DNA PROFILES HELP IDENTIFY AUSTRALIA’S MOST TENDER COW
Published Thursday, 30 August, 2007 at 01:31 PM
Minister for State Development, Employment and Industrial Relations
The Honourable John Mickel
Where is Australia’s most tender cow?
Catapult Genetics, a world leader in livestock DNA testing, has compiled more than 10,000 DNA profiles of cattle from across the country that could potentially pinpoint not only the most tender breeds of cattle, but the precise cow that’s carrying Australia’s most tender meat.
The DNA profiles will be analysed by The Animal Genetics and Breeding Unit (AGBU) in Armidale before being transferred to the National Beef Recording Scheme at the Agricultural Business Research Institute (ABRI) where they’ll be included in Breedplan, the national genetic evaluation system for cattle breeders.
While visiting Catapult Genetics today Minister for State Development John Mickel pressed the ‘magic button’ that sent the 10 000 genetic profiles to the ABRI for analysis.
“These DNA profiles are part of a world-first project, the SmartGene for Beef Project, that’s working towards developing a new generation of Estimated Breeding Values (EBV) for identifying animals that are naturally superior in meat quality and feed efficiency,” Mr Mickel said.
“The samples represent most of Australia’s beef cattle breeds and have been profiled using Catapult Genetics’ globally leading GeneSTAR DNA test.”
The SmartGene project is being undertaken in partnership with the CRC for Beef Genetic Technology, Meat and Livestock Australia, AGBU, Breedlink, ABRI and Dr John Pollak from Cornell University.
Catapult Genetics chief executive officer Dr Gerard Davis said the company’s patented GeneSTAR test provides information on key attributes of beef quality, including tenderness, marbling and the animal’s optimum feeding regime based on the cattle’s genetic makeup.
“The ability to select live animals that have superior eating quality attributes is important for cattle breeders supplying both the domestic and international markets,” Dr Davis said.
Catapult Genetics is also responsible for developing SureTRAK, a DNA test that provides paddock-to-plate traceability for the beef industry, and the company has recently released its GeneSTAR Feed Efficiency test in the USA through it’s partner Bovigen.
It’s the industry’s first and only DNA test that can identify an animal’s genetic ability to use feed efficiently.
Dr Davis said the GeneSTAR Feed Efficiency test was made up of four markers which together could identify as much as a 15 per cent difference in daily feed consumption.
“Animals with superior feed conversion efficiency can contribute to significant savings in expensive feed costs, especially for feedlot finished animals.” Dr Davis said.
Mr Mickel today launched the 2007/08 Round of the Smart State Innovation Funds and the Smart State Health and Medical Research Fund at Catapult Genetics, a former Smart State Innovation Funds recipient.
“Catapult Genetics was awarded innovation funding in 2005 to develop applications for its GeneSTAR DNA test through the SmartGene for Beef project” Mr Mickel said.
“As we can see here today, they’ve gone from strength to strength since then, and are now world leaders in livestock DNA testing.
“I encourage innovative Queensland companies, across all industry sectors – like Catapult Genetics – to get their applications in.”
The $300 million Innovation Funds was established in 2005 to address the need for more R&D investment, and assists in building vital facilities and infrastructure; progressing specific research and medical projects; and attracting and retaining top researchers and PhD students in strategic priority areas.
The Smart State Health and Medical Research Fund provides funding for outstanding clinical researchers to undertake innovative research in Queensland hospital and health services and also provides funding to eligible independent medical research institutes to assist in meeting the operational costs of undertaking research.
The Beattie Government has invested more than $3 billion in innovation, science and research since 1998, and this new round of funding will add further to the State’s growing innovative capital.
For applications and more information on the funds: www.sd.qld.gov.au/innovationfunds
Company contact: Gerard Davis, Chief Executive Officer, 3633 3501, 0413 049 478
Media contact: Chris Brown 3224 7349 or Elouise Campion 3224 6784
30 August, 2007
Catapult Genetics, a world leader in livestock DNA testing, has compiled more than 10,000 DNA profiles of cattle from across the country that could potentially pinpoint not only the most tender breeds of cattle, but the precise cow that’s carrying Australia’s most tender meat.
The DNA profiles will be analysed by The Animal Genetics and Breeding Unit (AGBU) in Armidale before being transferred to the National Beef Recording Scheme at the Agricultural Business Research Institute (ABRI) where they’ll be included in Breedplan, the national genetic evaluation system for cattle breeders.
While visiting Catapult Genetics today Minister for State Development John Mickel pressed the ‘magic button’ that sent the 10 000 genetic profiles to the ABRI for analysis.
“These DNA profiles are part of a world-first project, the SmartGene for Beef Project, that’s working towards developing a new generation of Estimated Breeding Values (EBV) for identifying animals that are naturally superior in meat quality and feed efficiency,” Mr Mickel said.
“The samples represent most of Australia’s beef cattle breeds and have been profiled using Catapult Genetics’ globally leading GeneSTAR DNA test.”
The SmartGene project is being undertaken in partnership with the CRC for Beef Genetic Technology, Meat and Livestock Australia, AGBU, Breedlink, ABRI and Dr John Pollak from Cornell University.
Catapult Genetics chief executive officer Dr Gerard Davis said the company’s patented GeneSTAR test provides information on key attributes of beef quality, including tenderness, marbling and the animal’s optimum feeding regime based on the cattle’s genetic makeup.
“The ability to select live animals that have superior eating quality attributes is important for cattle breeders supplying both the domestic and international markets,” Dr Davis said.
Catapult Genetics is also responsible for developing SureTRAK, a DNA test that provides paddock-to-plate traceability for the beef industry, and the company has recently released its GeneSTAR Feed Efficiency test in the USA through it’s partner Bovigen.
It’s the industry’s first and only DNA test that can identify an animal’s genetic ability to use feed efficiently.
Dr Davis said the GeneSTAR Feed Efficiency test was made up of four markers which together could identify as much as a 15 per cent difference in daily feed consumption.
“Animals with superior feed conversion efficiency can contribute to significant savings in expensive feed costs, especially for feedlot finished animals.” Dr Davis said.
Mr Mickel today launched the 2007/08 Round of the Smart State Innovation Funds and the Smart State Health and Medical Research Fund at Catapult Genetics, a former Smart State Innovation Funds recipient.
“Catapult Genetics was awarded innovation funding in 2005 to develop applications for its GeneSTAR DNA test through the SmartGene for Beef project” Mr Mickel said.
“As we can see here today, they’ve gone from strength to strength since then, and are now world leaders in livestock DNA testing.
“I encourage innovative Queensland companies, across all industry sectors – like Catapult Genetics – to get their applications in.”
The $300 million Innovation Funds was established in 2005 to address the need for more R&D investment, and assists in building vital facilities and infrastructure; progressing specific research and medical projects; and attracting and retaining top researchers and PhD students in strategic priority areas.
The Smart State Health and Medical Research Fund provides funding for outstanding clinical researchers to undertake innovative research in Queensland hospital and health services and also provides funding to eligible independent medical research institutes to assist in meeting the operational costs of undertaking research.
The Beattie Government has invested more than $3 billion in innovation, science and research since 1998, and this new round of funding will add further to the State’s growing innovative capital.
For applications and more information on the funds: www.sd.qld.gov.au/innovationfunds
Company contact: Gerard Davis, Chief Executive Officer, 3633 3501, 0413 049 478
Media contact: Chris Brown 3224 7349 or Elouise Campion 3224 6784
30 August, 2007