Introduction
Demand for animal protein is set to increase dramatically over the next
few decades (FAO, 2002; Alexandratos and Bruinsma,2012). This represents
a significant challenge in terms of increasing productivity against a
backdrop of reducing resources including land and water. It will require
the application of many different technologies including genetic
improvement (Ludu and Plastow,2013). Whilst the largest cost of
production is associated with feed, another significant element is the
impact of disease. The cost of disease may be underestimated due to its
multifactorial nature and the relative success, at least in the
developed world. Bush et at., 2011 state that the role of genetics in
improving animal health will become increasingly important as focus
increases on tackling antimicrobial drug resistance.
Technological innovations have been drivers of social and economic
change. They have played a pivotal role in enhancing the quality of life
and the safety of animals and humans. In the last four decades there has
been an unprecedented surge in the development of biotechnology in
animal production and health, with gene-based biotechnologies becoming
most prominent in the last decade. While the vast majority of these
technologies has been developed and utilized in developed countries,
they have the potential to alleviate poverty and hunger, reduce the
threats of diseases and ensure environmental sustainability in
developing countries. Some of the technologies have a long history of
successful use, others have been used with varied success, and many more
are at different stages of development and commercialization.
In selective breeding, the potential of individuals to transmit good
genes to the next generation is estimated (i.e. their breeding value is
calculated). With genomic selection it is possible to estimate an
animal’s breeding value quite accurately without the need for own
performance or performance of large number of offspring. Modern breeds
of livestock differ markedly from their ancestors as a result of
breeding strategies. For example, milk production per cow has increased
among Holstein dairy cattle. Similarly, breeding programs have resulted
in lean, fast-growing pigs (Notter.,1999). Chickens from modern breeds
each produce more than 250 eggs per year, approximately double that
produced in 1950, again mainly due to genetic selection. Currently
countries that are following genomic selection are United States of
America, Canada, New Zealand, Netherlands, Australia, Denmark, Sweden
and Brazil. Benefits of genomic selections have well been demonstrated
in developed countries that include reduced generation interval
accuracies of above 70% have been reported for young genomic proven
bulls, higher rates of genetic gains. Genomic systems in developed
countries are characterized with large reference populations,
collaboration among countries, well defined phenotypes but mostly within
pure breeds