scholarly journals Where in the beef-cattle supply chain might DNA tests generate value?

2012 ◽  
Vol 52 (3) ◽  
pp. 185 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alison L. Van Eenennaam ◽  
Daniel J. Drake

DNA information has the potential to generate value for each sector of the beef-cattle industry. The value distribution among sectors (breeding, commercial, feedlot, processing) will differ depending on marketing. The more descendants an animal produces, the more valuable each unit of genetic improvement becomes. Therefore, the value of using DNA testing to increase the accuracy of selection and accelerate the rate of genetic gain is highest in the breeding sector, particularly for replacement stud animals. There is a lesser value associated with increasing the accuracy of yearling commercial bulls. The cost to DNA test commercial sires will likely be incurred by breeders before sale, and must be recouped through higher bull sale prices or increased market share. Commercial farmers could also use DNA tests to improve the accuracy of replacement female selection. This assumes the development of DNA tests that perform well for the low-heritability traits that directly affect maternal performance (e.g. days to calving) in commercial cattle populations. DNA tests may provide the sole source of information for traits that are not routinely measured on commercial farms. In that case, DNA test information will provide new selection criteria to allow for genetic improvement in those traits. As DNA test offerings mature to have improved accuracy for traits of great value to the feedlot (e.g. feed conversion, disease resistance) and processing (e.g. meat quality) sectors, the added value derived from DNA-enabled selection for these traits will need to be efficiently transferred up the beef production chain to incentivise continued investment. The widespread adoption of DNA testing to enhance the accuracy of selection will likely require an approach to share the value realised by downstream sectors of the beef-cattle industry with those upstream sectors incurring DNA collection and testing expenses.

2010 ◽  
Vol 39 (suppl spe) ◽  
pp. 247-255 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephen Miller

Genomics will improve the efficiency of beef cattle genetic improvement programs through the incorporation of genomic predictions into traditional genetic evaluations. The global dairy cattle breeding industry has been changed considerably in the last year through the implementation of genomic selection. Now proven to work in dairy cattle breeding, the challenge remains for the beef industry to successfully implement this technology. The primary challenge in beef cattle is the required resource population that relates genomic profile to phenotypic performance, which is quite large and its establishment will require collaboration or a significant investment by any one enterprise. Another challenge in beef cattle is the requirement for genomic predictions to function across breeds, which will require denser marker panels. Opportunities to increase genetic progress include increased accuracy of selection, reduced generation interval, increased selection intensity and better utilization of limited recording capacity, such as individual feed intake, along with opportunities to genetically change novel traits. Implementation of a low density panel at the commercial level will allow informative decisions based on genetic potential at all levels of the production chain. This reduced panel will include predictive SNP based on fine QTL mapping efforts, combined with additional SNP to enable imputation of genotypes from a high density SNP panel, when combined with high density genotypes of key ancestors, such as sires. With electronic recording in cattle, a single genotyping event on each animal would provide information throughout the beef production chain, which will create the incentive for genetic change. Genomics will create new opportunities for reproductive technologies such as embryo transfer as elite females will be identified with increased accuracy. Potential changes to the structure of the breeding industry are discussed including changes to recording strategies and the development of novel beef products.


2020 ◽  
Vol 100 (3) ◽  
pp. 479-484
Author(s):  
Crystal Ketel ◽  
Mika Asai-Coakwell

Polled cattle are preferable to horned or scurred animals because they are safer for handling and cause less bruising. Although DNA testing can determine horned/polled genotype, scurs may appear in polled animals. The inheritance of scurs is complex because it is a sex-influenced trait that interacts with the polled locus. We demonstrate that in 685 purebred and crossbred Canadian beef cattle, all 153 scurred animals were heterozygous polled at the Celtic variant. In addition, male obligate carriers of scurs were smooth polled when homozygous for the polled mutation. Scurred and non-scurred males were sequenced for five genes (CTDNEP1, SHBG, SOX15, FGF11, and DHRS7C) within the scur candidate region on BTA19 that are functionally related to bone development and hormone regulation. Multipoint linkage analysis was conducted using 18 microsatellite markers and two informative variants (DHRS7C g.29594018G>C and CTDNEP1 c.462G>A) in the scurred families and further supported mapping on BTA19 between BMS2142 (logarithm of the odds (LOD) = 5.42) and IDVGA46 (LOD = 3.47). These data indicate epistatic interactions between the scurred and polled loci and emphasise the necessity for a scurred DNA test to assist purebred beef producers in eradicating the scur trait.


2016 ◽  
Vol 32 (1) ◽  
pp. 74
Author(s):  
Sumarsono Sumarsono ◽  
Firwan Tan ◽  
Rudi Febriamansyah

The aim of this study is to formulate the structure of the key elements and determine the development of beef cattle livestock industry system that must be done. The method used is ISM and Fuzzy ME-MCDM.. Results of the ISM data analysis can know that the key element to the needs of the program is the production technology, quality standardization Ranch Cattle, capital, and competent employees. The constraint of program : capital, facilities, infrastructure, quality, human resources, technology, and institutional. For the purpose of the program is to improve the mastery of technology, increase the added value Ranch Cattle, improving competent human resources, and economic development of Ranch Beef Cattle Industry. The results is alternative activities that must be done is the development of systems Industrial raw materials and production process. 


