Utilização da Genómica na Selecção de Ovinos Resistentes a Parasitas e Peeira no Alentejo
- ACOS - Associação de Agricultores do Sul(líder)
- CEBAL - Centro de Biotecnologia Agrícola e Agro-Alimentar do Alentejo(parceiro)
- INIAV - Instituto Nacional de Investigação Agrária e Veterinária(parceiro)
- Universidade de Évora(parceiro)
Summary
Gastrointestinal parasites and foot and mouth disease have a significant negative impact on the profitability of sheep farms in the Alentejo, Portugal. The aim of the project are: (i) characterise these diseases on farms in this region; (ii) explore genomic methodologies to identify genetic markers associated with resistance to these diseases that can be used as criteria for selecting breeding stock, improving the productivity and the economy of farms.
Goals, activities and expected/achieved results
The general objective is, through the application of current genomic methodologies, to develop marker-assisted selection programmes, allowing for the selection of sheep that are resistant to footrot and parasitism by gastrointestinal nematodes in the Alentejo region.
The specific objectives are:
a) To identify risk factors associated with the existence of foot and mouth disease and parasitism by gastrointestinal nematodes on sheep farms in Alentejo.
b) Characterising the diseases and developing diagnostic methodologies to identify resistant and susceptible animals. Use of metagenomics to identify and characterise the peeria agent.
c) Evaluation of the economic impact of peeria and parasitism by gastrointestinal nematodes on sheep farms in the Alentejo.
d) Use of genomic studies to identify genetic markers associated with resistance to peeria and parasitism by gastrointestinal nematodes,
e) Evaluating the economic impact of the project on the control of scour and parasitism by gastrointestinal nematodes and on improving the productivity and profitability of sheep farms.
f) Dissemination of project results
WP1 – Identification of relevant risk factors associated with footrot and gastrointestinal nematodes in sheep farms of Alentejo
WP2 – Disease characterization and methodology of diagnostic
WP 3 - Assessment of the economic impact of footrot and gastrointestinal nematodes, as well as other diseases in the Alentejo region
WP4 – Genomic wide association studies for identification of genetic markers associated with footrot and gastrointestinal nematodes
WP5 – Project management and Dissemination of Results
