I’ve heard this question a few times, and I thought it would be helpful to address it in a short post.
The short answer is: Yes!
But why? Here’s why pedigree information still matters:
- Not all animals are genotyped, and we still need to perform genetic evaluations for non-genotyped animals. Pedigree-based genetic relationships between genotyped and non-genotyped animals, and among non-genotyped animals themselves are essential for this.
- Even if we genotype all current and future animals, we can’t change the fact that many animals from previous generations cannot be genotyped.
- Non-genotyped animals contribute to the genetic evaluation of genotyped animals through their phenotypes. They also provide valuable insights into population structure, such as breed composition and genetic lines.
- Pedigree information is crucial for genotype imputation, helping fill in missing genetic data with greater accuracy.