Page 111 - NZ Herefords Magazine 2019 Edition

Industry Focus

SNP DNA testing

Where are we now?

52 ANNUAL PRODUCTION SALE WORDS / PHOTOGRAPHS ALLFLEX / NEOGEN AUSTRALASIA
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WEDNESDAY 29 MAY 2019 AT 1PM
« STUD AND COMMERCIAL HEREFORD CATTLE « IN DECEMBER 2017, the NZHA technical committee informed and checked against the accompanying test request submission
Samples are received into the sample reception department
the association’s breeders that with the generous support from
« TOP YIELDING MEAT BULLS « Beef + Lamb New Zealand Genetics, 450 historical sires were form. If there are no anomalies, the sample and test details are
being 50K DNA SNP tested. This was the start of moving from entered into the Laboratory Information Management System
microsatellite testing to SNP testing for the association, and (LIMS). If there are differences between the samples received
2019 SALE BULLS breeders were encouraged to start SNP testing their prominent and the details provided on the submission paperwork, the
sample reception team will contact the submitter to solve
sires. At that stage the provider was called GeneSeek and the
test on offer was a 50K, with the sample being hair. the issues before testing can begin. Once the samples have
been barcoded and the details have been entered into LIMS,
A YEAR ON, WHAT HAS CHANGED? the samples are sent to the laboratory for a process known
• ‘GeneSeek’, still located in Queensland Australia, is now as ‘tasking’. The tasking process allots samples to groups
called Neogen, and has nearly 40 full-time employees according to what tests have been requested (i.e. SeekSire or
at the Gatton laboratory and a multimillion-dollar Hereford Standard bundle). This allows the team to process all
investment in a new, larger and more sophisticated samples requiring the same tests in a single group (task) for
laboratory space. maximum efficiency. Once tasking is complete, the samples
• TSU samples are now the preferred choice of sample undergo the relevant DNA extraction process, noting different
as opposed to hair, because it’s much easier to extract optimised processes are used according to the sample type.
the DNA sample from a TSU and there is less chance of For example, hair is treated quite differently from Allflex Tissue
contamination. Sampling Units (TSUs). Hairs must be processed individually,
• Additional tests can be included, such as a BVD test. but TSUs can be processed 12 at a time, in lots of 96.
Once the samples have been through the DNA extraction
HOW DO THE SAMPLES GET TESTED process, they undergo an amplification step known as PCR.
AT NEOGEN? This step makes thousands and thousands of copies of the
The testing process at Neogen is a complex but well refined sections of DNA that are required for the test(s) requested.
process. It relies on excellent communication and teamwork Once PCR is complete, the DNA plate (now containing 96
between their departments and their customer, i.e. breeders/ different samples) is passed through to the next team for the
farmers/PBB. genotyping step.

TB C10 – PERFORMANCE RECORDED – VET TESTED – CARCASS SCANNED

KING FAMILIES

COLIN & FAY • 1437 Lillburn Valley Road, RD 1, Tuatapere 9691
P: 03 226 6791 • M: 027 500 2779 • E: waiau1@farmside.co.nz
DARRYL & NICKY & FAMILY • 65 Dean Forest Road, RD 1, Tuatapere 9691
M: 027 601 5384 • E: darryl.nicky@waiauherefords.co.nz 109