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Project Code [GREENBREED 0496]

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Project title

GREENBREED: Sustainable ruminant breeding programs for low environmental footprint

Primary Funding Agency

Department of Agriculture, Food & the Marine

Co-Funding Organisation(s)

n/a

Lead Organisation

Teagasc

Lead Applicant

n/a

Project Abstract

The objective of GREENBREED is to develop, validate and deploy the necessary tools and optimal strategies to achieve sustainable and quantifiable genetic gain in environmental and economic efficiency in dairy, beef and sheep. The environmental traits considered are methane, ammonia, nitrous oxide and nitrates. The project team consists of all the ruminant quantitative geneticists in Ireland with vast experience of generating and seamlessly translating novel research into impact. The project complements background data, knowledge, tools and resources, with novel approaches for direct and indirect selection for environmental efficiency without compromising economic efficiency and societal concerns of genetically elite animals. GREENBREED specifically develops and validates bioeconomic systems models which, when parameterised by the phenotypic, genetic and genomic data generated in the programme, can be used to quantify the consequences of the current five national breeding objectives. The impact of modifications to the breeding scheme either through more or lesser phenotypic data, high or lesser quality data (which impacts heritability and thus accuracy of genetic evaluations) as well as relative weights on the environmental traits will be quantified.

Grant Approved

�2,988,827.06

Research Hub

n/a

Research Theme

Climate Solutions, Transition Management and Opportunities

Start Date

01/09/2018

Initial Projected Completion Date

31/08/2023