Genetic Adaptation of Livestock to Heat Stress Challenges

Genetic/genomic selection between and within species and breeds can aid in maintaining production levels in farm animal species under climatic stress. This chapter looks at how genes and animals can be identified and used for this purpose. We also look at over 19,600 genes reported from studies on adaptation cited in the scientific literature for cattle, sheep, goats and horses. Functional analysis revealed pathways involved in developmental and growth processes, regulation (positive and negative) of biological process, regulation of response to stimulus and stress, immune system regulation, function and development, leukocyte activation, oxidoreductase activity, metabolism and behaviour. Future works will look at how we can select for increased tolerance to heat stress and its related traits while maintaining productivity. Solutions may include landscape genomics, genome editing and multi-omics studies. Overall, there is a need to integrate different stakeholders with the development of statistical methodologies (including artificial intelligence and machine learning) and a regulatory framework to ensure animal welfare and consumer safety.