Low-density Genomic Testing Available for Angus Breeders
Lower-cost tests open the door to genomics to more cattle breeders.
by Kasey Brown, associate editor
BILOXI, Miss. (June 10, 2015) — Technology is quickly changing the face of the beef industry. Genetic testing allows for faster genetic improvement by improving the accuracy of expected progeny differences (EPDs). Despite the selection-decision benefits, genetic testing’s major barrier has been cost.
That barrier is being traversed. Both GeneSeek and Zoetis now have low-density (LD) genetic tests that cost less than $50 per test. These tests leverage the large population of data gathered from the high-density tests (GeneSeek’s GGP and Zoetis’ HD50K) and impute, or predict, the same amount of information from fewer genetic markers. Zoetis’ i50K (the i stands for imputed) and GeneSeek’s GGP-LD are both available now.
“Imputation is a big word that means something very simple. It lets us use fewer genetic markers to impute the data up to the same level as a 50K test,” explains Kent Andersen, Zoetis associate director of global services technical services for animal genetics.
Angus breeders have adopted the high-density 50K test, with more than 120,000 tests done. Because of this, Andersen says the amount of information on the Angus breed allows for a low-density test to have 98% accuracy and dependability.
“The relationships are in excess of 0.99 for all the traits, so the low-density test effectively delivers accurate data, and can even determine parentage with the commercial GeneMax® tests,” Andersen said.
Tonya Amen, Angus Genetics Inc. (AGI) genetic service director, added, “There is no perceptible difference in the accuracy of results when you order a low-density test versus the high-density test. We anticipate a low-density test can be used exactly as high-density tests.”
Ryan Ruppert, sales director at GeneSeek, said the GGP-LD test uses 30,000 SNP markers to accurately produce those genetic results at a lower cost.
“It’s an excellent entry point for those breeders who haven’t used genetic testing in the past. This allows breeders access to go deeper into their herd and look at the genetic quality of their females,” he suggested.
Amen noted, “These tests have the potential to better characterize Angus females faster than we ever could have within the lifetime of a cow.”
Ruppert emphasizes that a low-density test offers more genetic information at a competitive price. The GGP-LD costs $45 and the Zoetis i50K costs $47.
Angus members can order either low-density genetic test through their AAA Login account at www.angus.org.
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