AMERICAN SHORTHORN BREEDERS READ THIS PLEASE

IN CASE YOU DELETED THIS EMAIL .....  pLEASE READ THIS MESSAGE i OPENED TODAY!!!

WANTED!
Shorthorn DNA…Semen Young and Old

In order to develop breed-specific DNA tests for economically relevant traits (ERTs) like marbling, fertility, growth, and calving ease, the American Shorthorn Association needs your help.  Just send 2 thawed units of semen (ampules or straws) from any registered Shorthorn bull to the ASA office in Omaha, NE.  Package the straws so they won’t be damaged in shipment (stick tape over the ends of the straw, place in a padded box). 

In order to save shipping, breeders may also hand deliver semen samples to ASA staff members at a number of national events.

The semen can be from any bull in the breed regardless of age, even if you plan on never using the semen for artificially breeding cows.  This DNA will be compiled with other samples from the Great State Feedout, Denver pen bulls, and additional sources to generate and validate DNA tests that potentially enhance profitability of Shorthorn cattle.  The faster we get to 1,000 units of Shorthorn DNA, the faster breeders get to utilize DNA testing in their selection programs.

For more information, contact Patrick Wall at 402-658-4258

This sounds great. I wonder if you are able to get dna marker information on the bull that you send in?

no . that's the whole point of every shorthorn breeder sending in samples.... to develop a marker.

Think big...  like you're a Angus breeder ... 

Could they not use all the bulls that have been sent in for TH and PHA testing?

They've probably thrown them away and didn't do a full genetic workup when they had 'em

frostback said:

Could they not use all the bulls that have been sent in for TH and PHA testing?

Click to expand...

Too simple!

sue said:

no . that's the whole point of every shorthorn breeder sending in samples.... to develop a marker.

Think big...  like you're a Angus breeder ... 

Click to expand...

No problem. I was only wondering if they were going to keep individual records. I guess you heard they are not.

i am skeptical.  how are the markers going to be validated and what population is going to be used to develope/train them?  what if the feedout has a limited genepool?  what are the strategies to make the training set as diverse as possible with enough numbers of each line of the pedigree tree.  will markers be reported in homo and hetero state?  will markers be reported to have additive, interactive or other measures?  who will own the dna?  will results be reported like the MVP test with promised across breed utility only later to be of limited value across breeds?  before i turned in any dna as an association i would want the above and more.  yes i know the companies "complain" it is difficult to track individual genes, but until they figure out how to determine stacking of genes between animals who may have the same marbling but from completely different genes, these types of programs have limited value. ...........

Knabe

Seems like ASA should own the Tender Beef marker??  Are we kinda slow or do we have so many shows, is it kinda slow ?

HUH ??