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WERA_OLD001: Beef Cattle Breeding in the Western Region

Annual/Termination Reports (SAES-422): [09/04/2002] [09/29/2003] [06/30/2004] [08/20/2005] [09/27/2006] [07/02/2008]

Date of Annual Report: 09/04/2002

Report Information:
  • Annual Meeting Dates: 06/17/02 to 06/18/02
  • Period the Report Covers: 07/2001 to 06/2002

    • Participants:
    Brief Summary of Minutes of Annual Meeting:
    The Western Region Coordinating Committee for Beef Cattle Breeding Research (WCC1) convened in Fort Collins on June 18, 2002. Sixteen people attended the meeting. Those in attendance were primary investigators of various state agricultural experiment stations, scientists from research facilities of national departments of agriculture in the U.S. and Canada, and graduate students from participating Land Grant Universities. The meeting was conducted in three sections: 1) a business meeting, 2) experiment station reports, and 3) a discussion of the topic of residual feed intake.
    In the business meeting, the status of the new petition and the administrative advisor were discussed. Milt Thomas and Mark Enns reported that the new petition was submitted within the required deadlines and is pending approval at the July meeting of the directors of the western state agricultural experiment stations. Mark Enns reported that Don Kress of Montana State University is in the preliminary stages of being defined as the administrative advisor and Don volunteered to serve in that capacity for Daryl Tatum of Colorado State University for this year‘s meeting. The group then discussed, voted, and approved the location, date, chairperson, and the host for the 2003 meeting. The results of these decisions are listed below.

    Location of 2003 Meeting: Montana State University Experiment Station at Havre and the R1 - Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada Research Center, Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada.

    Date of 2003 Meeting: latter portion of May, 2003.

    Chair of 2003 Meeting: Mike Tess, Montana State University

    Host of 2003 Meeting: Denny Crews, Ag-Canada in Lethbridge Alberta


    The objectives of the new petition are:

    1. Maintain and disseminate educational resources on the genetics of beef cattle including WCC-1 publications.
    2. Conduct research to contribute to the understanding of genetic association among economically important traits and their indicators.
    3. Maintain a record of resources on pedigreed populations that could be used in quantitative and/or molecular studies.
    4. Exchange information, discuss research results, plan new research, examine new developments, discuss future problems, plan cooperative research and share ideas for interdisciplinary involvement in beef cattle breeding.

    These objectives were discussed and the following decisions were made to facilitate accomplishment of the objectives. For objective 1, Dr. Milt Thomas will compile a list of WCC1 publications. He will then distribute the list to all members so that the group can add other publications to the list. The publications can then be compiled by Milt Thomas and staff at New Mexico State University. The publications can be scanned into PDF format and posted on the WCC1 web page. Other discussion occurred regarding writing a new WCC1 publication. Ideas were a historic review of the activities of WCC1 and (or) an extension publication to help beef cattle producers understand and utilize technologies available for use in beef cattle breeding decisions. This discussion was tabled until the conclusion of the meeting so everyone could have more time to brain- storm. It was also suggested that the web page be further developed with many more links to other sites relevant to beef cattle breeding. For objective 2, the group discussed the importance of collaborative research among the members. Mike MacNeil of the USDA-ARS unit located in Miles City, MT commented on the great resources of that station and welcomed additional collaboration of WCC1 members. He specified the current interactions of graduate students with the facility and welcomed more of these interactions in the future. For objective 3, Mark Enns volunteered himself and Dave Schaffer of the University of Arizona to develop a web-based record system so that the group could self-update information regarding their records of resources on pedigreed populations that could be used in quantitative and/or molecular studies. For objective 4, the committee suggested this will accomplished through annual reports of research from experiment stations and will quantified/noted by each station writing accomplishment and impacts of their projects relative to the objectives.
    Committee then presented reports from the experiment stations that attended. Presentations came from the primary investigators, and when possible, graduate students presented their work. The presentations were of various topics that ranged from uniqueness of genes to performance data collected within beef cattle herds with pedigree records; however, a central theme was upheld regarding the area of feed efficiency/feed intake. The reason for this theme was to facilitate discussion with guest speaker Dr. Bob Herd, Senior Research Scientist, NSW Agriculture Beef Industry Centre, University of New England, Armidale, New South Wales, Australia. Dr. Herd‘s presentation described the concept of residual feed intake and presented results of selection for this procedure. One generation of selection using this technology produced differences in Angus Cattle in their level of feed intake and gain.
    The meeting was summarized before dismissal. One topic that was left for further discussion of the committee for the 2003 meeting was the task of developing a new WCC1 publication. It appears that most of the committee was in favor of developing an extension publication to educate beef cattle producers of the technologies available to assist in selection. The mechanisms to produce this publication will be discussed throughout the year by email and then further developed at the 2003 meeting.
    The committee would also like to note that on the afternoon of June 17 preceding the WCC1 meeting, members of the committee and graduate students met to discuss large scale genetic evaluation of beef cattle. This discussion served to finalize a graduate course in prediction technologies that was conducted by distance education technologies between New Mexico State University, Texas Tech University, and Colorado State University. Topics that were discussed in this session were challenges of sifting large data bases for errors, identifying primary sources of variation in large data bases, and the software that has been developed for conducting genetic evaluation.

