American Hereford Association – Cow DNA Project

The AHA is striving to get more cows genotyped to help allow the implementation of genomic information into the models of some of the maternal traits.
To date, there are over 46,000 genotypes available for use in genetic evaluation. However, only 20.5% of those genotypes are from eligible females. This prevented the AHA from implementing genomic information into some key economic maternal traits such as Sustained Cow Fertility, Milk and Maternal Calving Ease. The solution is to increase the number of genotypes on cows already in production raising calves.

In order to accomplish this, AHA, in cooperation with Neogen-GeneSeek, is discounting the price on DNA testing for active cows on members’ Whole Herd TPR inventories. The cost to get genomic profiles and genetic abnormality results on your cow herd is only $20 per head as part of this project (normally $38). Tissue Sampling Units (TSU’s) used to collect DNA samples on your active cows are included in that price (excluding shipping cost of TSU’s from Allflex).

Here’s how it works:

• Member contacts AHA office via phone or email and indicates interest in participating in project. Use 816-842-3757 and ask to talk to Tena Martin (tmartin@hereford.org)
  

• Member will designate which season and year of their herd inventory they wish to use for participation. The season and year chosen must have inventory already processed and billed. If you maintain both a spring and fall inventory, you will need to designate whether you would like to participate using one inventory or both.
  

• AHA will generate a report for the member based on the inventory season(s) and year designated which will show:
  (A) Cows that already have a genomic profile with GE-EPDs reported
  (B) Those that are eligible for upgrade
  (C) Those which need to have a sample submitted to the lab
  

  The report will be sent to the member via email with an explanation of cost the member will be responsible for by participating in the cow DNA project.
  

• Once member confirms their commitment to participation, an order for TSU’s will be placed with Allflex for all cows that need a sample submitted to the lab. The TSU’s will have each cow’s herd ID number as known on the members herd inventory printed on it. The TSU’s will be sent directly to the member.
  

• Once TSU’s are received by member, they should collect a sample for each cow that has a TSU in their shipment. Special care should be taken to use the correct TSU for the designated cow when collecting samples. Any mix-ups will require the cow to have a new sample submitted and tested at the member’s expense. Each TSU has an imbedded barcode associated with it so we cannot merely switch or relabel the TSU’s.
  

• Member will send all samples in provided TSU’s to GeneSeek at one time. Member will also need to be sure to include “Cow DNA Project” participation certificate (provided in shipment of TSU’s from Allflex) in the shipment of completed TSU’s being sent to GeneSeek. Only TSU’s provided as part of this project will be useable at the lab. No hair samples or TSU’s obtained outside this project will be accepted at the lab.
  

• Once lab processing is complete, results will be returned to AHA and then forwarded to member.
  

Call or email today if you wish to learn more about participating in this exciting opportunity.
Call 816-842-3757 and ask to talk to Tena Martin (tmartin@hereford.org)