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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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.
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 cat
On December 3rd, Harly Durbin, a PhD student in my group, successfully defended her PhD dissertation. You can watch a video of her public seminar, in which she discusses hair shedding and genotype-by-environment interactions for growth. Congratulations Harly!
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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