Cracking the bovine genome code

Jul 05, 2018

UC Davis receives funding for livestock genetics research

By Diego Flammini
Staff Writer
Farms.com

Researchers at the University of California, Davis are trying to to understand specific characteristics of the bovine genome.

Pablo Ross, an associate professor in UC Davis’ animal science department, will lead USDA-funded research (US$2.5 million over four years) to uncover what the sequence means.

“The bovine genome is made up of about three billion letters,” Ross told Farms.com today. “But we’ve never been able to understand much of what those letters mean. This research will help us translate that alphabet and find the most important parts of the bovine genome sequence.”

Scientists from the USDA and the National Institutes of Health sequenced the genome of a female Hereford cow in 2009.

The Bovine Genome Database, an online source based at the University of Missouri, released updates to the sequences in 2015 and again earlier this year.

Discovering which parts of a cow’s genomic makeup are responsible for certain characteristics could bring important benefits to the cattle industry, Ross said.

“If we can find the regulatory elements (within the cow) that cause disease resistance, growth, meat production and fertility, we might be able to help develop better breeding programs,” he said.

The USDA is also supporting genomics research for the other two main types of livestock. Iowa State University received a grant for swine genetics, and the Western University of Health Sciences in Ponoma, Calif. received funding to study chicken genomics.

Video: You Be The Judge: Evaluating 8 Breeding Rams!

It's time for some honest feedback here at Ewetopia Farms! Today, we’re showing you all eight rams we used for breeding this year. Instead of just presenting them, we thought it would be fun to create a “Ram Report Card” — where we point out both their strengths and areas for improvement.

But here’s the twist: you be the judge! In the comments, let us know what you like about each ram and what you think could be improved. No ram is ever perfect, but every one of them brings something valuable to the flock. By sharing perspectives, we all learn more about what to look for in good breeding stock.

At Ewetopia Farms, we raise registered Suffolk and Polled Dorset sheep, focusing on high-quality genetics, structure, and friendly temperaments. Evaluating breeding rams is part of the bigger picture of building stronger flocks — and we’re excited to share the process with you.

If you enjoy seeing how we evaluate our animals, follow along by subscribing to our channel. We share daily insights into the joys and challenges of sheep farming here in Canada.