South African Feedlot Association March 12, 2009 Practical Application of Gene Markers and Feed...

South African Feedlot Association

March 12, 2009

Practical Application of Gene Markers and Feed Efficiency Data for Today’s Cattleman

By Dr. Roger E. Hunsley

GENETIC MARKERSGenetic Markers are available for the

following traits:

Marbling: QG1, QG2, QG3, QG4Tenderness: T1, T2, T3, T4Feed Efficiency: FE1, FE2, FE3, FE4Muscling (F94L)

GENETIC MARKERS

Select a genomics company to test and verify your samples. Make certain that all procedures and genetic tests are committed to an extensive 3rd party verification before the tests are made available commercially.

Table 1 Carries two copies of the favorable form of the GeneSTAR marbling gene

Carries one copy of the favorable form of the GeneSTAR marbling gene Carries zero copies of the favorable form of the GeneSTAR marbling gene

Table 2 Average Outcomes When Mating Different Combinations of Parents with Particular GeneSTAR Ratings

* This mating design illustrates Mendelian heredity and the probability of

results from mating a 0, 1 or 2 STAR Sire and Dam.

MARBLING

Marbling is the number one price determiner of all cattle harvested in the U.S. and around the world.

The ultimate value and final price of a beef carcass is based more significantly on marbling than any other trait.

Table 2. USDA Marbling Score and Quality Grade Score.

Quality Grade Amt. of Marbling Numerical Score

Prime+ Abundant 10.0-10.9

Primeº Moderately abundant 9.0-9.9

Prime- Slightly abundant 8.0-8.9

Choice+ Moderate 7.0-7.9

Choiceº Modest 6.0-6.9

Choice- Small 5.0-5.9

Select Slight 4.0-4.9

Standard+ Traces 3.0-3.9

Standard- Practically devoid 2.0-2.9

Utility Devoid 1.0-1.9

MARBLING*Seventy-four 2003 – 2004 born steers that

were basically unselected for DNA marbling markers were feedlotted and harvested.

9% had USDA Choice marbling scores.

* Purebred Brahman steers

MARBLING*Ninety-eight 2005 – 2006 born steers that

were the result of intense selection for QG1 and QG2 DNA marbling markers were feedlotted and harvested.

30% had USDA Choice marbling scores.


TENDERNESSConsumer eating satisfaction is based

mostly on the tenderness qualities of the product.

Consumers are willing to pay a premium for guaranteed tender steaks or other beef products.

Tender beef leads to more satisfactory eating experiences than any other trait.

Warner Bratzler = WB Warner Bratzler (WB) is a

mechanical Shear instrument that measures the force required to mechanically cut through a core of cooked steak.

Tenderness * Ninety-eight 2005 – 2006 born steers that

were the result of intense selection for T1, T2 and T3 DNA tenderness markers were feedlotted and harvested.

92% had Warner-Braztler (WB) shear values in the 3.00 – 8.99 lb. range.


Tenderness The leading meat scientists

consider any beef sample that requires over 11 lbs. of WB shear force to be unacceptable for tenderness.

Shear Values for Unselected and Selected GeneSTAR ValuesBirth Year No.

SteersNo. of STARS Avg. Shear

Value

2003-2004¹ 24 Unselected 7.86 lbs.

2004-2005² 61 1 0r 2 STARS 5.49 lbs.

2005-2006³ 26 3 or 4 STARS 4.82 lbs.

¹ 4 Carcasses in the 2003-2004 birth year had shear values over 8.99 lbs.

² 1 Carcass in the 2004-2005 birth year had a shear value over 8.99 lbs.

³ None of the 2005-2006 birth year group had shear values over 8.99 lbs.

Effect of USDA Quality Grade on Tenderness

Recent Studies have documented that 10-15% of USDA Choice carcasses had unacceptable tenderness scores.

25-35% of the USDA Select carcasses had unacceptable tenderness scores.

The result of the study indicates there is room for improvement of tenderness within all USDA Quality grades.

The value of having information about meat quality early in the animal’s life, rather than post-harvest, is priceless.

