WERA1: Coordinating Beef Cattle Breeding Research and Education Programs for the Western States

(Multistate Research Coordinating Committee and Information Exchange Group)

Status: Inactive/Terminating

Project Menu

SAES-422 Reports

Annual/Termination Reports:

[07/31/2014] [07/20/2015] [07/27/2016] [11/15/2017]

Date of Annual Report: 07/31/2014

Report Information

Annual Meeting Dates: 05/28/2014 - 05/30/2014
Period the Report Covers: 10/01/2013 - 09/30/2014

Participants

Brief Summary of Minutes

The annual meeting was held jointly with the S-1045 technical committee. Individual station reports were provided by those in attendance. Project objective reports were also provided by attendees that were members of the S-1045 project, including proposed project objectives were discussed relative to the pending (at that time) review of that committee’s new project. Opportunities for identifying other contributing stations were discussed.

Those in attendance expressed that a highlight of this annual meeting was the joint meeting with S-1045 committee. This interaction resulted in much discussion of objectives and procedures in the current project and new ideas for enhancing projects and potential future collaboration. Both groups felt this joint meeting was very beneficial, and we intend to meet together every 2 or 3 years. The complete minutes for this joint meeting are attached at the end of the report.

As an aid to evaluate this report, our project objectives are provided:

Develop, disseminate, and maintain resources on the genetics of beef cattle and comparative genetics among cattle breeds and other species (e.g, sheep, wildlife) to support outreach, extension, and education activities.

Maintain animal populations, DNA and RNA repositories, and performance and health databases to support beef cattle phenomics research.

Integrate quantitative and molecular research tools that contribute to the understanding of genetic associations among economically important traits and their indicators.

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 joint S-1045 and WERA-1 meeting was called to order on May 28, 2014 by Dr. Andy Herring at the G. Rollie White Visitor’s Center located at the O.D. Butler Animal Teaching, Research and Extension Complex in College Station, TX. Dr. Herring asked all participants to introduce themselves to the group then invited everyone to partake in breakfast. Dr. Herring introduced Dr. Russell Cross, Animal Science Department Head at TAMU, who gave the official welcome to Texas and to Texas A&M University. Dr. Cross gave an overview of enrollment for the department and discussed funding challenges for animal research in the US. Dr. Herring assigned “volunteers” to the resolutions and nominating committees for the S-1045 group. The members assigned to the nominating committee were Dr. Bob Godfrey and Dr. Jim Sanders; and members assigned to the resolutions committee were Dr. Trent Smith and Dr. Brian Bolt.

Station Reports for S-1045 projects were presented by objectives, beginning with discussion on Objective 1 (Estimation of genetic variation associated with susceptibility/resistance to specific measures of disease stress in cattle managed on forage).

Dr. Bob Godfrey presented a report for University of Virgin Islands regarding tick parasites and association with body weight and ADG of in Senepol cows and calves at weaning and yearling.

Dr. Andy Herring, TAMU, reported results from research evaluating killed versus modified-live BRD vaccine and subsequent gain, rectal temperature, and feed intake vaccinated calves and non-vaccinated controls.

WERA-1 reports were interspersed between S-1045 reports:

Dr. Holly Neibergs reported on 5 project areas being evaluated at Washington State University including BRD, Johne’s Disease, fertility in beef cattle, fertility in dairy cattle and feed efficiency. The BRD study was focused on a GWAS evaluation for dairy populations including cattle in California and New Mexico. The beef BRD research included sample collection, diagnostic processing and GWAS for 1000 feedlot respiratory cases. Johne’s Disease research included a GWAS on 300 cattle at a slaughter facility, and a capture C on putative causal mutation. The beef fertility project focused on crossbred cows located at Ft. Keogh, MT which included 25 fertile cows and 25 infertile cows that were evaluated 28 days post embryo transfer six different times. They will be expanding into another study with the same cows in artificial insemination evaluation. Fertility work on dairy cattle focused on high fertility (n=500) and low fertility (n=500) heifers and primiparous cows which will be ultimately genotyped. Feed efficiency work included fine gene mapping for a larger collaborative study and GSEA integrated with RNA sequencing data.

Dr. Kristi Cammack, University of Wyoming, reported on feed efficiency research in sheep ongoing at their experiment station. The research focused on GWAS data, GrowSafe data, and rumen microbiota including microbe DNA sequencing in collaboration with University of Missouri. High sulfur studies were conducted to evaluate high dietary S and individual animal tolerance to high S levels. Research was also conducted on steers for high and low feed efficiency by evaluating small intestinal biology and gene expression differences and how those affect angiogenic factors and blood flow for nutrient absorption.

S-1045 Objective 2 discussion (Characterize diverse, tropically adapted beef breeds in subtropical and temperate areas of the US with emphasis on cow fertility and productivity in comparison to Bos indicus influenced breeds and types):

Dr. Jim Sanders gave discussion regarding heterosis in a crossbreeding program that began at TAMU in 1995. The primary emphasis was on cow productivity and comparisons were made evaluating lifetime productivity for the crossbreeding projects involving Nelore and Angus cattle.

Dr. Lauren Hanna described the research facilities and extension centers utilized by North Dakota State University throughout the state. She also discussed her research interests including phenotypic traits of cattle, EPDs, temperament scoring bias, and genotypic relationships.

Dr. Jennifer Thomson described research interests that she is currently working on at Montana State University. Projects currently include sheep fertility, nutritional effects on high vs. low-line Rambouillet ewes, effect of progesterone on feed efficiency, RFI relationship to carcass quality in sheep, effects of inbreeding in two lines of Hereford cattle, management of Bighorn sheep and improved objective measurements of temperament.

Dr. Michael Gonda from South Dakota State University described research projects underway in his laboratory. These included hereditability estimate of E. coli 0157:H7 vaccine response in cattle, epigenetic relationship of high vs. low concentrate ration and effects on methylation pattern of hypothalamic tissue in feedlot calves, as well as determining genetic relationship to semen quality using flow cytometry.

S-1045 Objective 4 Updates (Evaluation of relationships between hair coat and production traits in beef cattle breed types):

Bryan Kutz reported data collected for objective 4 at University of Arkansas. Month of first shedding of winter hair coat was related to age of cow, birth weight of calf, and body weight of cow at weaning.

Dr. Brian Bolt reported that Clemson University will be contributing in the future to hair coat shedding data collection. He has interest in observing some Hereford cattle for coat shedding in South Carolina.

Dr. Trent Smith reported data collected at Mississippi State University to determine associations of hair coat shedding, hair length and hair numbers to production traits in beef cattle. Angus, Herefords and Charolais beef herds were all included in the data set. As shedding score went down, hair number went down and percent of short hair went up. Hair shedding score was related to calf birth weight in Angus cows, but not in Hereford or Charolais. Hair shedding score was related to calf weaning weight in Herefords, but not in Angus or Charolais.

Dr. Jim Sanders reported data from 2011 to 2014 regarding hair shedding scores and pattern in cows from the TAMU experiment station. Coat scores were recorded for hair shedding and regrowth patterns. He also explained some data collected by Dr. Riley that compared hair shedding and regrowth scoring to a sine wave/curve.

The meeting was called to order on May 29, 2014 by Dr. Andy Herring. He introduced Dr. Matthew Cronin from University of Alaska as the next speaker. Dr. Cronin shared information regarding endangered species policy. Dr. Cronin’s discussion included information regarding how some species of wildlife such as wolves, bison and sage–grouse depending on their location across the North American continent are being designated by the federal government into separate subspecies to reinforce an environmental policy agenda. However, these “subspecies” have overlapping genetics with limited variation which does not support the federal government’s claims for these species being sorted into separate subspecies.

Dr. David Riley and Dr. Jim Sanders led the group on a tour through the Texas A&M AgriLife Beef Cattle Systems Research Unit on the Brazos river bottom ranch and described the current research projects they are conducting.

Dr. Joe West, University of Georgia, S-1045 administrative advisor gave an update regarding the S1045 project. He informed the group that the current rewrite for the project is now under review. The NIMMS system is also currently unavailable due to the host system at University of Maryland being shut down. Dr. West emphasized the importance of multiple stations actively collaborating on each objective in the project in order to justify the projects existence. He also reminded the group that a project report will be due 60 days following the meeting. Dr. Herring reminded the group to send electronic copies of station reports to him to put together a final report for this year’s project meeting. Dr. Brett Hess, University of Wyoming, WERA-1 administrative advisor addressed the group indicating the importance of reporting our research findings related to our project objectives, and he provided a handout focused on writing a good report. Dr. Hess also described how our reports are assembled into impact statements to justify funding for our land grant research mission. Dr. Hess also indicated the Hatch funds were increased in 2014 by 3%, and AFRI may receive approximately $8 million in increased funding. The current farm bill called for the establishment of an Agriculture Research Foundation providing funding to match extramural/industry funds to support research targeting agricultural needs. Dr. Herring discussed opportunity regarding future collaboration or meetings between the S-1045 and WERA-1 projects. Dr. Bob Godfrey indicated it may be favorable for the two groups to meet together every 2 or 3 years for interaction and discussion.

The two groups met separately to discuss future meeting locations and frequency of future collaborative meetings. The S-1045 group determined that a collaborative meeting with WERA-1 should occur around every 2-3 years. Dr. Herring broke a tie vote for meeting location, so that the 2015 S-1045 meeting will be held at Clemson University and the 2016 meeting at University of Virgin Islands. Proposed dates for the S-1045 2015 meeting were May 27-29. The WERA-1 group is planning to meet in Montana in 2015 and will meet with the S-1045 group at University of Virgin Islands in 2016.

Dr. Herring invited reports from the nominating and the resolutions committee for the S-1045 project group. Dr. Sanders indicated that the nominating committee had nominated Dr. Brian Bolt as incoming secretary for the S-1045 executive board. His nomination was accepted by unanimous vote. The resolution committee report was read by Dr. Brian Bolt and was accepted by unanimous vote from the group.

Dr. David Riley further discussed his methodology regarding the hair coat shedding sinusoidal data that was introduced the previous day by Dr. Jim Sanders. He pointed out that the younger cows exhibited hair coat shedding that was slightly delayed compared to older cows.

The group toured the new Thomas G. Hildebrand, DVM ’56 Equine Complex located on the TAMU campus that afternoon, and toured the cattle in various b breeding research projects at the Texas A&M University AgriLife Research Center in McGregor, Texas on Friday May 30. The group adjourned at 3:00 PM.

Accomplishments

Regarding genetic investigation of cattle health, high density genotyping and genome wide association study (GWAS) of 1,000 feedlot steers from Colorado has been completed along with an initial analysis of health and performance phenotypes. Multiple measures of behavior, health, immune responses and individual feed intake and growth after Bovine Viral Diarrhea virus challenge, in conjunction with genetic background and DNA banked in 380 Nellore-Angus crossbred steers in Texas. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) at conserved regions at the locus associated with tissue infection of Johne’s disease have been investigated. Two functional mutations have been identified with a patent filed. An additional 300 animals have been genotyped, and GWAS is ongoing for validation.  Work in these areas collectively contributes to accomplishments of Objectives 1, 2, and 3.   Investigation of genetic components contributing to differences in individual animal feed intake and feed efficiency is being pursued at several locations though evaluation of males (growing bulls or steers), or in females (replacement heifers and/or mature cows), and in some cases sheep. Data associated with these activities contribute to project objectives 1, 2 and 3.   Several structured populations are being utilized to investigate genetic influences on cattle fertility. Collection and processing of 1,500 Holstein replacement heifer samples for genotyping in addition to beef population for fertility study is ongoing at WSU. Approximately 3,000 records from 700 Bos indicus-Bos taurus females including DNA samples have been collected at TAMU. Two composite populations Bos taurus populations are being evaluated in Arizona. Montana maintains the Line 4 Hereford cattle as a component of a long-term line breeding project selecting for early growth rates and scrotal circumference; additionally, MSU and USDA-ARS maintain the Line 1 Hereford cattle that has been informative in beef cattle genetics for over 75 years. MSU also maintains two lines of Rambouillet sheep selected since 1968 for high and low reproductive rate, which are currently being used to study the genetic and molecular basis of reproductive efficiency. Accomplishments in these areas contribute to project Objectives 1, 2, and 3.   Cattle producers in Arizona, Colorado, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Texas, Wyoming have received research information and updates from project participants at local meetings and additional producers have been reached nationally at the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association and Beef Improvement Federation meetings; colleague scientists have been impacted at the American Society of Animal Science and the Plant and Animal Genome meetings. Also, during the current reporting period, 18 graduate students have received training and research knowledge to aid in their career development and the advancement of knowledge about cattle breeding and genetics. Several publications in scientific outlets and industry/popular press outlets are provided under the publications list. Activities in these areas support Objectives 1 and 4.

