Page 15 - NZ Herefords Member Guide 202103

Glossary

ABRI – Dr Arthur Rickards established the Agricultural Business Research Institute (ABRI) from the Genome – the genetic material of an organism.
University of New England (UNE) gardener’s cottage in 1968 after he had observed that the farming Genomics – the study of the genome.
community was keen to adopt the new agricultural technologies being developed at UNE, but an
infrastructure gap prevented easy knowledge transfer between research and application. DNA – deoxyribonucleic acid is the carrier of genetic information.
AGBU – the Animal Genetics Breeding Unit was established at UNE to support ABRI with research SNP – Single Nucleotide Polymorphism referred to as SNPs (pronounced SNIPS) are DNA markers.
and development, and has become a world leader in livestock genetics in its own right, while Microsatellite – also referred to as a MIP, was the first type of DNA testing available to breeders.
continuing to strengthen ABRI’s capability.
The reference population is the set of Hereford animals within the Hereford BreedPlan analysis
BreedPlan was introduced in 1985 for within-herd evaluation and within 12 months the group that have both genotypes (SNP data) and phenotypes (performance records) for a particular trait.
BreedPlan module was added to accommodate across-herd evaluation.
BreedObject is the ABRI programme that creates selection indexes by combining BreedPlan EBVs
TransTasman BreedPlan Analysis, combining data from Australian and New Zealand breed societies into a single value which allows producers to identify animals that are most profitable in a given
in a single analysis. production system.

Estimated Breeding Values (EBVs) is the estimated genetic merit of an animal for each recorded Interbreeding is the mating of animals that are more closely related than the average degree of
production trait. relationship within the population.
Breed average – you are able to compare an EBV to the current breed average. This will give you an Line breeding is the strategic use of interbreeding to improve traits found in one family line.
indication of how the animal compares with the current genetic level for the breed for each trait. A
set of breed average EBVs should be enclosed in all BreedPlan reports and sale catalogues, as well Outbreeding is the opposite of inbreeding i.e increasing the number of heterozygous pairs.
as through your breed’s EBV enquiry. Autosomal recessive is one of several ways that a trait, disorder, or disease can be passed down
Outlier – may refer to an animal that is significantly genetically superior/inferior to their through families. An autosomal recessive disorder means two copies of an abnormal gene must be
contemporaries. present in order for the disease or trait to develop.

An Outlier Report highlights potential data recording errors that may have occurred. For example, Genetic conditions (GC) – also referred to as genetic defects or genetic abnormalities.
incorrect measurements may have been recorded, incorrect animal details may have been recorded Listed below are the genetic conditions that have been found in NZ Herefords animals. Refer to the
(eg. date of birth, sex), or animals may have been placed in an incorrect contemporary group. NZ Herefords website for more information.
A Percentile Bands Table allows you to compare the animal’s EBVs and assess exactly where the • Hypotrichosis (HY)– is an autosomal recessive trait that results in loss of hair.
animal ranks within the breed for each trait.
• Idiopathic epilepsy (IE) – is an autosomal recessive trait that starts with animals lying on their
Single-Step BreedPlan uses genomic (DNA) information in addition to the pedigree and side with limbs extended in a rigid state, followed by seizures.
performance information used in a traditional BreedPlan analysis.
• Maple syrup urine disease (MSUD) – is an autosomal recessive trait that results in calves that
The analysis takes account of each animal’s actual genetic relationship based on its genotype with are born showing symptoms of slowness and dullness, progressing to throwing their heads
all other genotyped animals, including those in the reference population. back and lying on their sides, unable to rise.
Phenotype of an animal refers to the physical characteristics of that animal – what we see. For • Mandibulofacial dysostosis (MD) – is an autosomal recessive trait where the calf is born with
information on sturctural soundness, visit the NZ Herefords website. These are the codes we use to facial deformities.
record horn status: H – horned; P – polled; J – pure horned and S –scurred.
• Diluter (DL) – gene is a dominant gene, so when a Hereford carrier is mated to an animal with
Genotype is the genetic makeup of an animal. This can be tested using a single Nucleotide black pigment e.g. a Friesian or an Angus, 50% of cases will produce offspring with a diluted
Polymorphism (SNP) DNA test. Genomic SNP tests are available through PBB with information on coat colour.
the genomics tab of the NZ Herefords website. Below are the terms and codes we use for horn/poll
genomic results.
• Homozygous Polled PcPc, PcPf, PfPf – a true polled animal and will only produce polled (or
scurred) calves. They will not produce horned calves.

• Heterozygous Polled HPc or HPf – animal is polled or scurred and carries a polled and horned
gene and can produce polled, horned (or scurred) calves.
• Homozygous Horned HH – the animal is horned and can produce horned, polled or scurred
calves.

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