Feasibility of preimplantation genomic selection using in vitro-produced embryos in Japanese Black cattle

Preimplantation genomic selection (PGS) using single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) genotyping can be used to accelerate genetic improvement in cattle, but the technical components for in vitro-produced (IVP) embryos remain unvalidated in Japanese Black cattle; we aimed to address this gap in the present study. In the technical validation experiments, biopsies of approximately 15 cells and 5 cells achieved median call rates of 97.8% and 95.2%, respectively, with a median SNP genotype concordance of 99.9% with the corresponding embryos in both groups. Among biopsied IVP blastocysts, vitrification preserved a significantly higher cell number than slow freezing. In Japanese Black IVP embryos, call rates ≥ 90% were achieved in 88.5%, variation in genomic estimated breeding values (GEBVs) was observed among full-sibling embryos, and the conception rate after vitrification and transfer was 24.0%. At biopsied-cell call rates ≥ 90%, GEBV ranking was preserved between biopsied cells and the corresponding calves. These findings support the potential utility of PGS using IVP embryos as a breeding tool for Japanese Black cattle.