    Accomplishments:
    Objective 1. A web page has been established http://web.nmsu.edu/~milthoma/WCC-1 as a mechanism for the WCC-1 to distribute information to both scientific- and producer-based audiences. This web site contains functions, which include the petition function of the WCC-1, locations for posting of educational materials developed by WCC-1, a listing of all WCC-1 members, and a location to be developed for major links regarding Beef Cattle Breeding. Now that this web site has been established, it is being expanded to become a functional service to people interested in beef cattle breeding in the western United States.

    Objective 2. Develop and establish education materials to assist producers in implementing crossbreeding systems. Members of WCC-1 have given presentations and/or written articles for producer-oriented publications on various aspects of crossbreeding and crossbreeding systems, such as optimizing the balance between maternal characteristics and carcass traits. The group started to plan a new publication regarding the tools that beef producers can use in selecting beef cattle.

    Objective 3. Maintain a record of tissue stored on pedigreed populations for potential DNA extraction and analysis. The committee assigned Mark Enns to Chair a committee to develop a web-based system to enter this information. Access to this information will then be provided with contact information via the website.

    Objective 4. Conduct training for seedstock producers on basic genetic concepts and methods for genetic improvement of beef cattle. This objective was achieved through the WCC-1‘s efforts at the National Cattlemen‘s Beef Association Annual Meeting in Charolotte, NC in the Producer Education Seminars. Additionally, members individually and cooperatively held numerous education seminars in the states they represent. Below is a list of those presentations:

    Gaskins, C.T. 2000 Recent Advances In The Genetic Improvement Of Livestock
    Animal Science 500 Seminar (10/11)
    WSU Cooperative Extension Conference (10/12)
    WSU Block and Bridle Club (10/12)
    Klickatat County Cattlemen‘s Association (12/6/00)
    Gaskins, C.T. 2000. Wagyu Cattle Production in Australia.
    American Wagyu Association Annual Meeting. Reno, NV (12/9/00).
    Gaskins, C.T. 2000. Wagyu Cattle Production in Australia.
    Canadian Wagyu Association Annual Meeting. Camrose, AB (1/19/01).


    2002 Making profitable selection decisions. Beckton-Buffalo Creek Education
    seminar. Sheridan, WY.

    2002 Workshop and Panel: Red Angus Braintrust. Presentation: Positioning Red Angus for the Future. Denver

    2001 EPD interpretation. Producer short course, "Cow Camp". Fort Collins.

    2001 Workshop: National Cattlemen‘s Beef Association Workshop for University Beef Production Instructors. Presentation: Future genetic evaluation: Economically relevant traits and the Decision Evaluator for the Beef Industry. Kansas City.

    2001 Practical EPD use for commercial cattlemen. Colorado Cattlemen‘s Association
    Convention, Copper Mountain

    2000 Economically relevant traits- A framework for the next generation of EPDs. Beef Improvement Federation Annual Meeting. Joint opening session presentation by Golden, B.L., D.J. Garrick, S. Newman, and R.M. Enns. Wichita.

    Genetic Evaluation and EPD. 1/5/00. Canadian Salers Association, Calgary, AB.

    Understanding and Marketing EPD. 2/5/00. Alta Genetics, Ltd., Calgary, AB.

    Research in Livestock Sciences. 5/25-27/00. British Columbia Cattlemen‘s Assoc., Cranbrook, BC.

    Parameters for Genetic Evaluation with Ultrasound. 3/22/01. Amer. Simmental Assoc., Havre, MT.

    Genetic Evaluation and Improvement of Economic Merit Using EPD. 11/15/01. NBSS, Lethbridge, AB.

    Genetic Evaluation and Improvement of Livestock. 02/07/02. Univ. of Lethbridge guest lecture.

    Ultrasound in Beef Genetic Evaluation. 3/16/02. BC Hereford Association, Kelowna, BC.


    Dynamics of EPD accuracies. NMSU Bull Test and Sale Symposium, Las Cruces, NM 2001.

    Adding value with Genetics. New Mexico Cattle Grower‘s Short Course. Clayton, NM 2001.

    Beef cattle performance in response to grazing systems and strategies on the Chihuahuan Desert Rangeland Research Center. New Mexico Cattle Grower‘s Short Course, Las Cruces, NM 2000.

    Objective 5. Exchange information, discuss research results, plan new research, examine new developments, discuss future problems, plan cooperative research and share ideas for interdisciplinary involvement in beef cattle breeding. This objective was achieved through annual meetings.

