The Department of Animal & Dairy Science - Animal & Dairy ...
←
→
Page content transcription
If your browser does not render page correctly, please read the page content below
The Department of
Animal & Dairy Science
Newsletter Winter 2021
Internationally (better cooling, timed AI,.
sexed semen) than risk
recognized: lower production with
more heat-tolerant bulls.
Ignacy Misztal His studies in heat stress
were widely replicated
Over the last 30 years, around the world and
applied at the commercial
Distinguished Research
level in Australia.
Professor and D.W. Brooks
Professor Ignacy Misztal has Distinguished Research
Professor and D.W. Continued on next page.
been one of the principal
scientists providing key Brooks Professor
developments in genetic
Ignacy Misztal In this issue
•Distinguished Research Professor
evaluation methodology and and D.W. Brooks Professor Ignacy
computational strategies deteriorating heat Misztal
that improve livestock tolerance of Holsteins was •From the Department Head
production and an artifact of intensive •Professor Rom dhane Rekaya
sustainability. Misztal came selection in locations •Associate Professor C. Robert
to UGA in 1996 as an under mild climates. He Dove
associate professor. At that developed an entirely new •Beef Extension Specialist Jason
time the beef group at ADS type of genetic model that
Duggin
(Drs. Benyshek and relies on weather •Student Spotlight
Bertrand) was at a forefront information for public Department Info
of beef genetic evaluation in weather stations, allowing
the U.S., with over 10 breeds the use of records of
evaluated, and one of Dr. Department of
millions of cows. The
Misztal’s responsibilities hypothesis turned true, Animal & Dairy
was to contribute to that and his methods could Science
effort. identify heat tolerant sires, E.L. Rhodes Center
Listening to dairy farmer which were also superior 425 River Road
complaints about poor for fertility and productive Athens, GA 30602
fertility and production in life. However, the industry 706-542-1852
the summertime, he found it more profitable to ads.caes.uga.edu
wondered whether improve management
Professor Ignacy Misztal
In the 2000s many revolution in animal breeding, Misztal exploited the fact that
commercial pig operations with DNA information used to DNA is inherited in large
found that the genetic trend at select better animals. Initial blocks, and genomic
nucleus farms did not transfer strategies for the “genomic” prediction does not act on
to commercial operations, and evaluations were complicated single nucleotides (3 billion of
serious problems emerged like and involved many steps. them) but on the blocks.
excessive piglet mortality and Because the genomic Based on the idea of blocks
poor sow survival. Dr. Misztal information can be used to (from 5000 in chicken to
developed new models for create “genomic 15,000 in Holsteins), the lab
joint purebred-crossbred relationships” Dr. Misztal of Dr. Misztal made the
analyzes, found that poor sow came with an idea to merge genomic evaluations with
survival is due to a generally pedigree and genomic millions of genotyped animals
declining fitness as opposed to relationships, with all easy. The software at UGA
specific reasons. He also computations finished in a called BLUPF90 that contains
found that heat stress single-step. A single step- all the above ideas runs
influences pigs, more at the methodology was both genetic evaluations of major
commercial than nucleus level simpler and more accurate institutions in Holsteins,
because of different and is now the standard Angus, broiler chickens
management, and selection of method in the field. Another (Cobb_Vantress), and pigs
“winter” and “summer” boars challenge in the field was how (PIC, Smithfield, ...).
is economically beneficial. to deal with a large number of
genotyped animals (three
Over 10 years ago inexpensive
genotyping created a million in Holsteins now). Dr. Continued on next page.
Watch video.
2
Professor Ignacy Misztal
Shogo Tsuruta, Jorge Hidalgo, Andre Garcia,
Ignacy Misztal, Rostam Arpallahi, Sungbong Jang,
Misztal derives lots of ideas during Taylor MacWhorter
extensive traveling (49 US states and over David Lee, VP of Research
40 countries), where formal and informal Matias Bermann, May Jay Hollifield, Daniela
discussions with fellow scientists lead to Lourenco, Natalia Galore, Fiona Luise Guinan
many ideas that otherwise could take years
to develop on their own. He taught short Dr. Misztal received many awards including
courses on six continents, and course the Lush Award in Animal Breeding from
participants often become excellent ADSA, the Journal of Dairy Science Most
collaborators/students/postdocs. He is very Cited Award, the Rockefeller Prentice
aware of overloading, as creativity research Research Award in Animal Breeding from
shows that many great ideas come when the ASAS, the Beef Improvement
seemingly doing nothing. Federation’s Pioneer Award, and the
The success of Ignacy Misztal comes National Association of Animal Breeders’
through many talented people who work in (NAAB) Research Award. He also received
his lab. This includes Drs. Shogo Tsuruta three D.W. Brooks Awards for excellence in
and Yutaka Masuda, both research research, in global programs, and
scientists, Dr. Lourenco, now associate Distinguished Professorship.