Publications

Journal Articles:   Cronin, M.A., G. Rincon, R.W. Meredith, M.D. MacNeil, A.  Islas-Trejo, A. Canovas, and J.F. Medrano. 2014.  Molecular phylogeny and SNP variation of polar bears (Ursus maritimus), brown bears (U. arctos) and black bears (U. americanus) derived from genome sequences. Journal of Heredity. 105:312-323.   Cronin, M.A., M.M. McDonough, H.M. Huynh, and R.J. Baker. 2013. Genetic relationships of North American bears (Ursus) inferred from amplified fragment length polymorphisms and mitochondrial DNA sequences.  Canadian Journal of Zoology 91:626-634.    Cronin, M.A., M.D. MacNeil, N. Vu, V. Leesburg, H. Blackburn, and J. Derr.  2013.  Genetic variation and differentiation of extant bison subspecies and comparison with cattle breeds and subspecies. Journal of Heredity.  104:500-509.   Cronin, M.A., and M.D. MacNeil.  2012.  Genetic relationships of extant North American brown bears (Ursus arctos) and polar bears (U. maritimus). The Journal of Heredity103:873-881.   Diaz, I.D.P.S., D. H. Crews Jr., and R. M. Enns.  2013  Cluster and meta-analyses of genetic parameters for feed intake traits in growing beef cattle.  J. Anim. Breed. Genet.   DOI=10.1111/jbg.12063&ArticleID=1235102  1-10.   Hulsman Hanna, L. L., D. J. Garrick, C. A. Gill, A. D. Herring, P. K. Riggs, R. K. Miller, J. O. Sanders, and D. G. Riley. 2014. Genome-wide association study of temperament and tenderness using different Bayesian approaches in a Nellore-Angus crossbred population. Livest. Sci. 161:17-27.   Hulsman Hanna, L. L., D. J. Garrick, C. A. Gill, A. D. Herring, J. O. Sanders, and D. G. Riley. 2014. Comparison of breeding value prediction for two traits in a Nellore-Angus crossbred population using different Bayesian modeling methodologies. Genet. Mol. Biol. In Review.   Hulsman Hanna, L. L., and D. G. Riley. 2014. Mapping genomic markers to closest feature using the R package Map2NCBI. Livest. Sci. 162:59:65.   Hulsman Hanna, L. L., J. O. Sanders, D. G. Riley, C. A. Abbey, and C. A. Gill. 2014. Identification of a major locus interacting with MC1R and modifying black coat color in an F2 Nellore-Angus population. Genet. Sel. Evol. 46:4.   Karisa, B.K., J. Thomson, Z. Wang, C. Li, Y.R. Montanholi, S.P. Miller, S.S. Moore, and G.S. Plastow. 2014. Plasma metabolites associated with residual feed intake and other productivity performance traits in beef cattle, Livestock Science, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.livsci.2014.03.002   Minten, M.A., T.R. Bilby, R.G.S. Bruno, C.C. Allen, C.A. Madsen, Z. Wang, J.E. Sawyer, A. Tibary, H.L. Neibergs, T.W. Geary, S. Bauersachs, T.E. Spencer. 2013. Effects of Fertility on Gene Expression and Function of the Bovine Endometrium. PLoSOne 8(8): e69444. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0069444   Nielsen, M. K., M. D. MacNeil, J. C. M. Dekkers, D. H. Crews Jr., T. A. Rathje, R. M. Enns, and R. L. Weaber.  2013.  Life-cycle, total-industry genetic improvement of feed efficiency in beef cattle:  Blueprint for the Beef Improvement Federation.  Prof. An. Sci.  29:  559-565.   Peters, S. O., K. Kizilkaya, D. J. Garrick, R. L. Fernando, E. J. Pollak, R. M. Enns, M. De Donato, O. O. Ajayi, and I. G. Imumorin.  Use of robust multivariate linear mixed models for estimation of genetic parameters for carcass traits in beef cattle.  J. Anim. Breed. Genet.  DOI:10.111/jbg.12093 Riley, D. G., T. H. Welsh Jr., C. A. Gill, L. L. Hulsman, A. D. Herring, P. K. Riggs, J. E. Sawyer, and J. O. Sanders. 2013. Whole genome association of SNP with newborn calf cannon bone length. Livest. Sci. 155:186-196.   Scraggs, E, A. Wojwicz, R. Zanella, J.F. Taylor, C.T. Gaskins, J.J. Reeves, J.M. de Avila, H.L. Neibergs. 2013. Estimation of inbreeding and effective population size of full blood Wagyu cattle registered with the American Wagyu Cattle Association. Journal Animal Breeding and Genetics DOI: 10.1111.jbg.12066   Tolleson, D.R. and D.W. Schafer. 2014. Application of fecal near-infrared spectroscopy and nutritional balance software to monitor diet quality and body condition in beef cows grazing Arizona rangeland.  J. Anim. Sci. 92:349–358.   Scientific Abstracts:   Bauer, L. W., J. O. Sanders, D. G. Riley, and A. D. Herring.  2014.  Breed and sex influence on calf birth weight in purebred and crossbred Angus and Nellore calves.  J. Anim. Sci.  92(Suppl. 2):3(Abstr.).   Burns, G.W., T.W. Geary, J.I. Moss, A.C. Denicol, K.B. Dobbs, M. Sofiea Ortega, P.J. Hansen, A.J. Wojtowicz, H.L. Neibergs, P.J. Ross, T.E. Spencer. Genome-wide association study and endometrial transcriptomics of fertility-classified beef heifers. 2014. Society Study of Reproduction Annual Meeting, Grand Rapids, Michigan.   Cockrum, R. R., S. E. Speidel, J. L. Salak-Johnson, C. C. L. Chase, R. K. Peel, R. L. Weaber, H. Van Campen, G. H. Loneragan, J. J. Wagner, P. Boddhireddy, M. G. Thomas, K. Prayaga, and R. M. Enns.  2013.  Heritability and correlations of immune respons parameters in cattle treated for bovine respiratory disease.  J. Anim. Sci. Vol 91, E-Suppl. 2/J. Dairy Sci. Vol. 96, E-Supl. 1. Page 70.   Garcia, J., A. D. Herring, D. G. Riley, J. O. Sanders, and D. P. Anderson. 2014. Economic analysis of cow longevity. Proc. West. Sec. Amer. Soc. Anim. Sci. 65:83-86. Downey, E.D., X. Fang, C.A. Runyan, J.E. Sawyer, T.B. Hairgrove, J.F. Ridpath and A.D. Herring. 2013. Anamnestic antibody response to in BVDV 1b challenge in Angus-Nelore steers. J. Anim. Sci. 91(E-Suppl. 2): 650(Abstr.).   Downey, E.D., X. Fang, C. Runyan, J.E. Sawyer, T.B. Hairgrove, J.F. Ridpath, and A.D. Herring. 2014. Vaccinated Angus-Nellore yearling steers have reduced platelet and lymphocyte decline following bovine viral diarrhea virus type 1b challenge. (abstract for Southern Section ASAS page 20).   Fang, X., E.D. Downey, C.A. Runyan, T.B. Hairgrove, J.E. Sawyer, W. Mwangi, C.A. Gill, and A.D. Herring. 2014. Relationships between temperament and hematological responses of crossbred steers following bovine viral diarrhea virus challenge. (abstract for Southern Section ASAS page 5).   Fang, X., E. Downey, C.A. Runyan, J.E. Sawyer, T.B Hairgrove, J.F. Ridpath, W. Mwangi , C.A. Gill, and A.D. Herring. 2013. Relationships of temperament, exit velocity and rectal temperature of crossbred steers challenged with Bovine Viral Diarrhea Virus. J. Anim. Sci. 91(E-Suppl. 2): 648(Abstr.).   Garrick, D.J., M. Saatchi, J. F. Taylor, US Feed Efficiency Consortium. Genome-Wide Association Study of Dry Matter Intake, Metabolic Weight, Growth and Feed Efficiency in Beef Cattle. 2014. Plant & Animal Genome XXII, San Diego, California.   Kidder, L., A.J. Wojtowicz, J.F. Taylor, C.M. Seavury, K.A. Johnson, H.L. Neibergs. Gene set enrichment analysis of residual feed intake in Hereford cattle. 2014. Joint American Dairy Science Association-American Society of Animal Science Annual Meeting, Kansas City, Missouri.   Long, N.M., T.A. Burns, S.K. Duckett, and D.W. Schafer. 2013. Reproductive performance of beef heifers supplemented with saturated or unsaturated rumen bypass fat. J. Anim. Sci. 91 (E-Suppl. 2):235. (Abstr.).   Long, N.M. And D.W. Schafer. 2013. Changes in plasma leptin in newborn and postnatal beef calves. J. Anim. Sci. 91 (E-Suppl.2):344-345. (Abstr.).   Moss, K.D., F. Avila, T. Raudsepp, B.M. Marron, J.E. Beever, M. Neupane, S. Parish, J. Kiser, B. Cantrell, H.L. Neibergs. Polymelia in Holstein Cattle. 2014. Joint American Dairy Science Association-American Society of Animal Science Annual Meeting, Kansas City, Missouri.   Neibergs, H.L., C.M. Seabury, J.F. Taylor, A. Wojtowicz, Bovine Respiratory Disease Consortium, J.E. Womack. A multidisciplinary approach to genome wide association analysis reveals susceptibility loci for Bovine Respiratory Disease Complex. 2014. Plant & Animal Genome XXII, San Diego, California.   Neibergs, J.S., H.L. Neibergs, J.F. Taylor, C.M. Seabury, T.W. Lehenbauer, A.L. Van Eenennaam, J.E. Womack. An estimate of the economic gain from selection to reduce BRD incidence in dairy calves. 2014. Proceedings 10th World Congress of Genetics Applied to Livestock Production, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.   Riley, D.G., T.H. Welsh, C.A. Gill, L.L. Hulsman, A.D. Herring, P.K. Riggs, J.E. Sawyer, and J.O. Sanders. 2013. Association of newborn calf cannon bone length with preselected SNP chosen based on proximity to genes with suspected influence. Page 9 in: American Society of Animal Science Southern Section Annual Meeting and Conference, Orlando, FL, USA.   Runyan, C.A., X. Fang, E.D. Downey, T.B. Hairgrove, J.E. Sawyer, J.G. Moreno, J.F. Ridpath, and A.D. Herring. 2013. Interactions of rectal temperature status and vaccine type with sire on weight gain and feed intake in Bos indicus crossbred steers following Bovine Viral Diarrhea virus challenge. J. Anim. Sci. 91(E-Suppl. 2): 168(Abstr.).   Runyan, C.A., X. Fang, E.D. Downey, J.E. Sawyer, T.B. Hairgrove, J.F. Ridpath, and A.D. Herring. 2014. Evaluation of weight gain and rectal temperature across vaccine type in Bos indicus crossbred steers challenged with bovine viral diarrhea virus. (abstract for Southern Section ASAS page 32).   Seabury, C.M., J.F. Taylor, H.L. Neibergs, BRD Consortium. GWAS for differential manifestation of clinical signs and symptoms related to bovine respiratory disease complex in Holstein calves. 2014. Plant & Animal Genome XXII, San Diego, California.   Speidel, S. E., R. R. Cockrum, J. L. Salak-Johnson, C. C. L. Chase, M. G. Thomas, K. G. Prayaga, R. K. Peel, R. L. Weaber, H. Van Campen, G. H. Loneragan, J. J. Wagner, and R. M. Enns.  2013.  Cortisol, interleukin 8, and immunoglobin G ratios predict treatment for bovine respiratory disease in feedlot cattle.  J. Anim. Sci. Vol 91, E-Suppl. 2/J. Dairy Sci. Vol. 96, E-Supl. 1. Page 486.   Thomas, M. G., G. R. Hagevoort, T. T. Ross, R. M. Enns, H. Van Campen, A. L. Van Eenennaam, H. L. Neibergs, C. Chase, and J. E. Womack.  2013.  Integrated program for reducing bovine respiratory disease complex (BRDC) in cattle, coordinated agricultural project (CAP):  Translation of research into teaching programs in 2013.  J. Anim. Sci. Vol 91, E-Suppl. 2/J. Dairy Sci. Vol. 96, E-Supl. 1. Page 421.   Wojtowicz, A., C.M. Seabury, J.F. Taylor, BRD Consortium, H.L. Neibergs. Gene set enrichment analysis of bovine respiratory disease SNP genotypic data. 2014. Plant & Animal Genome XXII, San Diego, California.   Womack, J.E., BRD Consortium. Bovine Respiratory Disease Complex (BRDC) Coordinated Agriculture Project. 2014. Plant & Animal Genome XXII, San Diego, California.   Conference Proceedings and Research Reports:   Beard, Ashley, Colt Knight, David W. Schafer and Dan B. Faulkner. 2013. Improving range cow efficiency. Producer’s Update and Research Highlights: p57-58.   Faulkner, Dan B., David W. Schafer, Dan D. Kiesling and Michelee M. Regan. 2013. Management factors to improve range cow reproduction. Producer’s Update and Research Highlights: p15-20.   Kiesling, Daniel D., Dan B. Faulkner and David W. Schafer. 2013. Early weaning calves and its effects on two- and three-year old cows’ reproductive performance, feedlot performance and carcass traits of the calf. Producer’s Update and Research Highlights: p59-60.   Schafer, David W. 2013. New technologies in the beef business. Producer’s Update and Research Highlights: p11-14.   Thomas, M.G., N.F. Berge, G.R. Hagevoort, T. Ross, R.M. Enns, A.L. Van Eenennaam, H.L. Neibergs, J.S. Neibergs, J.E. Womack. 2014. Integrated program for reducing bovine respiratory disease complex coordinated agricultural project (BRDC-CAP): Trainee participation is a bonus to teaching aims. Proceedings 10th World Congress of Genetics Applied to Livestock Production, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.   Weaber, R.L., J.E. Beever, H.C. Freetly, D.J. Garrick, S.L. Hansen, K.A. Johnson, M.S. Kerley, D.D. Loy, E. Marques, H.L. Neibergs, E.J. Pollak, R.D. Schnabel, C.M. Seabury, D.W. Shike, M.L. Spangler, J.F. Taylor. 2014. Analysis of US cow-calf producer survey data to assess knowledge, awareness and attitudes related to genetic improvement of feed efficiency. Proceedings 10th World Congress of Genetics Applied to Livestock Production, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.   Non-Referred/Popular Press Articles:   Hulsman, L. 2013. Contemporary Groups: Creating fair comparisons. Brahman Journal. 41(9):34-36.   Hulsman, L., and D. Riley. 2013. BIF & You: the role of the Beef Improvement Federation with American Black Hereford Association. Black Hereford Journal 1(2):4-6. Editor: N. Hoagland. American Black Hereford Association, Leavenworth, KS.   Riley, D. G., M. R. Woolfolk, and L. H. H. Hanna. 2013. American Black Hereford Association Estimated Progeny Differences. Black Hereford Journal 2(2):8-9. Editor: N. Hoagland. American Black Hereford Association, Leavenworth, KS.   Producer and Industry Meetings and Presentations:   Herring, A.D. Genetic and Management Influences on Beef Quality. BEEF 706 (Sponsored by Texas Beef Council), College Station, Texas. 3 sessions with 120 participants.   Herring, A.D. Breed talk Texas A&M Beef Cattle Short Course, College Station, Texas - August 3, 2013.   Hulsman Hanna, L. L. 2013. Genomic Tests: Understanding their advantages and limitations to beef cattle breeding programs. Stockmen’s Supply West Customer Appreciation Dinner. Mandan, ND. September 10, 2013.   Hulsman Hanna, L. L. 2013. Genomic Tests: Understanding their advantages and limitations to beef cattle breeding programs. Stockmen’s Supply Customer Appreciation Dinner. West Fargo, ND. September 11, 2013.   Hulsman Hanna, L. L. 2013. Genomic Predictions in Nellore-Angus Crossbreds & Future Research Interests. NCERA 225 Annual Meeting. Kansas City, MO. December 11, 2013. Meeting occurred from December 11 – 12, 2013.   Hulsman Hanna, L. L. 2014. Advances in Cattle Genetics. Precision Agriculture Action Summit 2014. Jamestown, ND. January 20 – 21, 2014.   Neibergs, H.L. 2013. Presentations for Beef 300 to cattle producers, Pullman, Washington.   Neibergs, H.L. “Genome Wide Association Analysis Reveals Susceptibility Loci for Bovine Respiratory Disease Complex; Results from the Bovine Respiratory Disease Complex CAP”. Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, Oklahoma.   Neibergs, H.L.2014 “Multidisciplinary Approach to Genome Wide Association Analysis Reveals Susceptibility Loci for Bovine Respiratory Disease Complex”. International Plant and Animal Genome XXII, San Diego, California.   Neibergs, H.L. 2014 Presentations at WSU Beef Production Conference, Yakima, Washington.   Neibergs, H.L. 2014 BIF “Economic benefits of using genetic selection to reduce the prevalence of bovine respiratory disease complex in beef feedlot cattle”, Lincoln, Nebraska.

Impact Statements

Through intensive study of individual animal feed intake in conjunction with animal genetic background, knowledge has been increased regarding rumen microbial species potentially important to the regulation of feed efficiency in ruminants as well as rumen microbial species affected by high dietary sulfur. (Objectives 1, 2, and 3)

Date of Annual Report: 07/20/2015

Report Information

Annual Meeting Dates: 05/18/2015 - 05/21/2015
Period the Report Covers: 10/01/2014 - 09/30/2015

Participants

Matt Cronin University of Alaska macronin@alaska.edu

Jennifer Thomson Montana State Univ jennifer.thomson@montana.edu

Lauren Hanna North Dakota State Univ lauren.hanna@ndsu.edu

Andy Herring Texas A&M University andy.herring@tamu.edu

Graduate Students/Guests
Bailey Engle MSU/Texas A and M
Haipeng Yu North Dakota State Univ
Jordan Heiber North Dakota State Univ
Mark Petersen USDA LARRL Ft Keogh
Vicki Leesburg USDA LARRL Ft Keogh
Andy Roberts USDA LARRL Ft Keogh
Mike MacNeil Delta G - remote

Brief Summary of Minutes

The annual meeting was held at the USDA ARS Livestock and Range Research Laboratory at Fort Keogh in Miles City Montana. Individual station reports were provided by those in attendance. Opportunities for identifying other contributing stations were discussed.

Those in attendance expressed that the history of animal breeding research at Ft. Keogh was interesting and that the line breeding program Line 1 was an important resource. This exposure provided discussion of potential collaborations with the USDA in the future. The complete meeting minutes are provided below.

As an aid to evaluate this report, our project objectives are provided:

Develop, disseminate, and maintain resources on the genetics of beef cattle and comparative genetics among cattle breeds and other species (e.g, sheep, wildlife) to support outreach, extension, and education activities.

Maintain animal populations, DNA and RNA repositories, and performance and health databases to support beef cattle phenomics research.