    Impact Statements:
    1. Provided more than 1000 beef producers with information pertaining to objective selection criteria.
    2. Assisted National Germ Plasm Repository with protocol for sampling breeds.
    3. Provided germ plasm resulting from research programs for use in the industry.
    4. Developed and provided educational materials to assist producers in implementing crossbreeding systems.
    5. Carcass EPD's of beef sires are closely related to progeny phenotypes.
    6. Characterized the effect of the myostatin locus in Hereford, Limousin, and Piedmontese populations.
    7. Published scientific information at both basic and applied levels that can be used to further knowledge of genetic improvement of beef cattle.
    8. Served as source of expertise in advising beef cattle breed associations.
    9. Served as source of expertise for distance education programs for dissemination of knowledge in the area of beef cattle breeding.
    Last Modified: unknown

    Date of Annual Report: 09/29/2003

    Report Information:
  • Annual Meeting Dates: 06/04/03 to 06/06/03
  • Period the Report Covers: 07/2002 to 06/2003

    • Participants:
    Brief Summary of Minutes of Annual Meeting:
    MINUTES

    The Western Region Coordinating Committee for Beef Cattle Breeding Research (WCC-1) convened in Havre on June 4, 2003 and Lethbridge on June 6, 2003. Ten people were in attendance at Havre (all but Denny Crews) and ten (all but Don Kress) at Lethbridge.

    Committee Renewal
    The committee was approved for 5 more years and was allowed to keep the WCC-1 designation that it has always had. During the approval process, it was suggested that more extension faculty be involved with the group. It was noted that many of the members that were unable to attend this year had extension appointments.

    2004 Meeting
    The location, date, and chairperson for the 2004 WCC-1 meeting were agreed upon as follows:

    Location: Sioux Falls, South Dakota (in conjunction with 2004 Beef Improvement Federation annual meeting)

    Date: May 23-24, 2004 (Sunday and Monday)

    Chair: Denny Crews, Ag-Canada


    Residual Feed Intake
    Denny Crews presented some results of research being conducted at the Lethbridge Research Center involving residual feed intake and feed efficiency in feedlot cattle.


    Website
    Milt Thomas presented the status of the WCC-1 website. Currently, the website is offline, but will be reactivated with the new Animal and Range Science department server at New Mexico State University.

    Any publications of interest that are relative to WCC-1 should be emailed to Milt to be added to the reference list of the website.

    It was also discussed that any links of interest should be added to the website. These include links to all of the departments represented by WCC-1, Ag-Canada, and Fort Keogh. Also, the webmaster at New Mexico State University will contact other organizations to add the WCC-1 webpage as a link. These include BIF, breed associations, each members department, Oklahoma State Universitys Virtual Livestock page, Western Section of the American Society of Animal Science, National Cattlemens Beef Association, and Canadian Cattlemens Association.

    A suggestion was also made to make class notes available on the website for graduate student education.

    Graduate Education
    The idea of combining resources in order to allow for more available coursework for graduate students was suggested. This would help fill holes in graduate education in each of the WCC-1 universities which have no more than two faculty members in animal breeding. Ideas suggested were a course to be conducted during national Animal Science meetings or to conduct an online class similar to what New Mexico State University and the University of Arizona have done in the past. Mark Enns volunteered to find out what would need to be done to have a shortcourse before or during 2004 national Animal Science meetings.

    Contact and Resource Information
    Mark Enns presented the online form that was developed to address Objective 3 of the current petition which was to maintain a record of resources on pedigreed populations that could be used in quantitative and/or molecular studies. The form would allow members of WCC-1 to list the resources available at each institution. Suggested additions to the form included a Comments section, general categories of data type (growth, carcass, etc.), and years that the data includes. A suggestion was also made to change Number of DNA Samples to Number of Tissue Samples.

    Station Reports
    Station reports were given by members in attendance.

    Survival Analysis
    The meeting concluded with a presentation by Phoenix Rogers of her thesis project on survival analysis which will also be presented at national Animal Science meetings in Phoenix, AZ.

    Accomplishments:
    Currently, the WCC-1 website is offline, but will be reactivated with the new Animal and Range Science department server at New Mexico State University. Any publications of interest that are relative to WCC-1 should be emailed to Milt to be added to the reference list of the website. It was also discussed that any links of interest should be added to the website. These include links to all of the departments represented by WCC-1, Ag-Canada, and Fort Keogh. Also, the webmaster at New Mexico State University will contact other organizations to add the WCC-1 webpage as a link. These include BIF, breed associations, each members department, Oklahoma State Universitys Virtual Livestock page, Western Section of the American Society of Animal Science, National Cattlemens Beef Association, and Canadian Cattlemens Association.
    A suggestion was also made to make class notes available on the website for graduate student education.

