Aug. 12, 2009 >> Crossbreeding – Other Factors to Consider; as Crossbreeding must have a defined methodology, and is most useful for traits that are hard to select for such as Reproduction; but unless a Producer in introducing outcross genes to maintain heterosis, the effect is lost. Click here to review this article from the 2009 GAR sale catalogue. Click here for pdf file.

Aug. 11, 2009 >> Crossbreeding – Back to the Future
Is there a rationale explanation for our unwillingness to take advantage of
a proven technique to enhance economic return? In my previous paper I outlined
the “top ten” reasons that we have failed to capitalize on this important genetic
attribute: Click here for the whole paper, from David A. Daley
California State University, Chico Click here for pdf file.

Aug. 7, 2009 > Market Watch – BEEF CATTLE:
Trend: Short Term Down – Long Term Up
Sentiment: At least the cattle aren’t as bad as hogs; Cash cattle were lower, the futures were lower and beef was basically flat. It was a pretty bland week in the cattle considering the hog market plummeted. Long term technical indicators still suggest that being long October live cattle is the right thing to do. Maybe, just maybe, the tight supplies will finally boost the market. Perhaps the better than expected unemployment numbers will inspire some demand.

Canada's Angus breeders have much to be proud of. We showcased our best and hosted the world at an event that will not soon be forgotten. We have outlined some of the highlights below. Visit our website for more highlights and some photos. Click here for full story.

July 16, 2009 >> 10th World Angus Forum The Canadian Angus Association hosted the 10th World meeting of the Angus breed in Calgary, Alberta. Angus Forum Results website, Click here.

Stefan Oellinger, VP Operations & Greg Nolan, CFO of Kerr Farms Sales attended the event for the Media Launch of the Angus genetic verification program, "Canadian Angus Rancher Endorsed" program. Kerr Farms Sales has joined this initiative, and will move towards the traceability of our Producers production within the Angus & CCIA database that will provide the opportunity to eliminate our own database of sourced verified Angus genetics. This program provides an independent certification and in fact, certifies our customers with the CAA endorsed product.

July 14 > the World Sale was held, with top price of $32,500. Results
July 15 > Red Angus breed show. Results
July 16 > Angus breed show. Results

Anthony Petronaci, of Ryding Regency stands behind the Red Angus sire, "
Fully Loaded " during the World Angus Sale in Calgary, AB.

Kirk Wildman, Towaw Cattle Company of Alberta and incoming President of the Canadian Angus Association, discussing the green tag program of the CAA with Stefan Oellinger of KFS; this initiative is designed for producers and packers to share information and work together for the sustainability of the Canadian Beef industry. KFS fully supports the CAA green tag program for Angus genetic verification.

Stefan Oellinger, VP Operations standing at the Ontario Angus Assoc.
Display at the 2009 1oth World Angus Forum.

Anthony Petronaci of Ryding Regency; Stefan Oelinger of KFS, Greg Nolan of KFS & DJ Smith the President of the Ontario Angus Association; at the OAA booth in Display tent F.

Laurie & Scott Graham, Stefan Oellinger, VP Operations of Kerr Farms Sales, and Greg Nolan of Kerr Farms, talk at the Graham Red Angus booth about the outstanding Angus cattle on display during the WAF Show & Sale.

Mike Munton of Benchmark Angus Lethbridge, Alberta, Greg Nolan of KFS & Stefan Oellinger of KFS in front of the Semex booth display at the 2009 WAF.

June 20, 2009 >> Genetic & Production News

Double your accuracy
Here's how to use genomic sire evaluations. Full story.

Tips to improve conception rates
Check out these five key areas that impact conception rates and ways to minimize their effects. Full story.

Bulls vs. timed AI
Why you should focus on timed AI — as part of a synchronization protocol — to breed cows, rather than bulls. Full story.

Increase pregnancies by 7 percentage points
A reduced dry period benefits reproduction, particularly in cows going into their third or more lactation. Full story.

Better reproduction during heat stress
Heat stress can have long-term effects on conception and pregnancy rates, lower milk production and increase health problems, resulting in lowered profitability. Full story.

June 20, 2009 >> Genetic & Production News
Double your accuracy
Here's how to use genomic sire evaluations. Full story.
Tips to improve conception rates
Check out these five key areas that impact conception rates and ways to minimize their effects. Full story.
Bulls vs. timed AI
Why you should focus on timed AI — as part of a synchronization protocol — to breed cows, rather than bulls. Full story.
Increase pregnancies by 7 percentage points
A reduced dry period benefits reproduction, particularly in cows going into their third or more lactation. Full story.
Better reproduction during heat stress
Heat stress can have long-term effects on conception and pregnancy rates, lower milk production and increase health problems, resulting in lowered profitability. Full story.

June 03, 2009 >> The recent sequencing of the bovine genome will dramatically transform more than just the cattle industry (Click here to go to full article.)

Summary > We now have an interesting new window into this mammal’s unique biology. Last month hundreds of researchers released the first genome-wide bovine analysis. The work performed by the Bovine Genome Sequencing and Analysis Consortium and the Bovine HapMap Consortium promises to revolutionize cattle breeding, lead to critical advances in biomedical research, and offer potential insight into the production of alternative fuel.

