Methods of Genomic Evaluation in Livestock

Abstract

The invention encompasses methods for increasing genetic progress in livestock, and for genetic dissemination, including the use of amniocentesis to obtain fetal amniocytes for use in genomic evaluation and cloning.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A method of increasing genetic merit of production dairy animals comprising
 selecting individuals from a population of selection candidates in a breeding program based on genotyped DNA obtained from the population of selection candidates;   selecting a first group from the selected individuals;   producing one or more males with gametes obtained from the selected first group;   producing sperm from the one or more males;   selecting a second group from the selected individuals;   harvesting oocytes from the selected second group;   producing in vitro fertilization (IVF) embryos from the harvested oocytes; and   transferring the IVF embryos into production dairy animals.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first group from the selected individuals comprises the top 1% of the population of selection candidates in terms of GEBV or GPTA. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the genotyped DNA is extracted from amniocytes. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the population of selection candidates is produced using sex-sorted sperm. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein at least 90% of the sperm in the sex-sorted sperm bear an X chromosome. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of producing one or more males comprises using sex-sorted sperm to produce the one or more males. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the produced sperm from the one or more males is used in artificial insemination. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first group or the second group is comprised of clones.