This invention relates to methods for the detection of a bovine that is affected by or carrier of brachyspina. It is based on the identification of a 3.3 Kb deletion in the bovine FANCI gene that is shown to cause the brachyspina syndrome. The present invention provides methods and uses for determining whether a bovine is affected by or carrier of brachyspina by analyzing its genomic DNA or its RNA. The methods can be used to perform marker assisted selection or genomic selection for increased fertility in said bovine.