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Home / Equine Research Bank / Int J Biol Sci / Identifying the future needs for long-term USDA efforts in a...
International journal of biological sciences2007; 3(3); 185-191; doi: 10.7150/ijbs.3.185

Identifying the future needs for long-term USDA efforts in agricultural animal genomics.

Abstract: Agricultural animal research has been immensely successful over the past century in developing technology and methodologies that have dramatically enhanced production efficiency of the beef, dairy, swine, poultry, sheep, and aquaculture industries. In the past two decades, molecular biology has changed the face of agricultural animal research, primarily in the arena of genomics and the relatively new offshoot areas of functional genomics, proteomics, transcriptomics, metabolomics and metagenomics. Publication of genetic and physical genome maps in the past 15 years has given rise to the possibility of being able finally to understand the molecular nature of the genetic component of phenotypic variation. While quantitative geneticists have been remarkably successful in improving production traits, genomic technology holds potential for being able to lead to more accurate and rapid animal improvement, especially for phenotypic traits that are difficult to measure.Recently, the agricultural research community has been able to capitalize on the infrastructure built by the human genome project by sequencing two of the major livestock genomes (Gallus domesticus and Bos Taurus). The 2005 calendar year is truly unprecedented in the history of agricultural animal research since draft genome sequences were completed for chickens and cattle. In addition, sequencing the swine and equine genome was initiated in early 2006. We now have in place a powerful toolbox for understanding the genetic variation underlying economically important and complex phenotypes. Over the past few years, new challenges have emerged for animal agriculture. Enhancements in production efficiency have not come without some negative side effects on animal well-being and longevity in production environments, including losses in reproductive efficiency, increased stress susceptibility, increased animal waste issues, and increased susceptibility to animal metabolic and infectious diseases. When considered in concert with societal concerns in the areas of natural resource conservation and protection, animal welfare, and food safety, it is clear that publicly supported agricultural research must be focused on enhancing the functionality and well-being of livestock and poultry in environmentally neutral production systems in the future. Realizing the great potential for animal genomics to address these and other issues, a workshop was convened by the U. S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) in Washington, DC in September of 2004. The workshop was entitled "Charting the Road Map for Long Term USDA Efforts in Agricultural Animal Genomics". This paper summarizes the proceedings of the workshop and the resulting recommendations. The need for a cohesive, comprehensive long-term plan for all of USDA's research efforts in animal genomics was evident at the workshop, requiring further integration of the efforts of the USDA's Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service (CSREES) and the USDA's Agricultural Research Service (ARS) to achieve the greatest return on investment.
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Publication Date: 2007-02-10 PubMed ID: 17384737PubMed Central: PMC1802016DOI: 10.7150/ijbs.3.185Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

The research article centers around identification of agricultural animal genomics’ future needs for the USDA’s long-term programs. It discusses the impact of genomics and related fields in revolutionizing animal agriculture, and the issues arising in this sector that need to be addressed such as loss in reproductive efficiency, increased susceptibility to diseases, as well as environmental and societal concerns.

Context and Background

  • The article starts by acknowledging the historic success of agricultural animal research in enhancing the productivity of various industries such as beef, dairy, swine, poultry, sheep, and aquaculture.
  • It credits developments in molecular biology, particularly genomics and related areas such as functional genomics, proteomics, transcriptomics, metabolomics and metagenomics, for significant advancements in the past two decades.
  • Genetic and physical genome maps have opened up new avenues for understanding the genetic component of phenotypic variation.

Genomics and its Potential

  • While quantitative genetics have played a key role in improving production traits, the article posits that genomic technology has the potential for even more accurate and rapid animal improvement, especially in hard-to-measure phenotypic traits.
  • Examples of the use of this technology include the sequencing of two major livestock genomes, Gallus domesticus and Bos Taurus. This was possible due to the infrastructural foundation laid by the Human Genome Project.
  • The groundbreaking work on sequencing the swine and equine genome kicked off in 2006, offering a robust toolbox for understanding the genetic variation underlying complex, economically significant phenotypes.

New Challenges in Animal Agriculture

  • The research paper elaborates on the new hurdles that have emerged in animal agriculture, including losses in reproductive efficiency, increases in stress susceptibility and animal waste issues, and heightened vulnerability to metabolic and infectious diseases.
  • These complications are accompanied by societal concerns related to conservation and protection of natural resources, as well as animal welfare and food safety.
  • The article asserts that public agricultural research should focus on enhancing animal functionality and well-being in environmentally neutral production systems in the future.

Workshop on Agricultural Animal Genomics

  • In response to these challenges and the phenomenal potential of animal genomics, a workshop was organized by the USDA in 2004.
  • The workshop aimed at formulating a long-term strategy for USDA’s efforts in agricultural animal genomics.
  • The necessity of a comprehensive, cohesive plan for USDA’s research efforts in this field was recognized at the workshop which demands for more integration of CSREES and ARS, two distinct bodies under USDA, to ensure maximum return on investment.

Cite This Article

APA
Green RD, Qureshi MA, Long JA, Burfening PJ, Hamernik DL. (2007). Identifying the future needs for long-term USDA efforts in agricultural animal genomics. Int J Biol Sci, 3(3), 185-191. https://doi.org/10.7150/ijbs.3.185

Publication

International journal of biological sciences
ISSN: 1449-2288
NlmUniqueID: 101235568
Country: Australia
Language: English
Volume: 3
Issue: 3
Pages: 185-191

Researcher Affiliations

Green, R D
  • USDA-ARS, National Program Staff, Beltsville, Maryland 20705, USA.
Qureshi, M A
    Long, J A
      Burfening, P J
        Hamernik, D L

          MeSH Terms

          • Agriculture / trends
          • Animals
          • Animals, Domestic / genetics
          • Computational Biology
          • Genomics
          • United States
          • United States Department of Agriculture

          Conflict of Interest Statement

          Conflict of interest: The authors have declared that no conflict of interest exists.

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