Genomic Selection and Livestock Welfare

Genomic selection tools enable rapid genetic improvement in livestock, creating opportunities to select for welfare traits alongside production — but only if welfare is explicitly prioritised.

Key Facts

Genomic selection uses genome-wide SNP markers to predict breeding value with high accuracy from young animals
Dairy cattle genomics has accelerated genetic progress in milk yield, health, and longevity traits simultaneously
Broiler chicken genomics could enable selection for slower growth alongside breast yield to improve welfare
Genomic selection for disease resistance reduces the need for antibiotic treatment in several livestock species
Welfare traits including polled genetics, behavioural calm, and structural soundness are increasingly included in indices

Welfare Considerations

Genomic selection represents one of the most powerful tools available for improving livestock welfare at scale. The same technology that has accelerated milk yield improvement can be applied to health, longevity, structural soundness, and disease resistance — traits that are closely linked to welfare. The barrier is not technological but economic and cultural: breeding companies and farmers must value welfare traits sufficiently to include them in selection indices alongside or instead of production metrics. Regulatory requirements and consumer demand can both drive this prioritisation. Genomic selection for welfare is not a future possibility — it is an available tool being underutilised.

What You Can Do

Support breeding programmes and indices that explicitly include welfare traits
Advocate for regulatory requirements for welfare trait inclusion in breeding certification
Choose livestock products from breeds with documented welfare-focused breeding programmes
Support research into the genetics of welfare-relevant traits in commercial livestock species
Engage with livestock breeding organisations to promote welfare integration in their programmes