Angus genetic defect update

[Anonymous]

American Angus Association®

Genetic Condition Update
Developmental Duplication (08/12/13)

A genetic condition has been identified and documented in Angus cattle from research initiated
in Australia with Dr. Jon Beever at the University of Illinois. This condition, inherited as a
simple recessive, has been designated as Developmental Duplication (DD).
The A.I. organizations requested that the American Angus Association provide to the
membership the identity of and preliminary test results for those 1,099 Angus bulls tested by Dr.
Jon Beever of the University of Illinois to determine whether they were carriers or free of the
mutation identified for this genetic condition.
The Association Board of Director's decision to provide that information to the membership is
based in part on its understanding that the test used here was run on a set of animals requested by
Dr. Beever from the A.I. organizations for research purposes and therefore remains preliminary
in nature.
Earlier this afternoon, the Board of Directors convened by phone to consider the implications of
this genetic condition. At the conclusion of that meeting, President Trowbridge appointed a Task
Force and directed it to report to the full Board as soon as practicable on how the Association
should respond to this condition. In fulfilling that charge, the Task Force was asked to consider
the best interests of the breed and the membership, the evolving scientific advances in the field
of genetics, our membership's ability to manage such conditions and the likelihood that the
scientific community will continue to identify additional genetic conditions in all breeds in the
future.
We will keep you advised on the Board's approach as it occurs.
For an update on the research by Dr. Beever, the list of the animals and their preliminary test
results, please click here:

http://www.angus.org/Pub/DD/DD_Update08122013.pdf

This is the defect where the majority of calves carried to term and born exhibiting this trait are born with additional limbs, usually duplication of the front legs and originating from the neck or shoulder region.


The report says that they believe the evidence suggests that most homozygous carriers of the defect are not carried to term, meaning very few are observed at birth. They estimate a carrier frequency of about 6% among US sires.

B/R New Design 036 is a carrier, as well as at least three of his most well known sons: Bon View New design 036, GAR Predestined, and GAR New Design 5050. Ken Caryl Mr Angus 8017 Reg# 8989216 born in 1977, is the oldest reported carrier. That name appears back in many carrier pedigrees. He is the Grand Sire of the Great Grandmother of 036.
Rito 2v1, Sitz N D 458n, B/R New Day 454, Bon View New Design 1407 are also carriers...

 

[Anonymous]

This sure makes Greg Goldens (Cole Creek Angus) catalog line "This herd is free of and has NO 9J9-Precision, NO Fame-Focus, NO 315-036-New Design, and NO Bando 155-Bando 598" that much more significant- and valued...

Again those breeders that didn't chase the bigger-better-faster A.I. bull of the month will probably have little/no negative effect from this..

 

[Faster horses]

I know that Lunds B-Bar Angus stayed away from those bloodlines as well.

 

[Big Muddy rancher]

So did Circle Y Angus

 

[Silver]

So did -X-

 

[leanin' H]

So did the cork-eyed H.

But to play devils advocate, if a bull isnt a confirmed carrier of the defect, does it matter if a bull in his pedigree is a carrier? :???:

 

[Anonymous]

So did the cork-eyed H.

I can think of several herds that it probably has little or no effect on where a person can still get good (better in my opinion) seedstock... Besides Cole Creek- herds like Diamond D, Ohlde, Wye, Shoshone, Sinclair and many lesser known local ones.... So far I don't have any of the bloodlines where the carriers are being found in our registered herd (and didn't with any of the previous genetic defects)...

And like the report indicates- many of the carrier cows have already been eliminated by coming in open and hopefully then been culled...
Just like the other previous defects it will take some time- but hopefully enough honest breeders will work to help eliminate the problem....But for some- it definitely may get costly..

But at least with knowing of the condition breeders can use that knowledge to break the chain ... As this will not only effect black angus- but red angus herds that utilized some of these popular bloodlines.... Also it will probably be found in the continentals (simmi, gelbvieh, limmi, etc.) that used black angus base to get their cattle black- like the previous defects were...The Brangus bull-LAMBERT of Brinks is a carrier.

But to play devils advocate, if a bull isnt a confirmed carrier of the defect, does it matter if a bull in his pedigree is a carrier? :???:

It depends on where the confirmed carrier is in the pedigree... If its generations back- there is a good chance that the chain has been broken. The way I understand it is if you have a carrier back in the pedigree- and then its descendant in the pedigree is tested free- there is no problem with anything after that point...