Results of Vassberg Brahman Test from BOVIGEN, August 24, 2007

156 Head Tested:8 head were homozygous for QG1 and QG28 head had 5 STARs out of 6 possible STARs for

tenderness35% were 6 STARs or higher with the following

breakdown:6 STARs 40 head7 STARs 10 head8 STARs 3 head9 STARs 1 head

Average Marbling Score by STAR

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

0 * 1 * 2 * 3 * 4 * 5 * 6 * 7 *

There were no 8 STAR animals. Source: Bovigen, LLC

DNA MARKERS FORFEED EFFICIENCY

The 4 DNA markers for feed efficiency (NFI) have no genetic association to marbling, average daily gain, carcass weight and rump fat (P8).

Results of Vassberg Brahman Test Report from BOVIGEN

August 24, 2007156 Head Tested:

In the Feed Efficiency (NFI) analysis, 82% of the animals had all 8 of the markers resulting in the following breakdown:

6 STARs 1 Head7 STARs 26 Head8 STARs 129 Head

FEED EFFICIENCY

Pasture and feed costs account for nearly 70% of the total cost of producing beef.

Research has shown that NFI selection can reduce grass and feed intake by 15-20% while still maintaining the same production levels.

Today, this accounts for $150 to $250 savings in producing a beef animal.

NET FEED INTAKE (NFI)

Net Feed Intake (NFI) is equal to actual feed intake less feed intake for growth and metabolic (maintenance) requirements.

The heritability estimate for NFI is 0.40.


Efficient animals eat less than expected and have a negative or low NFI.

Inefficient animals eat more than expected and have a positive or high NFI.

GrowSafe Facility


Research has shown that selecting for NFI post-weaning and at maturity has a very high correlation of 0.90 to genetic improvement for efficiency in the cow herd through the daughters retained out of tested bulls.

The Effect of STARs on NFI and ADG(Involved 1,060 steers & heifers

in finishing phase)

STARs Number NFI ADG

<3 8 + 2.47 lbs.

2.88 lbs.

3 41 + 1.18 lbs.

3.07 lbs.

4 95 + .30 lbs. 2.98 lbs.

5 178 + .22 lbs. 3.04 lbs.

6 307 - .06 lbs. 3.00 lbs.

7 268 - .20 lbs. 2.94 lbs.

8 163 - .32 lbs. 2.98 lbs.

Feed Efficiency Numerous studies have shown

that low NFI animals consume an average of 3.3 to 5.5 lbs. less feed per day than high NFI animals with similar growth and carcass characteristics.

NFI as a Selection Tool

NFI is the best selection tool for genetic improvement for Feed Efficiency at the bull breeding level.

Selected Data* from NFI Brahman Bull Test (Kallion Farms)

Bull I.D.

Initial Wgt.

Final Wgt.

Avg. Daily Gain

Dry Matter Intake

lb./day

NFI lb./day

Feed to Gain Ratio

43-53 604 813 2.98 15.23 -2.36 5.10

34-27 755 867 1.60 18.66 +2.67 11.66

*Bulls with the highest and lowest feed to gain ratio in the test group of 64 bulls at the end of the 70 day test period


Bull I.D.

Initial Wgt.

Final Wgt.

Avg. Daily Gain

Dry Matter Intake lb./day

NFI lb./day

Feed to Gain Ratio

14-62 698 833 1.93 11.49 -4.50 5.95

41-61 571 701 1.86 9.87 -3.41 5.30

4-25 630 804 2.49 13.35 -3.13 5.37

9-4 828 1088 3.71 21.09 -3.05 5.68

23-16 821 1035 3.06 18.92 -2.99 6.19*The five lowest (most desirable) NFI bulls at the end of the 70 day test period


Bull I.D.

Initial Wgt.

Final Wgt.

Avg. Daily Gain

Dry Matter Intake lb./day

NFI lb./day

Feed to Gain Ratio

36-17 640 828 2.68 22.28 +4.98 8.31

40-11 732 960 3.26 24.99 +4.07 7.67

30-6 821 989 2.40 23.86 +4.06 9.94

5-23 790 948 2.25 21.60 +2.84 9.58

13-63 561 742 2.58 18.22 +2.78 7.05*The five highest (least desirable) NFI bulls at the end of the 70 day test period


Bull I.D.

Initial Wgt.

Final Wgt.

