Do I have to DNA test
all of the dams in my herd?
No, you only need to parentage test those dams that produce bull calves born
on or after January 1, 2015 that will go on to sire registered Angus calves.
The policy change will affect less than 2,000 females annually. However, a lot
of our members are taking advantage of the $5 Female Permanent Genotyping
project or the $12 SNP parentage verification offer to genotype their entire
cow herd.
What’s the difference
between the $5 Female Permanent Genotyping project and the $12 SNP parentage verification
offer?
The Female Permanent Genotyping project ($5 per test) will read the DNA
for producing females and create a reference point to allow parentage
verification of their future bull calves.
The SNP parentage verification test ($12 per test) reads the DNA for
producing females and places them on file so that their bull calves can be
verified to them in the future AND it also uses the dam’s genotype to verify
her to her dam and sire. SNP parentage verification testing is available at $12
per test until March 31st, 2014.
If I want to register
my bull calves now, do I have to DNA test all my dams first?
No, the parentage verification policy applies to bull calves born on or
after January 1st, 2015. Any bull calf born on or after that date
that will go on to sire registered Angus calves will need to be parentage
verified to both his sire and his dam.
What if I buy a bull to
sire registered Angus calves and he is not parentage verified?
Currently, a bull calf needs to be sire verified in order for the CAA to
register his progeny. In cases where members apply to register calves from a
sire that is not sire verified, the Association works with the member to get
the sire verification.
The policy change means that all sires born on or after January 1st,
2015, including those approved for AI use, must have a DNA parentage genotype
on record with the CAA and be parent verified before their offspring can be
registered. If you buy a sire that is not parent verified the Association will
work with you to get the parent verification.
If either parent is lost before a DNA sample can be taken, the
Association will work with our members on a case-by-case basis to find a
resolution.
The implementation date for the policy change was set to allow our
members more than two years to prepare. The Association has several initiatives
to help our members prepare for this policy change.
What’s the best way
to prepare for the changes to the Parentage Verification Policy?
Pull hair samples (30–60 hairs including the hair root bulbs) on any
dams that may produce bull calves born on or after January 1, 2015 that will go
on to sire registered Angus calves.
Place each dam’s hair sample in a clean, well-labelled envelope.
The hair samples can be stored at the CAA office or at your home until a
parentage test is required.
For members who prefer to verify their female’s parentage and have their
reference genotype on file so future calves can be verified, we are offering
the following tests at reduced rates:
1.
Female Permanent Genotype for $5 per test (for the first
15,000 kits ordered and submitted to the lab before December 1st,
2013)
2. SNP parentage verification for $12 per test
(‘2-for-1’ pricing through March 31, 2014)
Posted by Kajal Devani Feedback: cdnangus@cdnangus.ca