    The idea of combining resources in order to allow for more available coursework for graduate students was suggested. This would help fill holes in graduate education in each of the WCC-1 universities which have no more than two faculty members in animal breeding. Ideas suggested were a course to be conducted during national Animal Science meetings or to conduct an online class similar to what New Mexico State University and the University of Arizona have done in the past.

    Mark Enns presented the online form that was developed to address Objective 3 of the current petition which was to maintain a record of resources on pedigreed populations that could be used in quantitative and/or molecular studies. The form would allow members of WCC-1 to list the resources available at each institution.

    Impact Statements:
    1. Update website and bring it back online
    2. Develop shared graduate courses
    3. Maintain a record of resources on pedigreed populations that could be used in quantitative and/or molecular studies
    Last Modified: unknown

    Date of Annual Report: 06/30/2004

    Report Information:
  • Annual Meeting Dates: 05/24/04 to 05/25/04
  • Period the Report Covers: 07/2003 to 06/2004

    • Participants:
    Brief Summary of Minutes of Annual Meeting:
    REPORT OF THE 2004 MEETING OF THE WESTERN REGION COORDINATING COMMITTEE IN BEEF CATTLE BREEDING RESEARCH (WCC-1)

    Location of Meeting: Sioux Falls, SD

    Date of Meeting: May 24-25, 2004

    Host: In conjunction with 2004 Beef Improvement Federation Meeting hosted by South Dakota State University and South Dakota Cattlemen?s Association

    Chair: Denny Crews, Ag-Canada

    Administrative Advisor: Don Kress, Montana State University

    MINUTES

    The Western Region Coordinating Committee for Beef Cattle Breeding Research (WCC-1) convened in Sioux Falls, SD May 24-25, 2004. Twelve people were in attendance.

    Website
    Milt Thomas said that the website?s active and the current address is:

    http://www.nmsu.edu/~wcc1

    There have been some problems with hosting it at New Mexico State, so Brent Buckley offered to host the site and suggested that WCC-1 have its own website, not associated with any particular university. Brent determined several possible choices for domain names and will look further into obtaining one of the possible domains.

    It was reiterated that breed associations, land grant universities, NCBA, etc. need to be made aware of our website so that they can put links on their sites to the WCC-1 site.

    Resource Database
    Mark Enns said that the database developed to address Objective 3 of the current petition is still progressing and that a group of MBA students at Colorado State are working on the development of it.

    CSREES Report
    Pete Burfening updated the group on CSREES issues.

    Kress Report
    Don Kress passed around the official participant list to make sure that information is correct and reiterated that there is a need for more of an extension presence on the WCC-1 committee. John Evans needs to update his extension ratios and Buckley will check again if he can become an official member which would increase the extension percentage.

    Graduate Education
    Janice Rumph presented the letter that Mike Tess (Animal & Range Sciences department head, Montana State) sent to the western region department heads requesting a meeting at the 2004 Western Section meetings to discuss possible partnerships across universities for graduate student education.

    Courses that were taught at each university were compiled in a list to determine strengths/weaknesses in each department. A list of courses/topics that WCC-1 thought should be included in all graduate breeding programs was compiled as follows:

    1. Computer programming/logic skills
    Data management skills

    2. Genetic prediction (set up and solve MME)

    3. Understanding of simulation and its utility in an animal improvement and
    production systems setting

    4. Understanding of methods to combine quantitative and molecular data
    quantitative genomics) including pedigree analysis and determining
    probability of carrying certain genes (e.g. Founder effects)

    5. Understanding of breeding systems/Crossbreeding systems/GxE
    interactions/matching animal genotype to environment

    6. Understanding of parameter estimation and pros/cons of different methods

    Additional concepts to be integrated into above courses:
    History of the discipline
    Decision analysis (as it applies to quantitative and economic improvement)

    The committee decided to draft a supporting letter to be sent to the various department heads by Mike Tess prior to the meeting at Western Sections. In the letter, 5-6 three credit courses need to be identified that would be included in a PhD program. Enns and Rumph will meet after the WCC-1 meeting to the draft the letter.

    The National Beef Cattle Evaluation Consortium (NBCEC) should also be informed about the plans for any WCC-1 organized courses because NBCEC is planning on developing their own national online course, most likely seminar in nature.


    DNA Validation
    Enns requested a list of animal/data resources from each station that included number of animals that DNA could be collected from, phenotypes collected, etc. This list would be presented to the NBCEC as a possible source of populations to be used for validation of commercially available gene tests.

    Station Reports
    Station reports were presented by members in attendance.

    Van Vleck
    Dale Van Vleck (University of Nebraska ? Lincoln and ARS) presented a workshop entitled ?Genetic Evaluation with Molecular Information?.