Integrate quantitative and molecular research tools that contribute to the understanding of genetic associations among economically important traits and their indicators.

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 WERA-001 meeting was called to order on May 19, 2015 by Dr. Jennifer Thomson at the USDA ARS Livestock and Range Research Laboratory at Fort Keogh in Miles City Montana. Dr. Thomson asked all participants to introduce themselves to the group then invited everyone to partake in breakfast. Dr. Thomson introduced Dr. Mark Petersen, Research Director at USDA ARS Livestock and Range Research Laboratory, who gave the official welcome to Montana and to Ft. Keogh. Dr. Petersen provided an overview of the facility and it’s history.

Dr. Matt Cronin discussed work related to polar bears and the impact of climate change assesments indicating that bears have previously survived periods with little or no sea ice which challenges the model that the lack of summer sea ice will cause extinction. Dr. Cronin also discussed the taxonomy of wolves and sub species classifications and the ramifications under the endangered species act. In addition, the potential of obtaining animals or germplasm from the Chirikof Island cattle was discussed. Additional discussion on endangered species management as well as wildlife issues with import to livestock production were discussed including sage grouse and bison issues.

Dr. Lauren Hanna described efforts to improve teaching of genetics at NDSU. She described a peer mentoring group as well as the development of supplemental modules on relevant and fundamental concepts for review as well as supplements to class materials. Dr. Hanna discussed collection of DNA from the Central Grasslands Research Center and described planned research on longevity and efficiency in the cow herd at the Dickinson Research and Extension Center. Dr. Hanna also discussed the first year of data collection in a project evaluating cattle temperament and evaluator bias is subjective measurements.

Dr. Jennifer Thomson described research interests that she is currently working on at Montana State University. Projects currently include relationship of metabolite profile and RFI in cattle and sheep, nutritional effects on high vs. low-line Rambouillet ewes, effect of progesterone on feed efficiency, RFI relationship to carcass composition and gene expression in sheep, genetic correlations between maternal and carcass traits in Simmental cattle, management of Bighorn sheep and improved objective measurements of temperament.

The business meeting included discussion of resources for sharing of teaching materials. Dr. Thomson committed to opening a shared folder on dropbox for sharing syllabi, homework problems, and exams. The future of a joint meeting with the S-1045 group was discussed and the group determined it would like to pursue the potential of a joint meeting next year in St. Croix. Dr. Herring expressed his willingness to help coordinate as necessary.

On the 21^st, Dr. Thomson, Dr. Cronin and Ms. Bailey Engle toured the Vermillion Angus Ranch and looked at a number of premier Angus bulls.

Accomplishments

Approximately 500 phenotypes and 70K genotypes have been collected related to humoral response to Escherichia coli O157:H7.  This is related to research into the genetics of vaccine response. Data associated with these activities contribute to project objectives. In addition, DNA and phenotypes have been collected for BRD research and susceptibility to Johne’s disease 1, 3 and 4.   Investigation of genetic components contributing to differences in individual animal feed intake and feed efficiency is being pursued at several locations though evaluation of males (growing bulls or steers), or in females (replacement heifers and/or mature cows), and in some cases sheep. Data associated with these activities contribute to project objectives 1, 2 and 3.   Resources are being developed in North Dakota and Montana to enhance teaching of undergraduate and graduate genetics.  This is relevant to objective 1.   Several structured populations are being utilized to investigate genetic influences on cattle fertility. Collection and processing of 1,500 Holstein replacement heifer samples for genotyping in addition to beef population for fertility study is ongoing at WSU. Approximately 3,000 records from 700 Bos indicus-Bos taurus females including DNA samples have been collected at TAMU. Two composite populations Bos taurus populations are being evaluated in Arizona. Montana maintains the Line 4 Hereford cattle as a component of a long-term line breeding project selecting for early growth rates and scrotal circumference; additionally, MSU and USDA-ARS maintain the Line 1 Hereford cattle that has been informative in beef cattle genetics for over 75 years. MSU also maintains two lines of Rambouillet sheep selected since 1968 for high and low reproductive rate, which are currently being used to study the genetic and molecular basis of reproductive efficiency. Accomplishments in these areas contribute to project Objectives 1, 2, and 3.   Novel phenotypes in regards to cattle temperament and blood metabolites are being collected in North Dakota and Montana and these phenotypes and DNA will be used in development of new genetic predictions for these traits. Accomplishments in these areas contribute to project Objectives 1, 2, and 3.     Cattle producers in Arizona, Colorado, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Texas, Wyoming have received research information and updates from project participants at local meetings and additional producers have been reached nationally at the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association and Beef Improvement Federation meetings; colleague scientists have been impacted at the American Society of Animal Science and the Plant and Animal Genome meetings. Also, during the current reporting period, 18 graduate students have received training and research knowledge to aid in their career development and the advancement of knowledge about cattle breeding and genetics. Several publications in scientific outlets and industry/popular press outlets are provided under the publications list. Activities in these areas support Objectives 1 and 4.

