Abstract
Ruminant genetic improvement can play an important role in developing livestock systems that will be sustainable in the future, and produce food in an environmentally friendly manner. Also, genetic improvement of livestock is a particularly cost-effective technology, producing permanent and cumulative changes in performance. Moran et al (2007) showed the very high value of animal and plant genetics research and development in helping to deliver on likely future policy priorities (public good rates of return ranging between 11-61%), including responding to global climate change and reducing the environmental impact of farming systems. The current delivery route for genetic improvement in the UK is via the genetic evaluations of dairy cattle (funded by DairyCo), and of sheep and several selected beef cattle breeds (funded by Signet). These are currently undertaken by Edinburgh Genetic Evaluation Services (EGENES) based in SAC, Edinburgh. These evaluations include a range of production and fitness-related traits in each species. There many examples of how these services have been updated to include the output of research projects, many of which have been developed by SAC and partners, and therefore disseminate research directly to the industry. As a result, we have unrivalled experience in ruminant breeding goal construction and delivery and applying new research tools in practice. The genetic improvement in the UK has been shown to be worth many millions of pounds to the dairy, beef (23 million over 10 years) and sheep (29 million over 10 years) sectors (Amer et al., 2007). A workshop to explore the potential for a Ruminant Genetic Improvement Network (GIN) with stakeholders was held on 4-5 June 2009. Outputs from this meeting established broad stakeholder support for a ruminant GIN and identified priority research themes. Defra are supporting the industry via funding a ruminant GIN with the objective of reducing the environmental footprint of ruminant production through improved methodologies for genetic selection. The aim of this proposal is to outline tasks that establish the technical and mechanistic framework for the ruminant GIN in the month’s preceding official start of the ruminant GIN project (1st of April 2010). This will reduce the need for lead-in activities being undertaken at the start of the ruminant GIN thus helping work on Tasks to commence earlier in the project. The project will develop: 1. A strategic paper to develop the technical framework for ruminant GIN activity: This objective will develop a strategic framework for the potential activity required to meet the wider objectives of the ruminant GIN, as shortlisted in the workshop on 4-5 June and to be identified. This strategic document will help map out how a ruminant GIN can deliver its objective. This will involve consultation period with stakeholders (industry and academic), followed by an expert review, horizon scan and options appraisal of the activities as part of ruminant GIN. Having a framework in place for ruminant GIN activity will also serve as a systematic, management tool and help provide a clear vision for the ruminant GIN. 2. A mechanistic framework for ruminant GIN activity. This objective will establish the overall web portal and IP arrangements for the ruminant GIN activity. Having a web and IP framework established before commencing the project will ensure that dissemination and interaction between partners and industry can commence in the very early days of the project rather than being delayed until the project is up and running. The tasks in this objective include developing a GIN website to support knowledge exchange (KE) in the GIN, a web-based management system to facilitate project management and partner collaboration, a scoping exercise to define the data resources required by a ruminant GIN and developing the IP framework for a ruminant GIN. This objective will underpin the activity and knowledge exchange of the GIN and support the management and interaction between project partners and GIN members.
United Kingdom