Agricultural News
DNA Future Inspires Beef Producer's Actions Now
Tue, 02 Jul 2013 10:24:59 CDT
When it comes to new technology, producers must start somewhere and that's why Angus breeder Cody Jorgensen says they are using genomics tests on their South Dakota ranch.
"We're really, really excited about DNA. I think that DNA is definitely the future of where we want to take our genetics. It's going to help us. It's going to be an unbelievable tool that we're going to have in our toolbox."
In addition to testing bulls, his family has 50K tested the majority of their large cow herd.
"I am not doing it to help aid the marketing of the cattle. That's not the intention. The intention is to get a better understanding genetically of what these cows can and can't do; to be able to make decisions-genetic decisions-quicker. Once we know what we have, it's like everything else and all the quantitative data that we do, we can use that in a faster way. We can reproduce faster. We can do a lot of things."
The ability to speed up breeding decisions sold Jorgensen on the technology, but he says he's especially looking forward to information DNA can provide down the road.
"If you can just think of any of the challenges being in the beef industry that we are faced with today whether it's drought or any production challenge that we have, if you're going to dream big, just look at what they did with corn. I'm not talking about modifying genetics, but what if? Just ask 'What if they could do this? What if they could do that?' I think the future of DNA is what's critical. What we don't even know yet is what I'm excited about. I'm all in. I believe in it and I think it is the future of the beef industry."
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