June 03, 2009 >> University of Guelph Hybrid Dairy Cows, by TED BURNSIDE

It was heartening to review Owen Robert's column on animal technologies.
He underlines several research initiatives, both past and present, at the University of Guelph that hold promise for society. He also emphasizes the need for continuance and expansion of animal research as it benefits mankind in terms of food production, as well as contributing to our scientific knowledge.

It's also important to point out that the Centre for Genetic Improvement of Livestock of the University of Guelph (CGIL) is quietly spearheading research in animal genomics, a field that offers tremendous hope for more accurate animal selection in future. This centre, established nearly 25 years ago, is continuing to attract global recognition for its imaginative research on the animal genome, by combining utilization molecular genetics, data mining, and mathematical and statistical prediction methods to zero in on the "hot spots" of the cow's, sow's, ewe's and even the fish's genome.

The centre draws fine scientists from around the world, and support from the livestock industry and provincial and federal governments, as well as from industries such as Semex Canada, which continues to prosper in Canada, partially because of the spinoffs.
It's also interesting to note that a $1.12-million dairy breed crossing project, co-ordinated at Gencor Inc., just north of Guelph, is relying on University of Guelph geneticists led by Larry Schaeffer and Bonnie Mallard.

This project, carried out in 60 Canadian farms is comparing traditional purebred to commercially crossbred dairy cows. It may offer breakthroughs in terms of improved health, disease resistance, calving ease and the livability of newborn calves, and fertility, longevity and productivity of hybrid dairy cows.

The consumer will benefit from reductions in medications and hormones required by hybrid cows, and farmers may sleep better at night and find their operations are more profitable, just as the pig, poultry, beef cattle and corn operators have found with acceptance of crossbreeding concepts.

Politicians need to awaken to the needs of Canada for a strong and viable agricultural industry which will have to focus more and more on efficient food production with due concern for the environment and human health.

Ted Burnside, professor emeritus and cofounder of the CGIL, University of Guelph.

June 3, 2009 >> Breeding vs. genetic engineering: Debating the best approach for livestock
Debate heats up over whether selective breeding is more effective than genetic engineering when it comes to improving livestock
Last Updated: Monday, May 25, 2009 | 4:44 PM ET Comments7Recommend13
By Stephen Strauss, CBC News
Last year Stuart Brand, principal author of the back-to-the-land, simplicity-is-god, do-it-yourself, hippie bible known as The Whole Earth Catalogue, opined about the irreversibility of technological progress. "Good old stuff sucks. Sticking with the fine old whatevers is like wearing 100 per cent cotton in the mountains; it's just stupid," he said.
Brand — who was also one of the promoters of the mind-changing powers of LSD — then urged the truly smart modern citizen to buy the latest laptop, the newest drug and "genetically modified food [from a farmers' market, preferably]."

I mention this remark both because it captures the absolutism that has characterized the debates over genetically modified food, and because of something quite surprising. Without most of the public being aware of it, geneticists have begun to believe that disdain for the "good old stuff" when it comes to traditional livestock food production is somewhere between chuckleheaded and — incredible as it sounds — a technological backward step.

'We can use the new techniques of genomics selection and marker-assisted selection in breeding better animals, and in so doing we can avoid making transgenic animals — at least into the foreseeable future.'—Max Rothschild, Center for Integrated Animal Genomics
Without resorting to any genetic engineering whatsoever, "it looks like we can increase breeding efficiency in the dairy cow by 50 per cent," is how Graham Plastow, a University of Alberta professor and director of the Alberta Bovine Genomics Program, quantifies the potential for change in one animal.

"We can use the new techniques of genomics selection and marker-assisted selection in breeding better animals, and in so doing we can avoid making transgenic animals — at least into the foreseeable future," adds Max Rothschild, director of the Center for Integrated Animal Genomics at Iowa State University (he's also the U.S. coordinator for the mapping of the pig genome).

The 'genetic wall'
What has happened is that perhaps the greatest anxiety of modern livestock production, the fear that we are about to hit a genetic wall when it comes to improving animals through selective breeding, has been fading if not quite disappearing. To understand the "genetic wall" fear, you have to appreciate that what we have done in the past 50 years in terms of livestock improvement sounds not like Darwinian evolution, but daily, monthly, yearly revolution.
"The amount of fat in a pig is probably down 60 per cent from what it was 40 years ago — maybe more. Feed efficiencies are up by about 20 to 25 per cent; growth rates show 20 to 25 per cent improvements," says Rothschild. "Also keep in mind reducing fat content and increasing growth rate are antagonistically correlated, so what we see is truly amazing."
But then it turns out it is not just pigs that in the last few decade or so have been turned into super animals. It took 85 days of growth in 1957 for a chicken to reach the same size that it did in 43 days in 2001.

Every year the average production of milk in a cow increases by two per cent. To put this in context, estimates are that the wild cow ancestors produced somewhere between 400 and 500 pounds of milk a year. (There are approximately 2.27 pounds of milk to a litre). That has risen to what Jacques Chesnais, senior geneticist at The Semex Alliance, a Canadian artificial insemination company, says is 24,000 pounds a year. And in 1998, a U.S.-bred cow named Lucy produced 75,275 pounds of milk in a single year.

