Animal Breeding-RCN: Farm Animal Genomics Collaborative

Summary This proposal, entitled Animal Breeding-RCN: Farm Animal Genomics Collaborative, is in response to the 2023-24 USDA-NIFA-AFRI Request for Applications under Program A1201- Animal Breeding, Genetics, and Genomics. The overarching objective of the Farm Animal Genomics Consortium is to continue the tremendous coordination and networking that occurred under the 30-year-long NRSP-8 National Animal Genome Research Program. Similar to NRSP-8, investigators whose research contributes to advances in genomes of agriculturally relevant animal species will be invited to participate. However, we will also encourage those who are interested in applying genomics information to their research in animal science to join the collaborative. Engagement of all participants will happen through annual meetings held in conjunction with the AGBT-Ag conference, as well as networking through specific SLACK channels. Participants will self-select into one or more of four research areas: Genome Sequencing, Functional Annotation of the Genome, Genome Representation, and Precision Genomics. The end result will be the deployment of science and technology that fill knowledge and resource gaps in farm animal genomics. Equally important, the network will deliver resources and solutions that can be used by researchers who work across the entire spectrum of animal science. In this way, the network will address bottlenecks in livestock productivity that are detailed in “Genome to Phenome: Improving Animal Health, Production, and Well- Being: A New USDA Blueprint for Animal Genome Research -2027”, and thereby, will contribute to nutrition security and climate-safe agriculture while increasing on-farm income.