    2005 Meeting
    The location, host, and chairperson for the 2005 WCC-1 meeting were agreed upon as follows:

    Location: Las Cruces, New Mexico, in conjunction with Western Section ASAS meetings

    Host: Milt Thomas, New Mexico State University

    Chair: Andy Herring, Texas A&M

    2006 & 2007 Meetings
    No location has been selected for the 2006 meeting. Hawaii was originally suggested, but due to the 8th World Congress for Genetics Applied to Livestock Production being in Brazil and many members traveling to that in 2006, the suggestion of Hawaii has been pushed off to the 2007 meeting.

    Accomplishments:
    Objective 1: Maintain and disseminate educational resources on the genetics of beef cattle including WCC-1 publications. The website is active and the current address is: http://www.nmsu.edu/~wcc1. Some arrangements have been made to possibly change the hosting of the website from New Mexico State to the University of Hawaii. The website contains most WCC-1 publications in pdf form for easy download.


    Objective 2: Conduct research to contribute to the understanding of genetic association among economically important traits and their indicators. A member of the committee organized a session at the Beef Improvement Federation on applications of multiple trait selection technology in the beef industry. A second member of the committee made an invited presentation at the Beef Meeting envisioning the future implementations of multiple trait section technologies. Current users of multiple trait selection technologies developed by members of the committee include: Circle A Angus Sire Alliance, American International Charolais Association, and Beefbooster Alberta Ltd (Canada). Related developmental efforts are underway for American Hereford Association, American Simmental Association, Agricultural Research Council ? Animal Improvement Institute (South Africa), and Circle A Angus Sire Alliance. ABS Global Inc. has derived revenues in excess of $1.5 million from semen of Angus bulls identified as high value terminal sires.


    Objective 3: Maintain a record of resources on pedigreed populations that could be used in quantitative and/or molecular studies. The database is still progressing and that a group of MBA students at Colorado State are working on the development of it.

    Objective 4: Exchange information, discuss research results, plan new research, examine new developments, discuss future problems, plan cooperative research and share ideas for interdisciplinary involvement in beef cattle breeding. The annual WCC-1 meeting is the forum in which all of these are addressed.


    Upcoming plans: Development of graduate level breeding courses is underway. These courses would be taught across the universities involved in WCC-1 in order to better utilize professor resources at each university.

    Impact Statements:
    1. Interactions and publications of WCC-1 provide leadership for the development of procedures to collect fertility trait data and use of these data in genetic prediction.
    2. Interactions and publications of WCC-1 provide leadership for the development of procedures to record genotype and evaluate the use of DNA polymorphisms in genetic prediction.
    3. WCC-1 members provide genetic evaluation services and expertise to numerous beef cattle breed associations throughout North America, calculating breeding values for more than 5 million cattle each year.
    4. WCC-1 members are active in development and promotion of genetic evaluations for economically relevant traits to be used for beef cattle selection decisions.
    5. WCC-1 members are a source of expertise regarding genetic technologies of the beef industry to our respective states and requesting breed associations.
    Last Modified: unknown

    Date of Annual Report: 08/20/2005

    Report Information:
  • Annual Meeting Dates: 06/20/05 to 06/21/05
  • Period the Report Covers: 07/2004 to 06/2005

    • Participants:
    Brief Summary of Minutes of Annual Meeting:
    Location of Meeting: Las Cruces, NM

    Date of Meeting: June 20-21, 2005

    Host: Milt Thomas, New Mexico State University

    Chair: Andy Herring, Texas A&M University

    Administrative Advisor: Don Kress, Montana State University

    MINUTES

    The Western Education/Extension and Research Activity Committee for Beef Cattle Breeding Research (WERA-1) convened in Las Cruces, New Mexico June 20-21, 2005. Twenty-four people were in attendance.

    Bell Ranch/Commercial Ranch Project Keith Long from the Bell Ranch gave an informative presentation about the Bell Ranch/Commercial Ranch project.

    Station Reports Station reports were presented by members in attendance.

    NBCEC Update John Pollak gave an update of the National Beef Cattle Evaluation Consortium (NBCEC). He discussed the efforts that NBCEC is making toward:

    " Listing potential resource populations that are available for validation of gene tests " Decision support tools, including the web based tool that is being developed at Colorado State University and the multibreed evaluation procedures being developed by Cornell " Education activities including the upcoming Sire Evaluation Manual and efforts toward distance education

    Graduate Education Rumph and Enns had drafted a letter following last years meeting that went out to the department heads in the western region concerning distance education at the graduate level. No grants were submitted for this effort, but Rumph will be looking for grants that fit this effort over the next year. John Pollak would like the committee to keep NBCEC updated on their efforts because this is a goal of the NBCEC.

    Kress Report The WCC-1 committee is now WERA-1 which stands for Western Education/Extension and Research Activity. A new administrator is needed for the committee because Kress retired as associate dean March 31, 2005. As of the meeting, no new administrator had been named. The current project is a 5-year project and expires September 30, 2007.