While some of this improvement has come from improved animal feeds — Rothschild points out that you need to provide cattle with amino acids if you want more muscled meat — much of it also has come from a more "scientific" mating of animals with desirable features.
However, given the forecasts that human population would hit nine billion before the end of the century and UN projections which suggest that between 1983 and 2020 world meat demand will have jumped 2½ times, the revolution in livestock improvement had to continue to prevent humans from going hungry. And how could they do that without genetic engineering if we had effectively gone as far as we could with the breed-animals-with-desirable-traits technique farmers had been using since domestication began about 10,000 years ago?

Selective breeding
The first answer is that we now know we haven't gotten anywhere near to having exhausted the possibilities of improving animals through traditional selective breeding techniques.
Harris Lewin, director of the Institute for Genomic Biology at the University of Illinois who wrote a recent comment piece in Science magazine about what the sequencing of the cow genome means, points out that even after the seemingly intense genetic pressures of modern selective breeding, "cows remain more genetically diverse than humans." Only about five or six per cent of their 22,000 genes give an indication of having been selected by humans.
Moreover, few operations in a body are controlled by just a single gene. So to increase milk production, you might have to move dozens of genes from other creatures into farm animals. And the effect of these genes would not be just on milk production but on many other processes, since we now know that genes produce proteins which participate in the regulation of various operations in the body.

Ergo you have to worry that selecting for one gene or set of genes could unintentionally throw off some other system in an animal's body. To date, the only way you can be certain you are getting an animal which has a variety of beneficial traits is by using traditional breeding techniques. And even that process remains so complex that, "the biggest boost in production is by mixing genes — that is, through cross-breeding," says Lewin.

But maybe the most profound change for traditional breeding is that new genomic tests now can identify specific gene-based traits in individual animals. Today, every bull selected by Semex is first tested with a genomic panel that contains 50,000 genetic markers. Based on the results, a "genomic evaluation" is computed for each bull and trait, and only those with superior genomic evaluations are used to sire the next generation.
With this in mind, Australian scientists have estimated that because we can look at a cow's genome and see what traits it is carrying, as opposed to waiting until the animal matures, we can knock five years off the time it takes for a better animal to make it to market.

Selective breeding vs. genetic engineering
So where does this leave us when it comes to the politics of genetically engineering animals? (Note I have purposely removed plants from my conclusions.) I think the best way to understand where we stand is by imagining scientists had found the reverse set of principles at work in animal genomes. Imagine that we could see we were almost at the end of the line in terms of improving species through classical breeding. Imagine we had learned that if we just added a gene from this animal or a gene from that bacterium, we could ramp milk production up tremendously without any other effect.

If that was the case, I think people who were dead against genetically modified livestock would have to accept that that meant they were either for more people going hungry as world population grew or their opposition to GM food would have to soften.

Only today anti-GM people don't have to change their views, because modern genomics is telling us the old way of creating more productive animals doesn't suck — at least for the foreseeable future — and genetic engineering (at least as far as we understand it) generally does. It is a truth, which if he knew it, Stuart Brand might find not only didn't suck but was positively psychedelic.

June 2, 2009 >> Miniature Cows: The Wave of the Future
Farmers hit with rising feed costs are looking at some creative ways of reducing overhead costs. One farm in Nebraska is now raising miniature cows. According to the Los Angeles Times, farmers have discovered that the cows produce 50-75% of the meat produced by a regular cow but consume only half the feed. The cows are barely waist high to a grown man The L. A. Times describes the cows and the growing interest in them as follows.

"In the last few years, ranchers across the country have been snapping up mini Hereford and Angus calves that fit in a person's lap. Farmers who raise mini Jerseys brag how each animal provides 2 to 3 gallons of milk a day, though they complain about having to crouch down on their knees to reach the udders. "Granny always said I prayed for my milk," said Tim O'Donnell, 53, who milks his 15 miniature Jerseys twice a day on his farm in Altamont, Ill. Minicows are not genetically engineered to be tiny, and they're not dwarfs. They are drawn from original breeds brought to the U.S. from Europe in the 1800s that were smaller than today's bovine giants, said Ron Lemenager, professor of animal science at Purdue University in West Lafayette, Ind. The Petersens' mini Herefords, with their white faces and rounded auburn-hued bodies, weigh in at a dainty 500 to 700 pounds, compared with 1,300 pounds or more for their heftier brethren."

The possibilities are intriuguing. Smaller animals could lead to fitting mini farms into suburban areas, or even city parks. But the most intriguing possibilities involve downsizing people. I spoke to a world famous genetic engineer, Dr. Minnie Picolo Klein, specialist in genetic engineering at the Mid Atlantic National Institute for Chromosomal Study. (M.A.N.I.C.S) Dr Klein agreed to speak to me in her office at the building housing the M.A.N.I.C.S. science laboratories.

Dr. Klein had an interesting account of how she came to the idea of downsizing people. She described her change of career as follows.

"I used to be an economist. This is a very troubling field to be in. One day, we were discussing the implications of corporate downsizing. I mentioned to my colleagues the possibility of downsizing people instead of corporations. I shared my dream with the other professors of one day having a walk in closet suffice to house a family of six. How would it be if you could winterise a doll house and have a whole family move in for just a few hundred dollars? What about food? A half a bagel could feed a family for a week. A Big Mac at Mcdonalds would be enough to feed an entire family. There would be trickle up effects as well. Since maintenance costs for a family would go down, smaller salaries sould be acceptable. The only problem might be transportation. A large minivan for a downsized family would be about the size of a bread box. But if you were ever to drive such a small car on a regular highway, no one would be able to see it. We might have to live in our own gated communities. But think of the trade off ! An entire family could go to Australia in someone's carry on luggage. Instead of thousands of dollars, a family vacation would cost a couple hundred dollars."

