|
  |
|
|
|||
 |
 
 
|
 |
|
May 10, 2004 The University of Missouri-Columbia announced that it has received about a decade's worth of data on cattle genetics and performance. The data will be used to identify genes producing desirable traits. Producers then might breed cattle that have those genes and create better herds. Independent appraisers valued the data at $5.6 million, according to MU. "This is a resource that I believe no other university in the world can match," said Jerry Taylor, the MU animal science professor responsible for conducting the research. According to MU, cattle data of this scope is rare, and MU is believed to be the first university in the world to possess such information. The donation provides MU with data on about 6,000 head of Angus cattle, including DNA samples, breeding information, feed records and the quality of meat the animals produced. Circle A Ranch, whose main farm is near the Miller County town of Iberia, donated the information late last year. The ranch has satellite farms in Huntsville, Stockton and Lineville, Iowa. Dave Gust, whose family owns Circle A, said his ranch began collecting the data as part of a project that began in 1993. The ranch wanted to identify the bulls producing the best steers. Gust said yesterday that his family is donating the data to the university to further improve cattle genetics. "You have to go to the next step in the DNA, and Taylor's the guy to do that," Gust said. Taylor said he most wants to identify genes producing feed efficiency, meaning cattle that grow large on the smallest amount of feed. Taylor said accentuating that trait would lower costs for cattle producers. "I think if we can tackle that, it has the potential for the greatest impact on the industry," he said. Once those or any other desirable genes are identified, the information could go to cattle breeders who could test living animals for researchers. Those animals then could be bred to produce more, better calves. Taylor said he believes MU can locate certain genes within two years. He said the university will have ownership of any intellectual property commercialized. Source: Columbia Tribune |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
