Genomic Evaluations technology advancements

MINDA® customers will soon have access to more accurate genomic evaluations than ever before – helping build efficient and profitable dairy herds of the future.

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We have significantly advanced the technology used to identify parentage and generate animal genotypes, resulting in more accurate gBWs for all animals in MINDA.

In July, we will update close to two million parentage relationships in MINDA. Most updates will validate parentage already recorded, while some animals’ parents will change or be added.
In August, close to half a million animals will receive updated genomic evaluations based on their own genotype information, improving the accuracy of gBWs across the national herd.

Both updates will have ripple effects to all known relatives in MINDA, resulting in updates to gBWs over July and August.

99% of herds in MINDA will experience movements of no more than 10gBW (up or down). At an individual level, animals directly impacted by either of the updates may experience more gBW change.

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Factsheet – Genomic Evaluations technology advancements

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In July, we will update close to two million parentage relationships in MINDA.

Most updates will validate parentage already recorded, while some animals’ parents will change or be added. Our new method compares an animal’s DNA against over 5.7 million existing DNA profiles and analyses over 8 million existing relationships.

In August, close to half a million animals will receive updated genomic evaluations based on their own genotype information, improving the accuracy of gBWs across the national herd.

In February 2023, we started trialling a new technology for carrying out both parentage and genomic evaluations together, making it more efficient and significantly more cost effective than the previous process which involved carrying them out separately.

This new technology also allows us to collect more DNA information across the national population and identify which genes each animal has received from its parents and whether they are associated with good or poor performance.

We have thoroughly tested this new technology, and in August we will use it for all genomic evaluations going forward. At the same time, all animals that have been processed through GeneMark since February 2023 will receive an updated genomic evaluation.

These advancements mean more accurate genomic evaluations than ever before – helping build efficient and profitable dairy herds of the future.
gBWs play an important part in decision making on-farm and these updates will support farmers to make informed breeding decisions based on the most accurate and up to date information available.
We have invested significantly in genomic research and technology and are committed to delivering quality data and science innovation to our farmer shareholders.

The impact for most farmers (99%) will be very minor +/- 10gBW.
At an individual level, animals directly impacted by either of the updates may experience more gBW change.
Farmers who are more significantly impacted will receive a phone call from a subject matter expert to discuss their herd.
If farmers wish to discuss their herd in more detail they should contact their Agri Manager in the first instance, who can then connect them with a herd improvement specialist.

Animals in MINDA are like a large family tree with millions of relationships across age groups as well as generations. Information received for one animal will in turn contribute to relatives of that animal, which is why we will see movements across the database.

LIC’s new GeneMark® Genomics product is powered by these technology advancements – GeneMark Genomics combines DNA parentage testing and genomic evaluation services into one simple and convenient service.