All indications are - and based on similar condition(duplication/polymelia) that's been extensively studied in mice - that homozygotes - embryos inheriting a copy of the defective gene from both parents - experience a very high incidence of early embryonic death. It's likely that somewhere in the neighborhood of only 1-5% of those make it to term; the rest are aborted early on.

 

[kolanuraven]

This is so NOT an issue it's funny.

There is NO WAY you can get each and evey itty bitty tiny ' blip' out of the genetic soup of ANY critter.

This is a recessive ....it plainly states that in his research paper. The odds of this are so small, but they are there. Do you realize just how many recessives it would take in one herd to make this a BIG issue??? LOTS!!

And besides, most die in the womb, as nature intended, and those that do deliver and survive are culled out anyway. Who keeps cattle with legs growing out their head to breed in hopes to get more??? NO ONE!!!

Me thinks that Dr Beevers has found his ' cash cow' amongst all the Angus purists and is prob having to hire a bank truck to carry all his money.

It is ONLY HIS LAB that conducts these tests and is recognized by the AAA.

I am calling unnecessay BULLSHITE and fear mongering on this deal.

 

[SMN Herf]

This is so NOT an issue it's funny.

There is NO WAY you can get each and evey itty bitty tiny ' blip' out of the genetic soup of ANY critter.

This is a recessive ....it plainly states that in his research paper. The odds of this are so small, but they are there. Do you realize just how many recessives it would take in one herd to make this a BIG issue??? LOTS!!

And besides, most die in the womb, as nature intended, and those that do deliver and survive are culled out anyway. Who keeps cattle with legs growing out their head to breed in hopes to get more??? NO ONE!!!

Me thinks that Dr Beevers has found his ' cash cow' amongst all the Angus purists and is prob having to hire a bank truck to carry all his money.

It is ONLY HIS LAB that conducts these tests and is recognized by the AAA.

I am calling unnecessay BULLSHITE and fear mongering on this deal.

Blameing Dr Beever for genetic defects is about like blameing the fireman for the fire!! You might want to take a close look at who multiplied theses genetics for the past 25 years. The angus breed needs to thank Dr Beever for all he has done for them because without a DNA test it would have taken decades for them to work their way out of the genetic defect mess.

 

[kolanuraven]

This is so NOT an issue it's funny.

There is NO WAY you can get each and evey itty bitty tiny ' blip' out of the genetic soup of ANY critter.

This is a recessive ....it plainly states that in his research paper. The odds of this are so small, but they are there. Do you realize just how many recessives it would take in one herd to make this a BIG issue??? LOTS!!

And besides, most die in the womb, as nature intended, and those that do deliver and survive are culled out anyway. Who keeps cattle with legs growing out their head to breed in hopes to get more??? NO ONE!!!

Me thinks that Dr Beevers has found his ' cash cow' amongst all the Angus purists and is prob having to hire a bank truck to carry all his money.

It is ONLY HIS LAB that conducts these tests and is recognized by the AAA.

I am calling unnecessay BULLSHITE and fear mongering on this deal.

Blameing Dr Beever for genetic defects is about like blameing the fireman for the fire!! You might want to take a close look at who multiplied theses genetics for the past 25 years. The angus breed needs to thank Dr Beever for all he has done for them because without a DNA test it would have taken decades for them to work their way out of the genetic defect mess.

THIS IS NOT A " real" PROBLEM.....it never was....it never will be.

 

[SMN Herf]

This is so NOT an issue it's funny.

There is NO WAY you can get each and evey itty bitty tiny ' blip' out of the genetic soup of ANY critter.

This is a recessive ....it plainly states that in his research paper. The odds of this are so small, but they are there. Do you realize just how many recessives it would take in one herd to make this a BIG issue??? LOTS!!

And besides, most die in the womb, as nature intended, and those that do deliver and survive are culled out anyway. Who keeps cattle with legs growing out their head to breed in hopes to get more??? NO ONE!!!

Me thinks that Dr Beevers has found his ' cash cow' amongst all the Angus purists and is prob having to hire a bank truck to carry all his money.

It is ONLY HIS LAB that conducts these tests and is recognized by the AAA.

I am calling unnecessay BULLSHITE and fear mongering on this deal.

Blameing Dr Beever for genetic defects is about like blameing the fireman for the fire!! You might want to take a close look at who multiplied theses genetics for the past 25 years. The angus breed needs to thank Dr Beever for all he has done for them because without a DNA test it would have taken decades for them to work their way out of the genetic defect mess.