I asked Dr. Klein what her fellow professors had to say about her proposal. She recounted their reaction as follows.

"They said that my proposal was more scientific than economic. There was a meeting at the University. It was decided to give me a sabbatical. I was very surprised because I had just finished a sabbatical in Jamaica studying the impact of indigenous plants on the local economy. They gave me a laboratory to follow up on my ideas. It was very hard at first. My assistant was a psychiatrist. None of the windows would open and there were no sharp objects anyplace. After a while, the psychiatrist wrote a report on my studies and things got better for me. They started letting me out of the laboratory without an escort."

Dr. Picolo Klein seemed to indeed have some interesting ideas about downsizing the human race. The main roadblock to her goal of transforming society is her lack of success in downsizing the people already in existence. Even for this problem, Dr. Picolo Klein had an answer.

"Eating is an addiction". explained Dr. Klein. "If people could shake that, then they could save a lot of money."

Reprinted from www.Rudistettner.com ; Web Site

June 1, 2009 >> Kerr Farms announces the appointment of Greg Nolan, MBA as Chief Financial Officer of the Company effective June 1, 2009; Greg brings a wealth of beef industry experience to the Kerr Farms Ontario Angus Beef team, and he will be located in the Toronto head office of Kerr Farms, at 10 Shorncliffe Rd, Toronto ( 427 & Dundas) ; Office Phone at 416 767 7322 or Toll Free 1 888 593 1349.

Click here for the Kerr Farms Ontario Angus Beef website.

The Kerr Farms brand was created to bring together farmers who believe in raising natural and traditionally raised food in an animal friendly and environmentally friendly way.Kerr Farms was founded in 2005 by three Ontario farmers and the owner of a local food distribution company. The four founders were united by their shared passion to provide the marketplace with healthy, local food that allowed the farmers involved to remain sustainable and earn a fair income.

In July of 2008, Kerr Farms head office went through some changes that are ongoing and as of June 1, 2009 have initiated a growth strategy plan, including bringing onboard Corinne Sweetin as Kerr Farms Producer Partner Alliance Coordinator, whom will operate the database for providing the finished cattle for harvest based upon customer demand.

At present, the Kerr Farms product line is focused on the Production Protocol of “Traditionally Raised” without the use of added Hormones, Antibiotics or Animal By Products; on cattle containing at least 50% Angus genetics. Payments to Producers are based upon “Traditionally Raised” Production Protocol & the Kerr Farms Value Grid of a combination of a targeted Quality Grade (QG) of AA & AAA & Yield Grade (YG) of Y1 & Y2.

Kerr Farms products are available at all Ontario Sobeys stores under Sobeys’ Compliments .......Just Beef brand, Kerr Farms OAB high value cut such as Tenderloins, Striploins, & Rib steaks, as well as hamburger patties at various retail locations, as well as a complete line to most Foodservice Providers for restaurant and Food service trade. (out)

Please contact the Kerr Farms Ontario Angus Beef office for more information of how you can become part of this Beef Production Value Chain.

Eugene Miniota, President
Kerr Farms Sales (Chatham) Ltd.
(416) 767-7322
888-593-1349
Fax 416-767-4466
Email: Treeline@bellnet.ca
www.kerrfarms.ca

May 27, 2009 >> Brantford, ON — Holstein Association of Canada, a National Breed Association that recently celebrated its 125th Anniversary, the Holstein Association of Canada is pleased to announce the unveiling and dedication of a bronze, life-size sculpture of a dairy cow and calf by internationally-renowned Canadian artist, Joe Fafard, on Tuesday, July 21, 2009 at 11:00 am.

The Holstein dairy breed, easily recognizable by its black and white markings, was first imported to North America from Holland in 1881. Today, the Association has over 11,000 members across Canada and represents 93% of the Canadian dairy cattle population.

The sculpture was commissioned to portray the commitment of Canadian dairy breeders to excellence, draw attention to the beauty of the animal that produces wholesome, nutritious milk, and recognize the dairy cow’s contribution to human health. The cow symbolizes the original importations and ancestry of Canada’s dairy herd. The calf represents youth, the product of continuous breed improvement, and future generations to come.

Holstein Canada Secretary-Manager Keith Flaman elaborates, “We hope that the general public and the Brant community will join us for the unveiling of this extraordinary piece of fine art.”

Joe Fafard, a French Canadian from Lumsden, SK, is one of Canada’s leading visual artists and has been quoted as saying, “We derive much of our economy from cattle. When an animal plays that important a role in both our livelihood and our nutrition, they surely deserve some kind of recognition.”

A recipient of the Order of Canada, Mr. Fafard is widely recognized as being at the forefront of his art. Moreover, his outstanding contributions to the arts have significantly raised Canada’s profile on the international stage. He has exhibitions of a wide variety of work in galleries and museums across the country and around the world, including the United States, Great Britain, France, and Japan. Given Joe’s national and international reputation, the sculptures are sure to serve as an attraction to art enthusiasts domestically and globally.

