Rocky 2022

In the current era of biomedical big data, advances in diagnostics and treatments can leverage a wealth of information from research and health records. This approach requires integrating and comparing data related to genotypes, phenotypes, and diseases from disparate sources. Though species agnostic, this process is currently optimized for diagnosis and treatment of human patients since the harmonized data mostly comes from human health records and animal model databases. Including all non-human animal data would improve translational research, and expand diagnostic support and treatment discovery for non-human animals. Here, we report the creation of the Vertebrate Breed Ontology (VBO) as a single source for data standardization and integration of all breed names. VBO was created using standard semantic engineering tools including the Ontology Development Kit. Breeds are added in VBO when they are recognized as such by international organizations, communities, and/or experts. VBO metadata can include common names and synonyms, country of existence, breed recognition status, domestication status, breed identifiers/name codes, reference in other databases, and description of origin. Provenance of all VBO information is recorded. Currently, livestock and cat breeds are available in VBO, with the addition of dog breeds and animals bred for laboratory purposes underway. The adoption of VBO as the source of breed names in databases and veterinary electronic health records is one step in making information more computable and consistent. This will enhance data interoperability, and support data integration and comparison, and ultimately diagnosis and treatments for both humans and other animals.