Identification of copy number variations in Jersey cattle using whole genome sequencing and screening deletions for deleterious potential

The following study had two objectives. The first objective was identification of putative CNVs in the US Jersey population using NGS data and validating them by PCR-based assays or other independent means. The second objective was to identify deletions which are potentially associated with embryonic or fetal lethality in Jersey cattle based on absence of homozygous genotypes in a sample from the Jersey population. The goal was to provide additional information about CNVs in cattle, particularly the Jersey breed, and provide information regarding deleterious alleles that impact reproductive efficiency.