Publications

Journal Articles:   Cronin, M.A., A. Cánovas, A.  Islas-Trejo, D.L. Bannasch, A.M. Oberbauer, and J.F. Medrano. 2015. Wolf Subspecies: Reply to Weckworth et al. and Fredrickson et al.. The Journal of Heredity.  http://jhered.oxfordjournals.org/content/early/2015/05/10/jhered.esv029.extract.   Cronin, M.A., A. Cánovas, A.  Islas-Trejo, D.L. Bannasch, A.M. Oberbauer, and J.F. Medrano. 2015.  Single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) variation of wolves (Canis lupus) in Southeast Alaska and comparison with wolves, dogs, and coyotes in North America. The Journal of Heredity 106:26-36.   Cronin, M. A. 2014.  What is a wolf?  Chapter 19 pages 287-304, in The Real Wolf by T.B. Lyon and W. Graves, and L.Grosskopf and N. Morrison editors.  Farcountry Press, Helena, MT.  Cronin, M.A., G. Rincon, R.W. Meredith, M.D. MacNeil, A.  Islas-Trejo, A. Canovas, and J.F. Medrano. 2014.  Molecular phylogeny and SNP variation of polar bears (Ursus maritimus), brown bears (U. arctos) and black bears (U. americanus) derived from genome sequences. Journal of Heredity. 105:312-323.   Chapel, N.M., L.L. Hulsman Hanna, N. Chapinal, and S.A. Wagner. 2014. The effects of Flunixin Meglumine treatment and hoof trimming on lying behavior and locomotion in dairy cows. In: Proc. 47th Annual American Association of Bovine Practitioners, Albuquerque, NM. http://www.aabp.org/meeting/display_research.asp?recnum=4885 (Accessed 1 December 2014).   Riley, D.G., C.A. Gill, A.D. Herring, P.K. Riggs, J.E. Sawyer, D.K. Lunt, and J.O. Sanders. 2014. Genetic evaluation of aspects of temperament in Nelore-Angus calves. J. Anim. Sci.  92:3223–3230.    Riley, D.G., C.A. Gill, P.K. Riggs, J.O. Sanders, J.E. Sawyer, and A.D. Herring. 2014. Alternative parameterizations of relatedness in whole genome association analysis of pre-weaning traits of Nelore-Angus calves. Genet. Mol. Biol.  37:518–525.   Hulsman Hanna, L.L., D.J. Garrick, C.A. Gill, A.D. Herring, J.O. Sanders, and D.G. Riley. 2014. Comparison of breeding value prediction for two traits in a Nellore-Angus crossbred population using different Bayesian modeling methodologies.  Genet. Mol. Biol. 37:631-637.   Erchinger, J., C. Marianno, and A. Herring. 2015. Development of a customized radiation monitor for livestock screening. Health Physics. (Accepted).   Dillon, J.A., D.G. Riley, A.D. Herring, J.O. Sanders, and R.M. Thallman. 2015. Genetic effects on birth weight in reciprocal Brahman–Simmental crossbred calves. J. Anim. Sci. 93: 553-561.   P.C. Tizioto, J.W. Kim, C.M. Seabury, R.D. Schnabel, L.J. Gershwin, A.L. Van Eenennaam, R. Toaff-Rosenstein, H.L. Neibergs, the Bovine Respiratory Disease Complex Coordinated Agricultural Project Research Team, J.F. Taylor. Immunological response to single pathogen challenge with agents of the bovine respiratory disease complex: An RNA-sequence analysis of the bronchial lymph node transcriptome. PlosOne (in press).   T.F. Ng, N. Kondov, X. Deng, A. Van Eenennaam, H.L. Neibergs, E. Delwart. 2015. Viruses associated with bovine respiratory disease identified using metagenomics and a case-control study. Journal Virology doi:10.1128/JVI.00064-15.   H.L. Neibergs, C.M. Seabury, A.J. Wojtowicz, Z. Wang, E. Scraggs, J. Kiser, M. Neupane, J.E. Womack, A. E. Van Eenennaam, G.R. Hagevoort, T.W. Lehenbauer, S. Aly, J. Davis, J.F. Taylor. 2014. Susceptibility loci revealed for bovine respiratory disease complex in pre-weaned Holstein calves. BMC Genomics 15:1164   <ol start="2014"> <li>Van Eenennaam, H.L. Neibergs, C. Seabury, J. Taylor, Z. Wang, E. Scraggs, R.D. Schnabel, J. Decker, A. Wojtowicz, S. Aly, J. Davis, P. Blanchard, B. Crossley, P. Rossitto, T. Lehenbauer, R. Hagevoort, E. Chavez, J.S. Neibergs, J.E. Womack. 2014. Results of the BRD CAP project: progress toward identifying genetic markers associated with BRD susceptibility. 2014.  Animal Health Research Reviews. DOI:<a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S1466252314000231"> http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S1466252314000231</a></li> </ol>   <ol start="2014"> <li>Saatchi, J.E. Beever, J.E. Decker, H.C. Freetly, S.L. Hansen, H. Yampara-Iquise, K.A. Johnson, M.S. Kerley, J.W. Kim, D.D. Loy, E. Marques, H.L. Neibergs, E.J. Pollak, R.D. Schnabel, C.M. Seabury, D.W. Shike, M.L. Spangler, R.L. Weaber, D.J. Garrick, J.F. Taylor. 2014. QTL, candidate genes, metabolic and signaling pathways associated with growth, metabolic mid-test weight, feed intake and fee efficiency in beef cattle. BMC Genomics 15:1004 doi:10.1186/1471-2164-15-1004</li> </ol>   Boles, J. A., K. S. Kohlbeck, M. C. Meyers, K. A. Perz, K. C. Davis, J. Thomson. 2015.  The use of blood lactate concentration as an indicator of temperament and its impact on growth rate and tenderness of steaks from Simmental x Angus steers. Meat Sci 103:68-74.   Swartz, J. D., M. Lachman, K. Westveer, T. O’Neill, T. Geary, R. W. Kott, J. G. Berardinelli, P. G. Hatfield, J. M. Thomson, and C. J. Yeoman.  2014.  Characterization of the vaginal microbiota of ewes and cows reveals a unique microbiota with low levels of lactobacilli and near-neutral pH.  Frontiers Vet Sci 1:1-10   J.M. Neary, F.B. Garry, T.N. Holt, R.M. Enns, and M.G. Thomas. 2015. The altitude at which a calf is born and raised determines the rate at which mPAP increases with age. J. Anim. Sci. (E-2015-9217; accepted 7/10/2015).   J.M. Neary, F.B. Garry, T.N. Holt, M.G. Thomas, and R.M. Enns. 2015. Mean pulmonary arterial pressures in Angus steers increase from cow-calf to feedlot-finishing phases. J. Anim. Sci. 93: doi:10.2527/jas2015-9048.   M.M. Culbertson, S.E. Speidel, R.K. Peel, R.R. Cockrum, M.G. Thomas, and R.M. Enns. 2015. Optimum measurement period for evaluating feed intake traits in beef cattle. J. Anim. Sci. 93:1-9.   M.A. Elzo, M.G. Thomas, D.D. Johnson, C.A. Martinez, G.C. Lamb, D.O. Rae, J.G. Wasdin, and J.D. Driver. 2015. Genetic parameters and predictions for direct and maternal growth traits in a multibreed Angus-Brahman cattle population using genomic-polygenic and polygenic models. Livestock Sci. 175:18-26.   J.H. Newman, T.N. Holt, J. Cogan, B. Womack, J.A. Phillips, C. Li, Z. Kendall, K.R. Stenmark, M.G. Thomas, R.D. Brown, S.R. Riddle, J.D. West, and R. Hamid.  2015. Increased prevalence of an EPAS1 (HIF2α) variant haplotype in cattle with high altitude pulmonary hypertension: brisket disease gene? Nature Comm. doi: 10.1038/ncoms7863.   D.W. Bailey, S. Lunt, A. Lipka, M.G. Thomas, J.F. Medrano, A. Canovas, G. Rincon, M.B. Stephenson, and D. Jensen. 2015. Genetic influence on cattle grazing distribution: association of genetic markers with terrain use in beef cows. Range Ecol. Mgt. 68:142-149.   Thomas, M.G., A. H. Mohamed, M.N. Sawalhah, J.L. Holechek, D.W. Bailey, J.M. Hawkes, P. Luna-Nevarez, F. Molinar, and G. Khumalo. 2015. Long-term forage, cow-calf, and economic performance of two stocking levels on Chihuahuan Desert Rangeland. Range Ecol. Mgt. 68:158-165.       Book Chapters:   Gonda, M.G.  2015.  Understanding the Major Histocompatibility Complex and Immunoglobulin Genes.  In:  Molecular and Quantitative Animal Genetics.  John Wiley and Sons, Inc., Hoboken, NJ.   Gonda, M.G.  2015.  Livestock and Companion Animal Genetics: Genetics of Infectious Disease Susceptibility.  In:  Molecular and Quantitative Animal Genetics.  John Wiley and Sons, Inc., Hoboken, NJ.   Herring, A.D. 2014. North American Beef Production Chapter 5. In: Cottle, D.J., and L. Kahn (eds.) Beef Cattle Production and Trade. CSIRO Publishing in conjunction with Meat & Livestock Australia, Brisbane, QLD. ISBN: 9780643109889. Herring, A.D. 2014. Beef Cattle, Chapter 130 in Encyclopedia of Agriculture and Food Systems, print and online. Editor-in-Chief Neal K. Van Alfen. Elsevier. ISBN 978-0-444-52512-3.   Editor Reviewed Books:    Beef Cattle Production Systems by Andy D. Herring (2014) 14-chapter text book designed for beef production courses in international markets, published by CABI, Oxfordshire, UK. Released November 3, 2014. ISBN-13: 978 1 78064 415 8.   Conference Proceedings, Abstracts, and Research Reports:   Bohac, J.K., A.D. Herring, D.G. Riley, and J.O. Sanders. 2015. Birth weight, calving rate, and weaning rate in second generation reciprocal Brahman-Angus crosses. Abstract No. 2, Southern Section American Society of Animal Science Meetings, January 31-February 3, 2015 in Atlanta, Georgia   Ngere, L., D.G. Riley, A.D. Herring, J.O. Sanders, and T.M. Craig. 2015. Assessment of genetic variation in fecal egg counts for multiple species of internal parasites in growing crossbred Bos indicus-Bos taurus cattle. Abstract No. 4, Southern Section American Society of Animal Science Meetings, January 31-February 3, 2015 in Atlanta, Georgia.   Downey, E.D., A. D. Herring, C.A. Gill, K. J. Kochan, P. K. Riggs, and L. S. Skow. 2015. Genetic variation in the Bovine MHC is association with subclinical leukopenia in vaccinated Angus-Nellore steers. Poster at Plant and Animal Genome (PAG) meeting.   Kincheloe, J.J., K.C. Olson, A.D. Blair, K.R. Underwood, M.G. Gonda, A.A. Harty, and R.N. Funston.  2015.  Impact of maternal protein restriction in first calf heifers during mid- to late-gestation on dam and suckling calf performance through weaning.  Proceedings, Western Section, American Society of Animal Science, Ruidoso, NM.  Volume 66.   Marley, K.B., L.A. Kuehn, J. Keele, B. Wileman, and M.G. Gonda.  2015.  Genome wide association study of Escherichia coli O157:H7 vaccine response in beef cattle.  Plant and Animal Genome Meeting, San Diego, CA.   Perry, G.A., A.K. McNeel, R.A. Cushman, M.G. Gonda, and B.L. Perry.  2014.  Identification of changes in bovine oviductal mRNA expression by RNAseq from animals with high and low circulating estradiol concentrations during timed artificial insemination.  Ruminant Reproduction Symposium, Obihiro, Hokkaido, Japan.   McNeel, A.K., R.A. Cushman, W.M. Snelling, M.G. Gonda, B.L. Perry, and G.A. Perry.  2014.  De novo assembly and identification of unique contigs in the bovine oviduct from animals with high and low circulating estradiol concentrations during timed artificial insemination.  Society for the Study of Reproduction, Grand Rapids, MI.   Marley, K.B., L.A. Kuehn, J. Keele, B. Wileman, and M.G. Gonda.  2014.  Heritability estimation for Escherichia coli O157:H7 vaccine immune response in beef cattle.  Avera/South Dakota State University Research Symposium, Brookings, SD.   G.W. Burns, M.E. Wehrman, T.W. Geary, J.I. Moss, A.C. Denicol, K.B. Dobbs, M.S. Ortega, P.J. Hansen, A.J. Wojtowicz, H.L. Neibergs, T.E. Spencer. Systems biology approach to understanding uterine receptivity and pregnancy loss. 2015. Society for Study Reproduction, San Juan, Puerto Rico.   P.C. Tizioto, J.W. Kim, R.D. Schnabel, L.J. Gershwin, A.L. Van Eenennaam, R. Toaff-Rosenstein, H.L. Neibergs, the Bovine Respiratory Disease Complex Coordinated Agricultural Project Research Team, and J.F. Taylor. Susceptibility and molecular mechanisms underlying bovine respiratory disease complex. 2015. Plant & Animal Genome XXIII, San Diego, California.   <ol start="22"> <li>Kiser, H.L. Neibergs. Genome wide association study confirms association of Mycobacterium avium paratuberculosis tissue infection on BTA16 and BTA22. 2014. 3rd Annual Mycobacterial Disease of Animals Conference, Kansas City, Missouri.</li> </ol>   Bovine Respiratory Disease Complex Consortium Coordinated Agricultural Project Team, J.E. Womack. Integrated program for reducing bovine respiratory disease complex in beef and dairy cattle coordinated agricultural project (BRD CAP). 2014. Bovine respiratory Disease Symposium 2014: New Approaches to Bovine Respiratory Disease Prevention, Management and Diagnosis, Denver, Colorado.   T.E. Spencer, T.W. Geary, P.J. Hansen, H.L. Neibergs, J. Dalton, J.B. Cole. Systems biology approaches to understanding conceptus elongation and early pregnancy loss. 2014. Society Study Reproduction Annual meeting, Grand Rapids, Michigan.   J.C. Dalton, D.A. Moore, T. Spencer, H. Neibergs, A. DeVries, P. Hansen, and J. Cole. 2014. Survey of genomic management practices of United States’ dairy producers. In: Proc. New Science, New Practices International Cow Fertility Conference, Westport, Ireland, Cambridge University Press, Volume 5, Part 2, p. 260.   T.E. Spencer, P.J. Hansen, J.B. Cole, J. Dalton, H.L. Neibergs. Genomic selection and reproductive efficiency in dairy cattle. 2014. Dairy Cattle Reproduction Council.   H.L. Neibergs, J.S. Neibergs, A.J. Wojtowicz, J.F. Taylor, C.M. Seabury, J.E. Womack. Economic benefits of using genetic selection to reduce the prevalence of bovine respiratory disease complex in beef feedlot cattle. 2014. Proceedings Beef Improvement Federation, 82-87. Lincoln, Nebraska   J.S.  Neibergs, H.L. Neibergs, J.F. Taylor, C.M. Seabury, T.W. Lehenbauer, A.L. Van Eenennaam, J.E. Womack. An estimate of the economic gain from selection to reduce BRD incidence in dairy calves. 2014. Proceedings 10th World Congress of Genetics Applied to Livestock Production, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.   R.L. Weaber, J.E. Beever, H.C. Freetly, D.J. Garrick, S.L. Hansen, K.A. Johnson, M.S. Kerley, D.D. Loy, E. Marques, H.L. Neibergs, E.J. Pollak, R.D. Schnabel, C.M. Seabury, D.W. Shike, M.L. Spangler, J.F. Taylor. Analysis of US cow-calf producer survey data to assess knowledge, awareness and attitudes related to genetic improvement of feed efficiency. 2014. Proceedings 10th World Congress of Genetics Applied to Livestock Production, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.   M.G. Thomas, N.F. Berge, G.R. Hagevoort, T. Ross, R.M. Enns, A.L. Van Eenennaam, H.L. Neibergs, J.S. Neibergs, J.E. Womack. 2014. Integrated program for reducing bovine respiratory disease complex coordinated agricultural project (BRDC-CAP): Trainee participation is a bonus to teaching aims. Proceedings 10th World Congress of Genetics Applied to Livestock Production, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.   K.A. Perz, M.R. Whitmore, A.F. Williams, A.R. Hicks-Lynch, M.R. Herrygers, J. A. Boles, J.G. Berardinelli. J.M. Thomson. 2015. Carcass characteristics and body composition of lambs selected for divergent residual feed intake. Proceedings, Western Section, American Society of Animal Science, Ruidoso, NM.  Volume 66.   Thomson, J., J. D. Swartz, C. J. Yeoman, J. G. Berardinelli. 2014. Genomic differences between Rambouillet sheep selected for high and low reproductive rate. 2014 American Society of Animal Sciences JAM July 20-24, 2014. Kansas City, MS.   Karisa, B.K.., J. Thomson, G. Plastow. 2014. Residual Feed Intake in Beef Cattle; Genes, Metabolites and Beyond. Accepted for Proceedings 10th World Congress of Genetics Applied to Livestock Production. Aug 17-22, 2014. Vancouver BC, Canada.   <ol start="2014"> <li>D. Swartz, C. J. Yeoman, J. G. Berardinelli, J. M . Thomson. 2014. Impact of Long Term Selection of Reproductivve Efficiency in Linebred Rambouillet Sheep. Accepted for Proceedings 10th World Congress of Genetics Applied to Livestock Production. Aug 17-22, 2014. Vancouver BC, Canada.</li> </ol>   <ol start="2014"> <li>A. Boles, K. S. Kohlbeck, M. C. Meyers, K. A. Perz, J. Thomson, K. C. Davis. 2014 Temperament classification affects tenderness of steask from Simmental X Angus cross steers. Accepted for International Congress of Meat Science and Technology. Aug 17-22, 2014. Punta Del Este, Uraguay.</li> </ol>   Williams, A. F., J. A. Boles, K. S. Kohlbeck, M. C. Meyers, K. A. Perz, J. Thomson, K. C. Davis. 2014. Effect of Tmerperament and Growth Rate on  Carcass Characteristics of Simmental Steers. Accepted for  International Congress of Meat Science and Technology. Aug 17-22, 2014. Punta Del Este, Uraguay.   Zeng, X., Speidel, S. E., Thomas, M., Enns, R. M. Estimating Economic Values of Traits Belonging to Cattle in Maternal Beef Production.  Proc. West. Sect. Am. Soc. An. Sci.. American Society of Animal Science.   Cockrum, R.R., Zeng, X., Berge, N.F., Neary, J.M., Garry, F.B., Holt, T. N., Blackburn, H.D., Thomas, S. P., Speidel, S.E., Garrick, D.J., Enns, R.M., Thomas, M.G. (2014). Angus cattle at high altitude: genetic relationships and initial genome wide association analyses of pulmonary arterial pressure. 10th World Congr. Appl. Livestock Prod.. WCGALP. <a href="https://asas.org/docs/default-source/wcgalp-proceedings-oral/236_paper_9105_manuscript_427_0.pdf?sfvrsn=2">https://asas.org/docs/default-source/wcgalp-proceedings-oral/236_paper_9105_manuscript_427_0.pdf?sfvrsn=2</a>   Culbertson, M.M., Speidel, S. E., Thomas, M.G., Keenan, L., Enns, R.M. (2014). Effect of genetics level of beef cow milk production on longevity in diverse environments. 10th World Congr. Appl. Livestock Prod.. WCGALP. <a href="https://asas.org/docs/default-source/wcgalp-posters/766_paper_9935_manuscript_1097_0.pdf?sfvrsn=2">https://asas.org/docs/default-source/wcgalp-posters/766_paper_9935_manuscript_1097_0.pdf?sfvrsn=2</a>   Speidel, S. E., S., Cockrum, R., Salak-Johnson, J. L., Chase, C. C. L., Thomas, M., Peel, R. K., Enns, R. M. (2014). Genetic analysis of receiving weight, ultrasound back fat, ultrasound rib eye area, ultrasound percent intramuscular fat, and bovine respiratory disease in feedlot cattle. 10th World Congr. Appl. Livestock Prod. WCGALP. <a href="https://asas.org/docs/default-source/wcgalp-posters/519_paper_8807_manuscript_253_0.pdf?sfvrsn=2">https://asas.org/docs/default-source/wcgalp-posters/519_paper_8807_manuscript_253_0.pdf?sfvrsn=2</a>   Zeng, X., Cockrum, R.R., Berge, N.F., Neary, J.M., Garry, F.B., Holt, T. N., Blackburn, H.D., Speidel, S.E., Garrick, D.J., Enns, R.M., Thomas, M.G. (2014). Genetic correlation and genome wide association study of pulmonary arterial pressure and post weaning growth traits in Angus heifers from a high altitude breeding program. 10th World Congr. Appl. Livestock Prod.. WCGALP. <a href="https://asas.org/docs/default-source/wcgalp-posters/428_paper_9752_manuscript_1034_0.pdf?sfvrsn=2">https://asas.org/docs/default-source/wcgalp-posters/428_paper_9752_manuscript_1034_0.pdf?sfvrsn=2</a>   Berge, N.F., Speidel, S.E., Zeng, X., Culbertson, M.M., Thomas, M.G., Enns, R.M. (2014). Genetic relationships between pulmonary arterial pressure and performance traits in Colorado State University Beef Improvement Center Angus herd. 10th World Congr. Appl. Livestock Prod. WCGALP. https://asas.org/docs/default-source/wcgalp-posters/430_paper_9946_manuscript_1110_0.pdf?sfvrsn=2       Non-Referred/Popular Press Articles:   Buchanan, D.S. and L.L. Hulsman Hanna. 2014. Understanding EPDs. Black Hereford Journal. 3(1): 7-10. Editor: J. Hoagland. American Black Hereford Association, Leavenworth, KS.   Hanna, L.L. and D.S. Buchanan. 2014. The Role of a Black Hereford Breeder. Editor: J. Hoagland. American Black Hereford Association, Leavenworth, KS. 3(2): 5-8.   Ramsay, J.K., L.L. Hulsman Hanna, and K.A. Ringwall. 2014. Enhancing the identification of error checking in the Cow Herd Appraisal Performance Software (CHAPS) benchmarks using SAS procedures. 2014 North Dakota Beef Report pg 33-36.     Producer and Industry Meetings and Presentations:   Hulsman Hanna, L. L. 2015. ASAS Midwest Section Meeting, Des Moines, IA, March 15 – 18, 2015. Attendee/Discussant/ MS Oral Session I Judge.   Hulsman Hanna, L. L. 2014. North Dakota Stockmen’s Association Board of Directors Meeting, Mandan, ND, December 3, 2014. Discussant/Attendee.   Hulsman Hanna, L. L. 2014. North Dakota Beef Cattle Improvement Association Board of Directors Meeting, Bismarck, ND, November 20, 2014. Discussant/Attendee     Hulsman Hanna, L. L. 2014. NCERA-225 Annual Meeting, Bozeman, MT, October 23 – 24, 2014. Participant/Discussant.   Hulsman Hanna, L. L. 2014 10th World Congress on Genetics Applied to Livestock Production, Vancouver, B.C., Canada, August 16 – 23, 2014. Attendee/Discussant.   Thomson, J. M. 2014 10th World Congress on Genetics Applied to Livestock Production, Vancouver, B.C., Canada, August 16 – 23, 2014.   Thomson, J. M. 2014 American Society of Animal Sciences JAM July 20-24, 2014. Kansas City, MS.   Thomson, J. M.           2015 Montana Cattle Producers School   Downey, E.D., J.F. Ridpath, J.E. Sawyer, and A.D. Herring. 2014. Leukopenia difference following BVDV 1b challenge in vaccinated Angus-Nellore steers. 2014 US BVDV Symposium, Extension Session. August 3, 2014 College Station, TX with nationwide webinar. 50 in attendance.   Herring, A.D. 2015. Speaker for BEEF 706 on genetic aspects of beef carcass quality (4 sessions 40 people each) 2 in January, 2 in August. 160 producers contacted.   Herring, A.D. 2014. Co-coordinator with Dan Hale and moderator of 2nd Aggie Commercial steer camp (70 in attendance). July 29-30, 2014   Herring, A.D. 2014. Coordinator and moderator for Beef Cattle Research session of Beef Cattle Short Course (75 in attendance)   Herring, A.D. 2014.Co-coordinator with Joe Paschal and Steve Hammack for Breeding and Genetics sessions of Beef Cattle Short Course. 250 producers in audience across two sessions.   Neibergs, H.L. 2014. Transcription binding factors on BTA3 are associated with Map tissue infection. 118th United States Animal Health Association & 57th American Association of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnosticians meeting, Kansas City, Missouri.   Neibergs, H.L. 2014. Reducing bovine respiratory disease complex (BRDC) in beef cattle. National Beef Cattle Evaluation Consortium Webinar “Brown Bagger” Series October 15, 2014.   Neibergs, H.L. 2014. Economic Benefits of using Genetic Selection to Reduce the Prevalence of Bovine Respiratory Disease Complex in Beef Feedlot Cattle. Beef Improvement Federation, Lincoln, Nebraska.   Neibergs, H.L. 2014. Beef 300, Use of traditional and genomic selection tools for increased profitability, Pullman, Washington   Neibergs, H.L. 2014. Cattlemen to Cattlemen TV episode: BRD CAP update. November 18, 2014; <a href="http://www.cattlementocattlemen.org/videoplayer.aspx?videoid=3895558158001">http://www.cattlementocattlemen.org/videoplayer.aspx?videoid=3895558158001</a>

Impact Statements

Through intensive study of individual animal feed intake in conjunction with animal genetic background, knowledge has been increased regarding rumen microbial species potentially important to the regulation of feed efficiency in ruminants as well as rumen microbial species affected by high dietary sulfur. (Objectives 1, 2, and 3)

Date of Annual Report: 07/27/2016

Report Information

Annual Meeting Dates: 05/24/2016 - 05/27/2016
Period the Report Covers: 10/01/2015 - 09/30/2016

Participants

Bob Godfrey (rgodfre@uvi.edu): University of the Virgin Islands Bryan Kutz (bkutz@uark.edu): University of Arkansas Jeremy Powell (jerpow@uark.edu): University of Arkansas Megan Rolf (mrolf@okstate.edu): Oklahoma State University David Riley (david-riley@tamu.edu): Texas A&M University Rhonda Vann (rcv2@ra.msstate.edu): Mississippi State University-MAFES Brown Loam Joe West (joewest@uga.edu): University of Georgia Mauricio Elzo (maelzo@ufl.edu): University of Florida Milt Thomas (milt.thomas@colostate.edu): Colorado State University David Schafer (dschafer@ag.arizona.edu): University of Arizona

Brief Summary of Minutes

May 25-27, 2016

The joint S-1064 and WERA-1 meeting was called to order on May 25, 2016 by Dr. Jeremy Powell at the Great Hall on the University of the Virgin Islands Campus in St. Croix. Dr. Bob Godfrey invited everyone to enjoy the coffee and other refreshments and covered other general housekeeping items. All participants introduced themselves and provided a brief overview of their roles at their respective institutions. Dr. Powell took volunteers for the nominating committee (Bob and Jeremy) and resolutions committee (David and Bryan). Dr. Godfrey gave an overview of the experiment station because it was the first trip to the island for most of the attendees.