professor at UGA, and four graduate In 2020 Misztal was awarded the
students (Matias, Bermann, Jorge Hidalgo, Distinguished Research Professor title.
May Kay Hollifield, and Yvette Stein). His Misztal’s research has attracted over $10
closest international collaborators are Drs. million in extramural funding from both
Andres Legarra (France) and Ignacio private and public sources and he published
Aguilar (Uruguay). 256 refereed papers.
3
From the Department Head
On February 11, we held this year's with our bidders and buyers. But, supported us in improving our
Focus on Genetically-Enhanced we are planning on face-to-face for cattle, and especially Ogeechee
EPD's sale in the Dan Daniel 2022 so we can catch up then. Angus, Gardiner Angus and Select
Conference Room. The Many thanks go to Patsie and Sires who have donated semen
Department of Animal and Dairy Carroll Cannon for managing the from several high-quality bulls for
Science raised $5,500 for our sale , and to Brooklyn Graham of our use. The continued support of
Block and Bridle Scholarship LiveAuctions TV for taking great so many beef producers is
Fund from the sale of our Lot 1 videos of the cattle and for tremendous, and is making it
heifer whose embryo was donated conducting the online auction. I possible for us to have high quality
to us by Rocking W Angus. The want to thank Kip McMillan, Chad cattle for teaching and research.
heifer was donated back to ADS so Westmoreland, Caleb Williams, Next year, we plan on selling 2
she was a definite win-win. Our 50 and everyone at the Eatonton Beef heifers to benefit Block and Bridle.
Angus, Hereford and SimAngus Research Farm for raising an One heifer will have proceeds go
bulls averaged a little over $2,300 excellent set of cattle. I also want directly to the club, and the
with some buyers getting really to thank Lawton Stewart and second heifer's proceeds will go to
good bulls at a price they should Dean Pringle for all of their hard the scholarship fund. Once COVID
be thrilled with. Our 10 open work on organizing this sale and is a little more under control, we
commercial Angus and Angus- David Gazda from the Angus plan on having our students
cross heifers averaged $1245. This Association for his sale say service. involved in more aspects of our
sale was 100% online and remote Finally, I want to thank the Angus, beef program. Thanks to
which unfortunately meant we Hereford, and Simmental EVERY ONE who helped with our
didn’t get to host our annual sale breeders in Georgia, Alabama and sale.
luncheon or get to shake hands South Carolina who have
Francis Fluharty,
Animal and Dairy Science
Department Head
4
NEWS mineral research and
helping with the swine
teaching Swine Production,
Animal Nutrition, and
youth events. In 2003, in Metabolism, and
Associate Professor response to budget cuts Introduction to Animal
and retirements, Dove was Science at the
C. Robert Dove moved to the Athens undergraduate level and
campus to continue his Mineral Nutrition at the
Robert Dove is a native of graduate level. Dove also
mineral research and
Missouri who grew up on a extension activities. Over mentors 3-6 undergraduate
multi-enterprise farm that time, he became the only research students each year
included row crops, hay, swine extension specialist with students completing
cattle, swine, and chickens. projects on suckling
in the state and now
Dove was very active in 4-H pressure in sows, the
and FFA while in high determination of teat
school and developed his selection by piglets, and iron
passion for pigs after supplementation of neonatal
receiving a gilt from an FFA piglets. Dove has served as
gilt chain project. He the undergraduate
showed pigs throughout coordinator for the
high school. Department of Animal and
Dove attended the Dairy Science since 2010
University of Missouri for and represents the
his undergraduate degree department on several
and worked both in the Associate Professor College and University
analytical lab and the swine C. Robert Dove committees.
