04/10/08 DNA testing

High-tech is everywhere and the cattle industry won't be left behind. I'm Jeff Keane; I'll be back in one minute to tell you, what's new. If you think of DNA testing you are probably thinking of one of the television shows like C.S.I., but DNA testing is finding uses in beef production. An article in the Western Farmer Stockman by Robert Waggener focused on the growth of the production tool in Wyoming, but other parts of the country are finding ways to implement its advantages. Two purebred Red Angus ranches in Wyoming, Beckton Stock Farms and Buffalo Creek Red Angus were leaders in using DNA testing to determine parentage since they run multiple sires in large pastures. A number of bulls are needed in these big acreages to keep from having unbred cows. Bridger Feuz, University of Wyoming agriculture and natural resource Extension educator says more commercial producers are now using the technology. If ranchers are selling cattle to beef processors through a retained ownership system they can record a blood sample from each calf on a DNA sampling card. When those animals are sold, data will come back telling which calves brought a premium and which were discounted. Then DNA analysis can be used to determine sires of the profitable calves and the undesirable calves. Eventually, I can see when costs of the testing are economical, this will be a useful tool for the producers selling feeder calves also. I'm Jeff Keane. Western Farmer Stockman March 2008