DNA Archives - Canadian Cattlemen

DNA testing can have value in commercial beef sector

Assessing the genetic potential for a number of factors can be helpful to producers

By Sean Mcgrath May 9, 2025

There is growing interest in the commercial beef industry around using DNA to inform selection decisions. While traditionally the realm of the seedstock industry, commercial DNA testing and changes in the way we manage cattle have led to some big changes in how we think about genetic selection. DNA testing, in broad terms, means using […] Read more

tool taking an ear tissue sample for DNA testing

Calving, Cow-Calf, Livestock

DNA samples at calving could be new norm

Alberta cattle producer says it’s time for the beef industry to catch up

By Melissa Jeffers-Bezan January 8, 2025

For seed stock producers, taking DNA samples from newborn calves is becoming more common. Most seed stock herds calve in the winter when the temperature can dip to around -30 C or beyond, snow sparkling under a harsh winter sun. At that time of year, there is already so much to do, and adding another […] Read more

File photo of equipment tracks over a field in England. (Georgeclerk/E+/Getty Images)

Crops, Reuters

Regulations on gene-edited crops to be eased in England

By Reuters, GFM Network News September 29, 2021

London | Reuters — Britain’s farming and environment minister George Eustice announced Wednesday that regulations related to gene editing in agricultural research would be eased in England following a public consultation. Rules will now largely be aligned with conventional breeding methods for research and development into plants although scientists will still be required to notify […] Read more

Chicks atop images from a genetic map of a chicken. (Peggy Greb photo courtesy ARS/USDA)

Livestock, Poultry/Eggs, Reuters

Gene-edited chickens planned in bid to halt next pandemic

By Kate Kelland, GFM Network News January 22, 2019

London | Reuters — British scientists are developing gene-edited chickens designed to be totally resistant to flu in a new approach to trying to stop the next deadly human pandemic. The first of the transgenic chicks will be hatched later this year at the Roslin Institute at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland, said Wendy […] Read more

Palmer amaranth. (United Soybean Board photo)

Crops

North Dakota still on lookout for Palmer amaranth

By MarketsFarm Team, GFM Network News September 21, 2018

CNS Canada –– Officials in North Dakota continue to hunt down suspicious plants in a bid to keep the aggressive weed Palmer amaranth from establishing there. Palmer amaranth, a pigweed species, made its first confirmed appearance in North Dakota last month, in a soybean field in McIntosh County, in the south-central area of the state. […] Read more

Crops

New GM technique promises to speed new crop development

By MarketsFarm Team August 9, 2018

CNS Canada — Scientists in the United States say they have found a new method for inserting genes into crops that could speed up development of new varieties. “Making genetic improvements that were difficult or impossible before will be much easier because we can now insert not just one or two genes, but multiple genes […] Read more

It's possible with DNA testing to figure out which bull sired your calves, but is it worth the hassle?

Beef Cattle, Cow-Calf, Features

Which bull sired that calf?

Parentage testing in multi-sire pastures goes under the microscope

By Debbie Furber February 6, 2017

Collecting DNA samples for parentage testing from bulls and the resulting calves from multi-sire breeding pastures is the only way to find out each bull’s value to your operation. A bull might come with a great package of traits you want to see passed to your calves, but the bull’s value is questionable if the […] Read more

Crops, Reuters

U.S. patent agency to weigh rival claims on CRISPR

By Brendan Pierson December 6, 2016

Reuters — The U.S. patent agency on Tuesday will hear arguments in a heated dispute over who was first to invent a revolutionary gene-editing technology known as CRISPR. Hundreds of millions of dollars may be at stake, as the technology promises commercial applications in treating genetic diseases, engineering crops, and other areas. CRISPR works as […] Read more

There is no evidence that ionophore use in livestock increases resistance to other antibiotics that are important in cattle or human medicine.

Beef Cattle, Research

Are ionophore antibiotics a risk for antimicrobial resistance?

By Reynold Bergen July 14, 2015

Last month’s column talked about Health Canada’s initiative to phase out growth promotion claims for medically important antibiotics by December 2016. This will impact three antibiotics (tetracycline, sulfamethazine and neomycin) that have growth promotion claims in beef cattle in Canada. It will not affect ionophore antibiotics like Rumensin, Bovatec, or Posistac. Ionophores are used widely […] Read more

Beef Cattle, News Roundup

Breeders will benefit from carcass data

News Roundup: From the April 2015 issue of Canadian Cattlemen

By Canadian Cattlemen Staff May 15, 2015

The Beef Cattle Research Council (BCRC) believes the Beef InfoXchange System (BIXS) will become invaluable for cattle breeders, geneticists and beef researchers if significant numbers of producers can be encouraged to make use of the national database. And they aren’t the only ones looking forward to a more productive BIXS, according to a recent blog […] Read more

U.S. livestock: Feeder contracts set fresh highs

U.S. grains: Soybeans, corn choppy as trade awaits U.S. crop tour results

Livestock Tax Deferral regions announced for drought-affected producers

Daily Network News

U.S. livestock: Feeder contracts set fresh highs

U.S. grains: Soybeans, corn choppy as trade awaits U.S. crop tour results

Livestock Tax Deferral regions announced for drought-affected producers

Tag Archives DNA

DNA testing can have value in commercial beef sector

DNA samples at calving could be new norm

Regulations on gene-edited crops to be eased in England

Gene-edited chickens planned in bid to halt next pandemic

North Dakota still on lookout for Palmer amaranth

New GM technique promises to speed new crop development

Which bull sired that calf?

U.S. patent agency to weigh rival claims on CRISPR

Are ionophore antibiotics a risk for antimicrobial resistance?

Breeders will benefit from carcass data

Canadian Cattlemen Presents: Depth of Field

Blogs

Cows ain’t coal

AgCanadaTV

AGCanadaTV: In case you missed it; your national ag news recap for Aug. 15, 2025

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