Estimation of Pedigree Errors in the UK Dariy Population using Microsatellite Markers and the Impact on Selection

摘要

The proportion of cows in the UK dairy herd whose sires were misidentified was estimated using DNA markers. Genetic marker genotypes were determined on 568 cows (from 168 milk samples and 400 hair sam- ples) and 96 putative sires (from semen samples). The estimated pedigree error rate from the hair samples was 8.8/100, and from the milk samples, 13.1/100, giving an overall estimate of the error rate of 10/100. This level of pedigree errors will have a relatively large impact on the efficiency of progeny testing and the accuracy of cow predicted breeding values. We predict a loss of re- sponse to selection of approximately 2 to 3 /100 given this error rate.