May 20, 2009 >> HOLSTEIN DE MEXICO CELEBRATES 50 YEARS
The Mexican Holstein Association is planning a special event recognizing its 50th birthday and everyone is invited to the party, according to Eduardo Garcia, Association Ex-president.
"We want to invite our friends from the U.S. and around the world to join us on July 23 – 24 in Queretaro State for our celebration, a special gathering, a national show and a sale," he adds.

Festivities begin with a reception during the evening of Wed., July 22. The following day there will be a religious service, a special meeting of members and general public and social activities featuring a Mexican fiesta and an informal dinner. On Fri., July 24 there will be the 50th anniversary gala Holstein show following by lunch and an auction and finishing with a very special formal banquet. Visits to two Holstein farms will conclude the program on Sat., July 25.

The headquarters is the Mision Juriquilla Resort & Golf Hotel on the outskirts of Queretaro city. Local sightseeing tours will be available for accompanying persons.
The Association in Mexico includes over 120 senior members with registration, classification and milk recording in the country and more than 140 producers with over 200,000 cows enrolled in the National Dairy Information Program put in place by the Association for the Federal Government. The Association also publishes information about top bulls available in the country, along with staging a popular national show in December.

More details are available by contacting the Association Director General, Dr. Felipe Ruiz López, Holstein de México A.C., José María Arteaga # 76, Col. Centro, C.P. 76000 Santiago de Querétaro Qro., phone 011 52 442 2120269 or fax 011 52 442 2243933 or by e-mail direccion@holstein.com.mx or at the web site www.holstein.com.mx

May 1, 2009 >> New cow genome sequence released
BioMed Central; Charlotte Webber
Web Site
Scientists from the University of Maryland have published their assembly of the domestic cow (Bos taurus), an important new resource for the genetics community. The new version of the cow genome improves considerably on other assemblies, in terms of both completeness and accuracy. The article describing their research is freely available in BioMed Central's open access journal Genome Biology.

The research team led by Steven Salzberg developed special-purpose software to assemble 35 million DNA sequence fragments into the 30 chromosomes that make up the Bos taurus genome. The algorithms use paired-end sequence information, mapping data, and synteny with the human genome to detect errors, correct inverted segments and fill in sequence gaps. The resulting assembly has around 91% of the assembled genome anchored onto chromosomes.
The researchers believe their assembly is the best available, thanks to its completeness and the algorithm's ability to smooth out thousands of errors. Their comparisons demonstrate that the new cow genome assembly has better agreement with independent genetic maps, and a more complete representation of cow genes, than alternative assemblies.

The new assembly places some 150 million nucleotides (6%) more DNA sequence data onto chromosomes than the other draft assembly currently available, BosTau4.0 from the Baylor College of Medicine (BCM4). A new, expanded cow-human synteny map increases the number of syntenic breakpoints by approximately 30%. Salzberg's team also pinpointed a portion of the Bos taurus Y chromosome for the first time.

"Until the assembly is truly finished - a state that no mammalian genome, including human, has yet reached - we will continue to incorporate new data to fill in gaps, to correct the mis-oriented regions, and to place more sequences onto chromosomes," says Salzberg. The alpaca and sheep genomes are currently being sequenced, and should provide a rich source for making further improvements between these closely related mammals.
Although sequencing and assembly of mammalian genomes has become commonplace since the human genome was first sequenced seven years ago, assembling large genomes accurately remains a challenge.

The complete assembly has been deposited at GenBank (accession DAAA00000000); the version described in the Genome Biology article is (DAAA01000000). The assembly is also available at ftp://ftp.cbcb.umd.edu/pub/data/Bos_taurus

Notes to Editors
1. A whole-genome assembly of the domestic cow, Bos taurus
Aleksey V Zimin, Arthur L Delcher, Liliana Florea, David R Kelley, Michael C Schatz, Daniela Puiu, Finnian Hanrahan, Geo Pertea, Curtis P Van Tassell, Tad S Sonstegard, Guillaume Marcais, Michael Roberts, Poorani Subramanian, James A Yorke and Steven L Salzberg
Genome Biology (in press)
During embargo, article available here.
On the day of publication (24 April 2009), article available here.
Please name the journal in any story you write. If you are writing for the web, please link to the article. All articles are available free of charge, according to BioMed Central's open access policy.
Article citation request at charlotte.webber@biomedcentral.com

2. Genome Biology (http://genomebiology.com/) publishes articles from the full spectrum of biology. Subjects covered include any aspect of molecular, cellular, organismal or population biology studied from a genomic perspective, as well as genomics, proteomics, bioinformatics, genomic methods (including structure prediction), computational biology, sequence analysis (including large-scale and cross-genome analyses), comparative biology and evolution. Genome Biology has an impact factor of 6.59.

