GENOMIC TESTING SEE THE RESULTS ON SALE DAY by Lindsay Upperman, Ph.D., for the American Gelbvieh Association The incorporation of genomic test results into breeding goals and genetic evaluations has produced an advantageous tool for producers to utilize, especially when it comes to marketing their animals. For seedstock producers, genomic tests have been gaining momentum in the past decade, with the use of this technology already proving successful within the marketplace. Let’s discuss the use of genomics, how they can be utilized as a selection tool and the tests available to producers. PARENTAGE & SIMPLY INHERITED TRAITS Parentage testing in cattle is based off the idea of parents passing a copy of each allele to the offspring and has been aroudn for sometime. However, with the use of multiple sire pastures or teh use of clean-up bulls after artificial insemination (AI) exposure, this test can be extremely useful. Allowing the producer to identify the correct sire of an animal enables the producer to recognize which sires have made the most progress towards the producer’s genetic goals. A simply inherited trait is contolled by one or a few genes. Most producerscan relate or have had a converstation including “homozygous black” or “heterozygous black.” For instance, the black coat color in Gelbvieh is contolled by a single gene. The gene has two results we can see:black or red color. The color is deterimined by which alleles (versions of a gene) are passed to the progeny from the sire and dam, with one allele passed from the sire and one allele passed from the dam. However, for coat color, black is dominant to red. This means a black animal may have two black alleles or a combination of one black and one red allele. For an animal to have a red coat color, the animal must have two copies of the red allele. This is similar to the horned/polled gene with polled being dominant over horned status. ACCURACY & GE-EPDS One of the uncertainties with using EPDs as a foolproof selection tool is the accurac of prediction for young cattle. This lack of confidence association with EPDs on young cattle usually stems from not having performance data or progeny, both of which increase the accuracy of EPD. Thus, in most young cattle, their genetic value is based on their pedigree. As animals get older and producer more progeny more knowledge is gained on their genetic merit. This increased knowledge, or confidence is demonstrated by an increase in the accuracy value (ranges from 0 to 1) associated with the EPD. Genomic testing a young animal increases the accuracy, which is similar to adding the performance records of 5 to 50 progeny, depending on which trait is being Utah Cattleman Seedstock Edition 60
evaluated. Thus, the increased knowledge of an animal’s genomics allows for increased confidence in their genomicenhanced EPDs. GENOMIC TESTS First, a sample in the form of blood, hair or tissue needs to be collected from the animal in which genomic information is sought. The sample cards or unites are available through the AGA and once requested, will be mailed directly to you. Once collected, the sample is then submitted and a selection is made between a genomic test or stand-alone test for the given animal. The genomic tests (which provide GE-EPDs) are available to AGA membership through a partnership with Neogen laboratores aand are listed below. Also provided are details regarding add-on options and which animals the test is required/recommended for: • Option 1 - GGP-HD: This is a high density genmic test that also includes parent qualification, if parents have genetic markers on file with the association. Any DNA sample (blood, hair or tissue sampling unit (TSU)) can be included with this test, resulting in lower costs for tests such as coat color, horned/polled, etc. Reason - AI sires, donor dams, futurity bulls and females. • Option 2 - GGP-LD: This is a low-density genomic test that also includes parent qualification, if parents have genetic markers on file with the association. Any DNA sample (blood, hair or TSU) can be utilized for this test. Add-on options can be included with this test, resulting in lower costs for tests such as coat color, horned/polled, etc. Reason - Herd sires or walking sires, national sale entries. • Option 3 - GGP-uLD: This is an ultra low-density genomic test that also includes parent qualification, if parents have genetic markers on file with the association. Only TSUs can be utllized for this test. Add-on options are NOT included with this test, thus all additional tests will need to be run as a stand-alone. Reason - registered sale animals, replacement females. When submitting any DNA test, please make sure to leave ample time for the tests to be completed, results to be uploaded and genomics to run within the genetic evaluation before sale catalog/sale entry deadlines approach. Currently a 4 to 6 week time period can be expected from a sample being recieved at the lab to the tests being completed. Running genomic and other DNA tests onyour animals before selling them allows buyers to make informed purchase decisions for the genetic future of their herd. VOLUME 8
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FEBRUARY 2022
