GplusE: Mid-infrared milk analysis based technologies adding value to gene banks

Fitter farms through the use of animal gene banks need an excellent level of characterization of the genetic material represented in these banks. If genomic characterization is straight forward the phenotypic characterization of specific traits of interest is less. Even worse, some traits may even not be known as of interest when the material was conserved. Here mid-infrared (MIR) spectra based milk analysis strategies as studied during the recently finished EU FP7 project GplusE would allow to add value to gene bank collection. Required for this would be the recording of spectra for individuals of preserved breeds, if possible from spectrometers which were at the same time participating to a standardization procedure, and the preservation for at least a part of these MIR records the corresponding preserved (frozen) milk. There are at least four ways MIR based technologies can add value. First, MIR prediction equations developed well after the conservation of the MIR data can be used to determine a posteriori novel phenotypes for these old animals. Prediction would be more reliable when made on standardized spectra and can be done with the sole knowledge of the spectra so even for larger groups of animals then those preserved (e.g. daughters of preserved sires). Also, second, preserved frozen samples associated to some MIR records, can be used to validate, or even improve these equations adding variability that has maybe disappeared since preservation. These frozen samples can also be useful because novel reference methods (e.g. proteomics) may appear and these samples can contribute to better novel equations because they increase variability of reference calibration dataset. Finally, MIR spectra data, but also MIR based predictions can be used to establish breed differences. Using directly MIR has the advantage of a phenotypic characterization (i.e. milk phenome) close the genome. As for the use of the genome for selection of candidates for gene banks, the use of this milk phenome could be a strategy to assess and to cover the existing variability in a given breed and among breeds to preserve.