Boreal adopts genomic selection in timothy breeding

Boreal is renewing its timothy breeding programme and introducing genomic tools into the process. The change accelerates breeding by several years, meaning future varieties will bring much larger improvements than earlier ones. Both farmers and the environment benefit from a faster breeding cycle.

Switching the timothy programme to genomic selection enables Boreal to develop:

• more climate-smart
• higher yielding
• more digestible
• more winter-hardy
• more drought-tolerant

timothy varieties significantly faster.

Traditionally, forage breeding has taken over 20 years from crossing to seed sales.

Development Manager Outi Manninen, responsible for biotechnology: “With genomic selection, genetic progress in timothy is at least tripled and the breeding timeline is significantly shortened. The new varieties will also represent much larger improvements over previous ones.”

Acceleration especially in early breeding stages. Previously:

• parent selection was based on progeny tests
• the process took 6–8 years

With genomic models:

• new individuals can be selected as parents in under a year

The foundation for timothy genomic selection was built in the Genonurmi research project, carried out by Boreal and Luke.

”Aiemmin lajikkeiden vanhemmat valittiin jälkeläisarvostelun perusteella ja koko prosessi kesti 6-8 vuotta. Genomisen mallin avulla voimme valita uusia timoteiyksilöitä vanhemmiksi alle vuodessa”, Manninen sanoo.

The project developed genomic evaluation tools for:

• winter hardiness
• yield
• digestibility

Manninen: “Prediction accuracy proved so good that we can immediately launch a genomic timothy breeding programme at Boreal.”

Breeding targets remain the same. Boreal’s genomic timothy programme aims to develop varieties that:

• are high‑yielding
• are winter-hardy
• have excellent feeding quality
• tolerate drought and weather extremes

Accelerating breeding and adopting genomic tools is also an act of responsibility:

• Less need for inputs
• Improved timothy varieties → better profitability in milk & beef production
• Less environmental impact

“We believe that in coming years, breeding results will appear as even better timothy varieties that benefit the entire beef and dairy production chain and support sustainable agriculture,” Manninen says.

Other Boreal-bred species already using genomic selection:

• pea
• barley
• oats
• wheat

GENONURMI PROJECT

Climate and environmentally smart forage breeding: genomic tools for timothy and tall fescue

Purpose: reduce environmental load of milk and beef production by improving yield & digestibility through genomic breeding tools.

Duration: 1 January 2021 – 31 March 2024

Coordinator: Boreal Plant Breeding

Funders: Makera, Luke, Boreal Plant Breeding Ltd, Hankkija, Peltosiemen, Tilasiemen, Atria, HKScan, Snellman