It’s been a while since I’ve written a Steak in Genomics article.
Life has been busy, but in all the best ways. I’ve been working to get a research and Extension program off the ground at the University of Missouri, my husband and I bought a fixer-upper acreage, and, most importantly, we’ve been raising two toddlers. Somehow, somewhere in all of that, Steak in Genomics got pushed down the priority list.
But I obviously haven’t stopped thinking about beef cattle genetics.
A big part of my Extension work has been figuring out how to take the growing amount of information available through genetics and genomics and make it more useful for the people actually making decisions in a cattle operation. - Because there is no shortage of information.
We have EPDs, genomic testing, selection indexes, DNA tests, genetic trends and new technologies coming at us all the time. The challenge isn't necessarily getting more information.
The challenge is knowing what to do with it.
That has been a big part of the work I've been doing with MU Extension, and it has also led us to take a fresh look at some of our existing beef genetics publications. We've recently updated a number of resources that address some of the fundamental questions producers face when using genetics and genomics in their operations.
So, I'm using my return to Steak in Genomics to take a closer look at them.
Over the next several weeks, I'll highlight five of these updated resources:
The Random Shuffle of Genes: Putting the E in EPD
We'll start with a look at what EPDs really mean—and why the expected part of an Expected Progeny Difference matters.
Beyond the Numbers: Using a Sire Summary to Select Better Bulls
Once we understand EPDs, how do we actually use them to make better bull-selection decisions?
It Starts With the Sample
Genomic information starts with a DNA sample. We'll look at the practical side of collecting genetic material from beef cattle.
Choosing the Females That Build Your Herd
Selecting replacement heifers is one of the most important genetic decisions made in a commercial cow herd. We'll look at how genetic information fits into that decision.
Genetic Progress Means Knowing When to Cull
Finally, we'll bring things back to the herd level and talk about culling, generation interval and how we can increase the rate of genetic progress.
These aren't new concepts. We've been talking about EPDs, selection and genetic progress for decades. What has changed is the amount and type of information available to us—and the opportunity to use that information more effectively.
That's what I want to get back to with Steak in Genomics: taking the science behind beef cattle genetics and genomics and talking about what it means when you're actually making decisions in your herd.
So, after a little hiatus, Steak in Genomics is back.
Let's get back to talking about beef cattle genetics.