2020 ◽  
Vol 18 (9) ◽  
pp. 1738-1749
Author(s):  
N.L. Titov ◽  
M.M. Nizamutdinov ◽  
G.S. Klychova

Subject. This article explores the theoretical basis of the economic efficiency of production and classifies the performance figures of beef cattle husbandry. Objectives. The article aims to define a system of indicators of beef cattle husbandry economic efficiency. Methods. For the study, we used a comparative analysis. Conclusions and Relevance. To assess the economic efficiency of agriculture production, it is necessary to use a set of indicators by beef cattle breeding sub-sector. The system of economic performance indicators of production needs to be transformed into a summarizing indicator. The results of the study can be applied in the theory and practice of determining the economic efficiency of the beef cattle industry.


Agriculture ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (6) ◽  
pp. 531
Author(s):  
Januarius Gobilik ◽  
Stephen Todd Morris ◽  
Cory Matthew

Metabolic energy budgeting (MEB) was used to evaluate evolution over 30 years (1980–1981 to 2010–2011) in New Zealand southern North Island ‘hill country’ sheep and beef cattle systems. MEB calculates energy required by animals for body weight maintenance, weight gain or loss, pregnancy, and lactation to estimate the system feed demand and thereby provide a basis for calculating feed conversion efficiency. Historic production systems were reconstructed and modeled using averaged data from industry surveys and data from owners’ diaries of three case-study farms and reviewed for patterns of change over time. The modeling indicated that pasture productivity was 11% lower and herbage harvested was 14% lower in 2010–2011 than in the early 1980s. This productivity decline is attributable to warmer, drier summer weather in recent years. However, primarily through increased lambing percentage, feed conversion efficiency based on industry data improved over the study period from 25 to 19 kg feed consumed per kg lamb weaned, while meat production rose from 137 to 147 kg per ha per year. Similar improvements were observed for the three case farms. The New Zealand MEB model was found effective for analysis of tropical beef production systems in Sabah, Malaysia.


1976 ◽  
Vol 56 (3) ◽  
pp. 439-450
Author(s):  
A. G. CASTELL ◽  
D. T. SPURR

One hundred and twenty-four feeder pigs, representing two breed groups (Hampshire × Yorkshire and Yorkshire) were used in three experiments to compare the live performance and carcass characteristics of boars, barrows and gilts fed, from 25 to 92 kg, a 16% protein, barley–soybean meal diet or diets based on a utility grade, soft wheat (Triticum aestivum cv. Pitic 62) with 0, 7½ and 15% field peas (Pisum sativum cv. Century) to provide total protein levels of 13, 14 or 15%. Under conditions of adequate nutrition, boars were superior to barrows in efficiency of feed conversion and estimates of carcass leanness, while gilts were intermediate in feed conversion and equivalent to boars in carcass indices. The amount and composition of the diet consumed had a greater effect upon the relative performance of boars and, to a lesser extent, of gilts than was observed with barrows. In addition, the dressing percentage was consistently lower with boars than with barrows or gilts. Sexual odor or taint was not noticeably present in the carcasses at the packing plant, although there was a tendency for meat from boars on restricted feeding to have a higher moisture and darker lean than that present in carcasses from barrows and gilts. The results also suggested that satisfactory performance of growing–finishing pigs could be achieved with diets based on Pitic 62 wheat using field peas as the sole source of supplementary protein.


2021 ◽  
Vol 99 (Supplement_3) ◽  
pp. 93-93
Author(s):  
Marrissa J Blackwell ◽  
Alexa Lamm ◽  
R Lawton Stewart

Abstract A study was conducted to assess the economic impact and knowledge retention of participants that attended the Northeast Georgia Beef Cattle Short course over an eight-year period. The course is an educational program hosted by the University of Georgia Extension Service that brings evidence-based science, technology, and economic and management strategies to Georgia beef cattle producers. The short course is taught annually, lasts a full day, and offers guest speakers and demonstrations from University of Georgia faculty and staff along with industry professionals. Non-formal feedback received from participants showcases its value and supports its continuation, but little is known about how the program impacts beef production in Georgia. The goal of the study was to quantify the long-term impact of the short course while developing an assessment tool that can be used to analyze and improve the course moving forward. Qualtrics was used to distribute a survey to 308 attendees of the short course to gather information on respondents’ role in the cattle industry, knowledge of the concepts taught, comfort level utilizing what was learned, and self-reported economic impact. The response rate was 22% for this study. 41% of respondents are retired individuals, 18% were involved in agricultural production and the remainder of participants represented outside professions. 14% of respondents reported that they believed the knowledge they gained during the short course allowed them to save or gain more than $20 per head. An additional 84% reported an economic impact up to $20/head. The most frequently reported source of cattle information was extension programs, at 17%. Based on these data, Extension has a significant impact on the Georgia cattle industry. In order to further develop the program, the recommendation is made that future courses can be developed to further build relationships with cattle producers and larger operations across the state.


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