Page 22 - MWC 02-04-2021s

HEIFER-FERTILITY The Midwest Cattleman · February 4, 2021 · P22
continued from page 21 Red Angus Releases New Index to Identify Profitability
works, genes and variants that lect pelvic measurements and it to heifers that bred early in the
less chance of reaching puberty influence puberty and fertility. give each heifer a reproductive season. Then, we’ll get the DNA
and breeding in time, so we can Fourth, using knowledge tract score based on puberty sta- test information to look at the
sell them as feeder heifers,” he learned in objectives 2 and 3, this tus of the heifer. The veterinarian genetics of these traits and work
said. Those would not make good study will contrast single-trait or technician palpates the repro- to create a genetic and genomic
replacements – coming up open versus multiple-trait DNA pre- ductive tract, measures the size prediction of puberty and fertili-
or bred late – and can be sold dictions for puberty and fertility. of the ovaries, determines wheth- ty traits,” he explained.
while still young enough to get The researchers expect this er there is a CL on the ovary, and The study will take four years.
top dollar as feeder heifers. Hav- project will help them better un- checks the tone of the reproduc- “Our goal is to collect all the
ing information on heifers could derstand which genes control dif- tive tract. Each heifer is given a phenotypic data in the first two,
be helpful in selecting the best ferences in puberty and fertility score from 1 (very far from pu- though the collection process
replacements and as a powerful and be able to create DNA tests berty) to 5 (already cycling). may stretch into the third year.
management tool. and EPDs to help beef produc- “Then, 90 days after the start We want to get as many heifers
Project Goals ers select more fertile heifers, of breeding season, a veterinar- as possible enrolled as quickly as
The goal of this research is increasing sustainability in the ian will pregnancy ultrasound possible so we can get data col-
to identify the genes and DNA cow-calf industry. and measure fetal age. We’ll lected and start crunching num-
markers regulating puberty and “The first part of the study, 30 know whether or not the heifer bers to come up with new tools
fertility in beef heifers and to cre- to 60 days prior to the start of was bred and the age of the fetus, for cattle producers.”
ate DNA tests. The project has breeding season, is a pre-breed- which tells us when the heifer Precision Agriculture
four objectives. ing exam” said Decker. “We col- was bred. We can give extra cred- It’s not as simple as turning
First, estimate the amount of the bull in and selecting heif-
variation in measured traits in- ers that get pregnant in a short
fluenced by different genetic ef- breeding season, which is a good
fects. “We will also measure the way to sort a group of heifers for
amount of variation due to genet- fertility. “There is some cost in
ics shared between traits which having the veterinarian come
is genetic correlation,” said Deck- twice – for the pre-breeding
er. exam and the ultrasound preg-
Second, identify DNA markers nancy checks – but we feel this
that influence puberty and fertil- information will help us more ac-
ity, utilizing extensive analyses curately determine and describe
of data from individual breeds. the puberty and fertility genet-
Third, combine all informa- ics of our herd and help us do a
tion across breeds, traits and continued on page 24
data sets to identify gene net-

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