THIS IS NOT A " real" PROBLEM.....it never was....it never will be.

Just ignore it as see what a problem it could become.

 

[Anonymous]

This is so NOT an issue it's funny.

There is NO WAY you can get each and evey itty bitty tiny ' blip' out of the genetic soup of ANY critter.

This is a recessive ....it plainly states that in his research paper. The odds of this are so small, but they are there. Do you realize just how many recessives it would take in one herd to make this a BIG issue??? LOTS!!

And besides, most die in the womb, as nature intended, and those that do deliver and survive are culled out anyway. Who keeps cattle with legs growing out their head to breed in hopes to get more??? NO ONE!!!

Me thinks that Dr Beevers has found his ' cash cow' amongst all the Angus purists and is prob having to hire a bank truck to carry all his money.

It is ONLY HIS LAB that conducts these tests and is recognized by the AAA.

I am calling unnecessay BULLSHITE and fear mongering on this deal.

I agree with you on the fact that we will never have totally clean genetic "soup".. Recessive genetic defects have been and are always there.. That is how evolution occurred... Where it got magnified was with the advent of A.I.- the semen stud promotions- and thousands upon thousands of cattle across the country being bred to the same bull of the month- and breeder after breeder (replicator after replicator) having almost identical looking herds ...

To me open cows is a "Problem"... As some of the research papers indicate- we probably never will know how many open cows were caused by this genetic condition... Which then in return some folks spent a lot of time and some cost trying to find the causation in their herds - (tric, environment, ?)...

Too many open young cows was one of the reasons I moved totally away from the New Designs years ago... I thought it was just that they couldn't fit the environment.. Now I wonder :???:

The cost of testing and/or culling carrier cattle is going to be a problem for some seedstock folks once the commercial test is developed and depending upon that cost and what rules the AAA come down with for handling it - especially those that spent quite a sum testing and culling for the prior genetic issues... On one of the other sites- I've even seen some seedstock folks that got hit hard with those previous defects- and now find themselves deep in another mess- talking about just throwing in the towel...

 

[kolanuraven]

This is so NOT an issue it's funny.

There is NO WAY you can get each and evey itty bitty tiny ' blip' out of the genetic soup of ANY critter.

This is a recessive ....it plainly states that in his research paper. The odds of this are so small, but they are there. Do you realize just how many recessives it would take in one herd to make this a BIG issue??? LOTS!!

And besides, most die in the womb, as nature intended, and those that do deliver and survive are culled out anyway. Who keeps cattle with legs growing out their head to breed in hopes to get more??? NO ONE!!!

Me thinks that Dr Beevers has found his ' cash cow' amongst all the Angus purists and is prob having to hire a bank truck to carry all his money.

It is ONLY HIS LAB that conducts these tests and is recognized by the AAA.

I am calling unnecessay BULLSHITE and fear mongering on this deal.

I agree with you on the fact that we will never have totally clean genetic "soup".. Recessive genetic defects have been and are always there.. Where it got magnified was with the advent of A.I.- the semen stud promotions- and thousands upon thousands of cattle across the country being bred to the same bull of the month...

To me open cows is a "Problem"... As some of the research papers indicate- we probably never will know how many open cows were caused by this genetic condition... Which then in return some folks spent a lot of time and some cost trying to find the causation in their herds - (tric, environment, ?)...

Too many open young cows was one of the reasons I moved totally away from the New Designs years ago... I thought it was just that they couldn't fit the environment.. Now I wonder :???:

The cost of testing and/or culling carrier cattle is going to be a problem for some seedstock folks once the commercial test is developed and depending upon that cost and what rules the AAA come down with for handling it - especially those that spent quite a sum testing and culling for the prior genetic issues... On one of the other sites- I've even seen some seedstock folks that got hit hard with those previous defects- and now find themselves deep in another mess- talking about just throwing in the towel...

Common sense has been replaced with the Chicken Little syndrome in not only the Angus breed but all breeds.

But, as seen in so many issues, people will not use these things as a tool....they will freak out and blow it way out of line.

Funny how these " issues" always get announced just as many seedstock producers are getting catalogs ready for their fall sales................just sayin'

 

[Denny]

This is so NOT an issue it's funny.

There is NO WAY you can get each and evey itty bitty tiny ' blip' out of the genetic soup of ANY critter.

This is a recessive ....it plainly states that in his research paper. The odds of this are so small, but they are there. Do you realize just how many recessives it would take in one herd to make this a BIG issue??? LOTS!!

