JAD Speckle Park is proud to be the first Australian Speckle Park stud to begin genetic testing for key eating quality and production traits, through the Q-select system.
Hair samples from all of our 2017-drop calves were sent to Canada for Q-select testing at Quantum Genetix. Samples from our 2018-drop will be sent in the coming months.
We are going the extra mile to help our clients know more about the bulls they buy – and improve our own in-house decision-making – by having all cattle DNA tested in Canada through the Quantum Genetix Q-Select DNA Tests. We have had to go to Canada for this testing as we were unable to find an equivalent set of tests here in Australia.
Q-Select focuses on beef production traits that are economically important. Each genetic marker has undergone extensive peer reviewed research studies, and the economic traits that have been associated with each genetic marker have been proven through rigorous large scale testing. The four genotype performance traits reported are: Leptin, PMCH, CRH, and IGF2.
A few more words on Leptin:
A single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP), found in the Leptin gene, has been shown to have a large impact on several performance and quality traits of economic importance in beef production.
Some of these traits include:
– Weaning weight
– Cow milk production
– Accumulation of backfat
– Yield Grade and Quality Grade
– Feed Intake
Historically, breed and herd improvement has been achieved through visual inspection and choosing animals based on phenotype. Producers have been selecting for genetic variants associated with performance traits, albeit with less accuracy and precision than current technology provides. Genetic testing identifies the variants associated with performance and quality traits allowing producers to accurately and precisely select desirable traits.
Leptin is a hormone that regulates feed intake, energy expenditure and whole body energy balance. A SNP in the Leptin gene has been associated with several economically important traits including milk production, weaning weight, backfat, marbling, quality grade, yield grade, dry matter intake, and days on feed. There are three Leptin variants:
– CC (lean) animals have less fat and therefore, are less economically favourable
– CT animals are economically intermediate
– TT (fat) animals have more fat and therefore, are more economically favourable
Additional reading: Q-Select Informational Summary