Beef Innovations

from October 2013 Charolais Banner

Charolais Life

INDUSTRY NEWS

Beef Innovations 2013: Cattle Producers and Scientists Talk Genomics

Trish Henderson

Producers from all major Canadian beef breeds took advantage of a unique opportunity to learn more about advances in the world of beef cattle genetics on July 15th and 16th when the Canadian Simmental Association (CSA) hosted Beef Innovations 2013 in Calgary. This first‐of‐its‐kind symposium provided an opportunity for cattle producers –both purebred and commercial – to meet world‐renowned scientists in the field of beef animal genomic research.

The event was a culmination of two years of research supported by the CSA though its $3.5 million Simmental Innovations genetic improvement initiative; which focuses on helping cattle breeders identify, select and breed cattle that are more fertile, more feed efficient, and produce higher quality beef.

“The process of beef improvement is taking shape as a three‐legged stool,” CSA General Manager Bruce Holmquist says. The first leg of the stool is the pedigree and visual assessment, telling us who the animal is. The second leg of the stool is the performance of that animal, or phenotype, telling us what he or she did. Genomics, which can be thought of as gene mapping, is the third leg of the stool—making it stable by providing the means to accurately predict what traits an animal is genetically capable of passing on to its offspring.

Dr. Mike Goddard from the University of Melbourne, Australia was the lead‐off presenter amongst the nineteen world‐class guest speakers at Beef Innovations 2013. According to Dr. Goddard, traditional selection based on performance and pedigree works – it’s just a slow process for some traits such as fertility and meat quality. Genomics can speed up the pace of selection for such important characteristics, which can have a big impact on the bottom line for all beef producers: from cow calf operations to packers.

One way Canadian cattle producers will soon be able to utilize genomic information in their breeding decisions is through the use of genomic‐enhanced expected progeny differences, or GE‐EPDs. Dr. Goddard outlined how this process works: 1. The purebred breeder takes hair root sample (DNA) from an animal and sends it to lab; 2. The lab analyzes the animal’s genotype and makes genomic predictions; 3. Breed associations incorporate genomic predictions with traditional

EPDs to create GE‐EPDs that are more accurate tools for bull buyers.

Several Canadian breed associations, including Simmental, Angus, and Hereford, have already adopted or will soon be offering GE‐EPDs. Dr. Goddard estimates that the value of GE‐EPDs is $100 to $600 per bull. Despite this potential value,

Dr. Bob Weaber of Kansas State University had a warning for

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Facts from Beef Innovations 2013

Ten years ago, about $1 billion was spent to sequence the human genome. Today the cost of a complete genomic sequence of one bovine animal costs approximately $5,000. Decreased costs, improved technology, and better statistical methodology have greatly enhanced the accuracy of genomic predictions. “DNA tests are now a viable means of improving accuracy of selection.” – Dr. Wade Shafer

Genomic testing can help identify animals that are more feed efficient. Breeding more efficient cattle reduces costs of production for producers, shrinks the environmental footprint of beef production, and produces more food for the world. “A 10% improvement in feed efficiency across the feedlot sector is worth $1.2 billion in reduced feed costs.” – Dr. Bob Weaber

Further genomic advances will help scientists and breeders better understand complex relationships between important traits, such as meat quality, fertility, and feed efficiency. “Tenderness is the most important beef desirability trait, but many genes and many factors affect tenderness.”

– Dr. Mike Dikeman

Next steps for research include increasing the accuracy of genomic predictions within groups of similar cattle (such as a single breed) and creating methods to predict the performance of crossbred cattle. “The seed stock industry has always accepted new technologies, and genomic information is a great new tool to embrace.” – Dr. John Pollak

With genomics, the potential of an individual animal can be predicted at birth; when combined with artificial insemination and embryo transplant technologies, genomic data can greatly speed up the rate of genetic improvement. Breeders must understand the traits they’re selecting, and what direction these decisions will take their herd. “The faster one goes, the harder it hurts if one crashes! It is more important than ever to ensure one goes in the right direction.” – Dr. Jacques Chesnais

Collaboration across the beef industry is required in order to improve the accuracy of genomic predictions, and to learn more about economically important traits such as feed efficiency, carcass quality and fertility. “Through its Simmental Innovations projects, the CSA will collect 15,000 genotypes. This will help increase accuracy of all genomic predictions.” – Dr. Steve Miller

purebred breeders at Beef Innovations 2013: GE‐EPDs can be a marketing tool, but they are best used as a selection tool.

Although there has recently been great technological advancement in genomic information for beef cattle, there is still room to make it a better tool for producers. For example, Dr. John Crowley of Livestock Gentec told Beef Innovations participants that genomics currently allow for prediction of feed efficiency with 35% accuracy within beef breeds and 15% accuracy in crossbred cattle. Compare this to 75% accuracy for some genomic predictions used in the dairy sector, and scientists agree that more work needs to be done on genomic predictions for beef cattle.

The need for worldwide collaboration was a resounding theme at Beef Innovations 2013. According to presenters, the most effective method for improving genomic prediction tools is global data sharing amongst those who collect genotypic and phenotypic information. By doing so, individual breeders, breed associations, private companies, and academia can contribute to the growth of genomic databanks that are more statistically accurate. The ultimate goal – a common one across all breeds and all countries – is to produce tools such as GE‐EPDs that can accurately predict an animal’s potential today, and will continue to be just as accurate when used in future generations of cattle. Those doubting the relevance of genomic technology in the beef sector need look no further than the dairy and hog industries. The Holstein breed was an early adopter of genomics. According to Dr. Jacques Chesnais, another Beef Innovations 2013 presenter, genomic technology is the single biggest event for the dairy sector since the introduction of frozen semen. “Genomics have allowed the dairy sector to double its rate of genetic progress. Today, all elite dairy breeders genotype their females,” Dr. Chesnais says. Recounting the story of purebred swine producers in North American losing their market when corporate breeders began offering commercial hog producers superior composite genetics, Dr. Wade Shafer of the American Simmental Association told Beef Innovations 2013 attendees that leveraging science, such as genomics, could be the key to ensuring survival of the family seed‐stock operation.

Nonetheless, experts speaking at Beef Innovations 2013 also stressed the need for well‐balanced breeding decisions. Focusing too much on complex traits that are influenced by many genes and environmental factors, such as feed efficiency or carcass quality, can adversely impact other important characteristics. For example, Dr. Yuri Montanholi of the University of Guelph shared preliminary research findings that demonstrate a possible negative correlation between feed efficiency and semen quality. More research is needed in order to confirm unintentional consequences of intense selection for specific beef cattle characteristics.

For maximum economic benefit, commercial cattle producers should be selecting the best possible herdsires. It is the responsibility of cattle breeders to make well‐informed seedstock selections in order to market only bulls that can offer genetic improvement to commercial herds. It is in every cattleman’s best interest to produce more fertile and feed efficient animals that also yield high quality beef.

The CSA is proud to be spearheading initiatives like Beef Innovations 2013. Scientific research like that funded through CSA’s own Simmental Innovations arm will help further the industry by improving the bottom line for beef producers from cow‐calf to packer, reducing the environmental footprint of our industry, and providing a better beef‐eating experience for the consumer.

Interested in learning more? Watch video coverage of Beef Innovations 2013 online at www.simmentalinnovations.com.