Valuing DNA marker tested bulls for commercial beef production
B. J. Wood A , J. H. J. van der Werf A C and P. F. Parnell BA CRC for Cattle and Beef Quality, Animal Science, University of New England, Armidale, NSW 2351, Australia.
B NSW Agriculture Beef Industry Centre, University of New England, Armidale, NSW 2351, Australia.
C Corresponding author; email: jvanderw@une.edu.au
Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 55(8) 825-831 https://doi.org/10.1071/AR03268
Submitted: 30 December 2003 Accepted: 30 June 2004 Published: 31 August 2004
Abstract
This paper quantifies the benefits of using a sire genotyped for a single recessive gene in a commercial beef herd. A modified gene-flow method was used to account for changing allele frequency over time. The benefits to a commercial breeder of using a genotyped sire were highest when initial allele frequency was moderate and when the sire was used in a self-replacing herd that had increased allele frequency over time. An example of the thyroglobulin gene affecting marbling in beef cattle was used. The value to a self-replacing herd of a sire homozygous for the favourable allele of the thyroglobulin gene was shown to be up to $338 more than of an ungenotyped sire, in a population where the initial gene frequency was 0.3 and the genotype accounted for 0.5 standard deviations of phenotypic variation.
Additional keywords: marbling, beef cattle, genotyping, breeding program design, gene flow, recessive genes.
Acknowledgments
BW acknowledges financial support from the Angus Society of Australia together with Meat and Livestock Australia (MLA).
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