Avg. Daily Gain

Dry Matter Intake

lb./day

NFI lb./day

Feed to Gain Ratio

23-16 821 1035 3.06 18.92 -2.99 6.19

30-6 821 989 2.40 23.86 +4.06 9.94

*Two bulls with the same initial weight on test but two-thirds of a pound difference in ADG, nearly 5 pounds difference in dry matter intake and more than 7 pounds difference in NFI at the end of the 70 day test period

FEED EFFICIENCY Kallion Farms has documented almost a

$5,000 difference in the genetic expression for feed efficiency between two purebred Brahman sires.

With cattlemen feeling the effects of corn prices that have more than doubled in the past 12 months, feed efficiency has moved to the number one position in our selection program.

Feed Efficiency Selection for low NFI can have a

very substantial economic impact on the beef industry.

New Kallion GrowSafeTest Facility - 2008

Purebred Brahman Heifers on a GrowSafe Feed Test

FEED EFFICIENCY The purchase of a feed efficient

bull will make a tremendous difference in your bottom line.

TEMPERAMENT Numerous studies have documented that mild

temperament cattle returned more dollars in the pasture or the feedlot than aggressive animals.

All Kallion Farms animals must pass a strict temperament evaluation to be offered for sale or used for breeding.

TEMPERAMENT Suggest using a chute side score or a

chute flight temperament evaluation such as:

T1 – Temperament Acceptable T2 – Temperament Questionable T3 – Temperament Bad - Cull

TEMPERAMENT MEASURES Temperament Scoring System Flight speeds measured at chute exit Physiologic responses – Cortisol levels Revealed eye white percentage using

digital camera equipment.

Range: 10 = good

60 = bad

TEMPERAMENT ? ? ?

ULTRASOUND

Recent ultrasound results received 11/07/07 from the National CUP Lab & Technology Center on 82 purebred Brahman heifers off test were as follows:

Average weight 789 pounds Average backfat thickness 0.19 inches Average ribeye area 9.7 sq. in. Average ribeye area per cwt 1.23 sq. in. Average intramuscular fat (IMF) 3.32%

ULTRASOUND Recently a test group of 38 bulls yielded the

following ultrasound results:

0.19 in. backfat thickness

10.5 sq. in. ribeye area

3.17 % intramuscular fat (IMF)

One bull had 5.07% IMF and another bull had 4.42% IMF.

ULTRASOUND Recently a test group of 147 heifers yielded

the following ultrasound results:

0.14 in. backfat thickness

7.97 sq. in. ribeye area

3.37 % intramuscular fat (IMF)

Twenty-one of the heifers had 4.0% IMF or higher with one heifer at 5.75% IMF.

Typical IMF % Adjusted to365 Days of Age in Beef Cattle

IMF% of 2.0-2.99 Acceptable

(Low Select) IMF% of 3.0-3.99 Highly Acceptable

(High Select) IMF% of 4.0-4.99 Rare & Outstanding

(Low Choice) IMF% 0f 5.0 or higher Rare

(Average Choice or higher)

ULTRASOUNDTwelve percent of the total test group

of 185 head had 4.0% IMF or higher which equates to Low Choice or higher marbling scores.

ULTRASOUND

Ultrasound results received 02/21/09 from the National CUP Lab and Technology Center on 122 purebred Brahman heifers:

Average Weight 649 pounds

Average Backfat Thickness 0.10 inches

Average Ribeye Area 7.87 sq. in. (51 sq. cm.)

Average Ribeye Area per cwt 1.24 sq. in.

Average Intramuscular Fat (IMF) 3.46%

ULTRASOUND

Ultrasound results received 02/21/09 from the National CUP Lab and Technology Center on 122 purebred Brahman heifers:

Twenty-four of the heifers had 4.0% IMF or higher with 3 heifers over 5.0% IMF.

That’s 20% of the entire group with 4.0% or higher IMF ultrasound values.

ULTRASOUND FOR FERTILITY

Ovary and horn size are measured via ultrasound @ 10-14 months of age on all females. At the same time, the females are ultrasounded for REA, BF and % IMF.


75 heifers between 12 and 22 months of age were ultrasounded for ovary and horn size (tract scores) on November 19, 2008.

