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News, Purely Purebred

RDAR invests in Canadian Beef Industry Network genetics data platform

Purely Purebred, news from the December 2021 issue of Canadian Cattlemen

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(RDAR) has invested $640,000 in a collaborative research project with the Canadian Beef Improvement Network (CBIN) to develop a unified, standardized and producer-accessible beef cattle genetics data platform.  Through this platform, CBIN will provide commercial cattle producers and the entire beef production chain access to critical data that will help better inform genetic decisions and […] Read more
Sandy Russell sees great potential in standardizing how genetic data is captured.
Beef Cattle, Features, Livestock

Translating beef cattle genetic data into profit

The new leader of the Canadian Beef Breeds Council aims to create greater value by capturing and sharing genetic information throughout the supply chain

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Sandy Russell is skilled at seeing possibilities and turning them into profit. Her career thus far has allowed her to assist different facets of the Canadian beef industry in finding greater value. Now she’s poised to lead a major initiative to capitalize on untapped opportunities to capture value from genetic data across the entire beef […] Read more
EPD percentiles graph: A graph of an animal’s EPD percentiles is included along with the report, something several breed associations offer. This visual representation shows how the individual’s EPDs compare to the breed average, which is denoted by the line at the 50 per cent mark. (See more below)
Features, Livestock

EPDs: Inside the numbers

Breaking down a real-life EPD report to understand how to evaluate and apply genetic predictions

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Expected Progeny Differences (EPDs) predict the average performance of an animal’s future progeny for a specific trait, compared to other individuals’ progeny within the breed. They predict average group performance, rather than foretelling individual performance.  “If you have a bull with a weaning weight EPD of +50 and another one with a weaning weight EPD […] Read more
Driving profit through cattle genetics on the ranch
Beef Cattle, News, News Roundup

Driving profit through cattle genetics on the ranch

Breeding: News Roundup from the March 2021 issue of Canadian Cattlemen

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It has been said that it is getting harder and harder to make money in the cattle business. Expenses too often outweigh revenue, resulting in limited profit potential. Whether you agree or not, many ranchers are cautious about making additional investments to their management systems. To many, it feels as though mounting demands on how […] Read more
Angus associations share data on foot scores
Beef Cattle, News, Purely Purebred

Angus associations share data on foot scores

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

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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
Selecting beef genetics for profitability and performance
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

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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
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

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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

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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
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

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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

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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

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