METHODS FOR INCREASING THE RATE OF GENETIC PROGRESS AND GENERATING INBRED LINES IN NON-HUMAN MAMMALS

1 . A method of increasing the rate of genetic progress in a non-human mammalian species, comprising

genotyping a plurality of embryos of the non-human mammalian species;

selecting a first embryo from the plurality of embryos based on an estimated breeding value (EBV) or genotypic value of the first embryo;

obtaining a plurality of cells from the first embryo;

transferring the plurality of cells' nuclei into a plurality of enucleated eggs to produce a plurality of nuclear transfer eggs;

fertilizing the plurality of nuclear transfer eggs with sperm cells to produce a second plurality of embryos;

genotyping the second plurality of embryos; and

selecting a second embryo from the second plurality of embryos based on an EBV or genotypic value of the second embryo.

2 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising the steps of obtaining a plurality of cells from the second embryo and transferring the nuclei from the plurality of cells from the second embryo into a second plurality of enucleated eggs to produce a second plurality of nuclear transfer eggs.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the cells are stem cells.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the non-human mammalian species comprises bovids.

5 . A method of generating a line in a non-human mammalian species, comprising

a) providing a first embryo of the non-human mammalian species;

b) obtaining a cell from the first embryo;

c) transferring the cell's nucleus into an enucleated egg to produce a nuclear transfer egg; and

d) fertilizing the nuclear transfer egg with a sperm cell from an animal of the non-human mammalian species to produce a second embryo, wherein the first embryo and the animal are full-sibs, half-sibs or first cousins, or share a common ancestor within the last five generations.

6 . The method of claim 5 , further comprising the step of selecting the first embryo from a plurality of embryos based on an EBV, genotypic value, or gamete variance, of the first embryo.

7 . The method of claim 5 , wherein the non-human mammalian species comprises bovids.

8 . The method of claim 5 , wherein the cell is a stem cell.

9 . The method of claim 5 , wherein the animal is an embryo.

10 . The method of claim 5 , further comprising repeating steps b) to d) using the second embryo to produce a third embryo.

11 . A method of generating a line in a non-human mammalian species, comprising

a) providing an animal of the non-human mammalian species;

b) obtaining a cell from the animal;

c) transferring the cell's nucleus into an enucleated egg to produce a nuclear transfer egg; and

d) fertilizing the nuclear transfer egg with a sperm cell from the animal to produce a second embryo.

12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the non-human mammalian species comprises bovids.

13 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the cell is a somatic cell.

14 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising the steps of

e) obtaining a second cell from the second embryo;

f) transferring the second cell's nucleus into a second enucleated egg to produce a second nuclear transfer egg; and

g) fertilizing the second nuclear transfer egg with a second sperm cell from the animal to produce a third embryo.