January 13, 2010

Pfizer soon to announce new bovine genomic test

A new genomic test that will expand the breadth of cattle DNA evaluation by almost a thousand-fold from a current 56-marker technology to predictions that utilise more than 50,000 markers, will be released by Pfizer Animal Health later this month.

Bovine genomics technology continues to evolve at a rapid pace. Since the first genetic marker in beef cattle - a marker for marbling - was available in 2000, rapid advancements in the breadth and application of genomics have transformed the landscape of beef cattle genetics.

The new high-density 50K (50K HD) offering is based on the Bovine SNP50 DNA-marker chip, which will provide a much more complete genetic profile of each animal evaluated. The test is being offered initially for Angus producers, with customisation for other breeds expected to follow.

The test will allow for the evaluation of a host of economically relevant traits--including tenderness, dry-matter intake, yield grade, average daily gain and feed efficiency.