Agricultural News
Genomics Picks Up Pace on Genetic Progress
Tue, 17 Feb 2015 15:05:05 CST
Faster genetic change---pork and poultry producers have always had an advantage in this area, but the rapid advancement of genomic technology in the last decade helps cattlemen make quicker progress. Angus Genetics Inc President Dan Moser said many in the cattle industry are using it, indirectly today.
"Folks that are purchasing yearling bulls that have been genomically tested, you know, the risk involved and the potential change in those animal's genetics or at least the characterization of that, the risk is much less," Moser said.
E-P-Ds are always changing as more information is available, but using D-N-A tests help decrease that amount of change.
"And for a trait like calving-ease, for example, a bull with pedigree data and its own record and those sort of things, might have an accuracy of around twenty percent," Moser said. "And that with genomic testing, that might go to forty percent. The difference in that in percent calving-ease genetics might be two or three percent difference. And if we see two or three percent less assisted calvings, that's a lot less labor, a lot calf survival, a lot more passive immunity through colostrum intake, better calf health. You know, I think the little difference there in that one value on that bull and getting the right one purchased, can really pay off for the producer."
Some commercial cattlemen are already using genomics to fine-tune their cowherd more quickly.
"If we think about the value of replacement heifers today, you know, what's the cost of a bad decision?," Moser said. "And if keeping the right heifer versus the wrong heifer, if a relatively simple tool is able to better characterize those heifers and describe them, not only for some traits that are easy to measure, but some traits like tenderness or fertility that are very difficult to measure in a commercial setting, there's certainly some good information there that producers can factor into their selection decision."
Like most technology, Moser says genomics are providing greater value at lower costs as time goes on, which gives all segments from purebred breeder to commercial rancher to feeders a chance to benefit.
"There's no telling what that genetic information might mean for the overall industry, and ultimately, the product that ends up on someone's plate," Moser said.
This video news is provided by Certified Angus Beef LLC and the American Angus Association.
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