And besides, most die in the womb, as nature intended, and those that do deliver and survive are culled out anyway. Who keeps cattle with legs growing out their head to breed in hopes to get more??? NO ONE!!!

Me thinks that Dr Beevers has found his ' cash cow' amongst all the Angus purists and is prob having to hire a bank truck to carry all his money.

It is ONLY HIS LAB that conducts these tests and is recognized by the AAA.

I am calling unnecessay BULLSHITE and fear mongering on this deal.

I agree with you on the fact that we will never have totally clean genetic "soup".. Recessive genetic defects have been and are always there.. That is how evolution occurred... Where it got magnified was with the advent of A.I.- the semen stud promotions- and thousands upon thousands of cattle across the country being bred to the same bull of the month- and breeder after breeder (replicator after replicator) having almost identical looking herds ...

To me open cows is a "Problem"... As some of the research papers indicate- we probably never will know how many open cows were caused by this genetic condition... Which then in return some folks spent a lot of time and some cost trying to find the causation in their herds - (tric, environment, ?)...

Too many open young cows was one of the reasons I moved totally away from the New Designs years ago... I thought it was just that they couldn't fit the environment.. Now I wonder :???:

The cost of testing and/or culling carrier cattle is going to be a problem for some seedstock folks once the commercial test is developed and depending upon that cost and what rules the AAA come down with for handling it - especially those that spent quite a sum testing and culling for the prior genetic issues... On one of the other sites- I've even seen some seedstock folks that got hit hard with those previous defects- and now find themselves deep in another mess- talking about just throwing in the towel...

Why is it the guys with a few cows worry so much about everything. How many new design's did you have? 1 or 2 get real.

 

[loomixguy]

Now, now, he's just bein' the "Devil's Advocate", with this, doncha know..... :wink: :wink: :wink:

 

[Anonymous]

This is so NOT an issue it's funny.

There is NO WAY you can get each and evey itty bitty tiny ' blip' out of the genetic soup of ANY critter.

This is a recessive ....it plainly states that in his research paper. The odds of this are so small, but they are there. Do you realize just how many recessives it would take in one herd to make this a BIG issue??? LOTS!!

And besides, most die in the womb, as nature intended, and those that do deliver and survive are culled out anyway. Who keeps cattle with legs growing out their head to breed in hopes to get more??? NO ONE!!!

Me thinks that Dr Beevers has found his ' cash cow' amongst all the Angus purists and is prob having to hire a bank truck to carry all his money.

It is ONLY HIS LAB that conducts these tests and is recognized by the AAA.

I am calling unnecessay BULLSHITE and fear mongering on this deal.

I agree with you on the fact that we will never have totally clean genetic "soup".. Recessive genetic defects have been and are always there.. That is how evolution occurred... Where it got magnified was with the advent of A.I.- the semen stud promotions- and thousands upon thousands of cattle across the country being bred to the same bull of the month- and breeder after breeder (replicator after replicator) having almost identical looking herds ...

To me open cows is a "Problem"... As some of the research papers indicate- we probably never will know how many open cows were caused by this genetic condition... Which then in return some folks spent a lot of time and some cost trying to find the causation in their herds - (tric, environment, ?)...

Too many open young cows was one of the reasons I moved totally away from the New Designs years ago... I thought it was just that they couldn't fit the environment.. Now I wonder :???:

The cost of testing and/or culling carrier cattle is going to be a problem for some seedstock folks once the commercial test is developed and depending upon that cost and what rules the AAA come down with for handling it - especially those that spent quite a sum testing and culling for the prior genetic issues... On one of the other sites- I've even seen some seedstock folks that got hit hard with those previous defects- and now find themselves deep in another mess- talking about just throwing in the towel...

Why is it the guys with a few cows worry so much about everything. How many new design's did you have? 1 or 2 get real.

Probably at one time had about 30-40 - as I used 4 bulls of New Design breeding over about 5-6 years- which is now down to about a half dozen and none of which are in the registered cows...

And I'm not a bit worried about it in comparison to some of those that are going to have to test 1/2 their herd... But I don't think its something that can be swept under the rug- or something you should stick your head in the sand about...

Its just something the reputable breeder should make themselves fully aware of and work to remove the condition from the breed..

Knowledge is power.
Francis Bacon

 

[S.S.A.P.]

