PAG Asia 2014

May 19 - 21, 2014

Plenary Lecture: Dorian Garrick - "Genomic Prediction and its Role in Livestock Improvement"

Dorian Garrick holds the A.L. Rae Chair in Animal Breeding and Genetics at Massey University (part-time) and the Endowed Jay Lush Chair of Animal Breeding and Genetics at Iowa State University (9-month appointment). New Zealand-born Dorian Garrick gained his Bachelor of Agricultural Science (First Class Honours) from Massey University in New Zealand and has a doctorate from Cornell University. Dorian is the first person to hold the Jay Lush Endowed Chair in Animal Breeding and Genetics at Iowa State University. Dr. Jay Lush is world recongized as the father of animal breeding. Dorian’s research interests are broadly involved in the genetic improvement of populations through selection. In recent years, his activities have focused on the use of genomic data to predict offspring performance. These endeavours include theoretical aspects of prediction, the development of software to apply the statistical theory to real-life data, and the application of the software to national and international datasets for a wide variety of traits representing a range of livestock and other species. This encompasses design, enhancement, implementation and monitoring of genetic improvement programs. In 2011 he received two national awards for these activities, one from the American Society of Animal Science and the other from the American Dairy Science Association.