Featured Post

Dr. Jamie Courter is your Mizzou Beef Genetics Extension Specialist

Image
By Jared E. Decker Many of you have probably noticed that things have been a lot less active on the A Steak in Genomics™   blog, but you probably haven't known why. In January 2021, I was named the Wurdack Chair in Animal Genomics at Mizzou, and I now focus on research, with a little bit of teaching. I no longer have an extension appointment. But, with exciting news, the blog is about to become a lot more active! Jamie Courter began as the new MU Extension state beef genetics specialist in the Division of Animal Sciences on September 1, 2023. I have known Jamie for several years, meeting her at BIF when she was a Masters student. I have been impressed by Jamie in my interactions with her since that time.  Dr. Courter and I have been working closely together the last 6 weeks, and I am excited to work together to serve the beef industry for years to come! Jamie holds a bachelor’s degree in animal science from North Carolina State University and earned a master's degree in animal...
1 comment

You Would be Crazy Not to Test!


I am in the process of purchasing a new house. In this process I am collecting as much information as possible to make an informed decision and reduce my risk. I've had the home inspected, which included looking at the roof, exterior, basement, crawl space, kitchen, bathrooms, electrical, heating, air conditioning, plumbing, and vegetation. I've also paid for a radon inspection and a pest inspection. I've done all of this because this is a large investment and I want to avoid future headaches.

This winter and spring we have seen several bulls in various breeds sell for prices with six figures. Whenever I look at these bulls on the respective breed association websites, I am shocked that most of these bulls have parent average EPDs. These bulls have no production, progeny, or genomic information. Why does this surprise me?

If we think back a few years, we can identify a bull that sold for six figures at a national sale. At the time this bull was marketed, his parent average EPDs put him in the top 25% of his breed for an important trait. But, several calf crops later and a much more reliable estimate of his EPDs, this bull is now in the bottom 25% for that important trait. Genomic selection alleviates this problem!

Genomic selection and genomic-enhanced EPDs provide the same amount of information as about 10 to 20 progeny. The buyers of these six figure bulls could have collected much more data and significantly reduced their risk of making a poor purchasing decision. They could have demanded that the bull be tested with a genomic panel prior to the purchase. If the seller is getting six figures for a bull, I'm sure he can scrape up $85 for a genomic test.

When we purchase a house, we are making a decision that will affect us for years to come. When we purchase a bull, we are making a decision that will affect our herds for years to come. By purchasing bulls with genomic-enhanced EPDs buyers are getting a clearer picture of what they are actually purchasing. In my opinion, you would be crazy not to test!

Comments

Jared Decker said…
From this conversation on Steerplanet: "Unfortunately, you are asking the companies to turn over their intellectual property. It's not going to happen.

Results are validated by breed associations when they calculate genetic correlations between molecular breeding value and the trait.

With genomic selection, each round of improvement does not invalidate the previous set. The same DNA markers are used for each round of improvements. The substitution effects (ie statistical models) are adjusted and refined. If you buy a genomic selection test, the results continue to be updated. One price, multiple improvements.

If you breed Hereford cattle, the breed association has access to the raw genotypes. If you breed Angus cattle, then no you don't have access to the genotypes, only molecular breeding values. http://steakgenomics.blogspot.com/2012/12/beef-genomic-selection-strategies.html
May 24, 2013 at 3:53 PM
Jared Decker said…
From this conversation on Ranchers.net:
Are genomic technologies the panacea to all that ails the beef industry? No. But, they are a useful tool.

I got my BS degree from NMSU. NMSU managed a herd of Brangus and a herd of Angus in the Chihuahuan Desert. They selected AI bulls that had superior calving ease and that were moderate sized. The tools they used to do this were EPDs! We haven't changed the tool, we are adding additional information and data into the tool of EPDs. This data allows us to gather information on a wider set of animals and produce accurate EPDs earlier in the animals life. Cattlemen are still responsible for making correct breeding decisions for the environment and production system. Genomic-enhanced EPDs allow them to use natural service sires and young AI sires with more confidence.

The bull I mentioned in my blog is almost 10 years old. He was originally marketed as a performance bull with excellent calving ease. Unfortunately, the calving ease didn't pan out. But, if genomic-enhanced EPDs would have been available, it would have been as if the bull had 30 progeny with calving ease records when he was sold as a yearling.

Epigenetics will affect the management of cattle, but I don't think it will affect the selection of cattle. Epigenetics is currently handled in our genetic predictions as a contemporary group effect or as an environmental effect.
June 11, 2013 at 1:58 PM
Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Show-Me-Select Board Approves Genomic Testing Requirement for Natural Service Sires

Image
All bulls purchased after February 1st, 2019 for use as natural service sires in the Show-Me-Select Replacement Heifer Program ™  must be DNA tested to have genomic-enhanced EPDs. All bulls used as natural service sires after February 1st, 2020 must have genomic-enhanced EPDs, regardless of when they were purchased. Seedstock producers classifying bulls as Show-Me-Select qualified in sale books must have genomic-enhanced EPDs on those lots. Bulls purchased prior to February 1st, 2019 will be grandfathered into the program, as is the common practice with all natural service sires. However, this grandfather grace period will end February 1st, 2020. At that time for a bull to qualify for use in the program, it must have genomic-enhanced EPDs. Why the change? The Show-Me-Select Replacement Heifer Program has the goal of producing premium heifers that perform predictably as 2 year olds. The program has a history of requiring Show-Me-Select producers to go beyond typical...
Read more

New Show-Me-Select Sire EPD Requirements Announced

Image
At the January 4th Show-Me-Select Board of Directors meeting, new service sire EPD requirements were approved. All sires, artificial insemination and natural service, must meet minimum Calving Ease Direct (CED) EPD requirements. In addition to yearly updates, two changes were made. First, no Birth Weight EPD requirement will be published. All commonly used breeds now have CED EPDs available. Second, all breeds in the International Genetic Solutions (IGS) genetic evaluation are now set to a common requirement. In the summer of 2018, breeds within the International Genetic Solutions switched to a single-step BOLT multi-breed genetic evaluation. The EPDs for animals in the IGS genetic evaluation are directly comparable across breeds. In 2017, the Red Angus requirement for CED was a CED of 8, which represents the 30th percentile. Less than 5% percent of heifers breed to a bull with a CED EPD of 8 or larger had calving difficulty. We feel that this require is meeting the need to re...
Read more

Bob Hough Comments on Changes at Breed Associations

Bob Hough recently posted the following comment on Facebook (posted with his permission): Early in my career at a breed association, the much beloved American Angus breed executive told me that the secret to success running a breed association was to have a top junior program, keep the books straight, and make sure the numbers (EPDs) don't change. This philosophy meant Angus valued stability in their genetic predictions over keeping them up-to-date with the latest science. The Angus Association also marketed extremely effectively the infallibility of their EPDs because of the size of their database. I will start with the later. Yes, a database needs certain critical mass to make sure the animals are tied, but that can be achieved in a modest size database. After that, data quality far and away outweighs data quantity in assuring the most precise and reliable EPDs possible. On the former point, Angus breeders are simply not use to change. This is not the case in most breed associ...
Read more