During his PhD studies, Jón Hjalti Eiríksson developed and tested methods for genomic predictions of crossbred dairy cows. Genomic predictions of cows are a valuable tool to make management and selection decisions within their herds. However, genomic predictions have mainly been available for purebred cows because the genome of crossbred cows has parts originating in multiple breeds, which complicates genomic predictions. Jón developed a method for assigning genotype alleles of crossbred animals to the breed that the alleles originated. By using the breed of origin information, accurate genomic predictions for crossbred cows can be calculated. Further, the assigned breed of origin is useful for accounting for heterosis and segregation between breeds.

The developed methods facilitate the simultaneous use of crossbreeding and genomic predictions for cows, both of which help making dairy cow herds more robust and efficient.

The PhD study was completed at Center for Quantitative Genetics and Genomics, Faculty of Technical Sciences, Aarhus University.

This summary was prepared by the PhD student.

Time: Tuesday, 15 November 2022 at 09:00
Place: Building 1420, Meeting room 2, Aarhus University Conference Centre, Aarhus University, Fredrik Nielsens vej, 8000 Aarhus C.
Title of PhD thesis: Genomic predictions for crossbred dairy cows

Contact information: Jón Hjalti Eiríksson, e-mail: jonh@qgg.au.dk, tel.: +45 53364272

Members of the assessment committee:

Professor Jörn Bennewitz, Department of Animal Breeding and Genetics, University of Hohenheim, Germany

Reasearch Professor Martin Lidauer, Genetics and Breeding group, National Resources Institute Finland (LUKE), Finland

Senior Researcher Goutam Sahana (chair), Center for Quantitative Genetics and Genomics, Aarhus University, Denmark

Main supervisor:
Senior Researcher Ole Christensen, Center for Quantitative Genetics and Genomics, Aarhus University, Denmark

Co-supervisor:
Senior Researcher Guosheng Su, Center for Quantitative Genetics and Genomics, Aarhus University, Denmark

Language: The PhD dissertation will be defended in English

The defence is public.
The PhD thesis is available for reading at the Graduate School of Technical Sciences/GSTS, Jens Baggesens Vej 53, building 5221, 8200 Aarhus N.