1. Development of genomic selection in dairy cattle in two
emerging countries:
South Africa and India
Vincent Ducrocq
Lidia Chavinskaïa
INRA, Jouy-en-Josas
Marimuthu Swaminathan
Ashok Pande
BAIF, Pune
Michiel van Niekerk
Frikkie Neser
UFS, Bloemfontein

2. Context
in developed countries, a complete change of breeding programs:
progeny test
Genomic selection
large impact on international semen market
For importing countries, potentially,
many more young bulls to select from
import of male or female embryos or semen
more adapted to local conditions
alternative: start local breeding program at lower costs

3. Two situations for emerging countries
Case 1: The country has its own genetic evaluation
and is already an Interbull member
Before: use MACE EBV on local scale for import or for local selection
Now:
select foreign young bulls or semen on GEBV on local
scale using GMACE results …
or get access to bull genotypes, create a reference
population, implement a genomic evaluation then select
local / foreign bulls or semen based on GEBV on local scale
or … rely on foreign young bulls or semen based on GEBV in the
exporting country without clear possibility to compare among them

4. Two situations for emerging countries
Case 2: all the others
Before: ideally, use MACE results on a country scale as close as possible to the local one ...
In practice: use MACE results on the exporting country scale
or national EBV of the exporting country
Now :
select foreign young bulls /semen based on GEBV of the exporting countries without clear possibility to compare among them
But it could be : create a reference population, implement a genomic evaluation, get access to genotypes of candidates, select on GEBV on local scale

5. Ideally: choose the best for the farmer
..choosing a bull
evaluated in these
environments …
… is like choosing
a car tested under
these conditions
For this local
farmer …
INFORMATION
FOREIGN
LOCAL
INFO

6. Selecting bulls evaluated on a foreign scale is
at best : sub-optimal
possibly : very bad !
(on the long run, even for the exporting country)

7. The INRA GENOSOUTH project
Provide technical support to 2 emerging countries:
South Africa and India
Development of appropriate tools for local genetic improvement of dairy cattle
Focus on genomic selection
How does INRA contribute?
Sharing of competences (capacity building, methods)
Sharing of data (reference population)
Sharing of experience (organization, strategy, data
collection, breeding programs)

8. Two very contrasted situations Performance recording
National
genetic
evaluation
Interbull
member
Genomic
South Africa
Yes No
India
Some
Main partners
South Africa: UFS (Bloemfontein)
India: BAIF
(Pune, Maharashtra)

9. South African project
Part of a broad national initiative (Dairy Genomic Program)
Universities of Pretoria and The Free State, S.A. Studbook, ARC, breed associations
and a breeding company (Taurus-Evolution)
Preliminary work showing a large (within country) GxE interaction
between Pasture and Total Mixed ration feeding systems
PhD of Michiel van Niekerk
Holstein breed
Implement a random regression test day model including the
feeding system GxE interaction
Implement a Single Step Genomic evaluation incorporating
information from the Eurogenomics reference population

10. Indian project Partner: BAIF
Manages a huge semen station near Pune (Maharastra) with bulls of
« exotic breeds» (Holstein and Jersey)
crossbreds (bos taurus x bos indicus – mainly Gir and Sahiwal
+ various bos indicus draft breeds
various buffalo breeds
aim of the collaboration: contribute to the development of
a sustainable (genetically and economically) selection programme
(with genetic evaluation and/or using genomic information)
WITHOUT massive infrastructure investment (e.g., without
expensive performance recording despite the tiny herd sizes)

11. Indian project Main priority: Performance recording
Large data collection (on production, fertility,..) in different Indian
states using smartphones with financial support
from ICAR (Indian Council of Agricutural Research)
and above all, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) support
objectives :
measure G x E and optimal crossbreeding level
evaluate the potential for using sexed semen in Indian conditions

12. Indian project Genomic components (among others)
genotype all current BAIF bulls
First, with 50K Illumina chip  not adapted to crossbreds
and bos indicus Indian breeds (see last year’s presentation in Belfast)
Create a proper ~50k+ chip for crossbreds and bos indicus
(based on a choice of SNP from the HD cattle chip)
evaluate BAIF Holstein bulls on the French scale  clear detection
of several sub-populations with very different charateristics
establish a reference population of crossbreds females (and also
possibly purebred Gir and/or Sahiwal Bos Indicus females)

13. Conclusion: some first impressions
A lot of enthusiasm everywhere: the widening gap between
countries with / without genomic selection technology has generated
a lot of frustration. Suggestions on « where/how to start » are
always well received !
Fundamental step (the most difficult and time consuming one) :
to convince main players that they cannot succeed if they are divided
collective actions are more efficient and far less costly
joining reference populations is always a win-win operation
Huge need of capacity building, in genomics but not only!
How can Interbull help?

14. Thank you !

15. Interests for the French sector
Research
AI industry
Access to new data
Genotype x interaction
Better model for genetic evaluations
More appropriate rankings (considering production systems)
New traits
(heat, parasitism resistance, crossbreeding)
Development of new profiles of bulls for export
More appropriate offer
Increased visibility
Attract foreign students and researchers
Publications, congresses: GS methodology, various data structures
Better promotion of French genetics (e.g., French Young Bulls directly published on the foreign scale)
Make the link between France and the importing country stronger
More business (genotyping, extended projects…)