WERA-1 reports were interspersed between S-1064 reports:

Milt Thomas reported on ongoing efforts at CGEL at Colorado State. He shared genomic research on grazing distribution collected with HD genotypes and GPS collars. He also shared PAP genetic trend data. PAP has a moderate heritability and making genetic change at high altitude is highly desired by producers. He also shared results from RNA sequencing of high and low PAP bulls. There were between 500 and 1000 genes differentially expressed between the high and low animals in a variety of tissues. He also shared results examining PAP measures and late feedlot death.

David Schafer presented a WERA-1 report on the V bar V Ranch in Arizona. He described some of the research projects that are ongoing at the Ranch including breeding projects evaluating breed selection in that environment, brand healing rates between different times and coat colors, grazing distribution, and early weaning.

Dr. Powell invited reports from the nominating and the resolutions committee for the S-1064 project group for the business meeting. Dr. Powell and Dr. Godfrey indicated that the nominating committee had nominated Bryan Kutz as incoming secretary for the S-1064 executive board. Bob moved we accept this nomination and it was seconded by Megan. His nomination was accepted by unanimous vote. The resolution committee report was read by Bryan. It was moved by Rhonda and seconded by Bob that we accept the resolutions and it was accepted by unanimous vote from the group. The resolutions are provided at the end of the meeting minutes.

Dr. Joe West gave an administrative report, which was preceded by his encouragement for the group to band together and submit AFRI proposals. The project runs through 2019 and has been around in one form or another since the 1950s. He encouraged recruitment of new members and solicitation of new types of funding to grow the group’s expertise and ability to do research. Opportunities for recruitment for both S-1064 and WERA-1 were discussed. The group intends to continue meeting every other year with the WERA-1 group, so the next joint meeting would be in 2018. Next year, we will discuss where the joint meeting will be held. We reviewed the positions everyone would hold on the executive committee next year.

We discussed meeting locations for next year. Gainesville, FL was nominated as the location for the next meeting in 2017. Bob moved that we go to Gainesville in 2017 and it was seconded by Bryan and it was approved by a unanimous vote.

Tours included a tour on Wednesday afternoon of the UVI sheep farms and Annaly Farms, who are Senepol breeders who helped found the breed. On Thursday afternoon, we visited the AES Beef Cattle Facility at Estate Longford and ate dinner there. On Friday, May 27, we toured Buck Island National Park.

Accomplishments

Accomplishments:   Objectives for this project are: (1) Develop, disseminate, and maintain resources on the genetics of beef cattle and comparative genetics among cattle breeds and other species (e.g, sheep, wildlife) to support outreach, extension, and education activities, (2) Maintain animal populations, DNA and RNA repositories, and performance and health databases to support beef cattle phenomics research, (3) Integrate quantitative and molecular research tools that contribute to the understanding of genetic associations among economically important traits and their indicators, and (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.   For the upcoming year, committee members will continue individual and collaborative activities regarding data collection, analyses, publication and dissemination of results. Scientific and producer/stakeholder meetings will be targeted as outlets. The committee will assemble for an annual meeting. New funding possibilities will continue to be targeted.   Short-term Outcomes:   Increased knowledge has been attained of QTL for Mycobacterium avium paratuberculosis tissue infection in Holsteins and Jerseys.   Knowledge of BRD susceptibility loci in dairy and beef cattle has been improved.   Identification of genomic regions associated with BRD will allow investigation of causal mutations to benefit selection for BRD resistant animals.   Identification of genomic regions associated with beef cow stayability and longevity will allow investigation of causal mutations to benefit selection for fertility.   Bull test producers have been provided with detail performance data for improved selection and marketing decisions.   Knowledge of rumen microbial species potentially important to the regulation and prediction of feed efficiency in ruminants has been increased.   Increased knowledge of rumen microbial species as affected by high dietary sulfur has been attained.   Wolf genetics research was used by the U.S. Senate to inform the Fish and Wildlife Service that science does not support an Endangered Species Act listing of wolves in southeast Alaska.   During the past year participants have completed the training of 8 M.S. and 1 Ph.D. students.      Research trials relating to microbial profiles to feed efficiency have been conducted.   Outputs:     During the previous year, project members provided 26 invited presentations to various state/regional, national, and international audiences.   Regional and state-level educational presentations were provided to youth and producer groups.   Project participants provided invited presentations at national meetings of the American Society of Animal Science, American Dairy Science Association, Academy of Dairy Veterinary Consultants, American Association of Bovine Practitioners, Beef Improvement Federation, and National Cattlemen’s Beef Association.   Participants provided invited presentations to international audiences from Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, New Zealand, Pakistan, and the Philippines.   Research output included 20 refereed manuscripts, 48 abstracts at scientific meetings, 11 conference proceedings, 1 patent, and 3 popular press articles.   Research publications included collaborating scientists from agricultural economics and wildlife population biology.   Complementary wildlife genetics research has led to publications with regarding feral cattle on Chirikof Island, Alaska, polar bear biology, sage grouse endangered species consideration. This collaboration also led to presentations at the Northwest Sheep and Goat Conference and The Wildlife Society Meetings.      Activities:   Specific research activities:   WSU serves as the repository for the collection, DNA extraction and storage of feedlot samples from Washington as part of the BRD consortium. Samples now include 3000 Holstein and 2000 feedlot cattle samples with phenotypes, diagnostics and 778K genotypes. Additional samples of 500 feedlot cattle and 200 Holsteins (with diagnostics) have been collected.   Wildlife genetics research continues regarding bison, feral cattle, polar bear, sage grouse, and wolves than will assist geneticists, policy makers, and cattle producers.   Fine-mapping/sequencing studies for BRD to identify causal mutations are ongoing for beef and dairy.   Genome wide association analysis (GWAA) have been conducted on beef feedlot cattle regard BRD phenotypes and stayability/longevity in crossbred cows   Gene set enrichment analysis has completed on BRD dairy and beef cattle.   GGP-F250 genotypes completed on 2,000 dairy cattle for BRD.   Genotyping and GWAA with 778K for 1500 Holstein primparous samples for genotyping for fertility study has been completed.   1,500 HD genotypes have been completed from nulliparous cows for the WSU fertility study   GSEA feed efficiency analyses are ongoing.   A new beef cattle GrowSafe system near University of Wyoming campus is now operational.   Intake, reproductive, and grazing activity characteristics of range beef heifers and cows are being evaluated on semi-arid rangelands.   Stayability and longevity traits are being evaluated on crossbred cows.   Early weaning is being evaluated for effects on two- and three-year old cows’ reproductive performance and the feedlot performance and carcass traits of the calves.      Cow productivity and profitability when managed under stressful environmental conditions are being compared to feedlot performance and carcass traits of relatives.   Short- and long-term forensic evaluation of cattle brand burn scar healing is being investigated.   Genotypes and relationships between health and growth following BVDV challenge are being compared to subsequent carcass traits in 364 crossbred steers.   Genotype and phenotype information has been collected on 96 sheep from the high and low reproductive efficiency lines and an additional 200 samples have been collected from the lines, and 400 unselected Rambouillet sheep genotypes have been acquired for use in identifying signatures of selection in the high and low reproductive rate lines.   DNA samples and temperament measurements from approximately 1,800 beef cattle have been collected by participants.   DNA samples and eye pigmentation images have collected from 250 Hereford calves.   Genotype and phenotype data collected on 100 dairy cattle related to ruminal acidosis.   Invited presentations and Extension/Service type activities:   Regional and State audiences were engaged at meetings including The Range Beef Cow Symposium XXIV in Loveland, CO, the Hubbard Feeds Beef Focus Meeting in Sioux Falls, SD, the Texas Junior Brahman Association Youth Public Speaking Contest, the Texas Aggie Commercial Steer Camp, and Texas A&M Beef Cattle Short Course  in College Station, TX, and the  WSU and Angus Association Boot Camp in Kennewick, WA.   National audiences were engaged at the Simmental National Junior Show, the Junior Beefmaster Association National Show, American Society of Animal Science, American Dairy Science Association, Academy of Dairy Veterinary Consultants, American Association of Bovine Practitioners, Beef Improvement Federation, and National Cattlemen’s Beef Association.   Project participants provided invited presentations to international audiences from Crea Pico Quomú Touring Group (Argentina), Phibro group of cattle consultants & Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso (Brazil), Federal Cattle Raiser Union and Third International Beef Seminar (Colombia), New Zealand, Pakistani veterinarians and dairy managers with USDA Cochran group (Pakistan), and the Federation of Cattle Raiser Association of The Philippines (Philippines).     Milestones:   GWAA and GSEA-SNP of BRD susceptibility have been completed in beef cattle from Colorado and Washington.   HD GWAA and GSEA-SNP of fertility have been completed in nulliparous dairy heifers.   Fine mapping of DST in BRD dairy cattle has been completed.   Cattle populations have been characterized regarding temperament, eye pigmentation, pulmonary arterial pressure feed utilization, and several fertility traits in beef cattle that are complementary to work in other species (dairy, small ruminant, wildlife species) that provide insights into adaptation.

