The joining of Pfizer Animal Genetics’ genomic testing and the expected progeny differences data of Angus Genetics Inc. offers Angus producers tools they never had before.
In this video, Kent Anderson, associate director of Pfizer’s animal genetics division, talks about the new testing. He also gives an example how one producer used parentage testing to sort through offspring based on the value of the feeder cattle and the fed cattle the breeding produced.
He also reminds viewers that production and meat traits sometimes don’t correlate with maternal traits and he discusses how this might affect the example producer’s decisions.
He adds that parentage testing is far more powerful and far more accurate than ever before, Anderson says.
Blood samples sent to AGI for genomic-enhanced expected progeny differences are powered by the high density 50K platform from Pfizer Animal Genetics, also may be used for parent verification at no additional cost. Also, Angus breeders can order parentage verification from Pfizer Animal Genetics as a stand-alone test.
Pfizer says all samples previously submitted for high-density 50K testing, including those that were tested in 2010 and authorized for released to AGI, are eligible for parentage verification at no additional charge. If samples are stored in the Pfizer Animal Genetics archive from Genetic Condition or GeneSTAR testing, Angus breeders may request they are pulled for HD 50K and/or parentage testing.
HD 50K is the beef industry’s first and only commercially available high-density DNA panel with more than 54,000 markers and information related to 14 economically important traits including calving ease, growth and efficiency, maternal performance, carcass yield and quality.
Anderson says the process is still growing. More trait tests will be added and additional accuracies should be gained as the database and correlation of phenotypic data and genomic data continues.
Visit www.angus.org or www.pfizeranimalgenetics.com for more information about parentage testing as it becomes available. Or contact your association regional manager or a Pfizer Animal Genetics representative, or call 816-383-5100 or 877-BEEF-DNA.