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Curly Calf Syndrome Analysis

OldDog/NewTricks

Well-known member
12/19/2008 8:04:00 AM

IGENITY® Introduces Curly Calf Syndrome Analysis

DULUTH, Ga. — Dec. 19, 2008 — The comprehensive IGENITY® profile now includes an option to evaluate cattle for the presence of Arthrogryposis Multiplex (AM) — commonly known as Curly Calf Syndrome. Samples will be processed beginning December 19.

“IGENITY is the first DNA provider to make this analysis commercially available,” says Dr. Stewart Bauck, research and development director, IGENITY. “Now producers can know definitively whether or not their cattle are carriers for this defect — helping make more confident mating and marketing decisions.”

AM is a genetic defect with a simple recessive pattern of inheritance, which means cattle can be carriers of the defect and appear normal.1 It also means that two carriers must be mated to get an AM calf, which is born dead with a spine that is bent or twisted.1 IGENITY is collaborating with Dr. Jon Beever, University of Illinois, to analyze samples and develop additional sample processing capacity to meet the demands of the cattle industry.

“Producers can easily manage this defect; however, they need to know if their breeding cattle are carriers or not,” Dr. Bauck says. “The only way to know if cattle carry the defect is to analyze their DNA for the specific genetic defect.”

He adds that evaluating pedigrees is not an accurate way to determine if an animal is a carrier of the disease.

“Producers may be able to get clues about the presence of this defect in their cattle through pedigrees, but it is not possible to know accurately if animals are carriers,” Dr. Bauck says. “The bloodlines that have been found to be carriers of this defect have been widely used throughout the Angus breed and in commercial herds. Therefore, producers should use the analysis from IGENITY to find out if the defect is present in their herd.”

In addition to the analysis for AM, the comprehensive IGENITY profile includes multiple marker analyses for:

Residual feed intake*
Dry matter intake*
Average daily gain
Tenderness
Marbling
Quality grade
Yield grade
Fat thickness
Ribeye area
Heifer pregnancy rate

Stayability (longevity)
Calving ease
Docility
Myostatin
Coat color
Breed-specific horned/polled
Multisire parentage

IGENITY also offers an optional diagnostic test for persistent infections (PI) of the bovine viral diarrhea (BVD) virus. In addition, producers can choose to use a combination radio frequency identification (RFID) tag and tissue collection device, making DNA collection and electronic identification possible in one simple step.

“The range of traits analyzed in the IGENITY profile, as well as the internal and external validation process for each analysis, is unparalleled by any other DNA provider in the beef industry,”2 Dr. Bauck says. “The IGENITY profile is the only DNA profile available with analyses for maternal and reproductive traits as well as carcass composition, tenderness and docility. In addition, the IGENITY profile includes the most traits validated by the National Beef Cattle Evaluation Consortium (NBCEC), including the only third-party validated analysis for feed efficiency.”*,3

For more information, contact your IGENITY Sales Representative, call 1-877-IGENITY or visit www.IGENITY.com.

Merial is a world-leading, innovation-driven animal health company, providing a comprehensive range of products to enhance the health, well-being and performance of a wide range of animals. Merial employs more than 5,000 people and operates in more than 150 countries worldwide. Its 2007 sales were nearly $2.5 billion. Merial Limited is a joint venture between Merck & Co., Inc. and sanofi-aventis. For more information, please see www.merial.com.

*The analyses for residual feed intake and dry matter intake are currently validated and commercially available for Bos indicus-influenced cattle. Research is under way in Bos taurus cattle and will be available soon. Please check www.igenity.com/beef for updated information about the availability of these analyses for Bos taurus cattle.

1Arthrogryposis multiplex questions and answers. American Angus Association 11/25/2008. Available at: http://www.angus.org/aaa_am_faq1.pdf. Accessed on December 3, 2008.

2Data on file at Merial.

3National Beef Cattle Evaluation Consortium Web site. Available at: http://www.nbcec.org/nbcec/index.html Accessed on October 28, 2008.
 

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