3. BioMed Central (http://www.biomedcentral.com/) is an STM (Science, Technology and Medicine) publisher which has pioneered the open access publishing model. All peer-reviewed research articles published by BioMed Central are made immediately and freely accessible online, and are licensed to allow redistribution and reuse. BioMed Central is part of Springer

April 30, 2009 >> US: In the genes of a hereford, the essence of cow
New York Times ; Denise Grady
Web Site
Scientists have achieved what they describe as a major milestone in animal genetics: decoding the genome of the cow.
The findings provide “tantalizing clues to explain ‘the essence of bovinity,’ ” according to an essay in the journal Science, which is publishing several articles on the work.
“The cows have not disappointed us,” wrote Harris A. Lewin, an animal sciences professor at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, noting that the research had fulfilled its promise to provide “exciting new information” about the evolution of mammals and the workings of their genes.

The cow whose genome was sequenced was a Hereford named L1 Dominette 01449, one of the 94 million cows in the United States, where cattle are a $49 billion industry.
The project was a six-year effort that involved more than 300 scientists from 25 countries and cost $53 million. Part of the work involved comparing genome of the cow, Bos taurus, with that of the human, dog, mouse, rat, opossum and platypus.

Cows have about 22,000 genes, compared with the 20,000 or so estimated for humans, and about 80 percent of their genetic material is the same as humans’. In the way their chromosomes are organized, cows are more like people than are rats or mice.

Mar. 25, 2009 >> Driving for Profits within the Beef Production Value Chain, USING INFORMATION TECHNOLOGIES to SELECT Genetics to obtain defined the End Goals of Production. If you are driving for Profit within your Production Operation, there is opportunity with Information Technologies available, to Use defined Critirium to maximize/increase efficiencies using Genetics to lower input costs, increase outputs and ultimately increase Profits.

Genetics > Of all the possible places to invest in efficiencies Beef Production, the first step in the Production Chain, or Genetics offers the largest potential return to Producers AND the rest of the Members in Primary Commercial Cattle production to Terminal Cattle Production, within the Global Beef Value Chain. Genetic selection drives Profit maximization throughout the Value Chain.

Conclusion >> Design your own Critirium for Profit Indexes, $Index or parameters that define Profit Efficiencies for your Production sector, buy Bulls from or Hire a professional develop a Genetic Selection program for your herd or Production units, whether you are an Elite Genetic supplier, a production unit for Purebred Bulls & Females, a Commercial crossbreeder for Maternal Production or a Terminal Producer; selection is key.

Here are some facts about the impact of Genetics & Genetic Selection :

1. Feed Efficiency > is the the Most Important Post Weaning Trait for Profit – It's Worth $2,000 per Bull. Top feed efficiency bulls are backed by individual feeding records and to date has one of the largest databases in the industry with over 25,000 combined individual records. Select bulls from sources that print a feed efficiency EPD on nearly every animal in their catalogues. A bull with a -0.50 Feed/Gain EPD will save $25 per offspring fed as a yearling. Over 100 progeny, that amounts to $2,000 savings per bull!
   Recommendation: Select Bulls that are tested ( Genomic, EPD or Actual ) to begin your database of information, and DO NOT select cattle from the lower 25% of the Feed Efficiency test group or Genomic population.
   
   
2. Maintenance > improve maintenance efficiency by selecting for modest sized cows & bulls with negative RFI ; this can earn an extra $105 per cow per year. The best way to earn a profit is by being efficient. The largest cost to a Producer is the cost of maintaining the Production unit, or Cowherd. Thus, Modest sized cows THAT wean a higher percentage of their body weight, eat less, and breed back better, are more PROFITABLE. They are also better able to utilize forage resources. Independent analysis has confirmed that this can be worth over $75 per cow. Cows out of negative RFI bulls can eat up to 10% less while producing the same pounds weaned per cow exposed. This saves you another $30 per cow per year. Genetic Information Technologies in the industry offers both mature weight and feed efficiency EPD's & Genomic indicators.
   Recommendation: Select Bulls that are tested ( Genomic, EPD or Actual ) for Maintenance or Feed Intake, and are NOT in the lower 25% of the Maintenance/Feed Efficiencies for Daughters in test groups or Genomic population.
   
   
3. Calving Ease ( Direct ) > is worth over $1200 per bull. Over the course of a bull’s life, it will sire approximately 100 calves. If you improve calving ease, you can reasonably expect a high calving ease bull to sire two more live calves per 100 pregnancies than a low calving ease bull. Two calves x $600 / calf = $1200. Plus females breed back more quickly when they calve easily. Recommendation: Use bulls that average under +1 Birth BW EPD; this ranking them in the Top 25% of the Angus, Charolais, Limosine, Hereford or Simmental breeds for this trait.
   
   
4. Heterosis or Hybrid Vigour > is worth $75 per cow per year. This “ Heterosis Production Plan” used extensively in the Pork industry, has been defined as the only free lunch in the cattle business, AND has been tested and developed for over 50 years, with research from the scientists at MARC, Clay Center, NE, USA. Studies show that a two way breed cross increases output and other factors by 10 to 14%, and a 3 breed cross of Hybrid cows will wean 23.5% more pounds weaned per cow exposed, with increases in longevity, fertility, and other factors . A typical Cow/calf operation weans about 400 pounds per cow per year (80% calf crop x 500 pounds). If you run hybrid cows, this number will go up by as much as 100 pounds per cow! CrossBreeding Purebred Bulls on another breed of Purebred or Hybrid cows OR the use of Hybrid or Composite bulls on Pure or Cross cows, allow producers to crossbreed with simplicity, uniformity, and market acceptability, while still benefiting from hybrid vigor.
   Recommendation: Select Bulls that are registered Purebred different from the base of your Cowherd, or tested, defined Hybrid or Composite Bulls of known Genetics . Use these Bulls in a defined Maternal & Terminal Cross Breeding Production Program. Click here for a defined Maternal Crossbreeding Program.
   
