Issue link: http://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/831897
Written by Suzanne Waring Photography by Kim Owen N ewer sophisticated genetic testing moves the cattle industry further away from chance and closer to cer- tainty in forecasting progeny performance and productivity. Early on breeders kept records on observable traits, such as birth weight, weaning weight, yearling weight, calving ease, and carcass weight. This information became "individual animal performance" and was an indicator of genes the animal possessed. Along with the pedigree (genes the animal has the opportunity to inherit) and progeny performance (genes the animal transmits), individual animal performance led to development of ex- pected progeny differences (EPDs), which estimated the genetic value of an animal as a parent and helped cattlemen to choose the next best herd sire or purebred cows for their operation. Recognizing that every sperm and egg are genetically different, the cattle industry has now advanced to using DNA marker information to more efficiently sort out sam- pling so that early in a calf's life the rancher has a better understanding of the inherited genetic merit possessed by any animal. GENETIC S by DE SIGN THE LATEST IN FORECASTING PROGENY PERFORMANCE AND PRODUCTIVITY IN CATTLE FARM 406 22 • • farmer profile In the foreground, Ty Malek of Malek Angus Ranch near HIghwood checks a list for the order in which the cows should be lined up for breeding. A blood sample is taken from the syringe and placed in a card to be sent to Zoetis for genetic testing.