Campus Terra, a meadow for cows and great research projects alike
If you have a close look at the DNA of Campus Terra, you will see that sustainability, collaboration and research are key elements in its structure. In fact, the connection between research and the field of genomics is an essential part of this pioneering project, which the Lugo Campus is a part of.
Galician Blond cattle are at the centre of this pilot programme, in which researchers from the USC Faculty of Veterinary Medicine are actively involved, in coordination with the National Association of Selected Galician Blond Cattle Breeders (Acruga).
This action represents an important step towards the adaptation of this indigenous breed to international standards in the application of genomic methodologies aimed at perfecting the selection processes. In fact, over 3,500 animals were genotyped with the Axyom chip, which includes 67,000 SNP markers. More specifically, there are 486 males with more than 50 calfs and 207 with more than 10. Out of the females analysed, 754 of them had more than 5 calfs.
Just like cows huddle together, collaboration is part of the DNA of this project, as, apart from researchers in Animal Production and Improvement, and in Population Genetics and Genomics from the USC, it also featured the participation of the experts in SNP genotyping at Xenética Fontao and specialists in Quantitative Genetics and Genomic Selection from the University of Zaragoza.
In this sense, another key element is the funding received by the Ministry of Rural Affairs of the Galician Government through the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD), which is part of the Galician Rural Development Program (2014-2020).
The information obtained through the combination of all these efforts allowed the experts to evaluate the genetic structure of Galician Blond cattle, as well as its relationship with other Spanish beef breeds. Likewise, the work done makes it possible to move towards a more accurate selection process and to include other interesting elements related to reproduction and well-being.
Without a doubt, thanks to these new technologies and the Campus Terra genes, the journey that this pioneering project has ahead will leave an excellent aftertaste in the mouths of both Galician Blond cattle and its breeders.