Research has established that most animal traits are genetically determined. For a farmer keeping beef cattle, the most important objective is to have both quantity and quality as far as their produce is concerned. The good news is that with the latest technologies, farmers can use beef cattle genetics to improve their yields.
Veterinarians are closely involved in the propagation of animals even with the introduction of newer practices. Most of them have been trained in genetic studies of animals and are therefore strategically positioned to make decisions relating to herd quality. The veterinarians not only collect DNA samples for testing but also offer producers invaluable advice to farmers on herd improvement.
As a producer, having some knowledge on the various inheritance patterns of animals goes a long way towards helping in making useful decisions. Whereas some of the concepts are fairly easy to understand, others are rather complex. It is important to have a veterinarian by your side to help you understand the issues that are not easy to work out.
DNA testing is also important in avoiding genetic disorders apart from its use in the propagation of positive traits. Developmental duplication (also known as polymelia) is one of the commonly encountered abnormalities. Polymelia is an autosomal recessive condition characterised by development of extra limbs from body parts such as the shoulders, the back and the poll. The condition is heritable and it ca be transmitted to offspring if both the bull and the cow are carries of the trait unless an intervention takes place. DNA information may be useful in depopulating animals whenever such a need arises such as during droughts.
Expected Progeny Differences or EPDs are the most widely used determinants of the choice of new herd bulls. In simple terms, EPDs are values that are used in the prediction of genetic quality of offspring born of a particular bull or cow. These numbers help the producer in obtaining suitable animals for their heard from a given database.
Using EPDs in decision making is undoubtedly challenging for the novice. On most occasions, there is need for formal training before one can make sense of the abbreviations that are used and interpret the values that are attached to them. Some characteristics that can be predicted by EPDs include, among others, feed efficiency, weight gain and carcass differences for offspring of genetically different animals.
The phenotypic characteristics of animals are almost always a reflection of their genetic make-up. Since the cost of DNA testing may be prohibitive for some farmers and particularly those with very large herds, the traditional use of these characteristics may still be helpful. Such characteristics include the weight, height, estimated size and number of calves bred among others.
Genetics continues to cement its place in modern animal production. It has become particularly important to commercial producers who aim at producing products of the highest possible quality. Over the years, the number of markers that are used in the testing has increased significantly which has led to a higher accuracy of the process. At the same time, smaller panels of tests can now be used to choose the animals with the highest quality as the most sensitive and specific parameters have been identified.
Veterinarians are closely involved in the propagation of animals even with the introduction of newer practices. Most of them have been trained in genetic studies of animals and are therefore strategically positioned to make decisions relating to herd quality. The veterinarians not only collect DNA samples for testing but also offer producers invaluable advice to farmers on herd improvement.
As a producer, having some knowledge on the various inheritance patterns of animals goes a long way towards helping in making useful decisions. Whereas some of the concepts are fairly easy to understand, others are rather complex. It is important to have a veterinarian by your side to help you understand the issues that are not easy to work out.
DNA testing is also important in avoiding genetic disorders apart from its use in the propagation of positive traits. Developmental duplication (also known as polymelia) is one of the commonly encountered abnormalities. Polymelia is an autosomal recessive condition characterised by development of extra limbs from body parts such as the shoulders, the back and the poll. The condition is heritable and it ca be transmitted to offspring if both the bull and the cow are carries of the trait unless an intervention takes place. DNA information may be useful in depopulating animals whenever such a need arises such as during droughts.
Expected Progeny Differences or EPDs are the most widely used determinants of the choice of new herd bulls. In simple terms, EPDs are values that are used in the prediction of genetic quality of offspring born of a particular bull or cow. These numbers help the producer in obtaining suitable animals for their heard from a given database.
Using EPDs in decision making is undoubtedly challenging for the novice. On most occasions, there is need for formal training before one can make sense of the abbreviations that are used and interpret the values that are attached to them. Some characteristics that can be predicted by EPDs include, among others, feed efficiency, weight gain and carcass differences for offspring of genetically different animals.
The phenotypic characteristics of animals are almost always a reflection of their genetic make-up. Since the cost of DNA testing may be prohibitive for some farmers and particularly those with very large herds, the traditional use of these characteristics may still be helpful. Such characteristics include the weight, height, estimated size and number of calves bred among others.
Genetics continues to cement its place in modern animal production. It has become particularly important to commercial producers who aim at producing products of the highest possible quality. Over the years, the number of markers that are used in the testing has increased significantly which has led to a higher accuracy of the process. At the same time, smaller panels of tests can now be used to choose the animals with the highest quality as the most sensitive and specific parameters have been identified.
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