Project
RUMIGEN
Rumigen's objective is to obtain the biological and genetic background of complex traits, which can help breeding companies phenotype and select sustainable cows. In doing so, the project focuses on biodiversity, tradeoffs between production and reproductive traits and associated resilience. Furthermore, WFSR investigates the social acceptance of breeding and one risk and benefit analysis of gene editing. The knowledge generated in Rumigen will further strengthen that leading position the Netherlands has in the field of Biotechnology and Breeding. The impact on the Dutch sector will be more biological knowledge of the aforementioned complex traits, making it better known what is needed to make an animal suitable for changing conditions (e.g. different feed due to circular farming).
More sustainable breeding programmes and linked technologies should keep pace with societal needs and take into account both genetic diversity and the required adaptation to climate change. RUMIGEN will develop knowledge to make this more possible and define the scope for acceptance. RUMIGEN brings together leading scientists to develop scientific insights on the tradeoffs that arise when breeding for environmental traits. Large-scale data of global and local dairy breeds (Europe and India) combined with climate data will be analysed to, among other things, assess the medium- to long-term effects of e.g. heat stress. Methods will be developed to take into account rare alleles within cattle breeds and to maintain diversity. A platform will be designed to decipher the underlying mechanisms of epigenetic inheritance, and its contribution to predicting phenotype. RUMIGEN will answer questions on the specificity of genome editing and safety issues, and on the possibilities of maintaining genetic diversity. All in all, RUMIGEN will develop knowledge that unites genomics, epigenomics and biotechhnology for improving genomic selection and preserving genetic diversity.