Reproductive traits are without a doubt the most economically important traits for the commercial cow/calf producer. Igenity profiles explain the Heifer Pregnancy Rate, Maternal Calving Ease and Stayability as follows:
Heifer Pregnancy Rate is a heifer’s chance at becoming pregnant over a normal breeding season, relative to other heifers.
Maternal Calving Ease is measured as the percentage of unassisted births a higher value is greater calving ease.
Stayability is the chance a heifer will remain in the herd until at least six years old, relative to other animals.
Growth traits such as Average Daily Gain and Feed Efficiency are important profit measures for any beef operation. Average daily gain has a large influence on both weaning and yearling weight. These two performance figures are what most cattle people have used to make their selections. Igenity profile explains Average Daily Gain and Feed Efficiency as follows:
Average Daily Gain identifies an animal’s genetic potential for rate of gain, for both pre and post weaning. According to Igenity, animals which score a 10 will gain an additional .81 lbs. per day more than an animal that scores a 1.
Feed Efficiency - The Igenity Feed Efficiency predicts genetic potential for Residual Feed Intake. Residual Feed Intake describes an animal’s feed intake above or below its predicted needs for maintenance and growth. An animal with a low Residual Feed Intake score will: Eat less to achieve the same gains, Gain more on the same amount of feed, Require less feed to maintain body condition as a mature adult.
Carcass trait measures include traits that influence carcass composition and carcass quality. Both carcass composition and carcass quality reflect significantly on a beef operation’s profitability.
Carcass Composition:
Ribeye Area - Animals with an Igenity profile score of 10 for ribeye will have a 2.56 square inch larger ribeye than an animal with a score of 1.
Backfat Thickness - In the case of backfat thickness, an animal with an Igenity profile score of 10 will have .31 inch more backfat than an animal with a score of 1.
Yield Grade – yield grade is measured in yield grade scores (1 – 5). An Igenity profile score difference of 1 will change the yield grade by .15
yield grade.
Carcass Quality:
Marbling and Quality Grade is indicative of an animal’s potential for intramuscular fat deposition and Choice or better Quality Grade carcasses. Higher Igenity profile scores for Quality Grade indicate a higher quality
grade score.
Tenderness – the Igenity profile score for tenderness score represents animals’ genetic potential for tenderness as measured by the Warner Bratzler shear force test. A score of 10 being the tenderest and a score of 1 is the least tender.
Convenience traits are all important production traits in beef cattle. While they can’t be measured in objective measures they can be scored subjectively by many breeders. Now Igenity, through their profile scores, can provide cattle people predictors for some of the convenience traits.
Convenience Traits:
Docility – Research results suggest that calm animals will eat more, have a better and calmer response to vaccinations and have been shown to be more tender. Higher Igenity scores for docility indicate a higher percentage of calves with acceptable temperament.
Coat Color – The Igenity Coat Color analysis looks at the genes that determine red or black coat color. The black gene (ED) is dominant over red (e). Black animals may carry one (heterozygous) or two (homozygous) black genes. Only homozygous black (ED/ED) animals will have all black offspring. Heterozygous black (ED/e) animals will on average produce half red and half black calves when bred to red animals.
Horned/Polled – Polled is dominant to horn. A homozygous polled animal will produce all polled calves when bred to a horned animal. A heterozygous polled animal will produce, on average, half horned and half polled offspring when bred to horned animals.
Known Hereford Genetic Abnormalities Lethal and Non Lethal
Idiopathic Epilepsy (IE) – Lethal – A neurological disorder in which affected calves has seizures. Age of seizures can range from birth to several months of age. Animals affected with seizures will generally lie on their side with all four legs extended in a rigid state. Seizures can last for several minutes to more than an hour. Causes recessive mutation on a single cattle chromosome.
IEF = Idiopathic Epilepsy Free – (tested and results indicate animal is not a carrier)
IEC = Idiopathic Epilepsy Carrier
Hypotrichosis (HY) - Nonlethal – Hairlessness, partial to almost a complete lack of hair. Affected calves are often born with very short, fine, kinky hair. Often times the hair color will appear "frosted" or "silverish" and the tail switch will be underdeveloped. Causes recessive mutation on a single cattle chromosome.
HYF = Hypotrichosis Free - (tested and results indicate animal is not a carrier)
HYC = Hypotrichosis Carrier
Dilutor (DL) - Nonlethal – Carrier animals when mated to black cattle can produce offspring with gray, smokey or chocolate hair color. Causes recessive mutation on a single cattle chromosome.
DLF = Dilutor Free (tested and results indicate animal is not a carrier)
DLC = Dilutor Carrier
Known Angus Genetic Abnormalities
Arthrogryposis Multiplex (AM) - Lethal – Also known as Curly Calf Syndrome. Calves are born dead or die shortly after birth. The spine and legs appear crooked or twisted and the joints of the legs are often fixed in position. Front legs are contracted and rear limbs may be contracted or extended. Calves are small and appear thin due to limited muscle development. Cause sis recessive mutation on a single cattle chromosome.
AMF = Arthrogryposis Multiplex Free - (tested and results indicate animal is not a carrier)
AMC = Arthrogryposis Multiplex Carrier
Neuropathic Hyrocephalus (NH) - Lethal – Calves are born near term and have 25 – 35 pound birth weights. Some evidence points toward early abortion due to the defect. The cranium is markedly enlarged. The bones of the skull are malformed and appear as loosely organized bony plates that fall apart when the cavity is opened. Causes recessive mutation on a single cattle chromosome.
NHF = Neuropathic Hyrocephalus Free - (tested and results indicate animal is not a carrier)
NHC = Neuropathic Hyrocephalus Carrier
Other Angus Genetic Defects as of August 11, 2010
Carriers of Contractural Arachnodactyly (CAC)
Carriers of Double-Muscling gene (DMC)
Carriers of Dwarfism (DWC)
Carriers of Heterochromia Irides (white eye) (HIC)
Carriers of Osteopetrosis (marble-bone disease) (OSC)
Carriers of PRKG2 gene mutation for Dwarfism (D2C)
Carriers of Red Color gene (RDC)
Carriers of Syndactyly (mule foot) (SNC)
Carriers of Wild-Type Color gene (WTC)
Animals tested clean are designated with an (F) at the end of the defect abbreviation for example (AMF)
If you want more information on almost all cattle genetic defects go to webpage article:
Genetic Defects in Cattle - NDSU
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