Livestock News & Views

A new research project, conducted by the Canadian Simmental Association, aims to link beef genomics to meat and carcass quality.

“We’re looking at all the major derivatives or indicators of both carcass quality and meat quality. So grading information will be correlated as well as tenderness, all those traits,” says Sandy Russell, project manager.

A new research project, funded in part by Genome Alberta, aims to unlock genetic resistance to circovirus and Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome (PRRS).

“Health of livestock is one of the areas that genomics can have a huge impact on, because it’s very difficult to improve the genetics of health by traditional animal breeding. So if we can find variation in the genome that’s linked to variation in susceptibility to disease, then that will become a tool of major importance for the animal breeding industry,” says Dr. Graham Plastow, one of the lead researchers of the project.

Genome Alberta announced today that it is leading a group of funding partners on two large-scale genomics projects which will help improve Canada’s livestock sector. These projects build on Genome Alberta’s Applied Livestock Genomics Program which was launched in Dec 2010.
The full media release follows:

Project Leaders: Stephen Moore and Stephen Miller
Lead Genome Centre: Genome Alberta

Improving the Canadian cattle herd.
The beef and dairy industries contribute more than $40 billion to the Canadian economy every year. Global demand for animal protein is expected to double by 2050 and genetic improvement will be key to enabling cattle producers to meet that demand. With support from Genome Canada, Canadian researchers were directly involved with a major international undertaking to sequence the bovine genome. Now, Canadian scientists are at the forefront of developing genomic selection techniques to boost genetic improvement in cattle. Specifically, they are targeting traits that are difficult to improve through conventional means. Low-cost tests are being developed that will allow an animal’s entire genome to be inferred from a relatively small number of genetic markers, giving valuable information about its breeding value at a very early age. This will bring immediate benefits to breeders, enhance product traceability and lay the foundation for the next generation of technologies aimed at environmentally sustainable production. It is estimated that this research will generate benefits in excess of $300 million over the next ten years.
Researchers are also studying public perceptions about the use of genomic technologies to enhance livestock attributes.

Project Leaders: Graham Plastow, John Harding, and Bob Kemp
Lead Genome Centre: Genome Alberta

Maintaining healthy and more profitable pig production. With the mapping of the pig genome, scientists now have an opportunity to apply genomic-based tools to the pork industry. Similar tools have already revolutionized the dairy industry, providing annual benefits of over $180 million to Canada. With funding from Genome Canada, researchers are applying genomics to help reduce the impact of two of the most common diseases in commercial pig production - Porcine Circovirus Associated Disease and Porcine Respiratory and Reproductive Syndrome. Scientists are studying mechanisms in pigs that make them genetically less susceptible to these diseases, providing important new diagnostic tools for breeders and expanding our understanding of disease control mechanisms. This work will lead to new strategies for disease control in addition to new drugs, improved vaccines, and a safer food chain by reducing the use of antibiotics.

Researchers are also studying public perceptions about the use of genomic technologies to prevent disease in pork production.