I agree with you on the fact that we will never have totally clean genetic "soup".. Recessive genetic defects have been and are always there.. That is how evolution occurred... Where it got magnified was with the advent of A.I.- the semen stud promotions- and thousands upon thousands of cattle across the country being bred to the same bull of the month- and breeder after breeder (replicator after replicator) having almost identical looking herds ...

To me open cows is a "Problem"... As some of the research papers indicate- we probably never will know how many open cows were caused by this genetic condition... Which then in return some folks spent a lot of time and some cost trying to find the causation in their herds - (tric, environment, ?)...

Too many open young cows was one of the reasons I moved totally away from the New Designs years ago... I thought it was just that they couldn't fit the environment.. Now I wonder :???:

The cost of testing and/or culling carrier cattle is going to be a problem for some seedstock folks once the commercial test is developed and depending upon that cost and what rules the AAA come down with for handling it - especially those that spent quite a sum testing and culling for the prior genetic issues... On one of the other sites- I've even seen some seedstock folks that got hit hard with those previous defects- and now find themselves deep in another mess- talking about just throwing in the towel...

Why is it the guys with a few cows worry so much about everything. How many new design's did you have? 1 or 2 get real.

Probably at one time had about 30-40 - as I used 4 bulls of New Design breeding over about 5-6 years- which is now down to about a half dozen and none of which are in the registered cows...

And I'm not a bit worried about it in comparison to some of those that are going to have to test 1/2 their herd... But I don't think its something that can be swept under the rug- or something you should stick your head in the sand about...

Its just something the reputable breeder should make themselves fully aware of and work to remove the condition from the breed..

Knowledge is power.
Francis Bacon

As a reputable breeder you should then be refunding the ranchers that you sold your commercial replacement heifers to. With the detailed records you keep and say could be used in a traceback situation, there should not be a problem for you to remove the condition from the breed.

 

[Denny]

Oh I test a few that have a lot of descendants but if they show up positive the whole works go into the commercial group. Nice thing about the genetics I've used not a lot of testing required. I looked up most of the bulls we've used lately and they tested clean so it's no bother to me.

Take those potential cows and breed them charlaious terminal cross all the calves.

The problem lies in the registered game is they have fictitious value's on there animals. I raise all my own bull's and replacements most likely spend $5000 a year on registration fee's and AI'ing and fee's, divide that by 50 calves and that's $100 a head over commercial value. So basically if you've over spent trying to buy yourself a "TOP" quality herd you'll most likely lose money genetic defects or not.

A bull bred sired heifer calf costs me an extra 15 minute's and $15 a year over the commercial heifer in the same pen. Most of these GREAT seedstock producers need to go broke they have feed covering poor genetics. That and they own the dullest knife in the world.

 

[nortexsook]

Denny, do you think dumping genetic problems into the commercial market is fair to the commercial buyers?

I personally think that all the genetic defect cattle should be marketed for beef only. Steer the bulls, and spay the heifers.

Just selling heifers at a market does not guarantee they are not going into the commercial breeding herd to be someone else's problem.

 

[Anonymous]

Why is it the guys with a few cows worry so much about everything. How many new design's did you have? 1 or 2 get real.

Probably at one time had about 30-40 - as I used 4 bulls of New Design breeding over about 5-6 years- which is now down to about a half dozen and none of which are in the registered cows...

And I'm not a bit worried about it in comparison to some of those that are going to have to test 1/2 their herd... But I don't think its something that can be swept under the rug- or something you should stick your head in the sand about...

Its just something the reputable breeder should make themselves fully aware of and work to remove the condition from the breed..

Knowledge is power.
Francis Bacon

As a reputable breeder you should then be refunding the ranchers that you sold your commercial replacement heifers to. With the detailed records you keep and say could be used in a traceback situation, there should not be a problem for you to remove the condition from the breed.

Sorry SSAP- I never sold any commercial heifers as replacements...For many years they went into a local feedlot and finished in a feedlot in Leota Kansas...
None of the New Design bulls I had were used on registered cows...

And so far I have not had a bull or cow in the registered herd that tested positive as a carrier of a genetic defect... Knock on wood- because I'm sure my time will come..

Rumorville has it that the AAA lab boys and Aussies are looking at 3 more genetic "conditions"...The Aussies have known about and studying this Develomental Duplication condition for several years- altho they didn't know for sure which bloodlines specifically... And Dr Laurence Denholm from Australia has been writing papers on the subject and posting on the Advantage Cattle site about it for some time.... So this shouldn't have came as any surprise to those that try to keep themselves informed on the breed ...