Crooijmans, associate professor at Wageningen University & Research, Animal Breeding and Genomics (WUR-ABG), was awarded the grant for the OPTIBOV cattle sequencing project.

The unique features of the Groningen White Headed (GWH) cattle breed can help to reduce the susceptibility to eye lesions. A recent study found functional candidate genes of this phenotype which may help to prevent eye diseases in cattle populations worldwide.