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25/01/2007
Advances in selection of superior progeny attracts breeder interest
It's taken just three years for researchers to de-code the three billion base pairs that make up the bovine genome. Now, thanks to the IGENITY® profile, from Merial Animal Health, farmers can effectively 'read' the genetic profile of each of their animals and use it to make highly accurate livestock breeding decisions.
"IGENITY identifies the superior parentage which produces superior progeny to attract premium prices."
That's the vision of cattle breeding's future offered up by Dr Stewart Bauck of Merial at this week's British Cattle Breeders Conference and QMS Research & Development Conference. Dr Bauck, who heads up Merial's global IGENITY programme, has travelled across from the USA to highlight the possibilities British producers can gain from marker-assisted selection.
"IGENITY has been commercially used in the USA and Europe for some time now. Producers have found great value in profiling their animals for key traits such as carcass composition, milk yield and composition and are increasingly familiar with using it.
"Not only are producers using IGENITY to improve both breeding and management," Dr Bauck continues, "but now processors are taking advantage of IGENITY to get producers into branded schemes that can guarantee quality and gain consumers' trust. The new expanded IGENITY profile available soon will also provide a powerful tool for traceability – another area of interest for major processors and supermarkets."
Pedigree breeder Murray Lyle believes that marker-assisted selection will have an important role in the UK beef production chain with benefits for consumers and producers. "IGENITY profiles help producers improve the eating quality of the cattle they breed, as well as the growth potential which has long been the focus for beef production," he points out.
"The UK industry is moving towards a system similar to that in the US, where direct bonuses are paid for carcasses with improved eating quality," says Mr Lyle. "As soon as this is in place, producers can reap the benefits by supplying IGENITY-profiled animals bred to meet the quality demands of processors and consumers."
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"IGENITY identifies the superior parentage which produces superior progeny to attract premium prices."
That's the vision of cattle breeding's future offered up by Dr Stewart Bauck of Merial at this week's British Cattle Breeders Conference and QMS Research & Development Conference. Dr Bauck, who heads up Merial's global IGENITY programme, has travelled across from the USA to highlight the possibilities British producers can gain from marker-assisted selection.
"IGENITY has been commercially used in the USA and Europe for some time now. Producers have found great value in profiling their animals for key traits such as carcass composition, milk yield and composition and are increasingly familiar with using it.
"Not only are producers using IGENITY to improve both breeding and management," Dr Bauck continues, "but now processors are taking advantage of IGENITY to get producers into branded schemes that can guarantee quality and gain consumers' trust. The new expanded IGENITY profile available soon will also provide a powerful tool for traceability – another area of interest for major processors and supermarkets."
Pedigree breeder Murray Lyle believes that marker-assisted selection will have an important role in the UK beef production chain with benefits for consumers and producers. "IGENITY profiles help producers improve the eating quality of the cattle they breed, as well as the growth potential which has long been the focus for beef production," he points out.
"The UK industry is moving towards a system similar to that in the US, where direct bonuses are paid for carcasses with improved eating quality," says Mr Lyle. "As soon as this is in place, producers can reap the benefits by supplying IGENITY-profiled animals bred to meet the quality demands of processors and consumers."
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