Introducing GeneSTAR® MVP™

Molecular Value Predictions for Beef Quality and

Production Traits

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Welcome!

A new DNA era for GeneSTAR®

Review of technical background and materials Customer applications

• Customer report• Value discussion

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What is GeneSTAR?

Pfizer Animal Genetics’ DNA-testing platform for economically important traits• Feed efficiency, marbling and tenderness

Facilitates genetic improvement in seedstock and cow-calf operations

Enables precision management in cow-calf, stocker and feedlot operations

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Evolution of GeneSTAR

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Molecular Value Predictions (MVPs) Are:

Molecular breeding values, in units of the trait, that incorporate the sum total of marker effects, and have an associated reliability value

Based currently on a panel of 56 DNA markers that are used to predict feed efficiency, marbling, and tenderness in beef cattle

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Traits – Measures

Feed efficiency—net feed intake

Marbling—Degree of marbling

Tenderness—Warner-Bratzler shear force (WBSF) at 14 days postmortem

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MVP Advantages

Quantifies animal’s ability to perform Measured in relevant units for each

trait on a single scale Accounts for relative size of marker

effects Reliability of MVP provided Compatible with EPD Applicable for multi-trait selection

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GeneSTAR MVP Development

Intensive four-step process:

1. Marker discovery

2. Development of marker predictions – MVPs

3. Internal validation of relationship between MVPs and phenotypic performance

4. Third-party validation

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MVP Populations

In the first three steps, Pfizer Animal Genetics employed the use of:• 13 cattle populations • More than 7,000 animals representing diverse breeds and composite lines• Range of environmental and

management conditions 2,866 animals in the discovery

and prediction phase 4,455 animals in the internal

validation phase Included both Australian and

North American populations

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MVP Populations

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MVPs – Selection Opportunity

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MVP Reliability

Standard for assessing accuracy and predictive power of the MVP for a trait

Based on correlation (R) between the MVP and the animal’s genetic breeding value if all information were known

Expressed as a percentage of the maximum accuracy attainable

Indicates how much information may be added in the future as greater numbers of markers are added to the panels used to calculate the MVP

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MVPs – Selection Opportunity

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MVPs – Third-party Validation

Designed to confirm the statistical significance of relationships between MVPs and performance

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MVPs – External Validation

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Meta-Analysis

Combined statistical results into outcome groups by geographic location and cattle subpopulations

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Validation Conclusions

Validation for tenderness across all populations and markets

Validation of feed efficiency in U.S. and Australia in Bos Taurus• Feed efficiency for Bos Indicus in Australia

Significant association in NBCEC validations with % IMF estimated by ultrasound scanning 60 days prior to harvest• Significant association documented in U.S. Bos Indicus

with % Choice

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MVPs – Reporting Format

MVP expressed on a +/- scale from 0, where 0 = average of all animals in our research database

Reliability based on individual genotype and marker effects

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MVPs – Reporting Format

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MVPs – Reporting Format

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MVPs – Selection Example

Potential Sires• Sire A:

FE = -0.73 lbs Marb = 0.4

• Sire B: FE = +0.60 lbs Marb = 0.3

• Sire C: FE = -0.20 lbs Marb = -0.4

The genetic merit of sires for average daily gain was assumed equivalent

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Decision Tree: DNA Test or Don’t DNA Test!

$69,595

$68,977

$64,344

$66,962

$69,595

MVP Selection Example – Test or Not?

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Best decision is to test with MVPs:

Difference = $2,633

MVPs enable superior decisions in choosing sires based on feed intake, marbling potential and tenderness

Best economic decision avoids uncertainty and chooses Sire A instead of making an uninformed decision

MVP Selection Example – Test or Not?

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Stars to MVPs

11 individual markers 56-marker panel

Number of STARS Trait units for greater selection opportunity

Number of favorable alleles Collective effects of markers contribute to trait prediction

Equal effects of each marker Accounts for varying individual marker effects

No calculated reliability % reliability described: 26 – 49%

Good selection tool A new era in genetic improvement

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Bottom Line

Valuable Selection

Tool

More markers, more reliability.

More Powerful Tool!

Next Step – Mating Schemes

Planned mating tool in development

Predicts genetic outcomes based on MVP

analysis of potential sire matings Interactive tool available

late 2009

Quantitative Genetics“New” Reduced Animal ModelQuantitative Genetics“New” Reduced Animal Model

Unknowngenes

Phenotypicdata

“Breeding Value” for unknown and known polygenes

EPDs including DNA marker information

DNA Marker infoGenetic effects

Feed Efficiency EPD -1.9 .45 acc.

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Literature

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New Web Site

Resource center for

genomic technology Interactive sales map Webinars and

presentations Public results

section (coming soon!)

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New Location

Lab operations and customer service team now located in Kalamazoo, Michigan

Based within Pfizer Animal Health Research and Development headquarters

New contact information:

333 Portage Road

Kalamazoo, MI 49007-4931

877-BEEF DNA

Customer Service: 269-833-4629

Fax: 269-833-4711

www.pfizeranimalgenetics.com

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Conclusions

The time is now to enter the new era in precision management with DNA-marker technology.

Pfizer Animal Genetics portfolio of testing includes:• GeneSTAR MVPs• SireTRACE®

• SureTRAK®

• GeneSTAR Elite Tender®

• Arthrogryposis Multiplex testing

Contact your Pfizer Animal Genetics representative, call 1-877-BEEF DNA or go to www.pfizeranimalgenetics.com to order your

test kit today.