RightBull – Precision genomic selection tools for the future of commercial beef production

Written by : Marty Ropp – Allied Genetic Resources

Many of you have seen the unprecedented results created by the RightMate and RightChoice tools for precision matings in the beef genetics industry. Now, Top Genomics is moving forward with tools that employ the same, cutting-edge technologies, but in a format that is more suited to the way most commercial herds breed cows and make decisions.

The basis is simple. Some bulls just genomically match some females more completely, while some should never be considered for that particular cow even if he is a wise choice for many others. This works very well for AI situations and small breeding groups. For larger groups of breeding females however, the same genomic factors can still apply. Genomically, some sires just complement a given group or herd of females better than others. This is especially true when you include the potential to optimize genetic diversity and include program breeding objectives. The bottom line is that the sire decisions you have made in the past make your herd unique and have culminated in females with certain genotypic strengths and weaknesses. That genetic package in your cow herd is what you work with every day and that history is important. What is crucial moving forward however are the decisions associated with the next generation. Which bull(s) or genetics should you purchase to create the outcome you want the most often and improve the uniformity of your calf crop and future cow herd?

With a genomic snap-shot of your commercial cow herd, it is possible to sort a group of sale bulls or AI candidates to best match your particular situation and wishes in a way that provides substantially more insurance of success than just paging through a catalog or walking from pen to pen. RightBull gives you a ranked list of the bulls you should consider from an offered group, then you make the decisions from that short list based on the traits and factors you favor when purchasing seedstock. Better decisions more often is the result. The bulls on your list might be completely different from the ones on your neighbors list, all based on the genetic decisions you have made over the years.

The process:

1. Access (if genotypes are currently available) or genotype a minimum of 25% of the existing cow herd. This minimum percentage may differ slightly depending on group sizes and total females to mate, but the more females genotyped the more accurate the evaluation. For some this will be a decision to genotype the entire herd or at least all of the young females. The information delivered to Top Genomics must be in the form of raw genotypes and not genomic scores (please contact Allied for Questions) in order to get the core information needed for RightBull.
2. Get permission from you seedstock provider to access to the genotypes and EPDs of the potential bulls to consider, then transfer that information along with the genotypes of the cow herd to Dr. Mahdi Saatchi at Top Genomics LLC. If he already has those genotypes, the process is even easier.
3. Participate in a conversation with staff regarding your mating plans and breeding objectives so that the results can be better customized to your management practices and genetic goals.
4. Top Genomics will provide you a RigthBull ranking and %Genomic Match for bulls in that particular offering for you to use as an important “first sort” in preparation for purchase.
5. Please allow 5-8 weeks from the time you collect DNA samples to expect results, but just 2 weeks for the RightBull evaluations to be completed if your cow’s genotypes are already available.

Additional options:

1. RightBull is also available for Seedstock producers wishing to access unique genetics from an offering.
2. Choosing ideal heifer bulls is great strength of the RightBull and RightMate technologies. You choose the level of risk you feel appropriate and Top Genomics will help you make wise choices. Not every heifer or group of heifers needs an extremely light birth weight bull as most producers know, but some heifers are quite high risk for challenge. RightBull can help give you confidence of the genomics in your heifer group and help make financially better decisions for sire choices. One at a time in the case of AI or group by group for natural service.
3. Another popular program is for Top Genomics to sort females in the herd based on more similar genetics into groups that will more closely match specific bull selections.
4. It is also an option to sort a cow herd into groups based on desired outcomes and then prescribe different bulls based on the breeding objectives for each group. A typical example might be to sort a maternal group or groups and then sort females designed to be mated terminally. The idea is to maximize grow and calf value from the terminal group, while making balanced and maternal value choices for the remaining females. Generating more profitable and predictable results is the result.