“Can we manage G x E across diverse environments and produce (a) competitive, acceptable end product to fit the environment that we’re in?” asked Milt Thomas, Colorado State University professor and John E. Rouse chair of beef cattle breeding and genetics. Thomas gave a presentation titled “Harnessing Genetic x Environmental Interactions—Are They Important in Production” during the Beef Improvement Federation (BIF) Symposium on June 3 in Las Cruces, NM.
Thomas explained the concept of genetic and environment (G x E) interaction in beef production systems. He also stressed the importance of understanding operations challenges to improve selection decisions that can help the U.S. beef industry reach the ultimate goal of climate neutrality.
G x E interaction
Understanding G x E interaction is important for beef production because some animals perform better in a certain environment than others. Thomas discussed a research project that found cattle possess a “home court” advantage when it comes to production, and it is essential to place your animals in an environment where they can reach their full genetic potential. G x E is about matching the most appropriate cattle to the resources of a production system and more. When analyzing G x E in a production operation, a producer should also consider the various production systems that can exist within their environment.
Climate neutrality with G x E
Every beef production operation faces unique genetic and environmental challenges. Producers need to select the “best-fit” type of cattle based on the environmental factors of temperature, humidity, annual rainfall, drought and altitude. Selecting cattle that are best suited for your environment will reduce the climate impact of your herd, as the animals can better utilize the natural resources available to them. Increasing the size of the average cow with highly heritable traits has allowed a decrease in the national cow herd size, allowing the industry to move toward climate neutrality.
“It is important to understand G x E interactions to select cattle that are adapted and fit specific environments and production systems. The ability to detect G x E has increased with genomic approaches to provide the opportunity to develop genetic improvement tools for adaptability,” Thomas explained.
To watch Thomas’ full presentation, visit https://youtu.be/6vhjy396h54. For more information about this year’s symposium and BIF, including additional presentations and award winners, visit BIFSymposium.com. — BIF