   
5. Profit > Selecting for MAXIMUM Weaning Profitability with Weaning Indexes in the Top 10%, but YW in the Top 50% ( Curve Benders ) , thus selection with WW EPDs can earn you $1500 per bull. For years, ranchers & producers have selected cattle with more and more output at the YW or closer to maturity; and unfortunately, this has led to cows that are too big. Instead of selecting for output, why not select for profit. Maximize the Weaning Output of your Production Herd, factoring in Point 2 above, and less efesence on Yearling weight. Using YW or Performance EPDs simply show Maximum Output, and not Profit Indexes which can show you the expected difference in a bulls Weaning Profitability at weaning based on weaning growth, milk, cow size THUS; Weaning Production Score. In the industry between average bulls and top 10% bulls, there is over $1500 difference per bull.
   Recommendation: Select Bulls that are Top 10% for Weaning Weight, with a Lower % YW & Moderate Frame/Feed Maintenance.
   
   
6. Terminal Factors > Use Terminal Breed Sires to earn $50 more per calf. The math is pretty simple for this efficiency improvement – Producers will get an extra 8% to 12% (40to 60 lbs) on weaning weight by using a terminal sire breed that is different from your cows. If your terminal bull is selected for high weaning growth like a “terminal” Simmental, Limosine or Charolais bulls, then you’ll get an extra 10 – 15 pounds from their superior Weaning EPD's. In all, terminal sired cross calves weigh over 50 pounds more than the average calf. Breed 1/2 of your cows to terminal bulls and add up how much you will make.
   Recommendation: Select Bulls that are registered Purebred Terminal and a different breed base of your Cowherd, or tested, defined Hybrid or Composite Bulls ( Genomic, EPD or Actual ). Use these Bulls in a defined Maternal & Terminal Cross Breeding Production Program. Click here for a defined Maternal Crossbreeding Program.
   
   
7. FERTILITY > Select for Fertility and make $1200 a Bull per year. If two daughters per year produce a calf, this is $1200 a Bull per year. Fertility is the single most Profitable Trait in Production. Select, evaluate and cull hard on this factor.
   Recommendation: Select Bulls & replacement females from strictly designed Genetics that are recorded or reported in some format to indicate Fertility & Reproduction Internals.
   
   
8. Maternal Factors > The Production Factory; by being efficient can make you $1000’s per Year in extra Profits > Maternal Milk, Maternal Calving ease & Maternal abilities can add up to 23% to your Cowherd’s Output.
   Recommendation: Select Bulls & replacement fenakes that are registered or Purebreed of a Maternal Breed AND reported in Maternal Abilities – Milk, MCE, MWWT & Reproduction Intervals. ( Genomic, EPD or Actual ). Use these Bulls in a defined Maternal & Terminal Cross Breeding Production Program. Click here for a defined Maternal Crossbreeding Program.

Please feel free to contact us here at Agro Exports for more detailed information on Information Technologies and the uses of Indexes within a Production Plan for maximum Profits.

March 24 , 2009
PHS purchases “Baramo 60u” for $15,250 to add to their world class Polled Fleckvieh Genetic breeding Program !!! Look to PHS site for more or Here on a Map of Polled Fleckvieh Genetics/Polled Mutations

Sometimes we talk about pedigree, color, body design or other relevant traits, but Baramo speaks for himself. He has a pedigree indeed. He is mahogany red. His design is flawless and powerful, stomping a heavy hoof to glide him around. Perhaps add more pigment, but challenge yourself to find a more complete, superpower of a polled bull anywhere. Baramo is no joke, he is not by accident, and will prove to be a tremendous asset to any breeding program. He is one of the first sons to sell off Champs Romano, the high seller in this sale two years ago going to Virginia Ranch!!! Champ Simmentals reserves the right to draw 50 doses of semen for in-herd use only. Sold by Champ Simmentals ............ CLICK HERE FOR A COMPLATE LISTING OF THE PFG GENETIC MAP.

CHAMPS BARAMO PFF 60U
POLLED FULL FLECKVIEH FULLBLOOD MALE
P701002 CHMP 60U 1 February 2008

Pedigree
    GIDSCO APPOLLO 3F
  SMITHBILT MOLSON 21M
    JERICO'S DEIRDRE 21D
CHAMPS ROMANO
    SHAWACRES JAHARI 50L
  CHAMPS PRICILLA
    RU-BENS LIZ 96L

    GRINALTA'S GRIDIRON 403J
  DFM MARCUS 14M
    DFM KATHLEEN 41K
VIRGINIA POLL BARBI SUE
    ANCHOR "T" TITANIC 22E
  ANCHOR "T" BARBI 46K
    ANCHOR "T" ILSE 10E

Mar 19, 2009 > Beabisa Simmental Sale broadcast in Brazil on TV’s Canal Rural was met with strong prices and the SA Genetic program was met with enthusiastic buying from the industry. The sale grossed R$700,000 with buyers from many states all over Brazil selecting this very good assortment of SA Fleckvieh Genetics; including Hold, Piona, Beaumont, Harrach, Pioneer, Kalgery, Draco, and many others. Congratulations to Beatrize Biagi of BeaBisa Simmental for this sale of excellent genetics, and to Grego for his consulting and Sale organization.