40% were rated excellent or matureOf these, 80% conceived on first servicewhen exposed to natural service

60% were rated poor or immature


39 heifers between 12 and 22 months of age were ultrasounded for ovary and horn size (tract scores) in December of 2008

17 scored excellent or mature (44%) 22 scored poor or immature (56%) 10 of the 22 that scored immature were acceptable

for breeding after “ciders” were applied. 12 of the heifers were too late maturing and were

culled . . . not used for breeding


About 1/3 of each test group were too late maturing to meet the fertility standards at Kallion Farms

Ribeye Photos

Purebred Kallion Farms

Brahman Steer Carcasses

Steak No. 1

Steak No. 2

Steak No. 3

Other Tools Used in Conjunction with Gene Marker Technology

Warner-Bratzler mechanical shear instrument GrowSafe – RFID automated data acquisition

for net feed intake (NFI)Temperament EvaluationUltrasound TechnologySexed Semen Invitro Fertilization (IVF)

Sexed Semen or Sexed Embryos

Sexed Semen or Sexed Embryos

Sexed semen will produce 92-94% of the sex selected.

Sexed embryos should be 100% accurate for the sex selection.

Invitro Fertilization

Invitro Fertilization (IVF)Why invitro fertilization?

Shortens the generation interval from 5 years to 2-3 years resulting in a quicker turnover of your gene pool.

Invitro Fertilization (IVF) IVF allows for early embryo production and

pregnancies from young females before they would be naturally or artificially bred to calve first at 2, 2 ½ or 3 years of age.

Successful invitro fertilization has occurred at 9-12 months of age in females with pregnancies confirmed at 11-13 months of age.

EMBRYO TRANSFER Since May 2005, over 4,000 successful

embryo transfers have been completed at Kallion Farms.

In May 2006, the first IVF transfer that resulted in a pregnancy occurred at Kallion Farms.

Kallion Farms Summary To date, we have documented improvements

at Kallion Farms of one full degree of marbling in harvested steer offspring.

Kallion has also recorded a 20-25% improvement in tenderness through harvested siblings to the animals used in the breeding program.

Customer-Producer Value for Higher Marbling Scores

The price differential between a USDA Choice Grade carcass and a USDA Select Grade carcass is about $12.50/cwt. That’s $100 of added value for an 800 lb. carcass.

This is the minimum value differential per harvested feedlot animal.

Customer-Producer Value for Improved Tenderness Scores

The price differential between a guaranteed tender product compared

to a product with questionable or unacceptable tenderness scores . . .

PRICELESS!

Summary:The Future of Beef

“If you thought beef – steak in particular – was big last year, brace yourself.”

“We will see the unabashed growth in the steak craze”, according to D. Cowin, editor in chief of the Food and Wine magazine.

What’s in Store for the Future

New TechnologyGenomics – used to identify

genotypesPhenomics – used to identify

phenotypes

How? By Using BeadChip Technology

The Illumina Bovine SNP 50 BeadChip is a glass slide that contains thousands of DNA markers called SNP’s

SNP’s are used to find relationships between DNA markers and traits of economic importance!

BeadChip Technology A single chip generates about 53,000

genotypes for each of 12 individual animals. DNA samples from each animal are applied to the BeadChip and scanned to produce genotypes.

Statistical analysis of genotypes can identify relationships between DNA markers and economically relevant production traits (ERT’s).

BeadChip TechnologyResearchers are developing large collections

of cattle phenotypes or observable traits for the following: General Immune – System Functionality Body Temperature Respiratory Rate Feeding Behavior Post Weaning Feed Efficiency Life Time Production in Beef Cattle

BeadChip Technology

Scientists have located genetically significant areas called “Quantitative Trait Loci” (QTL’s) that relate to production traits for the following:

BeadChip Technology1. Beef Quality and fat composition Concentration of monounsaturated fat which is

healthier than saturated fat Could lead to marker-assisted selection for fatty acid

content of meat from beef cattle breeds Other desired nutritional traits in beef

2. Tenderness and Palatability

3. Feed Efficiency

4. Reproduction Success

SUMMARY

Identification of genetic markers will provide opportunities to improve selection accuracy for traits that are difficult to measure in an industry setting.

South African Feedlot Association March 12, 2009 Practical Application of Gene Markers and Feed...

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