TY - JOUR
T1 - Reconstitution and modernization of lost Holstein male lineages using samples from a gene bank
AU - Dechow, C. D.
AU - Liu, W. S.
AU - Specht, L. W.
AU - Blackburn, H.
PY - 2020/5
Y1 - 2020/5
N2 - More than 99% of all known Holstein artificial insemination (AI) bulls in the United States can be traced through their male lineage to just 2 bulls born in the 1950s, and all Holstein bulls can be traced back to 2 bulls born in the late 1800s. As the Y chromosome is passed exclusively from sire to son, this suggests that variation is limited for much of the Y chromosome. Two additional male lineages that are separate from modern lineages before 1890 were present at the start of the AI era and had semen available from the USDA National Animal Germplasm Program (Fort Collins, CO). Semen from representatives of those lineages were used for in vitro embryo production by mating to elite modern genetic females, resulting in the birth of 7 bulls and 8 heifers. Genomic evaluation of the bulls suggested that lineages from the beginning of the AI era could be reconstituted to breed average for total economic merit in 1 generation when mated to elite females due to high genetic merit for fertility, near-average genetic merit for fat and protein yield, and below-average genetic merit for udder and physical conformation. Semen from the bulls is commercially available to facilitate Y chromosome research and efforts to restore lost genetic diversity.
AB - More than 99% of all known Holstein artificial insemination (AI) bulls in the United States can be traced through their male lineage to just 2 bulls born in the 1950s, and all Holstein bulls can be traced back to 2 bulls born in the late 1800s. As the Y chromosome is passed exclusively from sire to son, this suggests that variation is limited for much of the Y chromosome. Two additional male lineages that are separate from modern lineages before 1890 were present at the start of the AI era and had semen available from the USDA National Animal Germplasm Program (Fort Collins, CO). Semen from representatives of those lineages were used for in vitro embryo production by mating to elite modern genetic females, resulting in the birth of 7 bulls and 8 heifers. Genomic evaluation of the bulls suggested that lineages from the beginning of the AI era could be reconstituted to breed average for total economic merit in 1 generation when mated to elite females due to high genetic merit for fertility, near-average genetic merit for fat and protein yield, and below-average genetic merit for udder and physical conformation. Semen from the bulls is commercially available to facilitate Y chromosome research and efforts to restore lost genetic diversity.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85081893743&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85081893743&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.3168/jds.2019-17753
DO - 10.3168/jds.2019-17753
M3 - Article
C2 - 32171516
AN - SCOPUS:85081893743
VL - 103
SP - 4510
EP - 4516
JO - Journal of Dairy Science
JF - Journal of Dairy Science
SN - 0022-0302
IS - 5
ER -