November 2012 WI Holstein News

Polled Genetics: It’s More Than A Novelty

by Ed Peck Polled cattle are nothing new, and when frequency of the polled gene. “It can, and will, it comes to dairy cattle breeds, Red & Whites be further improved when the top genomic have been one of the few breeds focused on polled bulls are used on top genomic Black & this genetic trait. In fact, some of the earlier White – and Red & White individuals,” he pioneers of the Red &White Dairy Cattle states. “And, if were find a high genomic, Association led the way in developing elite homozygous polled bull there would be great pedigrees with polled individuals. In more progress. We believe it is only a matter of time recent history, breeders like Burket-Falls, before someone can offer such a bull.”

Hickorymea, Aggravation and Aaron Doon Currently, Red & White breeders have West Port have been frequently mentioned as some very interesting – even exciting options sources for polled genetics. But, there is more in the way of highgenomic tested young sires to the story than just unique pedigrees from that carry both the red gene and the polled great herds. Breeding for polled cattle could gene. With Aggravation Lawn Boy as a proven soon become more than just a novelty - and Red sire that transmits the polled gene to half even more than just a convenience. his offspring, the best Lawn Boy sons and daughters will have an incredible pedigree Pressure from outside interests impact on polled cattle for some time to come.

Polled genetics has been an exciting All of us involved in agriculture know the Already today, Lawn Boy sons dominate the option for Red & White breeders. growing pressure and even demands that are placed upon producers - influencing how, How much longer will it be an option high genomic, red and RC young sire lists.

Colt-P-Red leads the U.S. list, followed by his for the dairy industry as a whole? where, and why we produce food. Though not half brother, Aaron-Red who does not carry exclusive to livestock agriculture, additional attention is placed on animal husbandry practices, and especially those the polled gene. Laron-P-Red is another Lawn Boy son that leads the management practices that are perceived as painful to an animal. young sire list in Germany.

Two other very popular red-carrier bulls - half brothers MagnaDehorning would be near the top of the list!

Even today, industry standards suggest calves be securely and P and Mitey-P likewise carry the polled gene, and offer a nice outcross safely restrained and given local anesthetics before any horn nubs are to the high frequency of Lawn Boy. It is not at all uncommon to see cut or burned. These procedures are recommended for optimal safety Lawn Boy daughters mated to these unique sires in order to continue and stress management - both for the animal and the person doing the polled breeding scheme, and perhaps even achieve that elusive the dehorning. Admittedly, these steps take extra time, labor and even goal of breeding a high-genomic, red, homozygous polled bull. additional costs.

What’s next?

For Red & White genetics, Europe always has been a driving As breeders, where do we go next? The challenge to diversify force and influence in U.S. pedigrees. “Animal health is getting more polled bloodlines while continuing to raise the bar on genetic potential and more an issue in the German society and among German has been posed, and it is not an easy one to face. politicians,” says Hartwig Meinikmann of RUW, one of the major AI Lawn Boy’s great influence will soon threaten inbreeding throughcenters in Germany. Meinikmann notes that most politicians and out the Red & White population. And, being a Rubens grandson from consumers don’t have any idea how agriculture works, and therefore a paternal sister to Oman, it could be said that he doesn’t offer the many things get humanized. “Dehorning calves is something that greatest outcross genetics even today. maybe forbidden one day in our country,” he adds. “Already, farms Lawn Boy’s most popular son to date, Colt-P-Red comes from a in Germany that drive their herds ecologically are in most of the cases Bolton dam, who also traces back to Durham on the maternal side. not allowed to dehorn calves.”

Magna-P *RC is a Bolton son, thus posing an inbreeding concern Jeff Ziegler, genomics program manager at Select Sires, echoes close up in any mating combinations of these sires. Durham blood Meinikmann’s concerns. “If dairymen didn’t have to dehorn calves, already is extremely prevalent in many current Red & White that could be one less animal welfare issue they have to deal with,” pedigrees, as the maternal grand sire of Destry *RC, Debonair-Red, says Ziegler.

Advent-Red, Acme *RC and others. Mitey-P *RC is a Goldywn son, as is the popular bull, Destry *RC. Why not more?

To maintain the leading-edge contributions that Red and White The logic of breeding naturally hornless dairy cattle seems obvious.

But, why hasn’t it happened more? “From a genetics standpoint, the pedigrees can deliver to this unique, globally-demanded trait, breeders reason polled hasn’t had more prevalence, in my mind, is because the are going to have to get more creative, aggressive and persistent in demand didn’t force seed stock breeders to create them,” shares Ziegler. their matings than ever before. For one sire like Lawn Boy to shape “Those interested in marketing niches see how this trait could be an the future of polled red genetics, he will need to be deeply anchored three to five generations deep in pedigrees to allow enough genetic angle to take,” he continues, “and I couldn’t agree more.”

“It’s not often a dominant recessive can be incorporated fairly diversity to be brought out from other bloodlines – and yet have them simply into a breeding program,” continues Ziegler. “But still, several combined with his superior genetic traits, red-coat color influence, bloodlines must be made to create enough genetic diversity and gain and the polled gene. Known for their outcross genetics as Red & market interests. We have had little interest in the polled genetics White cattle are, breeders must seek new bloodlines to bring into the Red & White population in order to achieve the diversification alone.”

No doubt, bulls like Aggravation Lawn Boy P-Red, through his necessary to maintain genetic leadership of this sought-after trait.

“Time will tell where this goes,” concludes Ziegler. “But I can sons and daughters, have renewed some interest in polled genetics. tell you that Colt-P-Red is creating a lot of interest – not just because But that’s not enough to make the trait sustainable.

“We’ll need to have polled genes, combined with other reasonable he ranks high for GTPI, but because he is polled. That means a lot to genetic ranking traits, to catch total interest,” says Ziegler. “We are the marketers out there, even the organic breeders can’t get enough building these now, but can’t do it with Lawn Boy alone. Like other of him.”

RUW, who currently tests 3 to 5 genomic-tested, polled bulls per traits, there needs to be more public lists of ranked, polled males and females - and at the same time identify if they are homozygous or year expects their numbers could increase in the future because the heterozygous polled. Our European customers have said for years polled gene is spreading more widely. “This could very much help Red then need this product, and Germany has been the most vocal and & White breeders stay competitive,” concludes Meinikmann, “as most of the polled individuals are mainly Red & White cattle.” forthright,” states Ziegler.

Meinikmann believes genomic testing will help progress the Reprinted with permission from Red Bloodlines, March 2011 wisconsin HOLSTEIN news/November 2012-29