Publications

Refereed articles (24):   Ballenger N., C. Bastian K. Cammack, B. Feuz, G. Griffith, and J. Schaffer.  2016.  30 and Daisy:  DNA tests for beef cattle.  Choices.  (In press).   Cronin, T.M. and M.A. Cronin. 2015. Biological response to climate change in the Arctic Ocean: The view from the past. Arktos: The Journal of Arctic Geosciences. Review article. DOI 10.1007/s41063-015-0019-3.   Cronin, M.A. 2015. The Greater Sage-Grouse Story: Do we have it right? Rangelands. 37:200-204.   Cronin, M.A., A. Cánovas, A.  Islas-Trejo, D.L. Bannasch, A.M. Oberbauer, and J.F. Medrano. 2015. Wolf Subspecies: Reply to Weckworth et al. and Fredrickson et al. J. Hered.  106:417-419.   Cronin, M.A., A. Cánovas, A.  Islas-Trejo, D.L. Bannasch, A.M. Oberbauer, and J.F. Medrano. 2015.  Single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) variation of wolves (Canis lupus) in Southeast Alaska and comparison with wolves, dogs, and coyotes in North America. The J. Hered. 106:26-36.   Culbertson, M.M., S.E. Speidel, R.K. Peel, R.R. Cockrum, M.G. Thomas, and R.M. Enns. 2015. Optimum measurement period for evaluating feed intake traits in beef cattle. J. Anim. Sci. 93:1-9.   Davis, K.M., T. Smith, B. Bolt, S. Meadows, J.G. Powell, R.C. Vann, J.D. Arthington, N. DiLorenzo, D.L. Lalman, F.M. Rouquette, G.R. Hansen, A.J. Cooper, J.E. Cloud, M.D. Garcia, A.D. Herring, D.S. Hale, J.O. Sanders, T.B. Hairgrove, T.J. DeWitt, and D.G. Riley. 2015. Technical note: Digital quantification of eye pigmentation of cattle with white faces. J. Anim. Sci. 93: 3654-3660.   Dillon, J.A., R.M. Thallman, A.D. Herring, J.O. Sanders, and D.G. Riley. 2015. Genetic effects on birth weight in reciprocal Brahman-Simmental crossbred calves. J. Anim. Sci. 93: 553-561.   Erchinger, J., C. Marianno, and A. Herring. 2015. Development of a customized radiation monitor for livestock screening. Health Physics. 108:485-491.   Gershwin, L.J., A.L. Van Eenennaam,  M.L. Anderson, H. McEligot, M. Shao, S. Yarnes, R. Toeff-Rosenstein, J.F. Taylor, H.L. Neibergs, and Bovine Respiratory Disease Complex Coordinated Agricultural Project Research Team. 2015. Single pathogen challenge with agents of the bovine respiratory disease complex: Developing a resource for RNA sequences associated with disease. PLosOne. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0142479   Gonda, M.G.  2015.  Understanding EPDs and how to use them.  In: iGrow Beef: Best Management Practices for Cow-Calf Production, eds. Nold, R. and Perry, G.A., South Dakota Board of Regents.   Gonda, M.G. and W. Rusche.  2015.  Breeding systems for commercial beef production.  In: iGrow Beef: Best Management Practices for Cow-Calf Production, eds. Nold, R. and Perry, G.A., South Dakota Board of Regents.   Gonda, M.G.  2015.  DNA testing in beef production.  In: iGrow Beef: Best Management Practices for Cow-Calf Production, eds. Nold, R. and Perry, G.A., South Dakota Board of Regents.   Hulsman Hanna, L.L., D.J. Garrick, C.A. Gill, A.D. Herring, J.O. Sanders, and D.G. Riley. 2015. Cross-validation of genetic and genomic predictions of temperament in Nellore-Angus crossbreds. Livest. Sci. 182:28-33.   Lean, Ian, M. Lucy, J. McNamara, B. Bradford, E. Block, J. Thomson, J. Morton, P. Celi, A. Rabiee, J. Santos, W. Thatcher, S. LeBlanch. 2016. Invited Review: Recommendations for reporting intervention studies on reproductive performance in dairy cattle: Improving design, analysis, and interpretation of research on reproduction. J. Dairy Sci. 99:1-17.   MacNeil, M.D.,  L. J. Alexander, J. Kantanen, I. A. Ammosov, Z. I. Ivanova, R. G. Popovf, M. Ozerovg, A. Millbrooke, and M. A. Cronin. 2016. Potential Emigration of Siberian Cattle Germplasm to Chirikof Island, Alaska. Journal of Genetics. In Press.    Mohrhauser, D.A., A.R. Taylor, M.G. Gonda, K.R. Underwood, R.H. Pritchard, A.E. Wertz-Lutz, and A.D. Weaver.  2015.  The influence of maternal energy status during mid-gestation on beef offspring tenderness, muscle characteristics, and gene expression.  Meat Sci.  110: 201-11.   Neary, J.M., F.B. Garry, T.N. Holt, R.D. Brown, K.R. Stenmark., R.M. Enns, and M.G. Thomas. 2015. The altitude at which a calf is born and raised determines the rate at which mPAP increases with age. J. Anim. Sci. 93:1-7.   Neary, J.M., F.B. Garry, T.N. Holt, M.G. Thomas, and R.M. Enns. 2015. Mean pulmonary arterial pressures in Angus steers increase from cow-calf to feedlot-finishing phases. J. Anim. Sci. 93:3854-3861.   Ramsay, J.M., L.L. Hulsman Hanna, K.A. Ringwall. 2016. Maximizing use of extension beef cattle benchmarks data derived from Cow Herd Appraisal Performance Software. J. Exten. 54(3): 3TOT5.   Riley, D.G., C.A. Gill, C.R. Boldt, R.R. Funkhouser, A.D. Herring, P.K. Riggs, J.E. Sawyer, D.K. Lunt, and J.O. Sanders. 2016. Crossbred Bos indicus steer temperament as yearlings and whole genome association of steer temperament as yearlings and calf temperament post-weaning. J. Anim. Sci. 94:1408–1414.   Thomson, J. M. 2016. Impacts of environment on gene expression and epigenetic modification in grazing animals. J. Anim. Sci. (Accepted for publication).   Tizioto, P.C., J.W. Kim, C.M. Seabury, R.D. Schnabel, L.J. Gershwin, A.L. Van Eenennaam, R. Toaff-Rosenstein, H.L. Neibergs, the Bovine Respiratory Disease Complex Coordinated Agricultural Project Research Team, J.F. Taylor. 2015. Immunological response to single pathogen challenge with agents of the bovine respiratory disease complex: An RNA-sequence analysis of the bronchial lymph node transcriptome. PlosOne DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0131459   Xu, Y., Y. Wu, M.G. Gonda, and J. Wu.  2015.  A linkage based imputation method for missing SNP markers in association mapping.  J. Appl. Bioinform. Comput. Biol. 4(1): 1000115.     Scientific abstracts (57, 46 of which are itemized below):   Bauer, L.W., J.O. Sanders, D.G. Riley, A.D. Herring, and J.E. Sawyer. 2016. Effects of breed type and sex on calf birth weight in reciprocal F2 Angus and Nellore crosses. J. Anim. Sci. 94(Suppl. 1): 4(Abstr.) doi: 10.2527/ssasas2015-007.   Blackburn, H., M. Thomas, R.M. Enns, S.E. Speidel, and S. Paiva. 2015. A livestock database for long term storage and use of genomic and other associated information. Plant and Animal Genome XXIII. Abstract W142.   Bohac, J.K., A.D. Herring, D.G. Riley, and J.O. Sanders. 2015. Birth weight, calving rate, and weaning rate in second generation reciprocal Brahman-Angus crosses. Abstract No. 2, Southern Section American Society of Animal Science Meetings, January 31-February 3, 2015 in Atlanta, Georgia.   Bohac, J.K., J.O. Sanders, A.D. Herring, D.G. Riley, and J.E. Sawyer. 2016. Longevity of Brahman, Angus, F1 and F2 Brahman-Angus cows. J. Anim. Sci. 94(Suppl. 1): 2(Abstr.) doi: 10.2527/ssasas2015-004.   Brown, R.D., A. Canovas, S. Riddle, J.M. Neary, A. Islas-Trejo, G.M. Krafsur, R.R. Cockrum, R.M. Enns, J. Medrano, M.G. Thomas, and K.R. Stenmark.  2015. Natural history of pulmonary hypertension: transcriptome analysis of right ventricular remodeling and failure in beef cattle exposed to chronic hypoxia.  Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med. 191:A1041.   Burns, G.W., M.E. Wehrman, T.W. Geary, J.I. Moss, A.C. Denicol, K.B. Dobbs, M.S. Ortega, P.J. Hansen, A.J. Wojtowicz, H.L. Neibergs, T.E. Spencer. Systems biology approach to understanding uterine receptivity and pregnancy loss. 2015. Society for Study Reproduction, San Juan, Puerto Rico.   Cockrum, R., C. Holloway, X. Zeng, N.F. Berge, J.M. Neary. T. Holt, H. Blackburn, S.E. Speidel, R.M. Enns, and M.G. Thomas. 2015. Intrinsic response to hypoxic stress associated with cellular metabolism an inflammation in beef cattle. Plant and Animal Genome XXIII. Abstract P0169.   Delgadillo, J.S., D.G. Riley, C.A. Gill, J.O. Sanders, J.E. Sawyer, and A.D. Herring. 2016. Hot carcass weight and longissimus muscle area in F2 and F3 Nellore-Angus steers. J. Anim. Sci. 94(Suppl. 1): 4(Abstr.) doi: 10.2527/ssasas2015-008.   Downey, E.D., A. D. Herring, C.A. Gill, K. J. Kochan, P. K. Riggs, and L. S. Skow. 2015. Genetic variation in the Bovine MHC is association with subclinical leukopenia in vaccinated Angus-Nellore steers. Poster at Plant and Animal Genome (PAG) meeting.   Engle, B.N., A.D. Herring, J.E. Sawyer, D.G. Riley, J.O. Sanders, and C.A. Gill. 2016. Genome-wide association study for stayability measures in Nellore-Angus crossbred cows. International Society of Animal Genetics symposium, July Salt Lake City, UT USA.   Flesch, E.P., J.M. Thomson, R.A. Garrott, and T.A. Graves. 2016. An initial assessment of the potential of genomic analysis to help inform bighorn sheep management. The Wildlife Society Meeting.   Fontoura, A.B.P., F.E. Doscher, C.R. Dahlen, K. Ringwall, K.A. Vonnahme, L.L.H. Hanna, and K.C. Swanson. 2016. Plasma analytes concentrations of beef heifers diverging in frame size and known feed efficiency group. J. Anim. Sci. 94(Suppl. 2): 147-147.   Gershwin, L.J., A.L.Van Eenennaam, J.F. Taylor, J.W. Kim, R.L. Toaff-Rosenstein, H.L. Neibergs, J.E. Womack. Differential gene expression in cattle challenged with single pathogens of the bovine respiratory disease complex. Joint American Dairy Science Association-American Society of Animal Science Annual Meeting, Salt Lake City, Utah.   Griffin, J.E., Z. Wang, J.A. Clapper, R.H. Pritchard, K.R. Underwood, and M.G. Gonda.  2015.  Gene expression of the hypothalamus in steers fed high concentrate diet upon entering feedlot phase.  American Society of Animal Science, Orlando, FL.   Holland, P.W., C.A. Gill, A.D. Herring, J.O. Sanders, D.G. Riley. 2016. Identification of regions of the bovine genome associated with gray coat color in a Nellore-Angus cross population. J. Anim. Sci. 94(Suppl. 1): 5(Abstr.) doi: 10.2527/ssasas2015-009.   Herring, A.D. 2015. Practical implications for genetic modeling in the genomics era for the beef industry. J. Anim. Sci. 93(Suppl. S3):197(Abstr.).   Herrygers, M.R., J.G. Berardinelli, J.R. White, J.M. Thomson, V. Copie, B. Tripet, C.J. Butler, D.E. McWhirter, W.H. Edwards, K. Monteith, and R.A. Garrott. 2016. Pregancy rates, metabolites, metabolic hormones, and application of nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy of metabolic profiles for assessing physiological status in Bighorn Sheep. Northwest Sheep and Goat Conference.   Herrygers, M.R., J.R. White, J.M. Thomson, V. Copie, B. Tripet, C.J. Butler, K.S. White, M. Biel, R.A. Garrott, and J.G. Berardinelli. 2016. Nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy metabolic profiles distinguish geographically isolated populations of mountain goats (Oreamnos americanus). Northwest Sheep and Goat Conference.   Herrygers, M.R., J.R. White, J.M. Thomson, C.J. Butler, D.E. McWhirter, W.H. Edwards, K. Monteith, R.A. Garrott, and J.G. Berardinelli. 2016. Pregnancy rates, metabolites and metabolic hormones in Bighorn sheep during and after the breeding season. The Wildlife Society Meeting.   Keuter, E.M., C.M. Seabury, M. Neupane, J.N. Kiser, J.G. N. Moraes, J. Dalton, G.W. Burns, T.E. Spencer, H.L. Neibergs. Identification of loci associated with fertility in US Holstein heifers. 2016. Joint American Dairy Science Association-American Society of Animal Science Annual Meeting, Salt Lake City, Utah.   Kiser, J.N., J. Hoff, S.N. White, J.F. Taylor, H.L. Neibergs. Identification of loci associated with susceptibility to bovine paratuberculosis using imputed genotypes based on whole genome sequencing. 2016. Joint American Dairy Science Association-American Society of Animal Science Annual Meeting, Salt Lake City, Utah.   Kiser, J.N.,  C.M. Seabury, J.F. Taylor, J.E. Womack, G.R. Hagevoort,  T.W. Lehenbauer, S. Aly, A.L. Van Eenennaam, the Bovine Respiratory Disease Consortium,  H.L. Neibergs. Clinical Signs Associated with Bovine Respiratory Disease Diagnosis and High Heritability in Beef and Dairy Cattle. 2016. Joint American Dairy Science Association-American Society of Animal Science Annual Meeting, Salt Lake City, Utah.   Kiser, J.N., H.L. Neibergs. A QTL on BTA16 is associated with Mycobacteriuam avium subspecies paratuberculosis (Map) tissue infection. 2015. Joint American Dairy Science Association-American Society of Animal Science Annual Meeting, Orlando, Florida.   Krafsur, G.M., R.D. Brown, J.M. Neary, T. Holt, D.H. Gould, S. Riddle, A. Canovas, J. Medrano, R.M. Enns, R.R. Cockrum, M.G. Thomas and K.R. Stenmark. 2015. Natural history of pulmonary hypertension: adaptive versus maladaptive physiologic responses and cardiopulmonary remodeling in beef cattle exposed to chronic hypoxia. Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med. 191:A5535.   Kuehl, C.R., A.B.P. Fontoura, F. E. Keomanivong, C.R. Dahlen, K. Ringwall, K.A. Vonnahme, L.L.H. Hanna, and K.C. Swanson. 2016. Relationship of frame size and body measurements with feed efficiency traits in heifers. J. Anim. Sci. 94(Suppl. 2): 199-199.   Mantilla Rojas, C., P.K. Riggs, C.A. Gill, A.D. Herring, J.O. Sanders, J.E. Sawyer, R.K. Miller, and D.G. Riley. 2016. Genome wide association of beef flavor and tenderness in steaks (with electrical stimulation and without) from carcasses of Nellore-Bos taurus steers. J. Anim. Sci. 94(Suppl. 1): 2(Abstr.) doi: 10.2527/ssasas2015-003.   Miller, M.D., G.E. Carstens, J.M. Thomson, J.G. Berardinelli, M.R. Herrygers, J. White, L.O. Tedeschi, and P.K. Riggs. 2016. Associations between RFI, and metabolite profiles and feeding behavior traits in feedlot cattle. J. Anim Sci. 94 (E-suppl 5):1491.   Moraes, J.G.N., G.W. Burns, M.E. Wehrman, T.W. Geary, J.I. Moss, A.C. Denicol, K.B. Dobbs, M.S. Ortega, P.J. Hansen, H.L. Neibergs, M.F. Smith, J.A. Green, S. Behura, E. O’Neil,  T.E. Spencer. Systems biology approach to understanding uterine receptivity and pregnancy loss. 2016 Society for the Study Reproduction, San Diego, California.   Moraes, J.G.N., J. Dalton, T.E. Spencer, J.N. Kiser, G.W. Burns, A. Wojtowicz, M. Neupane, H.L. Neibergs. Identification of loci associated with fertility in Holstein heifers. 2015. Joint American Dairy Science Association-American Society of Animal Science Annual Meeting, Orlando, Florida.   Mutch, J. L., M. Neupane, C. M. Seabury, H. L. Neibergs, D. J. Garrick, M. S. Kerley, D. W. Shike, P. Tizioto, J. E. Beever, J. F. Taylor, FE Consortium and K. A. Johnson. Identification of Biological Pathways Involved in Residual Feed Intake in Hereford Cattle through Gene Set Enrichment Analysis. 2016. Joint American Dairy Science Association-American Society of Animal Science Annual Meeting, Salt Lake City, Utah.   Neibergs, J.S., H.L. Neibergs. The value of genetic selection in reducing economic losses from bovine respiratory disease complex in beef cattle feedlots. 2016. Joint American Dairy Science Association-American Society of Animal Science Annual Meeting, Salt Lake City, Utah.   Neupane, M., J.F. Taylor, C.M. Seabury, J.E. Womack, Bovine Respiratory Disease Consortium, H.L. Neibergs. Gene set enrichment analysis of bovine respiratory disease complex SNP data in feedlot cattle. 2016. Joint American Dairy Science Association-American Society of Animal Science Annual Meeting, Salt Lake City, Utah.   Neupane, M., J. Hoff, J.F. Taylor, C.M. Seabury, J.E. Womack, Bovine Respiratory Disease Consortium, H.L. Neibergs. Refinement of the DST locus associated with bovine respiratory disease complex in Holstein calves. 2016. Joint American Dairy Science Association-American Society of Animal Science Annual Meeting, Salt Lake City, Utah.   Ngere, L., D.G. Riley, A.D. Herring, J.O. Sanders, and T.M. Craig. 2015. Assessment of genetic variation in fecal egg counts for multiple species of internal parasites in growing crossbred Bos indicus-Bos taurus cattle. Abstract No. 4, Southern Section American Society of Animal Science Meetings, January 31-February 3, 2015 in Atlanta, Georgia.   Neibergs, H.L.. Host genomics – What have we learned. 2015. Bovine tuberculosis and paratuberculosis symposium. Joint American Dairy Science Association-American Society of Animal Science Annual Meeting, Orlando, Florida.   Perz, K.A., J.G. Berardinelli, L.N. Park, R.K. Pollard, C.M. Page, W.C. Stewart, and J.M Thomson. 2016. Repeatability of residual feed intake and indices of body composition in growing Columbia ewes fed the same diet. J. Anim Sci. 94 (E-suppl 5):777.   Pierce, C.F., J.N. Kiser, J. Hoff, M. Neupane, S.N. White, J.F. Taylor, H.L. Neibergs. Identification of loci on chromosome 3 associated with susceptibility to bovine paratuberculosis using genotypes imputed to whole genome sequence in Holstein cows. 2016. Joint American Dairy Science Association-American Society of Animal Science Annual Meeting, Salt Lake City, Utah.   Riddle, S., J. Poth, M. Li, H. Zhang, D. Brown, M. Frid, A. Flockton, B. Alexandre McKeon, A. Canovas, A. Islas-Trejo, J.F. Medrano, M. Thomas, B. Davis, N. Serkova, K.C. El Kasmi, and K. Stenmark. 2015. Aerobic glycolysis is a critical metabolic adaptation to drive the pro-inflammatory phenotype of advential fibroblasts isolated from the remodeled pulmonary artery from animals with pulmonary hypertension. Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med. 191:A5466.   Sarlo, K.M., D.G. Riley, J.E. Sawyer, C.A. Gill, J.O. Sanders, and A.D. Herring. 2016. Age-related weights in second and third generation Nellore-Angus half-blood steers. J. Anim. Sci. 94(Suppl. 1): 3(Abstr.) doi: 10.2527/ssasas2015-006.   Seabury, C.M., H.L. Neibergs, J.F. Taylor, J.E. Womack, Bovine Respiratory Disease Consortium. Genome wide association study of bovine respiratory disease complex in US feedlot cattle. 2016. Joint American Dairy Science Association-American Society of Animal Science Annual Meeting, Salt Lake City, Utah.   Spencer, T.E., H.L. Neibergs, P.J. Hansen, J.B. Cole, J.C. Dalton, D.A. Moore, M. Chahine, A. De Vries. Improving fertility of dairy cattle using translational genomics. 2016.  Joint American Dairy Science Association-American Society of Animal Science Annual Meeting, Salt Lake City, Utah.   Taylor, J.F., H.L. Neibergs, C.M. Seabury, A.L. Van Eenennaam, J.E. Decker, J.L. Hoff, P.C. Tizioto, Bovine Respiratory Disease Consortium, J.E. Womack, R.D. Schnabel. Identification of causal variants underlying pathogen susceptibility and translation to genetic improvement. 2016. Joint American Dairy Science Association-American Society of Animal Science Annual Meeting, Salt Lake City, Utah.   Van Tassell, C.P., G. Spangler, D. Bickhart, G.R. Wiggans, J.C. Cole, J.F. Taylor, H.L. Neibergs, C.M. Seabury, A.L. Van Eenennaam, J.E. Womack, Bovine Respiratory Disease Consortium. Calculation of genomic predicted transmitting abilititie for bovine respiratory disease complex in Holsteins. 2016. Joint American Dairy Science Association-American Society of Animal Science Annual Meeting, Salt Lake City, Utah.   White, J.R., M.R. Herrygers, J.M. Thomson, V. Copie, B. Tripet, C.J. Butler, D.E. McWhirter, W.H. Edwards, K. Monteith, R.A. Garrott, and J.G. Berardinelli. 2016. Developing physiological profiles using nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy to inform Bighorn Sheep (Ovis Canadensis) management. The Wildlife Society Meeting.   Wieseler, A.J., B.L. Felts, J.E. Jensen, T.W. Grovenburg, M.G. Gonda, and J.A. Jenks.  2015.  MHC allelic diversity and Mycoplasma ovipneumoniae titer seroprevalence in Bighorn sheep populations with known pathogen shedding histories.  The Wildlife Society Annual Meeting, Winnipeg, Canada.   Wright, C.L., S.L. Mastellar, M.G. Gonda, and A.B. Vsetecka.  2015.  Gender differences in species and career interests among students in first-year seminar courses.  American Society of Animal Science, Orlando, FL.     Conference proceedings, technical reports, Extension and popular press publications (18)   Dahlen, C., R. Schmidt, L. Hulsman Hanna, and K. Ringwall. 2015. Understanding Expected Progeny Differences for the genetic improvement in commercial beef herds. NDSU Extension Service Bulletin AS1770.   Engle, B.N., C.A. Gill, J.O. Sanders, D.G. Riley, J.E. Sawyer, and A.D. Herring. 2016. Influence of first calving date on stayability in Bos indicus crossbred cows. Proc. West. Sec. Amer. Soc. Anim. Sci. 67.   Garcia, J., D.P. Anderson, A.D. Herring, D.G. Riley, and J.O. Sanders.  2015. Economic analysis of selecting for cow longevity.  Proceedings Paper presented at the Southern Agricultural Economics Association Meeting.  Atlanta, GA.  February 2, 2015.    Gonda, M.G.  2015.  How to use commercially available genomic predictions.  Proceedings, The Range Beef Cow Symposium XXIV, Loveland, CO.   Herring, A.D. 2015. Heterozygosity and heterosis considerations for the beef industry. Proc. 61st annual Texas A&M Beef Cattle Short Course, College Station, TX August 3-5.   Herring, Andy D. 2016. Heterosis, heterozygosity considerations for cattle producers. Progressive Cattleman February issue Pp 58-59.   Herring, Andy D. 2014. Roles of Bos indicus influence on beef production systems: Part II. The Ear Magazine. October 2014 issue.   Herring, Andy D. 2015. Contemporary group concepts. Brangus Journal November 2015 issue. Pp 34-35.   Herrygers, M.R., J.M. Thomson, K.A. Perz, K.B. Herrygers, K. Metcalf, M. Knerr, P. Merta, and J.G. Berardinelli. 2016. Long-term progesterone influence on feed efficiency, body composition, non-esterified fatty acids and metabolic hormones in mature Rambouillet ewes. Proc. West. Sec. Am Soc. Anim. Sci. Vol. 68   Kiesling, D.D., D.B. Faulkner and D.W. Schafer.  2014. Update: early weaning calves and its effects on two- and three-year old cows’ reproductive performance, feedlot performance and carcass traits of the calf.  Producer’s Update and Research Highlights: p25.   Knight, C.W., D.B. Faulkner and D.W. Schafer. 2014. Relative feed intake in mature range cows raised on Arizona rangeland.  Producer’s Update and Research Highlights: p26-30.   Knight, C. W., D. W. Bailey, D. Faulkner, and D. W. Schafer. 2015. Intake and grazing activity of mature range cows on Arizona rangelands.  Proc. West. Sec. Amer. Soc. Anim. Sci. Vol. 66.   Neary, J.M., F.B. Garry, T.N. Holt, P.S. Morley, G.M. Krafsur, R.D. Brown, K.R. Stenmark, R.M. Enns, and M.G. Thomas. 2015. High altitude disease, PAP, feedlot hypertension and respiratory issues: are they linked? Proc. Range Beef Cow Symp. XXIV. Loveland Colorado, November 16-19, 2015. pp. 141-146.   Neibergs, H.L., J.L. Mutch, M. Neupane, C.M. Seabury, J.F. Taylor, D.J. Garrick, M.S. Kerley, D.W. Shike, J.E. Beever, US Feed Efficiency Consortium, K.A. Johnson. 2016. Gene set enrichment analysis for feed efficiency in beef cattle. Beef Improvement Federation Proceedings. Manhattan, Kansas.   Neupane, M., J.N. Kiser, C.M Seabury, J.F. Taylor, J.E. Womack, The Bovine Respiratory Disease Complex Coordinated Agricultural Project Research Team, H.L. Neibergs. Genetic approaches to identify genomic regions associated with decreased susceptibility to bovine respiratory disease complex. 2015. Proceedings American Association of Bovine Practitioners, New Orleans, Louisiana   Perz, K.A.. J.G. Berardinelli, R.A. Shevitshi, J.W. White, and J.M. Thomson. 2016. Use of a human tri-axial pedometer for measurement of sheep activity. Proc. West. Sec. Am Soc. Anim. Sci. Vol. 68.   Tolleson, D.R., and D.W. Schafer. 2015. Short and long-term forensic evaluation of cattle brand burn scar healing.  Proc. West. Sec. Amer. Soc. Anim. Sci. Vol. 66.   Williams, A.F., J.A. Boles, M.R. Herrygers, J.G. Berardinelli, M.C. Meyers, and J.M. Thomson. 2016. Relationship between current temperament measures and physiological responses to handling of feedlot cattle. Proc. West. Sec. Am Soc. Anim. Sci. Vol. 68.   Patents   US patent 9,133,519 “Compositions and methods for diagnosis of genetic susceptibility, resistance, or tolerance to infection by Mycobacteria and bovine paratuberculosis using promotor variants of END2”. Granted 2015. (Neibergs)

