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Advances in technology mean testing for a number of key genes can now be undertaken and there are also opportunities to enhance the reliability of estimated breeding values.
Weatherbys leads the field in DNA
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ndustry leading laboratory service provider, Weatherbys Scientific, provides a range of multi-species tests to an international client base and has, in recent years, become a worldwide centre of excellence in animal genotyping, particularly in the ruminant sector and has conducted more than 2.5m cattle DNA tests to-date, says the company’s Romy Morrin O’Donnell. Based in Ireland, the company’s premier laboratory uses cutting-edge technology to provide solutions and services such as parentage verification, parent allocation, genetic disease, single gene trait testing of economic interest, breed composition and traceability. “Having begun parentage testing thoroughbred horses using blood typing technology in 1985, in 2000 the company moved across to parentage testing using Microsatellite DNA markers and then started offering parentage testing services for other species – bovine, ovine, canine, porcine and caprine. “As the level of scientific expertise developed within the business, so too did the suite of DNA based services offered
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and in 2010 we commenced genotyping cattle using SNP technology. The team quickly developed a reputation for service and versatility and genotyped cattle using the Illumina 7K low density SNP chip in 2012,” she explains. Moving forward, in 2018 Weatherbys Scientific launched its customised bovine 50K SNP array, Weatherbys Scientific Bovine Versa SNP50K chip and in 2019 Weatherbys Scientific collaborated with Illumina to validate and release the new Illumina OvineSNP50 Genotyping Bead Chip v3, says Ms Morrin O’Donnell. “The company also has a division in the southern hemisphere, launching Weatherbys Scientific Australia in 2018, servicing bovine and ovine customers in Australia, New Zealand and across the Asia-Pacific region.”
Benefits of DNA testing services: Parentage verification through DNA testing underpins the integrity of pedigree herd books, with DNA testing also providing the opportunity to resolve incorrect pedigrees using parent discovery, she explains.
