General Session I
The Role of Genetic Evaluation
in Enhancing Global Competitiveness
BOZEMAN, Mont. (June 2, 2011) — According to Scott Newman, a geneticist with Tennessee-based Genus, PLC, genetic evaluation is all about choosing above-average animals to produce next-generation animals with superior performance. It’s about making money in the process by reducing input costs or increasing output through the use of available technology. If we can do this more effectively than our competitors, we have the potential to produce a product that’s competitive locally, nationally and even globally.
“Genetic evaluation becomes the engine to drive this process,” said Newman, speaking during the first general session of the 43rd annual Beef Improvement Federation (BIF) annual research symposium in Bozeman, Mont.
“Genetic evaluation makes genetic improvement possible,” Newman explained. “It provides the capability to benchmark individuals within a breed, or possibly different breeds. It is a means whereby the joint investment in recording and selection can be converted to market advantage.”
Newman said recording the right traits and making sensible use of indexing, selection and mating could enhance returns. Maximizing the quantity and quality of data recorded allows genetic evaluation to be used most efficiently.
“The more data we have, the better decisions we can make,” stated Newman, noting that the challenge facing beef breeds is obtaining the most useful data possible. He advocated the implementation of information nucleus schemes, which he defined as well-structured progeny tests. This allows a breed to collect data on traits that are expensive to measure, such as feed intake; traits that cannot be measured in the seedstock herd, like eating quality; or traits that take a long time to record, such as fertility and longevity.
Newman considers it imperative that beef breeds define their breeding structures and implement an information nucleus scheme to increase opportunities for collection of data on hard-to-measure traits. It will also add clarity, he believes, to the application of genomic information as part of genetic evaluation. Genomic information will alter the landscape of genetic improvement, Newman predicted, but its utilization will depend on having relevant phenotypic data for calibrating marker tools.
Newman urged breeds to turn their attention to prioritize traits to be measured and to move toward a unified database to make across-breed information more accessible and useful.
To listen to this presentation and to view the proceedings paper and the PowerPoint that accompanied it, visit the Newsroom at www.BIFconference.com.
BIF’s 43rd Annual Research Symposium and Annual Meeting was hosted June 1-4 on campus at Montana State University, Bozeman, Mont.
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