Industry Sires Genotyping Project
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he Beef CRC, in conjunction with Meat and Livestock Australia, is currently undertaking a project to collect DNA genotypes on approximately 1700 sires that have been widely used within the beef industry.
uses, the first function of the genotype data will be to enable the independent validation of Beef CRC developed prediction equations for genomic breeding values for a number of traits in each of the major beef breeds within Australia.
The Beef CRC are asking seedstock members to donate one or two straws of semen from sires with reasonable accuracies (above 60%) for their BREEDPLAN carcase EBVs such as EMA, P8 fat or IMF, or if no semen is available and the sire is still alive, a large sample of tail hairs (at least 50 hairs with roots
Further information regarding the process members need to follow to donate semen to the Industry Sires Genotyping Project will be circulated by participating Breed Societies shortly.
attached). Once the samples have been received, high quality DNA will be extracted by the University of Queensland and one sample prepared for long term storage for future research. The other sample will be sent to a Beef CRC collaborating genomic laboratory (CSIRO or DPI Victoria) where a 50k SNP chip will be used to genotype the animal. The genotypes will then be stored on a National Beef Genomics database where they will serve as a valuable resource for the development of DNA based technologies. Amongst other
Enhancements to Calving Ease Analysis March 2010
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nhancements have been made to the Calving Ease analysis that is conducted by BREEDPLAN. This will particularly effect the genetic evaluation that is conducted for breeds where both Calving Ease EBVs and Selection Index values are calculated. In particular, the GROUP analyses for the Angus, Charolais, Hereford, Limousin, Murray Grey, Shorthorn and Simmental breeds. The enhancements resulted from investigations by ABRI and AGBU into several queries received from BREEDPLAN members. This investigation showed that animals within the GROUP BREEDPLAN analyses for the above breeds that previously did not have Calving Ease EBVs calculated may have been penalised when their selection index values were calculated. The enhancements that have been implemented result in animals previously being disadvantaged now having index values that better reflect their relative genetic potential.
For further information regarding these enhancements, please contact your designated SBTS or TBTS technical officer. 8