Hereford and Red Angus Heifers Recruited for Genomics Research
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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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
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.