Researchers will take a big data approach to finding genes that may confer mastitis resistance in this new USDA grant
Image Credit: Edwin Remsberg
Li Ma and Zhengguo Xiao of Animal & Avian Sciences are partnering with the dairy industry to improve animal welfare and disease resistance through genomic selection. With consumer trends moving towards antibiotic-free animal agriculture, selecting for livestock that is disease resistant has become particularly important for animal welfare, as well as for production. With a new grant award from the United States Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture (USDA-NIFA), Ma and his team will work to analyze millions of records maintained by the Council on Dairy Cattle Breeding (CDCB) to identify genes and underlying mechanisms for disease resistance in dairy cattle with a unique big data approach.
