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...
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Frequently Asked Questions: Hair Shedding Project
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1. How do I collect a DNA sample?
DNA samples, whether blood or hair bulbs, need to be collected on a GeneSeek barcoded card. Please contact Jared Decker (please CC Lena Johnson) or contact GeneSeek to order blood or hair cards. Do not contact breed associations for blood cards.
Information on collecting DNA samples has been presented by my eBEEF.org colleagues.
NEOGEN also has a document describing how to collect a blood sample.
2. Do my animals need to graze fescue to participate?
No, animals do not need to graze fescue to participate in this project. But, we do need to record whether or not the animal grazed fescue before the hair shedding score was recorded. In column M of the "DataRecording.xlsx" spreadsheet, titled "Toxic Fescue", the producer needs to answer "Yes" or "No" to the question of did the animal graze toxic fescue during the spring of the current year?
3. How much will the genomic test cost?
The research grant will pay for the genomic test. Your cost will be collecting the DNA sample, shipping the sample to the University of Missouri, and collecting hair shedding scores. Hair shedding scores need to be collected for 3 years, but DNA samples only need to be collect once. By participating in the project, the producer receives $47 to $55 worth of genotyping per animal (depending on breed association).
4. Is normal culling allowed?
Yes.
5. Do have have to collect DNA samples in May or June of 2016?
No, DNA samples can be collected and shipped to the University of Missouri at any time. Running the cows through the chute an additional time is not necessary. DNA samples can be collected during preg checks, fall processing, or in the spring of 2017. Note, this will put your cows later in the DNA genotyping queue.
6. What breeds can participate?
Registered Angus, Charolais, Gelbvieh (including Balancers), Hereford, Limousin (including LimFlex), Red Angus, Shorthorn (including Durham Red and ShorthornPlus), or Simmental (including SimAngus).
7. Will GE-EPDs be produced as soon as samples are submitted?
No, we cannot guarantee that animals will be genotyped when they are submitted. DNA testing (and GE-EPDs) will be done in batches, so we can’t guarantee when the genomic test will be run. Please be patient as this is a research project and not a DNA testing service.
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...
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...
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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