Long-standing cooperation between CDCB and Lactanet Canada is highlighted through two updates for April.

Feed Saved Reference Population: CDCB and Lactanet are both committed to increasing feed efficiency data for the North American dairy herd. As part of a larger collaboration, feed intake records from two Canadian herds – including >650 lactations – have been added into the reference population for U.S. Feed Saved evaluations. The 10% gain in records should improve Feed Saved genomic prediction reliabilities by 1 to 2%. The Canadian research cows already had genotypes at CDCB, which simplified the merger of the data into the Feed Saved evaluation. Notably, Lactanet Canada will launch in April the first official Feed Efficiency genetic evaluations for the Holstein breed in Canada.
 
CDCB haplotype determination extended to Canadian population: As part of a bilateral collaboration, CDCB will start calculating and sharing haplotype results for all the Canadian population with Lactanet in April 2021. All publishable males and a subset of females – irrespective of their initial fee code – will now enter the evaluation only to obtain haplotypes for this exchange.
 
The sharing of haplotype results and exchange of phenotypes for Feed Saved evaluation are the first steps toward a larger collaboration between the U.S. and Canadian systems, in data sharing, services and research. Since the beginning of genomics, the two countries have had a common genotype base which has benefitted North American dairy genetics.

Provided by: CDCB Connection