    Kress reminded the group to provide Andy Herring with impact statements that can be included in the annual report.

    Kress wanted to thank the group for their gift for his retirement. He also wanted to share with the younger members of the group that, in looking back, WCC-1 was a wonderful, productive, collaborative committee and he hoped that it would continue as such.

    CSREES Report Pete Burfening updated the group on CSREES issues.

    Extension Members One of the shortfalls of the current committee membership is the lack of an extension representation. Brent Buckley has been a participant in the meetings, but is not an official member. Benton Glaze (Idaho) was suggested as a potential member and has expressed interest in the group in the past. Rick Funston (Nebraska) was also mentioned as a potential member of the committee with an extension appointment. Herring will contact Glaze and Funston during the Western Section American Society of Animal Science (WSASAS) meeting to see if they are interested in becoming members and if so, will draft a formal invitation to their directors.

    Publications/Symposia Discussion concerning a new WERA-1 publication took place. Some ideas were a lab manual for use in undergraduate animal breeding courses and review publications for submission to a peer-reviewed journal.

    In following the model of the southern committees (S-1013) recent symposium, the committee discussed the possibility of holding symposia in conjunction with WSASAS meetings or the Beef Improvement Federation meetings. The advantage of WSASAS would be the possibility of peer reviewed symposia proceedings on the Journal of Animal Science (JAS) website. Thomas was going to check on the details necessary for having JAS electronic proceedings of the symposia. Gaskins, Thomas, and Rumph were appointed to the committee to further investigate the possibility of symposia and the most appropriate time/place to have them.

    2006 Meeting The location, host, and chairperson for the 2006 WERA-1 meeting were agreed upon as follows: Location: Miles City, Montana (date to be determined) Host: Mike MacNeil, USDA-ARS Miles City

    Chair: Charley Gaskins, Washington State University

    2007 Meeting Hawaii is tentatively planned for the 2007 WERA-001 meeting with Brent Buckley, University of Hawaii serving as host.

    Accomplishments:
    Objective 1: Maintain and disseminate educational resources on the genetics of beef cattle including WCC-1 publications. The website is active and the current address is: http://www.nmsu.edu/~wcc1. Some arrangements have been made to possibly change the hosting of the website from New Mexico State to the University of Hawaii. The website contains most WERA-1 (previously WCC-1 and W-1) publications in pdf form for easy download. Additionally, numerous extension and service presentations are made by members of the group each year. The group is currently planning a symposium to highlight important research areas.

    Objective 2: Conduct research to contribute to the understanding of genetic association among economically important traits and their indicators. A member of the committee organized a session at the Beef Improvement Federation on applications of multiple trait selection technology in the beef industry. A second member of the committee made an invited presentation at the Beef Meeting envisioning the future implementations of multiple trait section technologies. Current users of multiple trait selection technologies developed by members of the committee include: Circle A Angus Sire Alliance, American International Charolais Association, and Beefbooster Alberta Ltd (Canada). Related developmental efforts are underway for American Hereford Association, American Simmental Association, Agricultural Research Council , Animal Improvement Institute (South Africa), and Circle A Angus Sire Alliance. ABS Global Inc. has derived revenues in excess of $1.5 million from semen of Angus bulls identified as high value terminal sires.

    Objective 3: Maintain a record of resources on pedigreed populations that could be used in quantitative and/or molecular studies. The database is progressing and that a group of students at Colorado State are working on its development.

    Objective 4: Exchange information, discuss research results, plan new research, examine new developments, discuss future problems, plan cooperative research and share ideas for interdisciplinary involvement in beef cattle breeding. The annual WERA-1 meeting is the forum in which all of these are addressed.

    Impact Statements:
    1. 1. Interactions and publications of WERA-1 provide leadership for the development of procedures to collect fertility trait data and use of these data in genetic prediction.
    2. 2. Interactions and publications of WERA-1 provide leadership for the development of procedures to record genotypes and evaluate the use of DNA polymorphisms in genetic predictions and breeding decisions.
    3. 3. WERA-1 members provide genetic evaluation services and expertise to numerous beef cattle breed associations throughout North America, calculating breeding values for more than 5 million cattle each year.
    4. 4. WERA-1 members are active in development and promotion of genetic evaluations for economically relevant traits to be used for beef cattle selection decisions.
    5. 5. WERA-1 members are a source of expertise regarding genetic technologies of the beef industry to our respective states industry groups and producers as well as requesting breed associations.
    Last Modified: unknown

    Date of Annual Report: 09/27/2006

    Report Information:
  • Annual Meeting Dates: 06/19/06 to 06/20/06
  • Period the Report Covers: 07/2005 to 06/2006

