs have been based on the evalua- tion of phenotypes in sev- eral environments.
Why is evaluation of phenotypes important?
Can’t we just rely on genotypes?
What’s the difference be- tween the genotype and phenotype of an animal?
The genotype is the ge- netic make-up of an ani- mal or plant for a particu- lar inherited trait, while the phenotype is the vis- ible or observable expres- sion of that trait resulting from the interaction be- tween its genetic makeup with the environment.
In Australia, the estima- tion of genetic merit in pig breeding is done us- ing Best Linear Unbiased Prediction methods for analysis of pedigree and performance data.
To do this, records of
Research priority
Seasonal infertility Heat stress
by HEATHER CHANNON Acting Research and Innovation General Manager
each animal’s pedigree and some performance data are essential.
While the existing meth- ods are very successful, reliable and support good economic returns when implemented in appropri- ate breeding and produc- tion structures, the evalu- ation of phenotypes can be time-consuming as the lag time between generations can slow down the abil- ity to select for improved
phenotypes.
Geneticists have long
searched for, and trialled, various methods to reduce this lag time while not af- fecting the accuracy of the prediction of breeding values.
Genomic selection was first described in 2001 and is an approach that will al- low more accurate breed- ing values much earlier in the life of our breeders, which then reduces the lag
Key objective
time for change between generations.
Genomic selection is the selection of animals based on genetic markers and involves reading DNA and analysing data to esti- mate associations between genotypes and phenotypes to increase the accuracy of selection and reduce the generation interval – hence generating faster genetic progress.
The most widely used approach is to have a ref- erence population of ani- mals’ phenotype (perform- ance records) and geno- type data recorded.
During 2016, a discus- sion paper was prepared by the Animal Genetics and Breeding Unit to in- form industry of the op- portunities and challenges around genomic selection and what is likely to be in- volved in utilising genom- ic selection technologies
in the Australian pork in- dustry.
From the discussion pa- per, scope for improve- ment in rates of genetic progress in Australian pig populations through the use of genomic selection was identified.
If genetic gain increased by 10 to 50 percent through the use of genomic selec- tion, profits of $0.25 to $1.25 per pig for superior breeding programs could be realised.
However, implementing genomic selection will in- crease costs of a breed- ing program, mainly due to the cost of genotyping and a benefit cost analysis should be conducted be- fore implementation.
Recently, this discussion paper was sent to key in- fluencers in the pork in- dustry and has also been placed on the Australian Pork Limited website. R&D priorities for 2017/18
Several weeks ago, the Research and Develop- ment Advisory Committee met to discuss and priori- tise recommendations for funding in 2017/18.
As part of our process, four business plans have been prepared that detail priorities recommended for funding following meetings of each of the four Specialist Groups held in February 2017, as well as for Technical Transfer and Industry Ca- pability.
I thank all of the Spe- cialist Group members for their time, involvement and contributions to our R&D process to assist us with identifying RD&E priorities.
This Board Committee is an important part of our R&D process: it ena- bles transparency in our systems and ensures that APL’s research and devel- opment portfolio includes projects that address the needs of the industry, both now and into the future.
Dr Brian Luxford chairs this Board Committee.
This year, as part of the
☛ continued P3
Specialist group 2 – Production and Welfare
Genetic effects on seasonal infertility, including investigations into a disparity between sows housed outdoors compared to indoors.
Consequences of heat stress on progeny and ongoing effects throughout life.
Specialist group 3 – Environmental Management
Bubble column purification development
Development of planning resources
Pork Water Balance Model
Soil nutrient loss index
On-line training package for outdoor rotational piggeries
Odour emission rate validation study
Australian pork industry life cycle assessment (LCA) trends
Environmental pathogen review
Application of bubble column water purification technology specifically for the pork industry.
Develop sets of standard planning conditions for conventional and outdoor piggeries for use by planners when approving planning applications.
Develop and run a training course for planners, regulators and consultants for assessment of planning applications.
Develop piggery specific water balance model to assist in designing secondary storage ponds that meet spill or overtopping frequencies specified by regulatory agencies.
Explore a risk based approach as an adjunct or replacement of the trigger level approach for interpreting soil nutrient levels.
Develop an online training package, utilising existing outdoor environmental workshop materials together with production information, for outdoor rotational piggeries.
Develop a program to generate new odour emission rate data that is representative of current infrastructure and management and recommend key parameters when using these models to assess odour impacts from Australian piggeries.
Generate a LCA time trend of the Australian pork industry to demonstrate the industry’s sustainability and production initiatives over time.
Undertake a literature review to determine potential environmental health risks of effluent reuse and knowledge gaps.
Specialist group 3 – Quality assurance, biosecurity and food safety
Update review of emerging animal diseases
Review current scientific literature to determine the risks of carriage of exotic pig pathogens and subsequent infection of the domestic herd.
Support market access and differentiation of Australian fresh pork, ham, bacon and liver in export and domestic markets through industry adoption of this cost-effective product traceability system.
Table 1
Give your piglets
a head start
Physi-Trace
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Abbey Animal Health Pty Ltd
PO Box 729 Cooma NSW 2630 Infoline: 02 8088 0720 T: 02 8088 0720 F: 02 8088 0721 www.abbeylabs.com.au
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Page 2 – Australian Pork Newspaper, April 2017
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