Lucky Chromosome 20
USDA Researchers discover that three cattle diseases are genetically linked. I’m Susan Allen welcome to Open Range stay tuned after the break for more information on this new development. There are many diseases that plague western ranchers and dairymen but three that cost cattle producers throughout the nation over $1 billion dollars each year in economic losses are pinkeye, foot rot and bovine respiratory disease also known as pneumonia. While these are all very different illnesses researchers at the USDA recently discovered that the big three bacterial diseases share something in common, a genetic link. All have a genetic marker called a quantitative trait locus that appears on Chromosome 20.
So what’s the big deal about this finding? Well scientist used a variety of cross bred bulls then analyzed the DNA from two hundred and forty of their offspring that showed symptoms of one or more of these diseases and bingo they found the link to Chromosome 20. They are convinced that lucky number 20 holds the key to better understanding the overall health of cattle and now that the USDA team has isolated this Chromosome , it could open doors to breeding cattle with increased disease tolerance. Considering that Bovine respiratory disease alone accounts for 70 percent of cattle deaths, and 75 percent of feedlot illnesses if you a rancher these findings are a big deal because in the end mean healthier hardier cattle.
