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Hereford and Red Angus Heifers Recruited for Genomics Research

The University of Missouri is recruiting 2,500 Hereford heifers and 2,500 Red Angus heifers to participate in a heifer puberty and fertility genomic research project. Heifers should be registered Hereford, registered Red Angus, or commercial Hereford or Red Angus. Hereford x Red Angus crossbred heifers targeted for the Premium Red Baldy Program would also be a good fit for the research project. Producers must be willing to work with a trained veterinarian to collect the following data: ReproductiveTract Scores collected at a pre-breeding exam 30 to 45 days prior to the start of the breeding season. PelvicMeasurements (height and width) collected at the same pre-breeding exam 30 to 45 days prior to the start of the breeding season. Pregnancy Determination Using Ultrasound reporting fetal age in days. Ultrasound will need to occur no later than 90 days after the start of the breeding season. In addition, heifers must have known birth dates and have weights recorded eithe
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Beef Genomic Selection strategies

This past summer Hereford, Simmental, and Limousin breed associations announced genomic-enhanced EPD programs, following the lead of the Angus Association.  Two strategies have emerged, which I will call the commercial model and the genotype model.

 The Commercial Model
In the commercial model, cattle producers send hair or other tissue samples to their breed association.  The association enters the identification information into its database, and sends the tissue sample to the DNA testing company (typically Pfizer or GeneSeek).  The DNA testing company extracts DNA from the tissue and runs a SNP assay.  These SNP tests contain hundreds or thousands of SNP markers, depending on the company.  The company then computes molecular breeding values (MBVs) based on the animals SNP genotypes.  A MBV is an estimated breeding value based solely on molecular markers.  The company then returns the MBVs to the breed association.  The breed association then uses these MBVs as an indicator trait to predict more accurate EPDs (see also Table 2 of "The Future is Here!").  The American Angus Association is currently using the commercial model.

 The Genotype Model
This past summer the American Hereford Association, in partnership with the NBCEC, became the first breed association to develop and market its own genomic selection test. This means that the breed association manages the phenotypes and genotypes.  The process is as follows. Breeders let the breed association know they would like to test an animal (note, the animal must have a registration number).  The association then generates the test form with tracking bar code, and the breeder sends tissue samples and the test form to GeneSeek. This is when the process is fundamentally different.  GeneSeek then returns genotypes from the Bovine50K assay to the breed association, rather than a molecular breeding value. The breed association and the breeders now own more of the data associated with the genomic predictions. This also allows the American Hereford Association to routinely retrain and improve their genomic prediction models as increasing numbers of animals are genotyped. The North American Limousin Foundation and the American Simmental Association also have access to their genotypes.

For another take on the different paradigms in genomic selection strategies, see this video by Matt Spangler.

*Note: Article was updated on September 20th, 2013 to reflect that Limousin and Simmental have access to their genotypes resulting from Neogen's purchase of Igenity.

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