Towards efficient and large routine genomic evaluations
In collaboration with Prof. Kees Vuik (DIAM), researchers from Wageningen University & Research, Animal Breeding and Genomics (WUR-ABG) have recently implemented an efficient algorithm called the deflated preconditioned conjugate gradient method.
This algorithm, which is new in animal breeding, is intended to enable routine research into the genome that is carried out on a large scale in order to predict breeding values more accurately. The first tests of this new algorithm were performed on large datasets of CRV BV, a partner of Breed4Food. Brred4Food is a consortium founded by Wageningen University & Research and four international livestock companies.
The results of these tests showed promising efficiency of the new algorithm, which makes it possible to routinely perform large single-step genomic evaluations. Moreover, it has been demonstrated that this new algorithm can easily be implemented in software currently used in animal husbandry.