The National Observatory of Bovine Abnormalities: actions and results for effective assistance to the management of genetic defects

Abstract

The limiting factor of genetic defect identification in farm animal populations is the outbreak detection and clinical characterization. Indeed these events are rare and poorly recorded in animal breeding databases. After several experiences in the past showing that outbreaks can be missed, a National Observatory for Bovine Abnormalities was implemented in 2002, jointly by INRA, the main actors in animal breeding, and veterinarian organizations. The goal of this observatory is primarily to collect cases in a central database as well as their corresponding epidemiologic context and biological samples. Another goal is to ensure a scientific watch, to provide information, and to coordinate actions between partners (www.onab.fr). Records are by far not exhaustive with several hundred files per year but are probably sufficient, through a good geographical and breed coverage, to detect most new outbreaks. This article presents an overview of ONAB’s activities, focusing on different defects encountered as well as on the identification of the corresponding causative mutations, paving the way for their management in selection.