research lab while In 2019, Dove was inducted
completing his degree. He handles all swine
into the UGA Teaching
continued his post-graduate extension duties. Dove Academy and works closely
work at Missouri, receiving continues to do research with Faculty Learning
his M.S. degree before focused on trace minerals Communities and the
moving to Ames, Iowa to with current projects Center for Teaching and
complete his Ph.D. at Iowa evaluating manganese and
Learning, recently
State. iodine levels in sow and completing a yearlong
nursery diets. program as a Senior
Shortly after graduation,
Robert accepted a position After his move to Athens, Teaching Fellow. Robert
at the UGA Coastal Plains Robert Dove became Dove is constantly trying
Experiment Station as a heavily involved in the new and innovative teaching
swine researcher with a teaching program, methods to increase student
small extension teaching the Animal engagement and active
appointment. He spent the Practicum class for the learning.
first 15 years of his career in next 14 years. He is
Tifton conducting trace currently responsible for
5
News
Professor Romdhane Rekaya
A colleague of Romdhane Rekaya recently
stated “Dr. Rekaya is a well-known national
and international animal breeder and
quantitative geneticists and his research
contributions are highly valued by the
global research community. Dr. Rekaya’s
diverse expertise allowed him to play a
leading role in several areas of research
ranging from animal breeding and genetics Professor Romdhane Rekaya
to precision agriculture. Without a doubt he
is one of the top theoretical and Shortly after, he was moved to an assistant
computational quantitative geneticists, and researcher position with the responsibility
applied Bayesian statistician in our field.” to manage the breeding and genetics group
Rekaya is originally from the North African database and to carry out research in the
country of Tunisia. He completed his field of national and international genetic
undergraduate studies in agricultural evaluation of dairy cattle.
engineering with a specialization in animal Dr. Rekaya joined the University of Georgia
and forage production. He was awarded a in September 2001. He is currently a full
postgraduate fellowship by the rank professor at the Department of Animal
Mediterranean Institute of Advanced and Dairy Science, a member of the
Agricultural Studies in Zaragoza (Spain) Institute of Bioinformatics, and an adjunct
where he received his Master of Science faculty at the Department of Statistics. His
degree in Animal Breeding and Genetics. primary research activities are centered on
Through an assistantship offered by the the theoretical aspects of quantitative
Spanish International Cooperation Agency, genetics, statistical genomics and
he finished his PhD studies in Animal bioinformatics. Dr. Rekaya is well-
Breeding and Genetics at the Polytechnic recognized nationally and internationally
University of Madrid (Spain). for his research in the field of livestock and
Upon the completion of his PhD, he joined poultry genetic improvement. His diverse
the University of Wisconsin-Madison as a expertise allowed him to play a leading role
research associate working primarily in the in several areas of research ranging from
development of a system for the prediction animal breeding and genetics to precision
of marbling score using ultrasound imaging agriculture.
and neural networks.
6
Professor Romdhane Rekaya
His research portfolio unprecedented opportunity to has an active collaboration
includes the development of further enhance genomic with several biologically
theoretical and computational selection and better oriented scientists. Through
tools for the joint analysis of understand the genetic basis such efforts, several
continuous and discrete of economically important interesting questions were
responses, analysis of noisy traits. To deal with the tackled, including feed
(misclassified) discrete data in overwhelming amount of efficiency in beef cattle and
the field of animal breeding molecular data, Rekaya and meat-type chickens, heat
and genetics and human his students have developed a stress, nutrigenomics, and
medicine, feed efficiency in method based on the fixation horn fly abundance in cattle.
cattle and poultry, and the index to prioritize the most The latter is a billion-dollar
genetic aspects of horn fly relevant genetic markers problem for the cattle
abundance in beef cattle. resulting in a substantial industry and Rekaya is at the
reduction in the number of forefront of it. In
Even before the adoption of
SNPs needed for the collaboration with engineers,
genomic selection by the
implementation of genomic computer scientists,
livestock industry, Rekaya
was developing advanced selection and often an microbiologists, and animal
methods to use molecular increase in prediction and poultry scientists, he is
accuracy. The method is heavily involved in developing
information in genetic
equally applicable to plant machine-based phenotyping
evaluations and to
breeding and disease marker applications and artificial
incorporate SNP markers in
animal breeding and human detection in humans. intelligence tools for the
implementation of precision
disease diagnostics On top of his work in the
agriculture in livestock and
applications. Availability of development of quantitative
poultry.
