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ENSURING CATTLE The Midwest Cattleman · September 30, 2021 · P36
continued from page 18 Decker noted this is not the proved in the last 60 years, makes life better for cattle
fault of farmers, given that but environmental stressors and helps farmers run effi-
suited for one environment there is currently no cost-ef- are never going to go away. cient and productive opera-
or another. fective genetic test they can Farmers need to know more tions. It’s a win-win.”
“We can see that, for ex- use to determine whether about the genetic makeup of Austin Fitzgerald is the
ample, historically cows in their cattle are suitable for their herd, not only for the editorial bureau chief for the
Colorado are likely to have a particular environment. short-term success of their MU News Bureau. Photo by
adaptations that ease the In other words, the study farm, but for the success of Kasey Brown.
stress on their hearts at demonstrates a need for us- future generations.”
high altitudes,” Decker says. er-friendly cattle DNA tests “As a society, we must pro- tsenews.net
“But if you bring in bulls or that can look for the specif- duce food more sustainably
semen from a different en- ic adaptations identified in and be good environmen-
vironment, the frequency of the study. These adaptations tal stewards,” Decker says.
those beneficial adaptations include resistance to vaso- “Making sure a cow’s genet-
is going to decrease. Over constriction (a narrowing of ics match their environment
generations, that cow herd the blood vessels that occurs
will lose advantages that at high elevations and puts
would have been very useful undue stress on the heart),
to a farmer in Colorado.” resistance to a toxin in grass
Decker’s team, including that can also cause vasocon-
then-doctoral student Troy striction, and tolerance for
Rowan, analyzed six decades high heat or humidity, all
worth of bovine DNA data of which tend to recede over
from tests of cryopreserved generations when cattle are
semen produced by cattle removed from the associated
breed associations. They environments.
found that, over time, while “Sometimes, natural and
genes associated with higher artificial selection are mov-
productivity and fertility im- ing in the same direction,
proved due to careful selec- and other times there is a
tion by farmers, many genes tug of war between them,”
connected to environmental Decker says. “Efficiency and
adaptations have faded. productivity have vastly im-
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