genetics Archives | Canadian Cattlemen

Angus associations share data on foot scores

Purely Purebred: News from the January 2021 issue of Canadian Cattlemen

By Mike Millar January 15, 2021

The Canadian Angus Association is teaming up with Angus Australia and the American Angus Association to combine foot score phenotypes from all three databases. Following promising results from research conducted by Angus Genetics Inc. (AGI), the first updated foot score EPDs — including phenotypes from all three databases — was published November 27. “Using all […] Read more

Call the semen companies and the people who have used the bulls when looking for more information on AI sires.

Beef Cattle, Features, Livestock

Selecting beef genetics for profitability and performance

Three producers touch on everything from feed efficiency to getting the most information possible on AI sires

By Lilian Schaer December 15, 2020

Three Ontario beef farmers shared their thoughts around increasing performance and profitability through breeding choices. Their panel discussion was part of the 2020 Beef Symposium held at the University of Guelph earlier this year. Brad Gilchrist Beef marketing manager with Semex and owner, Gilchrist Farms, Lucknow, Ont. Gilchrist Farms sell commercial and purebred breeding stock. […] Read more

Crops

Beware of Kazakhs wanting to buy seed, agency says

Seed growers and farmers alike are being warned such sales breach breeders' rights rules

By Allan Dawson, GFM Network News November 25, 2020

Western Canadian seed growers, seed retailers and commercial farmers are being urged not to sell seed to Kazakhs or their agents because it breaches plant breeders’ rights rules. “The basic fact is no Canadian breeder has given permission for their genetics to go to Kazakhstan,” Lorne Hadley, executive director of the Canadian Plant Technology Agency, […] Read more

Canola, Crops

Farmer and activist Percy Schmeiser, 89

Thorn in Monsanto's side also the subject of a new major film

By Dave Bedard, GFM Network News October 15, 2020

Funeral services are to be held and livestreamed Saturday for Prairie farmer, businessman and activist Percy Schmeiser, best known for his ultimately unsuccessful court battles with the company behind Roundup Ready canola. Schmeiser, who farmed at Bruno, Sask., about 90 km east of Saskatoon, died Tuesday at age 89. According to Saskatchewan media, he had […] Read more

Sean McGrath says that investing in genomic tools can work for producers as long as they plan to use the technology to make changes to their operations.

Beef Cattle, Features, Livestock

Making genomics work for commercial cattle herds

DNA testing and genomic-enhanced EPDs could contribute to more profitable selection, management and marketing decisions for commercial producers

By Piper Whelan October 1, 2020

Although the use of genomics is frequently geared toward the seedstock industry, there are options that could lead to improved profits for commercial beef producers. The use of simple DNA tests and genomic profiles enhancing the accuracy of expected progeny differences (EPDs) can have selection, management and marketing benefits for commercial operations, says Sean McGrath. […] Read more

At dawn, Ethiopian Boran cattle leave the village in search of grazing.

Livestock, News

“Genomic Time Travel” approach finds genetic traits to breed more productive, resilient African cattle

New study deploys advanced tools to retrace 1,000 years of African pastoralist cattle breeding, identifying traits to help cattle survive blistering heat, drought and advancing diseases

By International Livestock Research Institute September 30, 2020

Nairobi, Kenya —Scientists announced today the discovery of a new set of detailed genetic markers and information in African cattle that are associated with valuable traits, such as heat and drought tolerance, the capacity to control inflammation and tick infestations, and resistance to devastating livestock diseases like trypanosomiasis. The findings, published in the October issue […] Read more

Beef Cattle, Livestock

Beef Breeds Council becomes arm of CCA

Cattle genetics body now a division of Canadian Cattlemen's Association

By Dave Bedard, GFM Network News July 10, 2020

The market development group representing Canada’s beef cattle seedstock sector has formally merged into the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association (CCA). The association on Friday announced the Canadian Beef Breeds Council (CBBC) has officially joined the Beef Cattle Research Council and Canfax among the divisions of the CCA. The move follows a cost-benefit review by an advisory […] Read more

Canola, Crops

Supercluster backing canola protein production

By GFM Staff January 16, 2020

The federally-backed research and development “supercluster” set up to boost Canada’s protein industries is funding work to wring more and better proteins out of canola seed. In Saskatoon on Wednesday, federal Industry Minister Navdeep Bains announced the Protein Industries Canada (PIC) supercluster has approved a new $27.6 million project to breed high-protein canola hybrids for […] Read more

By identifying the range of production systems used across the country, Canfax aims to create better benchmarks for cow-calf producers in all provinces.

Beef Cattle, Research

Nature vs. Nurture in animal performance

Research on the Record with Reynold Bergen

By Reynold Bergen December 24, 2019

Nothing is ever as simple as we think it is or wish it was. We’ve known for centuries that an animal’s performance, health, behaviour and other traits depend on a combination of their genetics and their environment. The genetics are inherited from their parents. Environmental influences are not inherited. Environments might be similar across generations […] Read more

University of Alberta researchers have flagged 19 genes that may play a role in feed efficiency.

Beef Cattle, News, News Roundup

Cattle researchers map feed-efficiency genes

Research: News Roundup from the November 2019 issue of Canadian Cattlemen

By Canadian Cattlemen Staff November 29, 2019

After sifting through thousands of genes, researchers have flagged a handful of genes that seem to be related to feed efficiency in cattle. Hui-Zeng Sun, a post-doctoral student at the University of Alberta, used functional genomics and computational statistics to better understand feed efficiency, writes Justin Dupuis on the U of A’s research blog, folio. […] Read more

U.S. grains: Soybeans dive to biggest weekly loss in 6-1/2 years

U.S. livestock: Feeder cattle gain from falling feed prices

U.S. grains: South American supply issues wane

GFM Network News