Breed IMPROVEMENT

By Sean McGrath Breed Improvement Coordinator for the Canadian Simmental Association

Breeding Decisions and the New World of Data

At this year’s Beef Improvement Federation meetings in Calgary, there was a lot of discussion about new kinds of data and sensors that can collect information rapidly, repeatedly and at a low cost. This represents a massive change from our historical animal breeding perspective where an animal may have less than a dozen data points in their whole life.

As breeders we have recently seen this with the advent of high-density DNA testing. In a historical context a calf would have a pedigree record, birth date, calving ease, birthweight, weaning weight/date and a yearling weight/date. DNA added several thousand markers to that animal record. Data that can be used in evaluation, adding the equivalent of several progeny worth of data at a potentially early age.

Now imagine a world in which sensors are cheaper and more reliable than ever and can collect thousands of phenotypes on an animal on the fly. This could include activity levels, acceleration, blood pressure, joint angles, fat cover, facial recognition, methane emissions, temperature/heat resistance, ovulation, eating and rumination events, and stress levels. If this sounds far fetched then pull your cell phone out of your pocket and give it a close look, because you likely carry a device that can do most of this already. This world of big data is termed phenomics and represents some interesting future potential in genetic selection.

I understand how the discussion around massive levels of data collection and analysis can seem mind numbingly boring or intimidating, but most breeders have been using “phenomics” for years. I think a close proxy and more commonly understood term is “cow sense”. When most of us go to look at a herd of cattle, there are a lot more things being assessed than we could probably explain to a person unfamiliar with beef cattle selection. If we were to write down all of the things we look at or just know, the list would be long and comprehensive. Femininity, capacity, temperament, do-ability, structure and the list goes on. Phenomics is an emerging field that provides us a reliable way to repeatably measure and quantify a lot of these “cowsense” type of traits.

This is a bit scary, but it is also exciting as the ability to objectively select for traits that are hard to measure but have a real impact in the commercial world has great potential to improve the functionality and profit traits of beef cattle. Additionally, if we think in reverse, the ability to quantify many more measures of phenotype may allow us to do a much better job of understanding how cattle interact with specific environments and thus do a better job of selecting seedstock for our own or our customers specific operations and selection goals. Phenomic data could include things like weather station information, tied to animal sensors. Phenomics and sensor-based measurement may also have a role to play in maintaining our social ability to raise beef. For example, picture a rumen bolus that reports on methane emissions at pasture, or being able to track genetics that move away from water sources and graze in hard to reach areas.

Initially, I expect like most other technologies that phenomics will have some confusion around it, and that it will take us some time to learn what information is useful and how to use it properly. This is no different than the use of scales, measuring tapes or DNA technology over the course of time. Even visual appraisal has been subject to a lot of missteps over the years. A lot of interesting evidence was presented at the annual BIF meeting showing the rate of progress from those herds that adopt and use many of the new technologies, vs. those that don’t. It was also aptly pointed out that as the industry and the technologies gain in complexity, the solutions usually become more complex as well. This represents a particular challenge to breed associations and seedstock breeders as these complex solutions will need to be presented in easily used and understood applications. Complexity in the background, and simplicity in the foreground, so to speak.

One common theme recurring in all this discussion is the need to have a clearly defined goal. As we move from visual appraisal to more advanced technologies, it is like going from a bicycle with training wheels to a Harley Davidson. In order to garner improvement and not just “change” it is really important to pick the destination we are shooting for. In preparing for the world of “omics” it is important to ask questions and have a comprehensive understanding of your own operation and that of your customer. What are your costs and what are your profit drivers? What do you/they want your/their operation to look like in 5, 10 or 20 years?

For more information on Beef Improvement Federation or to watch the conference sessions, visit www.beefimprovement.org

Consigners

In conjunction with Ferme Gagnon Production Sale 30 Ferme Gagnon Inc. Cheneville, PQ

Ferme Bilodeau des Étoiles Inc.

Ferme B.M.S.

Boisvert Simmental Ferme Sibelle Fleck Inc.