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...
I was recently told that I was being over exuberant in my promotion of genomic technologies. If I have slipped into hyperbole, it has been for two reasons:
a) An unintentional mistake.
b) Push back against the disillusionment of a valid technology.
In previous decades new DNA technologies, such as microsatellites, AFLP markers, etc, lead to a lot of hype about how the beef industry was going to be radically changed by these DNA technologies. These were the "Technology Trigger" and "Peak of Inflated Expectations" in the diagram above. I've previously described that these single gene DNA tests completely under-performed compared to expectations. Consequentially, the "Peak of Inflated Expectations" was followed by the "Trough of Disillusionment". In this period of disillusionment, two important things happened. First, Meuwissen, Hayes, and Goddard proposed a new way to use DNA markers to predict genetic merit. Rather than looking at individual genes, they suggested we use markers throughout the genome to account for 100% of the animal's DNA in these genomic predictions. Unfortunately, in 2001 the technology and capability to simultaneously test enough markers was not available. But, in 2007 a group of universities and the USDA developed a DNA panel that was release by Illumina in 2008 as the BovineSNP50 BeadChip. With this technology we could now simultaneously test over 50,000 markers evenly spaced throughout the genome. Genomic selection was implemented within the dairy industry in 2009, and later several beef breed associations followed suit.
Genomic prediction works, as the dairy industry has shown.
From Brian Van Doormaal, 2012. Increased Rates of Genetic Gain with Genomics. Canadian Dairy Network.
The rate of genetic change visually increased with the start of genomic selection in 2009. I would guess that the dairy industry is somewhere between the "Slope of Enlightenment" and the "Plateau of Productivity". Hopefully, the beef industry will leave the "Trough of Disillusionment" and start the trek up the "Slope of Enlightenment". To do this, we need to have genomic tests at price points that allow broad application within the industry, genomic tests which explain a large portion of the genetic variance, and explanations to help producers understand when and how to use these technologies.
Bottom line. Genomic selection works. And that is no hyperbole.
p.s. For those of you needing some entertainment and encouragement. Enjoy.
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Anonymous said…
The beef industry is much more genetically diverse than the dairy industry, and that is a good thing(ask dairymen). It will take much more testing to establish the markers that represent the traits in the many different genetic lines of the beef industry. Don't use a race toward some established genomic standard to destroy the beef industries diversity.
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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...
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...
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