Mar. 14, 2009 >> Avare Cattle Expo (EMAPA) ended on this day of Chamionship Classes for the Cattle Shows with the Final days of Gir Leiteiro, Angus, Simental & Brahman cattle having Championship day on Saturday. This two week event had 1475 Nelore entires, to be the largest Beef Cattle show by one breed ever !! eclisping the 2007 Record of 1425 Nelore, here at the same Show !!!

José Carlos Potiens (Central Bela Vista), judged the Simmental cattle in Avaré.

Reserve Grand Champion Bull, Imenso de Amica. A Bar 5 SA Piona son. 15 months, 658 Kg.

Red Angus was present in a competitive show.

( Photo credit: Gerson Sobreira, Terrastock Imagems & Translations www.terrastock.com.br )

Simental > Piona sires Grand & Reserve Champion Bull, with Pioneer siring the dam of the Champion Bull, and the Grand Champion Female. Pioneer means Cow Power !!! Piona also sired the Reserve Grand Female, and Champion Sire progeny. Pioneer second, with Hold third !!!

*** Casa Branca is awarded Premier Breeder and Exhibitor.

Red Angus > dominated by Argentinian blood. Casa Branca is awarded Best NA blooded animals, thamks for coming out Award.

Brahman > *** Casa Branca takes Premier Exhibitor in a very competitive show. CB also took Reserve Grand Female.

Gyr Leiteiro > Milking Gyrs, set some excitment with sales as High as $100,000 for this high miling Zebu, with catalogue claims of 7,000 kilos per lactation !! would that be 305 or 340 days ??

Nelore > Agro Zurita sets World Record Price at $3 million valued Donor Dam when half interest in Indi sells for $3 million Reis for half interest !!!!

Holandaise > half Holstein, and half Gyr; are quite getting interest from commercial producers.

Limosine > A nice show of maure females and excellent heifers calves.

Mar. 10 – 14, 2009 >> Feinco Sheep & Goat Show of Sao Paulo. Greg attended the show and visited many booths and farm displays. Dorpers, St Ignes and more breeds had a very successful show and multiple sales !!

Campo Verde booth. Campo Verde is expressive Dorper breeder from Sao Paulo.

Dorper judgement show ring.

Pens with Dorper sheep in Feinco 2009 Show.

Breeders showing Dorper ewes during judgement.

Ile de France Grand Champion and Reserve Female.

Chef "Carlão" preparing a kid meat recipe during the Cooking Show.

( Photo credit: Gerson Sobreira, Terrastock Imagems & Translations www.terrastock.com.br )

March 10, 2009 >> Semex Brasil announces Top Sire Progeny from the Semex Beef line-up; South African Fleckviehs from the Sire Line/Cow Family selection “Balanced Breeding” of Semex !!!! Click here to go the announcement.

March 6, 2009 >> This is a quick note to let you know that the new CSF website (English site) has just gone live. When you go to www.cansheep.ca you’ll notice something different right away; a landing page that has been designed to help steer browsers to the site best suited for what they are looking for. The new website has been designed to be more user friendly for those on dial up and to help browsers find what they’re looking for faster. It has some new sections and some of the information on the site is not complete yet, it will be home to an updated issues section and the industry’s Virtual Toolbox.
The French version of the site is currently being proofed, and we anticipate it’s going to be live within the next few weeks.
So please, go ahead and take a look around and let us know what you think.
Jennifer MacTavish
Executive Director
Canadian Sheep Federation
130 Malcolm Road
Guelph, ON
N1K 1B1
(T) 519.824. 6018
(F) 866.909.5360
www.cansheep.ca
www.freshcanadianlamb.ca

March 3, 2009 >> Texas Simmental/Simbrah Sale http://www.fleckvieh.com/sale_catalogue.html

As expected, the Lot 2 Bull, ProStock Red Rock ( asa#2431838 ); a complete, powerful smooth Polled Fleckvieh sire prospect is 100% Fleckvieh Fullblood topped the Houston Sale at $14,250 !!! Purchased by Kent Dollar, of Dollar’s Diamond D, of Arkansas, USA.
He is sired by Porters Reserve and out of a first calf heifer by Marcus. Moderate framed, extremely easy fleshing and structurally near perfection.
BW 89
WW 809
YW 1376

He crossed the scales on Feb. 13, 2009 with an actual of 1332 lbs. and has passed his semen test with flying colors, froze semen, and measured 39 cm.

Now with DDD, ProStock intends to incorporate him back in the program with his phenotype being so similar to Reserve, but polled.
If I can answer any questions on him or other ProStock genetics, please feel free to give me a call or check out the website.

Reserve your room by January 30, 2009 to obtain the CDN preferred rate
Please note that background reports and the agenda will be available on the CDN web site at http://www.cdn.ca/committees-geb.php by February 11, 2009.
Please RSVP to Michela Arbuthnott by e-mail at Michela@cdn.ca or by telephone at 519-767-9660, ext. 103 no later than Friday, February 6, 2009.