Page 97 - Hereford Magazine 2022

NZ Herefords participates in genome-wide association study:
Making sense of SNPs and

birth weight records

Words: Dr Brad Crook, manager – genetics research and development,
Agricultural Business Research Institute, University of New England

hanges in EBVs are an expected outcome of associated significantly with birth and weaning weight records
including genomic information in the Hereford in these breeds. Results from their preliminary study were
Single-Step Breedplan evaluation. Sometimes the reported recently at the Association for the Advancement of
EBV movements for individual animals result in NZ Animal Breeding & Genetics Conference 2021. In this study,
CHerefords’ breeders contacting the national office they identified a small number of SNPs accounting for a
and asking for feedback as to why these changes are as they significant proportion of the direct genetic variance in birth
are – especially as large as they sometimes are. These enquiries weight, and, to a lesser extent, weaning weight. Since presenting
are then sent on to the Agricultural Business Research Institute this paper they have expanded their research to include four
(ARBI) for feedback, an important part of the Breedplan service international Hereford populations, all of which engage ABRI’s
provided to NZ Herefords. Breeders are therefore encouraged commercial services. This includes NZ Herefords, given the
to ask questions if they see big movements in EBVs and aren’t volume of performance and genomic information that NZ
quite sure why. Herefords’ breeders have collected.
Since the implementation of Single-Step Breedplan for NZ This work is a continuation of the International Hereford
Herefords, enquiries from some members have resulted in Project undertaken by ABRI, in which NZ Herefords contributes
MOKAIRAU
MOKAIRAU project at the World Hereford Conference in 2020, hosted by NZ
significantly. Crook presented earlier outcomes from this
some intriguing patterns emerging as to how genomics might
affect certain trait EBVs. It is for this reason that two of ABRI’s
researchers – Dr Brad Crook and Dr Shalanee Weerasinghe
Herefords.
– recently collaborated with three Australian breed clients
This ongoing research represents an opportunity for ABRI
to assist NZ Herefords in making more meaningful use of their
(Hereford, Charolais and Simmental) to investigate whether
certain SNPs* [*single nucleotide polymorphisms] were
investment in genomic technology.
MOK A I R A UA I R A U
MOK

Offering 35 R2 yr BULLS

Wednesday 8 June 2022 on the property
th

Inspection: 9.00am • Auction: 10.30am

Herd inspection welcomed ~ Peter Reeves • Ph: 06 862 2701

3005 Whangara Road, RD 3, GISBORNE • Email: reeves@gisborne.net.nz
www.mokairau.co.nz

Year 2022 HEREFORD MAGAZINE 95