high-density SNP marker and computational tools for
panels and whole genome genomics and animal
sequence data provided an breeding applications, Rekaya
Professor Romdhane Rekaya
Teaching in Nairobi, Kenya
7
Professor Romdhane Rekaya
Precision or ‘smart’ agriculture is the
future and we urgently need to train the
next generation of scientists to lead the
effort in this front. Thus, Dr. Rekaya was
involved in the development of the
College of Agriculture and
Environmental Science data science
certificate and he co-taught one course
(AESC 8150) in that program.
Additionally, Dr. Rekaya has developed
several software programs for the
prediction of SNP co-expression
associations (SNPxGE2), detection of
differentially expressed genes (LSOSS), Professor Romdhane Rekaya
and the identification of epistatic
interactions in case-control studies Dr. Rekaya is a frequent reviewer for
(ANTEPISEEKER). Both the national and international granting
AntEpiSeeker and SNPxGE2 have been agencies including USDA NIFA,
cited extensively in the literature. International Foundation for Science
Dr. Rekaya is a prolific writer. In fact, he (IFS), and the French National Research
has published 159 refereed journal Agency (ANR). He serves on several
articles, 6 book chapters, and over 200 committees at the department, college,
proceedings and abstracts. He has and university levels.
trained 21 graduate students (8 MS and Dr. Romdhane Rekaya’s research has
13 PhD students), most of them are resulted in many significant
industry leaders or faculty members in breakthroughs and his future work will
major US research universities. Rekaya also provide additional insights that will
is the instructor of four graduate courses influence our future direction. He is one
in support of graduate programs for the of the best scientists in the world in his
Department of Animal and Dairy area, and he is highly effective in
Science and the College of Agriculture teaching and mentoring at the graduate
and Environmental Science data science level. His national and international
certificate. He has also taught seven reputation has brought distinction to
international courses in North America, both himself, and UGA.
Europe, and Africa.
8
News
Beef Extension Specialist
Jason Duggin
Jason Duggin is the Department of Animal
and Dairy Science (ADS) Beef Extension
Specialist in Northwest GA. There, he
supervises the Georgia Bull Evaluation and
Georgia Heifer Development (HERD)
programs.
Since growing up in Manchester, TN,
Duggin has been heavily involved with 4-H Beef Extension Specialist
and FFA primarily in beef cattle evaluation Jason Duggin
and livestock judging. Duggin received his
Bachelor’s Degree and Master’s Degree in Jason Duggin assists with the bull
Animal Science from Oklahoma State evaluation program that develops
University. At OSU, Duggin was in the top approximately 230 bulls annually across the
ten in beef cattle judging at North American Calhoun and Tifton locations where Duggin
and American Royal Contests. Duggin has is also supporting in an interim role.
used his skills in beef cattle evaluation and Similarly, the HERD program in Calhoun
selection, to serve as a judge at over 140 annually develops roughly 125 heifers
youth shows across the country. He has during a 6-month timeframe that includes
served on the national level through the reproductive analysis and subsequent
National 4-H Livestock Judging contest breeding using Fixed Timed AI. Duggin has
management committee and as an official the opportunity to work with a large
for the National Western Collegiate number of Georgia beef cattle producers
Livestock Judging Contest and Carload through these programs.
Judging Contest for three years where he Jason Duggin works in cooperation with the
also served as beef committee chair. Northwest Georgia Research and Education
Duggin has been with ADS since 2013. He Center based in Gordon and Floyd Counties
was drawn to his position of Beef Extension where he supports applied research and the
Specialist because it is solely committed to Extension live animal programs. Currently,
beef cattle. He was impressed with the a 5-year project is ongoing using the
support of the beef cattle industry by the CowManager® monitoring system. The
Georgia Cattlemen’s Association and UGA system is being used to better understand
Extension. The icing on the cake for Duggin how animals differ in behavior across
to join ADS was the resources available at genetic lines and management types. It is
the UGA’s Northwest Georgia Research and used to monitor cattle for research purposes
Education Center.
