Page 12 - Hooked On Herefords Magazine June 2018

DNA TESTING TIP SHEET

To DNA an animal you need part of the animal:
Hair
Semen
Blood
Tissue

To collect tissue, you need a Tissue Sample Unit or TSU. TSUs can be bought from PBBnz and other
places such as your Vet, DNA service provider, Allflex or LIC. There are two forms of TSU, wet or dry.
A wet TSU has a small amount of preservative inside but a dry TSU does not. Once you have collected
your tissue sample in a TSU using a TSU gun or applicator (probably available to borrow from your vet
if you buy the TSU from them or you can look at buying your own) you must keep them cool and out of
sunlight. Do not leave them on the seat or dashboard of your truck even for a short time as the sample
can sweat which deteriorates the DNA. If storing for a short time (12-48 hours) before posting they
should be kept in a fridge. If they are stored for longer then a dry TSU should be frozen and a wet TSU
should be kept in the fridge. Thawing and refreezing a dry TSU will degrade the DNA so keep frozen
until postage and post with a small icepack. A sample can be kept for a couple of weeks in a TSU, but
the recommendation is to submit them as soon as possible.
NB GeneSeek/Neogen only accept wet TSUs.

Once you have collected DNA it needs to be sent to a DNA Lab or service provider. It is up to each
breeder which service provider they use. Each service provider will have a preferred form of DNA
sample.

There are two types of DNA test that can then be done, a microsatellite test or a SNP test. Most labs /
service providers have now moved away from microsatellite testing to SNP testing.

If you want to sire verify an animal using a SNP test then the sire will have to be SNP tested first. If the
sire was Microsatellite tested last year then he will need retesting. Check with PBB Registry to see if
Massey still have some DNA, if not you will need to collect a new sample.

All DNA material and results are owned by the person who paid for the DNA test. This could be the
original breeder of the bull, the new owner of the bull or someone who bought a few straws and paid
for one to be used for testing. All parties with an interest in an animal should talk to each other to either
find out if it has already been tested or to agree who is going to organize and pay for a test.

You will notice the longer processing times than you are used to so you must plan ahead. This is similar
to when BREEDPLAN moved to just once a month genetic analysis. If you want to test yearling bulls
(and get the results) before you use them you need to allow plenty of time. If you are in a real rush you
can still use the Microsatellite service from Massey to know the bull satisfies the NZHA requirements but
you will have to pay again for a SNP test at some stage if you want to SNP test any progeny.

12 NZ HEREFORD ASSOCIATION NEWSLETTER