Development of a SNP Chip for Breeding Value Estimation and Management of Genetic Diversity in German Black Pied Cattle

The project aims at the development and testing of a custom-made SNP chip that is specific for the cattle breed DSN and that is suited for the genomic breeding value estimation and the management of the genomic diversity in the small breed. The project performed in DSN is a model example for continued breeding and maintaining the genetic diversity in other endangered breeds using novel techniques and methods of molecular genetics, bioinformatics and breeding value estimation. The innovation consists in combining high-density genomic information with modern genetic-statistical methods of bioinformatics for the improvement of breeds without applying gene manipulation.