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Producers Can Test For Genetic Defect

published: December 20th 2008
source: Merial

The comprehensive IGENITY® profile now includes an option to evaluate cattle for the presence of Arthrogryposis Multiplex (AM) — commonly known as Curly Calf Syndrome. Samples will be processed beginning December 19.

“IGENITY is the first DNA provider to make this analysis commercially available,” says Dr. Stewart Bauck, research and development director, IGENITY. “Now producers can know definitively whether or not their cattle are carriers for this defect — helping make more confident mating and marketing decisions.”

AM is a genetic defect with a simple recessive pattern of inheritance, which means cattle can be carriers of the defect and  appear normal. It also means that two carriers must be  mated to get an AM calf, which is born dead with a spine that is   bent or twisted. IGENITY is collaborating with Dr. Jon Beever, University of Illinois, to analyze samples and develop additional sample processing capacity to meet the demands of the cattle industry.

“Producers can easily manage this defect; however, they need to know if their breeding cattle are carriers or not,” Dr. Bauck says. “The only way to know if cattle carry the defect is to analyze their DNA for the specific genetic defect.”
He adds that evaluating pedigrees is not an accurate way to determine if an animal is a carrier of the disease.

“Producers may be able to get clues about the presence of this defect in their cattle through pedigrees, but it is not possible to know  accurately if animals are carriers,” Dr. Bauck says. “The  bloodlines that have been found to be carriers of this defect have been widely used throughout the Angus breed and in commercial herds.  Therefore, producers should use the analysis from IGENITY to find out if the defect is present in their herd.”

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