BovReg is a 20-partner consortium coordinated by the Leibniz-Institut für Nutztierbiologie in Germany and includes partners from EU, Canada and Australia.
BovReg will receive ~ 6 M€ in research funding over four years. The project brings together a critical mass of researchers covering a range of disciplines, including specialists in ruminant research, bioinformatics, molecular and quantitative genetics, animal breeding, reproductive physiology, ethics and social science.
Despite the revolution in genome analysis, there is a wide gap in understanding the associations between genotypes and complex phenotypes of interest in livestock. BovReg will develop biology-driven genomic prediction tools that will integrate biological knowledge on regulatory genomic variation into genomic selection schemes for local and global cattle populations. This improved knowledge will be useful for re-focussing cattle production, fully taking into account societal awareness, environmental and animal-welfare aspects, as well as bio-efficiency. Ann Bruce will be developing a ‘game’ that will enable public audiences to discuss future directions for cattle breeding and the development of the genomic prediction tools.