A Steak in Genomics™

The Red Angus Association of America is seeking feedback on their economic selection indexes. Producers can provide feedback at this link: https://www.surveygizmo.com/s3/5183855/RedAngusAssociation?fbclid=IwAR3qskT1DJ6UMbSIS2R3ul316FQ6L_k-Gt_DYDq8wB8omLQOgkG1yCuAGbM To be frank, I am conflicted by this process. On one hand, I think it is important to have translational research be a collaborative process. Further, users are more likely to trust and use a technology if they were involved in its creation. However, often times, optimal selection decisions are counterintuitive  (need to write a blog post on this). I feel strongly that selection decisions are best made when driven by data, and that includes design of selection tools. American Angus Association went through a similar process, and it is my understanding they used the survey data to weight economic importance of traits that are hard to pin down, such as claw set and docility. Traits that are economically important,...

Dr. Robin Falkner Zoetis Beef Technical Services Talk at Mountaineer Cattlemen's College We have put a lot of the blame for high-risk feeder cattle on the cow-calf producer. However, Falkner says it is the system, not the producer, that is to blame. Pre- and postweaning factors affecting bovine respiratory disease (BRD) in beef cattle and the resulting outcomes of the disease. + = decreased incidence or consequence; − = increased incidence or consequence; ? = effects not fully understood based on the available data. BVD = bovine viral diarrhea virus. Figure 1 from  Duff & Galyean (2007) Journal of Animal Science , 85(3), 823-840 . Falkner described how as his time since graduating veterinary school has passed, that he knows less but understands more. When talking to Falkner, people want a recipe. He provides two recipes, one for Possumneck pudding and Biscuit pudding.  We spend a lot of time chasing the right "recipe" for cattle health. What we need to d...

Jack Ward AHA Executive Vice President Kevin Oschner was the consultant helping with the AHA Strategic Plan. Oschner interviewed: Hereford breeders Seedstock producers from other breeds Commercial cow-calf producers Bull stud and reproduction professional Extension service personnel Auctioneer Packers They also sent a survey to all AHA membership. They had 518 participants from 43 states. Oschner then organized the information. Webinars were then held with the board of directors. They then had a 2 and a half day session to create the strategic plan. They also brought in outside thought leaders, which included John Lundeen, NCBA Joe Pawlak, Technomics John Butler, Beef Marketing Group Mitch Abrahamsen, Ph.D., Recombinetics Clint Schwab, Ph.D., The Maschoff's Mitch Abrahamsen Recombinetics The consumer is interested in how their food is made. The consumer can use social media to reach through to the food provider (McDonalds, Subway, Walmart, etc.). The...