FEATURE ARTICLE
THE NORMALIZATION OF DNA THROUGH YOUTH
HOW DNA HAS BECOME COMMONPLACE IN AND OUT OF THE SHOW RING PLUS TIPS ON HOW TO BE READY FOR TESTING REQUIREMENTS. by Emme Demmendaal The Brangus breed was founded on the principles of producing efficient cattle that perform for the commercial producer and satisfy the consumer, a project accomplished through years of data collection. Brangus’ science-based approach is balanced with youth development. This summer, their junior program and breed advancement merge at the Texas Junior Brangus Breeders Association State Show and the National Junior Brangus Show (NJBS) hosted in Bryan and Belton, Texas, respectively. Recently, both the Texas Junior Brangus Breeders Association (TJBBA) and the International Junior Brangus Breeders Association (IJBBA) board of directors voted to require DNA parent verification. For the TJBBA, all animals entering the ring will be required to have DNA; while at the NJBS, animals born after January 1, 2021 and all percentage cattle will need parentage testing. “A number of juniors who exhibit in dual junior and open shows are already highly invested in DNA technology,” says IJBBA director of youth, Tyler Dean. “The NJBS requirement will not only help educate more members on DNA technology, but will also validate more show animals to be entered in more of International Brangus Breeders Association’s Standard of Excellence Shows.” The junior-voted regulations illustrate how DNA testing has started to become a normalized part of seedstock operations in and out of the show ring and Brangus youth are at the forefront. “As an industry, parent verification is critically important because if you don’t get the parents right, you’re not going to get the EPDs or future matings right,” explains Dr. Randy Schmidt, Brangus producer based out of Texarkana and IBBA’s Breed Improvement Committee chairman. “Our juniors select females that phenotypically fit what they can afford and fit what they want to show. And if DNA testing is done on the front end, they have a little better opportunity to know exactly what they’re getting and how it will perform.” DNA testing adds a level of transparency to exhibiting some of the breed’s top genetics. David Parkey, TJBBA advisor, says, “I might ask, why shouldn’t juniors and seedstock producers hold themselves to this standard of DNA testing? Whether it’s an open show or junior show, DNA isn’t expensive and it’s easy to do.” Dean couldn’t agree more, adding “Our junior 32
April 2021
membership is key to the survival of our breed and, as such, educating and involving them in as much technology driven advancements as we can will do nothing but improve our future as breeders.” By requiring that each animal that enters the ring will be verified to the sire and dam prior to being able to show, both the seedstock supplier and junior are protected. Schmidt and Parkey agree that parent verification is an encouraged practice for all seedstock producers prior to selling or showing cattle. DNA instills confidence that the customers are buying exactly what they think they are buying. Schmidt says, “At our operation, we are DNA testing about 300-400 head a year. We keep meticulous calving records but still don’t always get it right. When we parent verify each calf, we will have six to seven percent of our calves’ parentage incorrect. It is not always human error. There can be mix ups at the embryo or AI tank, or calves lose an ear tag prior to or after weaning. We have had calves whose dams switched babies at birth, or your AI and clean-up dates are so close together you cannot distinguish sire at calving. Because of DNA, we can run more than one clean-up bull in the breeding pasture. Parent verification eliminates those mistakes prior to marketing our registered bulls and heifers.” For Parkey and his children, implementing DNA has become a routine part of their cattle management along with showing each year. He shares that testing the whole herd all at once isn’t sustainable for many operations, but doing it slowly over the years has worked for his family. “We didn’t DNA test everything at one time. We just started off with what we were showing and kept doing a little bit more each year. We would take a DNA sample on every calf and send in the samples on the ones we exhibited and bred. Then all of a sudden, we realized we’ve DNA tested the majority of our herd and have a pretty good grasp on our genetics,” says Parkey. By requiring DNA testing on cattle in the TJBBA State Show, the board equips each attendee with the skills and abilities to succeed as a cattle producer in and out of the ring. Kyler Klepac, a Texas exhibitor and current TJBBA president is a testament to that goal. “There is a future using DNA in our operation,” she says, referring to building her own herd alongside her family’s. “We need to be able to analyze different animals and pick out what