9
Beef Extension Specialist Jason Duggin
as well as to gain a better
understanding of cattle in
daily management
practices. Working with
Post-Doctorate Research
Associate, Dr. Jeferson
Lourenco, Duggin
evaluated the behavioral
differences of calves with
different genetic types pre-
and post-weaning. The
system shows some
promise in its ability to
demonstrate differences in
cattle for research purposes
(see figures 1 and 2). The
system is currently
collecting data on Professor
Dean Pringle’s research
investigating feed efficiency
and marbling EPDs in
Angus cattle.
2020 Fort Worth Stock Show
10Beef Extension Specialist Jason Duggin
Duggin also oversees the purposes. and the Bovine Emergency
Georgia Master Cattleman Some of Duggin’s other roles Response Program for first
program. This 8-week course responders in 2019 and
include serving as one of the
is delivered bi-annually in Beef Quality Assurance anticipated in spring of
Georgia rotating through its 2020.
(BQA) coordinators for
four districts. Since 2014, the
Georgia; assisting with youth Jason Duggin writes popular
Master Cattleman program livestock programming; press for the Angus Journal’s
has graduated over 500 serving as a resource to UGA Advisor column, Georgia
participants. Duggin serves County Extension Agents; Cattlemen’s Magazine, and
in a co-coordinator capacity supporting the Georgia previously wrote a monthly
with the Georgia Beef
Cattlemen’s Association, its regional update for
Challenge program. This live local chapters, and Progressive Cattlemen’s
animal program allows producers. Duggin also Magazine for just shy of 4
Georgia producers to ship supports educational years.
feeder cattle to Iowa State’s programming in Georgia and Jason and his wife Katie
Tri-County Steer Futurity
the southeast co-
program that captures have two sons, Lowry (12)
coordinating events such as and Henry (11), and reside in
feedlot performance and
the Stockmanship and
carcass merit for producer Calhoun, GA.
Stewardship series for the
education and marketing Southeast Region in 2018
11Student Spotlight
L-R Jorge Hidalgo, Yvette Steyn, Mary Kate Hollifield, Matias Bermann
Jorge Hidalgo, A PhD student from May Kay Hollifield, a MS student from
Mexico, showed that genetic selection has NC, has just completed a study on
an undesirable impact of reducing the persistence of genomic evaluation over
genetic variation and increasing antagonism generations. Now she researches genetics of
between production and fertility traits. He fertility in pigs.
also found that, thanks to the genomic
Matias Bermann, a PhD student from
information, that in Angus the genomic
Argentina, works on theoretical problems of
predictions in beef do not change much over
how to make the genomic evaluation more
a year even with new data. Jorge does a
accurate and unbiased. His work directly
wonderful work while taking care of 3 kids.
responded to questions from Zoetis, a major
Yvette Stein, a PhD student from South provider of genomic evaluations in dairy,
Africa, was working on multibreed genomic and Cobb-Vantress, one of the two leading
evaluations and on analyzes of data of pigs broiler companies in the world.
from commercial farms, where pigs are
removed from pens sequentially, bigger pigs
first. Now she has a project on increasing
diversity of Holsteins, where few bulls
dominate the breed.
12Student Spotlight
Ashley Ling
Ashley Ling grew up in Canton, GA and
spent most of her free time in middle and
high school horseback riding. Ling is a
fourth year PhD student in the area of
quantitative genetics/genomics.
Ling had always gravitated towards
genetics, and after taking Introduction to
Genetics of Livestock Improvement with Dr.
Samet Soyalp
Keith Bertrand, she became fascinated with
how genetic principles could be used to
benefit producers by breeding them a Samet Soyalp is a first-year Master’s
healthier, better-producing animal. Her student from Turkey. Soyalp’s field is
research work is focused in enhancing the zootecnica which is the study of cattle and
use of SNP marker information in livestock poultry breeding, feeding, and farm
selection. Ling is using several marker management. The Turkish government
prioritizing techniques to increase the granted Soyalp a scholarship to study
accuracy of genomics selection in presence poultry breeding and genetics in the U.S.
of high-density genotypes or sequence data.
Soyalp will be testing a new method,
developed by Dr. Rekaya’s group, for the
implementation of genomic selection in the
presence of crossbred individuals using
chicken data.
13You can also read
