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SUMMARY:Biodiversity and Livestock Producer Acceptance of Genomics: Eviden
 ce From Three Producer Surveys In Canada - Albert Boaitey\, University of 
 Alberta
DTSTART:20160630T160000Z
DTEND:20160630T170000Z
UID:TALK66540@talks.cam.ac.uk
CONTACT:Dr Rose
DESCRIPTION:The advent of genomics in livestock breeding presents enormous
  opportunity for the selective breeding of livestock with a wide array of 
 traits (disease resistance\, milk productivity\, feed efficiency etc.) of 
 economic significance to different livestock producers-dairy\, beef\, hogs
  etc. With genomic selection\, the rate of genetic change can be accelerat
 ed through the reduction in generation intervals\, i.e. the ability to sel
 ect younger animals for breeding\, and increases in the accuracy of select
 ion. The opportunity to attain accelerated improvement in specific traits 
 directly linked with the economic outcomes of farmers is not without some 
 downside. The huge number of producers selecting for the same traits could
  result in the loss of genetic diversity\, possibly resulting in increased
  vulnerability to new disease outbreaks for example. The impact of livesto
 ck producer knowledge and awareness of biodiversity on their acceptance of
  genomic selection given the potential to quickly change genetic diversity
  has not been previously studied. If producer understanding of biodiversit
 y is important to their decision making\, then education on biodiversity c
 an provide a basis for mediating the risk of too much emphasis on specific
  traits. In this study we evaluate the role of knowledge and awareness abo
 ut biodiversity on the acceptance of genomic selection by dairy\, cow-calf
  and hog producers in Canada. Three national producer surveys focussed on 
 producer valuation of genomic information on different traits: feed effici
 ency (beef cattle)\; disease resistance (hogs)\; and\, productivity and di
 sease traits (dairy). Each of these surveys included two biodiversity scal
 es- a knowledge scale\, and a biodiversity awareness scale. Questions on p
 roducer sociodemographic characteristics\, farm practices and attitudes we
 re also included. We report results of logistic regression estimates of th
 e effect of biodiversity awareness and knowledge scores on acceptance of g
 enomics using a self-reported acceptance scale that measures producers’ 
 perceived usefulness of genomics on a 7-point scale for each producer grou
 p surveyed. 
LOCATION:David Attenborough Building Room 1.25a
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