Genomic testing: An evolution in cattle breeding

For hundreds of years, cattle ranchers chose animals to be the parents of the next generation based on observing how they looked on the outside.

They might have chosen the biggest, the healthiest, the strongest or the prettiest animals, with a desire that those traits would be passed on to their offspring.

Fast forward to modern times, and cattle producers began looking at expected progeny differences. Information from an animal’s offspring was continually collected and used to give a calculated number in areas like calving ease, weaning weight, docility and marbling. The more offspring there were, the more accurate the number became.

EPDs have been the standard for the last couple of decades, but now a new standard is taking a foothold.

This time, it’s what’s on the inside that counts.

The scientific world now knows the entire genetic sequence of a number of animals, including cattle. “Because we’ve mapped out the whole genome, we can look at traits that are economically important,” said Dr. Darrell Tomky, a Holyoke veterinarian.

Genomics are enhancing EPDs, making them more accurate and more precise than ever before, said Tomky, especially for younger animals.

With a simple DNA test, cattle producers have a wealth of information at their fingertips that is allowing them to make smarter breeding decisions.

Two such producers are Brent Vieselmeyer of Amherst and Gale Haynes of Holyoke. Here are some of the reasons why genomics have become an important part of their Angus operations.

1. Simple testing process

At around $37-$39 a pop, beef producers can send in a sample and get a DNA test result in two weeks or so.

Vieselmeyer said he tests every animal. Lately, he’s been doing it in the fall/winter when the calves are coming in off grass. In the five years he’s done testing, he’s tried hair, blood and tissue samples — three of the most common ways to do it.

In the future, Vieselmeyer is thinking about taking the tissue sample at birth when he’s putting the ear tags on. A tissue applicator takes a punch out of the ear and secures the tissue inside a small self-contained vile. Taking the samples earlier in the year could also help the results return more quickly because the testing company can get busy in the fall/winter when most producers are taking samples.

Vieselmeyer prefers using the HD 50K test from a company called Zoetis.

Haynes uses a different test — GeneSeek — from the company Neogen.

“We get a wealth of info for $39,” he said. Haynes began using DNA testing on a small scale about 15 years ago and has now implemented it on a large scale for about eight years.

He pulls tissue samples from roughly 300 head at weaning time, including every heifer that comes into his herd and every bull that could be sold. The ear punch is a simple way to take a sample, he said, although he cautioned producers that every once in a while a sample will fail. Haynes has also tried hair and blood samples.

2. More predictability, less risk

Once the tests are complete, the results can be viewed on the computer — something that Haynes enjoys. “It’s really user friendly,” he said.

It’s a lot of information, but Haynes said it’s not overwhelming. “The progressive producers understand the value of it.”

Producers already know what EPDs are, and the genomics are really just “adding accuracy to our EPDs,” said Haynes. It also helps producers identify traits at a higher level, he said.

There’s little room for error in the cattle business, and DNA tests are providing advanced information to help producers make smart selection decisions.

“Genetic testing trumps everything,” said Vieselmeyer. “There is less risk.”

For example, when looking at EPDs, two full brother calves might be expected to perform similarly. But, just like two human brothers, there can be big differences in the long run. Genomics points out those differences and gives producers an accurate prediction of how each calf’s offspring are going to perform.

There’s also better characterization of genetics for difficult-to-measure performance traits, such as carcass traits, maternal traits and feed efficiency.

3. Rapid progress

Since DNA tests can be done as early as birth, producers don’t have to wait for the animal to produce offspring to observe how they will do. All the information is there, right from the start.

Genomic-enhanced EPDs on unproven animals have the same amount of accuracy as if they had recorded 10-36 calves, depending on the trait, according to Angus Genetics Inc.

That’s valuable insight that can confidently be put to work immediately when a calf is still young.

“By using that test, we can tell right away if it’s a calving ease bull or not and if it’s going to have a good carcass or not,” said Haynes. And by having that information early, it helps him make decisions.

Of course, producers still have to collect data along the way and make sure their cattle are raised in a good environment. “However, the DNA is the DNA regardless of environment,” said Haynes.

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