DEVELOPING GENOMIC TOOLS FOR IMPROVING ESTROUS BEHAVIOR IN DAIRY CATTLE

This project aims to identify genes and pathways underlying estrous characteristics and develop novel tools for selecting cows with improved estrous behavior. Specific objectives: (1) Create adatabase with estrous behavior phenotypes and genome-wide genotypes using alarge population of lactating dairy cows; (2)Identify and characterize genomic regions, and preferably causal variants, individual genes and gene networks, responsible for the genetic variation in estrous behavior in dairy cattle; and (3) Develop novel prediction models incorporating genomic data and biological information for selecting dairy cows with improvedestrous behavior.