    • Participants:
    Brief Summary of Minutes of Annual Meeting:
    On Monday the committee toured Deseret Land & Livestock at Woodruff, UT. Mr. James Sewell gave the committee an excellent tour of the ranch and educated us on how a very large commercial cattle and wildlife operation works. On Tuesday the committee had station reports. In addition to those listed as present, Dr. Milt Thomas, New Mexico State University and on a mini-sabbatical at the University of California, Davis gave his station report via telephone. There was much informative discussion of all of the station reports, which took a good part of the day. The project is due for renewal in September of 2007 and there was discussion about future objectives. Assignments will be made to committee members to develop objectives for the new petition. A business meeting was held late in the afternoon of June 20 and Dr. Mark Enns was named the chair for the coming year. The group is planning to meet in Hawaii in May or June of next year. Dr. Brent Buckley will be the host for the meeting. No administrative advisors were able to attend the meeting.

    Accomplishments:
    Objective 1: Maintain and disseminate educational resources on the genetics of beef cattle including WCC-1 publications. The committee maintains a website, which was constructed when the committee was titled WCC-1. The website is active and currently exist on a server in the Department of Animal Science at New Mexico State University. The current address is: http://www.nmsu.edu/~wcc1 . The website contains most WERA-1 (previously WCC-1 and W-1) publications in pdf form for easy download. In 2005, the committee planned to move the website to the University of Hawaii When the committee meets in Hawaii in 2007 the move of the website will be finalized. Additionally, members of the group make numerous extension and service presentations each year. The titles of these are listed in the publication section of the annual report. The committee is planning a symposium or a review publication to highlight important research areas influencing beef production in the western United States. The publication will be in a similar format to the publication produced by the S277 committee (http://www.lsuagcenter.com/en/crops_livestock/livestock/beef_cattle/breeding_genetics/tropical+breeds.htm .

    Objective 2: Conduct research to contribute to the understanding of genetic association among economically important traits and their indicators. A member of the committee organized a session at the Beef Improvement Federation meeting on cow herd efficiency. A second member of the committee has made invited presentations at the Beef Improvement Federation meeting regarding multiple trait maternal line beef cow indexes and feed efficiency in beef cattle. A third member of the committee made an invited presentation at the Beef Improvement Federation meeting regarding multiple terminal line sire indexes in beef cattle. Current users of multiple trait selection technologies developed by members of the committee include: Circle A Angus Sire Alliance, American International Charolais Association, and Beefbooster Alberta Ltd (Canada), American Hereford Association, American Simmental Association, Agricultural Research Council , and Animal Improvement Institute (South Africa). ABS Global Inc. has derived revenues in excess of $1.5 million from semen of Angus bulls identified as high value terminal sires.

    Objective 3: Maintain a record of resources on pedigreed populations that could be used in quantitative and/or molecular studies. Given the rapid advancements in knowledge of the bovine genome, we continue to maintain records on pedigreed populations within individual participants institutions. At the annual meeting we share information on these populations to encourage further cooperation on basic DNA analysis and application in the genetic evaluation of beef cattle.

    Objective 4: Exchange information, discuss research results, plan new research, examine new developments, discuss future problems, plan cooperative research and share ideas for interdisciplinary involvement in beef cattle breeding. The annual WERA-1 meeting is the forum in which all of these are addressed.

    Impact Statements:
    1. 1. Interactions and publications of WERA-1 provide leadership for the development of procedures to collect fertility trait data and use of these data in genetic prediction.
    2. 2. Interactions and publications of WERA-1 provide leadership for the development of procedures to record genotypes and evaluate the use of DNA polymorphisms in genetic predictions and breeding decisions.
    3. 3. WERA-1 members provide genetic evaluation services and expertise to numerous beef cattle breed associations throughout North America, calculating breeding values for more than 5 million cattle each year.
    4. 4. WERA-1 members are active in development and promotion of genetic evaluations for economically relevant traits to be used for beef cattle selection decisions.
    5. 5. WERA-1 members are a source of expertise regarding genetic technologies of the beef industry to our respective states industry groups and producers as well as requesting breed associations.
    Last Modified: unknown

    Date of Annual Report: 07/02/2008

    Report Information:
  • Annual Meeting Dates: 06/27/07 to 06/29/07
  • Period the Report Covers: 10/2006 to 09/2007

    • Participants:

    URL: Copy of participant list
    Brief Summary of Minutes of Annual Meeting:
    Advisor Reports Pete Burfening, CSREES, provided an update on CSREES.

    David Thawley, the committees new administrator, said that he thought the extension for the WERA-001 would be approved, which would mean that the committee will continue on the current petition through September, 2008. However, he encouraged the committee to submit the new petition as soon as possible  preferably by January 2008 so that it can be considered during the February/March review process.

    Dr. Thawley stated that WERA-001 is an information sharing body which coordinates outreach efforts. He also reminded that the E in WERA stands for education.