Impact Statements

Research conducted by project participants has provided important performance and genetic information to beef cattle producers in extensive and challenging environments to pursue best management practices for balanced adaptation and production considerations.

Date of Annual Report: 11/15/2017

Report Information

Annual Meeting Dates: 06/19/2017 - 06/19/2017
Period the Report Covers: 10/01/2016 - 09/30/2017

Participants

Lauren Hanna, North Dakota State University; Nayan Bhowmik, North Dakota State University; Michael Gonda, South Dakota State University; Jennifer Thomson, Montana State University; Matt Cronin, Northwest Biotechnology Company; Doug Zalesky, University of Wyoming; Bret Hess, University of Wyoming; Paul Holland, Texas A&M University

Brief Summary of Minutes

The annual meeting for this project was held at North Dakota State University in Fargo, North Dakota. Annual project objectives include:

Develop, disseminate, and maintain resources on the genetics of beef cattle and comparative genetics among cattle breeds and other species (e.g., sheep, wildlife) to support outreach, extension, and education activities.

Maintain animal populations, DNA and RNA repositories, and performance and health databases to support beef cattle phenomics research.

Integrate quantitative and molecular research tools that contribute to the understanding of genetics associations among economically important traits and their indicators.

Exchange information, discuss research results, plan new research, examine new developments, discuss future problems, and plan cooperative research and share ideas for interdisciplinary involvement in beef cattle breeding.

The WERA-001 meeting was called to order on June 19, 2017 by Dr. Lauren Hanna. Dr. Hanna and Dr. Bret Hess, Administrative Advisor, welcomed the group with opening remarks. Following opening remarks, individual station reports were presented by project members in attendance.

Dr. Michael Gonda presented outcomes from his research pertaining to the role of small RNAs in bull fertility. He also discussed progress and new programs at South Dakota State University pertaining to online beef breeding courses and mentoring programs.

Dr. Jennifer Thomson discussed research related to genetic work conducted on Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep, Line 1 and 4 Herefords at Fort Keogh, and blood metabolite relationships with RFI and NMR technology. She also discussed structure and teaching aspects related to her undergraduate animal genetics course.

Dr. Matt Cronin discussed his change in roles and locations, but continued desire to participate in the committee. He also discussed recent research publications and legislation work pertaining to species being labeled as endangered and their impacts on livestock production in those regions.

Dr. Doug Zalesky discussed research being conducted on high altitude disease or brisket disease in cattle and how that impacts performance. His research group is working with Powerline Genetics to understand genetic correlations of these diseases with other performance records in bulls.

Dr. Lauren Hanna discussed research related to temperament collection strategies in beef cattle, longevity and efficiency attributes in commercial beef cow herds, and the DNA samples and database she has established. She also discussed research and development of teaching methods in her undergraduate animal breeding and genetics course.

Following station reports, the participants discussed 2018 meeting locations. Through email correspondence with Dr. Hanna, Dr. Mark Enns had nominated his institution, Colorado State University, to host the 2018 meeting in conjunction with the 2018 Beef Improvement Federation annual meeting. As 2018 would be a possible joint meeting with S-1064 regional project, Dr. Andy Herring had also nominated a possible location at Kansas State University for centrality. Members present discussed the possible meeting locations and agreed that meeting at Colorado State University with BIF annual meeting was preferred as it could potentially increase participation and exposure for new members. The members also suggested that if the S-1064 group would not be able to jointly meet in 2018 due to location and/or dates, then the two project groups could potentially meet in 2019 instead.

Dr. Hess followed the meeting location discussion with project renewal items. Dr. Thomson agreed to take lead on developing the new proposal with assistance from Drs. Gonda and Hanna. Input from current members will be requested to assist with developing the project renewal document. The final draft of the project renewal will be due by January 15, 2018, where the current project will end on September 30, 2018.

Dr. Thomson discussed submitting a proposal for American Society of Animal Science (ASAS) Western Section 2018 meeting to have a proposal focused on animal breeding and genetics topics. Dr. Thomson agreed to draft the proposal and work with Dr. Hanna to have it brought before the 2017 ASAS Western Section Business Meeting. The proposal was accepted, however, due to date conflicts of the 2018 ASAS Western Section and BIF meetings, the symposium would need to wait until 2019 for desired speakers to be available.

Additional business items were discussed on possible collaborations between project members in attendance. Following meeting items, participants were able to visit with Dr. Mark Mirando, U.S.D.A. National Program Leader for Animal Nutrition, Growth, and Reproduction on the current status of USDA NIFA budgets and success rates. Following this, the meeting adjourned.

Accomplishments

Montana State University have genotyped and archived close to 300 Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep from Montana and Wyoming using the Ovine HD SNP Chip. They have completed a pilot study examining 5 herds with different genetic background and genetic risk as determined by population size, bottleneck potential and connectivity to other populations. Genotypic and phenotypic records are being compiled on Line 1 and Line 4 Hereford populations in Miles City, MT and Havre, MT, which will be used for a PhD Dissertation focusing on elucidating the molecular basis of inbreeding depression and sire line specific effects. Gene expression analyses are being performed in muscle and adipose tissue of steers fed to target quality grades. Differences in body composition for lambs divergent for RFI have been identified, which has led to evaluating rumen histology, NMR serum metabolites and liver, muscle, and gene expression differences for these divergent groups. This work contributes to project objectives 1 to 3. North Dakota State University has maintains temperament data on over 1,200 Angus and Hereford influenced calves, include DNA samples. A final year of data will be collected in fall of 2017 that will add an additional 400 calves. In addition, a commercial like cow herd has been established to investigate performance records at various time points in the female’s life (Early, mid and late) that elucidate the relationship of frame size, efficiency attributes, and longevity. To date, 162 heifers have completed a feed trial with reproductive, feeding behavior, and performance data collected along with the GeneSeek GGP 150K panel. An additional 100 heifers will be added in 2017. Longevity and its relationship to birth type is being investigated using sheep data from the 1950s to 2015 recorded at the USDA Sheep Station. This is a collaborative project between NDSU, USDA Sheep Station, and Texas A&M University. Courses related to animal breeding and genetics training for graduate students have been added to the curriculum that aligns with the AG*IDEA Quantitative Genetics & Genomics online program. Additional, research is being conducted on the effectiveness of peer mentors and lecture recording for undergraduate animal breeding course. Data has been collected through two offerings of this course. This work contributes to project objectives 1 to 3. South Dakota State University is participating in a USDA-NIFA-AFRI funded project (2015-08789) with the education objective (in part) to develop an online repository for educational materials relevant to beef cattle breeding undergraduate instruction. Additionally, the second year of a research project aimed at comparing commercially available beef cattle DNA tests sold by Zoetis Animal Genetics and Neogen (i.e., Geneseek) has been completed. In this project, molecular breeding values based on Igenity Silver or Gold Profiles and Zoetis PredicGEN has been collected in addition to carcass performance data on 345 steers. Results will assist beef producers with choosing the appropriate DNA test (if any) for commercial cattle. Furthermore, the potential of small RNA seminal fluid/spermatozoa biomarkers for male fertility and semen quality is being investigated, where 49 small RNAs, 42 piwi-interacting RNAs, and seven microRNAs using an ubiquitin assay were up-regulated in seminal fluid from the high predicted fertility group.  Seven small RNAs (all piwi-interacting RNAs) were down-regulated in seminal fluid from the high predicted fertility group.  These small RNAs have potential to be biomarkers for measures of semen quality and fertility in bulls. This work contributes to Objectives 1 to 3. Washington State University continues to serve as the repository for the collection, DNA extraction and storage of BRD samples from 3200 Holstein and 2400 feedlot cattle with phenotypes, diagnostics and 778K genotypes. This is a multi-state project that involves several members of this committee. Fine-mapping and sequencing studies for BRD to identify causal mutations are ongoing using these beef and dairy data. Genome wide association analysis (GWAA), gene set enrichment analysis-SNP (GSEA-SNP) and Ingenuity Pathway Analysis has been completed on 1000 Holstein heifers and 1000 primiparous Holstein cows for identification of loci associated with conception rate. Crossbred beef heifers (n = 85) that have undergone 4 serial embryo transfers have similarly been analyzed. GSEA-SNP feed efficiency analyses have been completed. This work contributes to project objectives 1 to 3. Cattle producers in Colorado, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Texas, Washington, and Wyoming have received research information and updates from project participants at local meetings and additional producers have been reached nationally at the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association and Beef Improvement Federation meetings; colleague scientists have been impacted at the American Society of Animal Science and the Plant and Animal Genome meetings. Also, during the current reporting period, graduate students and undergraduate students have received training and research knowledge to aid in their career development and the advancement of knowledge about cattle breeding and genetics. Several publications in scientific outlets and industry/popular press outlets are provided under the publications list. Activities in these areas support Objectives 1 and 4. Member collaborations were developed related to research objectives and educational training. Committee members have continued to build phenotype and genotype databases to enhance research objectives.

