It’s a new world out there in terms of genetic analyses, many of which involve multiple nations and multiple breeds. As genetic evaluations become more international within breeds, it puts different countries’ genetic predictions on the same base and scale for “apples to apples” comparisons. This allows breeders to make informed seedstock selections within a breed from any of the countries involved.
Now, add in making the genetic analysis multi-breed, with multiple breeds’ genetic predictions on the same base and scale. The process of designing a crossbreeding system or building hybrids and composites can be done with the accuracy and precision that one would not have thought possible a decade ago. Their breeding systems can be designed with a much larger genetic base because with a directly comparable genetic prediction, the “ingredients” for the system can be sourced from any number of countries.
Some of these analyses are limited in their scope, like Angus Genetics Inc. offering a joint American and Canadian genetic analysis. However, suddenly there is what amounts to a “free-trade agreement,” where cattle can be evaluated, bought and sold on a level playing field between the countries.
“Free-trade agreement”
This “free-trade” concept has not been taken further than what the American Hereford Association (AHA) has done with their Pan-American Cattle Evaluation (PACE) genetic evaluation, which includes the U.S., Canada, Uruguay and Argentina. AHA brought their genetic analysis in-house in December 2017, and the genetic analysis software company Theta Solutions has overseen it. The analysis is run on Theta Solutions’ Biometric Open Language Tools (commonly known as BOLT) software system for calculation of single-step genomically enhanced EPDs.
Shane Bedwell, AHA’s chief operating officer and director of breed improvement, already sees it paying dividends in increased semen sales between the countries. He explained that the U.S. and Canadian genetic predictions are run weekly, while the full international analysis is run twice a year. Because the system has worked so well, AHA is in active discussions with other countries about the possibility of joining PACE.
The biggest player on the international stage for multi-breed genetic analysis is International Genetic Solutions (IGS). Its partners include 19 breed associations representing 10 breeds for the U.S., Canada and Australia; the companies Neogen and BoviTrac; and commercial producers, who have a combined inventory of approximately 20,000 cows. It is a powerful tool in which a breeder can insert genetics from a partner breed like Shorthorn from the U.S., Canada or Australia into a crossbreeding system with any of the nine other breeds, knowing that all the EPDs they are looking at are directly comparable.
Now, breeders can make objective decisions that provide solutions for building a breeding program that matches their environment, management, feed resources and market while making optimum use of the heterosis and breed complementarity they desire in their program.
Wade Shafer, executive vice president of the American Simmental Association (ASA), has been one of the main drivers behind IGS, and he takes great pleasure in watching the genetic analysis company “grow organically,” as he puts it. He is proud to inform people that IGS took in 1 million more records this year than it did the previous year, and they have by far the largest multi-breed database in the world, with the most recent count at 20,778,529 animals. They are also seeing individual seedstock breeders from numerous countries entering the analysis on their own, particularly certain New Zealand breeders—breeders that see the value in what IGS has to offer.
Jackie Atkins, ASA director of science and IGS operations, says that the typical path for growth starts with progressive individuals coming on board. When they have a good experience, their positive feedback about IGS to their breed association creates interest from the association to explore becoming an IGS partner. IGS doesn’t recruit new associations, but partnerships come naturally as relationships form with breeders, and the subsequent momentum builds within their association.
Making crossbreeding easy is the basis of the IGS system, with too many straight-bred commercial herds hitting a wall in terms of reproduction and other economically relevant traits. The quickest way to solve these problems is through a planned crossbreeding system. Shafer sees the economics of utilizing heterosis and breed complementarity as the difference between whether many commercial operations are profitable or unprofitable.
Atkins summed up IGS’ position in the industry: “The mission of IGS is to provide the most accurate genetic predictions possible for the beef cattle industry. IGS is breed agnostic and country agnostic.
“IGS built systems to fit producers and breed organizations where they are, whether that is a new breed organization interested in the IGS genetic evaluation for their members or an independent seedstock operation or a commercial herd looking for genetic services,” she continued. “By collaborating with multiple breeds and breed organizations globally, IGS gains valuable information and provides more accurate genetic tools for beef cattle improvement.”
The world of genetic evaluation is evolving rapidly, to the benefit of the global beef industry. With genetic analyses going international and multi-breed, commercial producers have more options and can plan more objective breeding systems that optimize heterosis and breed complementarity from the broadest gene pool possible. Likewise, options for seedstock breeders expand greatly when they can make objective decisions about genetic inputs from countries other than their own. Ultimately, this should make for a more efficient and profitable beef industry that can supply a more consistent and abundant supply of beef to consumers worldwide. — Dr. Bob Hough, WLJ correspondent