    Symposia In previous years, the WERA-001 committee had expressed interest in putting together symposia, so Janice Rumph, Montana State University, suggested that the committee consider structuring a symposium similar to what the WCC-110 (grazing) committee is doing in 2010. This symposium would publish proceedings that would be peer reviewed and considered a supplement to WSASAS proceedings. The theory used by WCC-110 is that a supplement to WSASAS proceedings has more legitimacy than individual, stand alone proceedings.

    There was discussion as to whether or not the resulting manuscripts would be available for e-publication on the Journal of Animal Science website. There was also discussion as to whether the peer reviewed publications would count towards promotion and tenure. The advisors did not think that these proceedings manuscripts would be considered true peer-reviewed manuscripts. David Thawley suggested that the committee focus on submitting a collaborative grant instead of focusing on symposia.

    Website The WERA-001 website has gone down within the last 30 days due to some changes in website administration at New Mexico State University. Mark Enns volunteered Colorado State University to serve as host and Janice Rumph volunteered to maintain the new website.

    Station Reports Station reports were presented for: New Mexico State University Montana State University Red Angus Association of America University of Alaska University of Arizona Texas A&M University University of Nevada University of Hawaii AgCanada University of Wyoming Colorado State University

    Graduate Education Mark Enns and Janice Rumph announced that they had received an USDA Challenge Grant with Ron Lewis, Virginia Tech, for graduate education modules. As modules are released, Enns and Rumph, will update the WERA-001 members.

    There was some discussion of contributions to the modules from other WERA-001 members. Enns and Rumph will keep this in mind.

    Accomplishments:
    Graduate Education Mark Enns and Janice Rumph announced that they had received an USDA Challenge Grant with Ron Lewis, Virginia Tech, for graduate education modules. As modules are released, Enns and Rumph, will update the WERA-001 members.

    There was some discussion of contributions to the modules from other WERA-001 members. Enns and Rumph will keep this in mind.

    New Petition The committee determined the objectives for the new petition. These are:

    1. Develop, disseminate and maintain resources on the genetics of beef cattle to support outreach, extension and education activities. a. Will expand educational activity description in the narrative (global competitiveness, etc) 2. Maintain animal populations, DNA repositories, and performance databases to support beef cattle phenomics research. a. (phenomics as the study of optimum phenotypes for animals to elucidate information from genomics research, and gene discovery, and for use with quantitative methodologies for the design and implementation of genetic improvement programs). 3. Integrate quantitative and molecular research tools that contribute to the understanding of genetic associations among economically important traits, and their indicators. 4. Exchange information, discuss research results, plan new research, examine new developments, discuss future problems, plan cooperative research and share ideas for interdisciplinary involvement in beef cattle breeding. Milt Thomas, New Mexico State University, and Andy Herring, Texas A&M, will lead the effort in developing the new petition.

    2007 WERA-001 Resolutions

    Whereas Dr. Mark Enns did a magnificent job as the 2007 organizer of the Beef Improvement Federation meeting and, Whereas Dr. Mark Enns did an outstanding job as the 2007 Chairperson of the WERA-1 committee and, Whereas Dr. Enns planned and conducted an informative and successful meeting, Therefore be it resolved that the WERA-1 committee congratulates Dr. Mark Enns for his efforts for both of these events.

    Whereas Dr. Brent Buckley served as the gracious host for the WERA-001 meeting in Honolulu; and the ranch tour on Maui, Therefore be it resolved that the WERA-001 committee thanks Brent for his services.

    Whereas Dr. Kristi Cammack, Dr. Broc Sandelin, and Larry Keenan are new members of the WERA-001 committee and Dr. David Thawley was able to attend his first WERA-001 committee as its administrative advisor, Therefore be it resolved that the committee welcomes Dr. Thawley and the new members.

    2008 Meeting The location, host, and chairperson for the 2008 WERA-1 meeting were agreed upon as follows: Location: Fort Collins, Colorado (CSU campus) and/or Saratoga, Wyoming (CSU Rouse Ranch)

    Date: June 22-23, 2008 (Prior to WSASAS) Host: R. Mark Enns, Colorado State University

    Chair: Dave Schafer, University of Arizona

    2009 Meeting Alaska is tentatively planned for the 2009 WERA-001 meeting with Matt Cronin, University of Alaska serving as host.

    Ranch Tours On Friday, June 29, the group flew to Maui and toured the Haleakala and Ulupalakua Ranches.

    Impact Statements:
    1. Committee interaction yielded a 100% increase in the number of performance recorded animals in key cooperating breed associations implementing total herd reporting. - Committee activities influenced the genetic evaluation and/or selection methods for over 95% of the registered beef animals in the U.S.
    2. Over 70% of the U.S. beef breed associations have adopted refined expected progeny difference technologies and incorporated those into national cattle evaluations to improve sustainability and profitability of U.S. beef producers.
    Last Modified: 02-Jul-2008
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