Fact Sheet Written by:
Alison Van Eenennaam, PhD, Cooperative Extension Specialist, University of California
And Provided by:
University of California, Davis
There is value associated with using DNA information to identify animals that are carriers of recessive alleles. Tests are now available for specific genetic defects, color, and horned/polled status. Prior to the advent of DNA tests, the only way to test if a bull was a carrier of a genetic defect was to do progeny testing. Even then, definitive conclusions could only be drawn if he sired an afflicted calf. DNA-marker technology can also be used to verify or assign parentage, and this has value in terms of pedigree integrity or assigning paternity to calves conceived in multi-sire breeding pastures. Recently, a range of genetic tests have been developed to test for production traits ranging from fertility and longevity to growth and carcass merit. A question that often arises in conversations with producers is “What is the value of these tests?”
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