Advancements in Genetic Prediction
Proposed BIF Guidelines for Performance Data and EPDs on Clones
Abstract:
Somatic cell cloning of mammals is now a reality, and beef seedstock producers are beginning to utilize this technology. While relatively few clones have been produced thus far, there is the potential for a much greater impact on beef cattle improvement in the near future.
A key issue is how expected progeny differences (EPD) are computed on clone animals. Breeders who consider cloning do so because they expect the resulting animals to be genetic replicas of the donor, and most breeders expect donors and their clones to have identical EPDs. If EPDs produced on clone animals are less desirable than those of the donor, that may reduce incentive to undergo cloning, as the clone animals may be less marketable.
Like any genetic evaluation methodology, EPDs on clone animals should describe animals as accurately as possible. Some beef breed associations have created policies about how clones are genetically evaluated, and those policies vary. Others have called on BIF to study the issue and make a recommendation for the BIF guidelines. A committee of geneticists and industry representatives will convene and review the current scientific literature, and compare current approaches for genetic evaluation of clones utilized by beef and dairy organizations. Regardless of any recommendation, it will be important to track identity of individual clone animals and their descendants to allow for further study when more data is available.
Editor’s Note: The above material is provided by and posted with permission of the Beef Improvement Federation. Please direct reprint requests to BIF via the “Contact BIF” page at www.beefimprovement.org.