Publications

Journal Articles: Bailey, D.W., M.G. Thomas, T.N. Holt, M.B. Stephenson, R.M. Enns, and S.E. Speidel. 2016. Relationship of pulmonary arterial pressure and terrain use of Angus cows grazing high altitude foothills rangeland. Livestock Sci. 190: 76-80. Cassady, C.J., T.L. Felix, J.E. Beever, D.W. Shike, National Program for Genetic Improvement of Feed Efficiency in Beef Cattle. 2016. Effects of timing and duration of test period and diet type on intake and feed efficiency of Charolais-sired cattle. Journal of Animal Science 94(11): 4748-4758 doi:10.2527/jas.2016-0633 Cockrum, R.R., S.E. Speidel, J.L. Salak-Johnson, C.C.L. Chase, R.K. Peel, R.L. Weaber, G.H. Loneragan, J.J. Wagner, P. Boddhireddy, M.G. Thomas, K. Prayaga, S. Denise, and R.M. Enns. 2016. Genetic parameters estimated at receiving for circulating cortisol, immunoglobulin G, interleukin 8, and incidence of bovine respiratory disease in feedlot beef steers. J. Anim. Sci. 94: 2770-2778. doi:10.257/jas2016-0222. Crawford, N.F., M.G. Thomas, T.N. Holt, S.E. Speidel, and R.M. Enns. 2016. Heritabilities and genetic correlations of mean pulmonary arterial pressure and performance traits in Angus cattle at high altitude. J. Anim. Sci. 94: 4483-4490. doi:10.2527/jas.2016-0703. Cronin, M.A., and V.L.R. Leesburg. 2016. Genetic variation and differentiation in parent-descendant cattle and bison populations. J. Anim. Sci. 94: 4491-4497. Dalton, J., D. Moore, T.E. Spencer, P.J. Hansen, J.B. Cole, and H. Neibergs. 2016. Genetics, genomics, and fertility. Clinical Theriogenology 8:3:165-170. Elzo, M.A., R. Mateescu, M.G. Thomas, D.D. Johnson, C.A. Martinez, D.O. Rae, J.G. Wasdin, M.D. Driver, and J.D. Driver. 2016. Growth and reproduction genomic-polygenic and polygenic parameters and prediction trends as Brahman fraction increases in an Angus-Brahman multibreed population. Livestock Sci. 190:104-112. Fortes, M.R.S., L.T. Nguyen, L.R. Porto Neto, A. Reverter, S.S. Moore, S.A. Lehnert, and M.G. Thomas. 2016. Polymorphisms and genes associated with heifer puberty. Theriogenology 86: 333-339. Geary, T.W., G.W. Burns, J.G.N. Moraes, J.I. Moss, A.C. Denicol, K.B. Dobbs, S. Ortega, P.J. Hansen, M.E. Wehrman, H. Neibergs, E. O’Neil, S. Behura, T.E. Spencer. 2016. Identification of beef heifers with superior uterine capacity for pregnancy. Biology of Reproduction 95(2): 1-12. Gulick, A., F.B. Garry, T.N. Holt, K. Retallick, R.M. Enns, M.G. Thomas, and J.M. Neary. 2016. Calves born and raised at high altitude adapt to hypobaric hypoxia by increasing alveolar ventilation rate but not hematocrit. J. Anim. Sci.  94: 4167-4171. doi:10.2527/jas.2016-0718. Jennings, T.D., M.G. Gonda, K.R. Underwood, A.E. Wertz-Lutz, and A.D. Blair. 2016. The influence of maternal nutrition on expression of genes responsible for adipogenesis and myogenesis in the bovine fetus. Animal 10(10): 1697-1705. Kiser, J.N., T.E. Lawrence, M. Neupane, C.M. Seabury, J.F. Taylor, J. E. Womack, the Bovine Respiratory Disease Complex Coordinated Agricultural Project Research Team, H.L. Neibergs. 2017. Rapid Communications: Subclinical bovine respiratory disease – loci and pathogens associated with lung lesions in feedlot cattle. 95(3): 1080-1091. Doi:10.2527/jas.2016.1152 Kiser, J.N., S.N. White, K.A. Johnson, J.L. Hoff, J.F. Taylor, H.L. Neibergs. 2017. Identification of loci associated with susceptibility to Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis (Map) tissue infection in cattle. Journal of Animal Science. Journal of Animal Science 95(3): 1080-1091 doi:10.2527/jas.2016.1152 Lean, I., M. Lucy, J. McNamara, B. Bradford, E. Block, J. Thomson, J. Morton, P. Celi, A. Rabiee, J. Santos, W. Thatcher, S. LeBlanc. 2016. Invited Review: Recommendations for reporting intervention studies on reproductive performance in dairy cattle: Improving design, analysis, and interpretation of research on reproduction. Journal of Dairy Science. 99: 1-17. Lokhandwala, S., X. Fang, S.D. Waghela, J. Bray, L.M. Njongmeta, A. Herring, K.W. Abdelsalam, C. Chase, and W. Mwangi. 2017. Priming cross-protective bovine viral diarrhea virus-specific immunity using live-vectored mosaic antigens. PLoS ONE 12(1):e0170425 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0170425 MacNeil, M.D., L.J. Alexander, J. Kantanen, I.A. Ammosov, Z.I. Ivanova, R.G. Popov, M. Ozerov, A. Millbrooke, and M.A. Cronin. 2017. Potential emigration of Siberian cattle germplasm on Chirikof Island, Alaska. J. Genet. 96(1): 47-51. Neary, J.M., R.D. Brown, T.N. Holt, K.R. Stenmark, R.M. Enns, M.G. Thomas, and F.B. Garry. 2016. Static and dynamic components of right ventricular afterload are negatively associated with calf survival at high altitude. J. Anim. Sci. 94: 4172-4178. doi:10.2527/jas.2016-0652. Neupane, M., K.D. Moss, F. Avila, T. Raudsepp, B.M. Marron, J.E. Beever, S. Parish, J.N. Kiser, B. Cantrell, H.L. Neibergs. Case study: Polymelia in a Holstein calf. Professional Animal Scientist. In Press. Ngere, L., J.M. Burke, A.D. Herring, J.O. Sanders, T.M Craig, J.A. van Wyk, and D.G. Riley. 2016. Utilization of year-round data in the estimation of genetic parameters for internal parasite resistance traits in Dorper sheep. Small Ruminant Research 151: 5-10. Perea, K., K. Perz, S. K. Olivo, A. Williams, M. Lachman, S. L. Ishaq, J. Thomson, C. J. Yeoman. 2017. Feed efficiency phenotypes in lambs involve changes in ruminal, colonic, and small intestine-located microbiota. J. Anim Sci. In Press. Rhone, J.A., D.F. Waldron, and A.D. Herring. 2016. Performance of Boer-Spanish and Spanish does in Texas: Kid production and doe stayability. Sheep & Goat Res. J. 31: 54-59. Russell, J., N. Minton, W. Sexton, M. Kerley, S. Hansen, National Program for Genetic Improvement of Feed Efficiency in Beef Cattle. 2016. Journal of Animal Science 94(4): 1610-1619 doi: 10.2527/jas.2015-9949 Seabury, C.M., D.L. Oldeschulte, M. Saatchi, J.E. Beever, J.E. Decker, Y.A. Halley, E.K. Bhattarai, M. Molaei, H.C. Freetly, S.L. Hansen, H. Yampara-Iquise, K.A. Johnson, M.S. Kerley, J. Woo Kim, D.D. Loy, E. Marques, H.L. Neibergs, R.D. Schnabel, D.W. Shike, M.L. Spangler, R.L. Weaber, D.J. Garrick, and J.F. Taylor. 2017. Genome-Wide Association Study for Feed Efficiency and Growth Traits in U.S. Beef Cattle. BMC Genomics 18: 386 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-017-3754-y Thomson, J.M. 2016. Impacts of Environment on Gene Expression and Epigenetic Modification in Grazing Animals. J. Anim. Sci. 94(S6): 63–73. Tolleson, M.W., C.A. Gill, A.D. Herring, P.K. Riggs, J.E. Sawyer, J.O. Sanders, and D.G. Riley. 2017. Association of udder traits with single nucleotide polymorphisms in crossbred Bos indicus-Bos taurus cows. J. Anim. Sci. 95: 2399-2407. doi:10.2527/jas.2017.1475 Weber, M.N., F.V. Bauermann, N. Gómez-Romero, A.D. Herring, C.W. Canal, J.D. Neill, and J.F. Ridpath. 2017. Variation in pestivirus growth in testicle primary cell culture is more dependent on the individual cell donor than cattle breed. Vet. Res. Commun. Published online 18 November 2016 DOI 10.1007/s11259-016-9666-5. Weng, Z-Q, H. Su, M. Saatachi, J. Lee, M.G. Thomas, J.R. Dunelberger, and D.J. Garrick. 2016.  Genome-wide association study of growth and body composition traits in Brangus beef cattle. Livestock Sci. 183: 4-11. Conference Proceedings, Abstracts, and Research Reports: Bailey, D.W., M. Millward, D. Stricklan, M.G. Thomas, S. Speidel, M. Enns, J. Medrano, and L.D. Howery. 2016. Development of indicies to select beef cattle for terrain use. Proc. Soc. Range. Mgt. 69th Mtg. p. 81, Corpus Christi, TX. Bailey, D.W., M.F. Millward, M.G. Thomas, S.E. Speidel, R.M. Enns, J.F. Medrano, L.D. Howery. 2016. Improvements of cattle grazing distribution through genetic selection: challenges and opportunities. Proc. 10th Int. Rangeland Congr. Saskatoon, SK, CA, July 16-22. pp. 182-183. Boldt, R.J., S.E. Speidel, M.G. Thomas, L. Keenan and R.M. Enns. 2016. Genetic parameters for production traits and heifer pregnancy in Red Angus cattle. J. Anim. Sci. 94(E. Suppl. 5): E183. Canovas, A., R.R. Cockrum, D. Brown, S. Riddle, J. Neary, T. Holt, G.M. Krafsur, J.F. Medrano, A. Islas-Trejo, R.M. Enns, S.E. Speidel, K. Cammack, K.R. Stenmark, and M.G. Thomas. 2016. Functional SNP in a polygenic disease induced by high-altitude in fattening Angus steer. Proc. Eur. Fed. Anim. Sci., abstract 419, p. 67. Belfast, UK. August 2016. Canovas, A, R.R. Cockrum, R.D. Brown, S.K. Riddle, J.M. Neary, T. Holt, G.M. Krafsur, J.F. Medrano, A. Islas-Trejo, M. Enns, S. Speidel, K. Cammack, K.R. Stenmark, and M.G. Thomas. 2016. Polymorphisms and splice variants in a polygenic disease induced by high altitude in fattening Angus steers using RNA-Seq and systems biology. Plant and Animal Genome XXIV. Abstract PO108. Canovas, A., R. Cockrum, D. Brown, S. Riddle, J.M. Neary, T.N. Holt, J.F. Medrano, A. Islas-Trejo, R.M. Enns, S.E. Speidel, K. Cammack, K.R. Stenmark and M.G. Thomas.  2016. Functional SNP in a polygenic disease induced by high-altitude in fattening Angus steers using systems biology approach. J. Anim. Sci. 94(E. Suppl. 5): E121. Canovas, A., R. Cockrum, D. Brown, S. Riddle, J.M. Neary, T.N. Holt, J.F. Medrano, A. Islas-Trejo, R.M. Enns, S.E. Speidel, K. Cammack, K.R. Stenmark, and M.G. Thomas. 2016. Functional genomics of high altitude disease in Angus cattle: leveraging-OMICs and systems biology to better understanding of the function and role of key contributing genes. Proc. Int. Soc. Anim. Genet. p. 78 (abstract P3050), Salt Lake City, UT, July 2016. Cockrum, R., N.F. Berge, X.F. Zeng, H. Blackburn, T. Holt, R.M. Enns, and M.G. Thomas. 2016. Genotypes associated with yearling pulmonary arterial pressure similar for growth measures in Angus heifers. Plant and Animal Genome XXIV. Abstract PO508. Crawford, N.F., X. Zeng, S.J. Coleman, T.N. Holt, S.E. Speidel, R.M. Enns, J.H. Newman, R. Hamid, and M.G. Thomas. 2016.  Pulmonary arterial pressure in yearling Angus cattle managed at high altitude:  Study of a non-synonymous SNP in the oxygen-dependent degradation domain of the endothelial PAS domain-containing protein 1 gene. J. Anim. Sci. 94(E. Suppl. 5): E79-E80. Culbertson, M.M., M.G. Thomas, L.L. Leachman, R.M. Enns, and S.E. Speidel. 2016. Effect of heterosis on pulmonary arterial pressure in beef cattle. Proc. CSU Grad. Stud. Show Case. Fort Collins November, 2016. Culbertson, M.M., M.G. Thomas, L.L. Leachman, R.M. Enns, and S.E. Speidel. 2016. The effect of heterosis on pulmonary arterial pressure in beef cattle. J. Anim. Sci. 94(E. Suppl. 5): E167. Dalton, J., G.W. Burns, T.E. Spencer, and H.L. Neibergs. 2017. Identification of Genes and Gene Sets Enriched for Heifer Conception Rate in US Holstein Heifers. J. Anim. Sci. 95(Suppl. 2): 12. Delgadillo, J.S., D.G. Riley, J.M. Langdon, II, L.L. Hulsman Hanna, and A.D. Herring. 2017. Black Hereford genetic parameters and predictions for calf traits with alternate modelling strategies. J. Anim. Sci. 95 (Suppl. 4): 88 (Abstr.) doi:10.2527/asasann.2017.178 Dias, M.M., M.G. Thomas, A. Canovas, C. Mantilla-Rojas, D. Riley, P. Luna, S.J. Coleman, S.E. Speidel, R.M. Enns, A. Ilas-Trejo, J.F. Medrano, R. Cockrum, K.M. Cammack, K. Stenmark, S. Moore, M.R.S. Fortes, L.T Nguyen, B. Venus, I. Diaz, F. Souza, L. Fonseca, F. Baldi, L. Albuquerque, and H. Oliveira. 2016. SNP discovery in RNA-Seq across breeds of cattle in puberty-related candidate genes (i.e., network hubs).  Plant and Animal Genome XXIV. Abstract PO518. Elzo, M.A., R. Mateescu, M.G. Thomas, D.D. Johnson, D.O. Rae, J.D. Wasdin, M.D. Driver, and J.D. Driver. 2016. Genomic-polygenic and polygenic parameters and prediction trends for growth and reproduction traits in an Angus-Brahman multibreed population. J. Anim. Sci. 94(E. Suppl. 5): E151. Engle, B.N., A.D. Herring, J.E. Sawyer, D.G. Riley, J.O. Sanders, and C.A. Gill. 2017. Influence of a 1-Mb region of BTA 5 on beef cow stayability in Bos indicus × Bos taurus crossbred cows. Proc.36th International Society for Animal Genetics Conference, 16-21 July, Dublin, Ireland. Abstr. MT317. Fontoura, A.B.P., F.E. Keomanivong, C.R. Dahlen, K. Ringwall, K.A. Vonnahme, L.L.H. Hanna, and K.C. Swanson. 2016. Plasma analytes concentrations of beef heifers diverging in frame size and known feed efficiency group. J. Anim. Sci. 94(Suppl. 2): 147. Fortes, M.R.S., L.T. Nguyen, M.D.C.A. Weller, A. Canovas, A. Islas-Trejo, L.R. Porto-Neto, A. Reverter, S.A. Lehnert, G.B. Boe-Hansen, M.G. Thomas, J.F. Medrano, and S.S. Moore. 2016. Transcriptome and network analyses identified five transcription factors differentially expressed in the hypothalamus of pre versus post-pubertal Brahman heifers. Int. Congr. Anim. Reprod., Nozilly FR. Garrott, R.A., K.M. Proffitt, J.J. Rotella, J. Berardinelli, J. Thomson, E.P. Flesch, C.J. Butler, E. Lula, and R. Lambert. 2017. The Role of Disease, Habitat, Individual Condition, and Herd Attributes on Bighorn Sheep Recruitment and Population Dynamics in Montana. Annual Report. Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Grant. Montana: Fish, Wildlife & Parks and Montana State University. Griffin, J., M.G. Gonda, K. Underwood, R.H. Pritchard, J.C. Clapper, and Z. Wang. 2016. Global gene expression and DNA methylation of the hypothalamus in feeder calves fed high concentrate finishing diet upon entering feedlot phase. South Dakota Beef Industry Council. Hulsman Hanna, L.L., J.K. Hieber, H. Yu, C. Dahlen, S. Wagner, and D.G. Riley. 2017. Impact of blood collection on scoring temperament in Angus-based weaned calves is negligible. J. Anim. Sci. 95 (Suppl. 2): 19. Keuter, E.M., M. Neupane, J.N. Kiser, J.G.N. Moraes, J. Dalton, G.W. Burns, T.E. Spencer, C.M. Seabury, H.L. Neibergs. 2017. Identification of canonical pathways associated with conception rate in US Holstein heifers. 2017 Society for the Study of Reproduction, Washington, D.C. Kincheloe, J.J., A.D. Blair, K.C. Olson, K.R. Underwood, M.G. Gonda, R.N. Funston, and M.J. Webb. 2016. Impact of maternal protein restriction in mid- to late-gestation on gene expression, offspring growth, carcass composition, and meat quality. South Dakota Beef Industry Council. Kincheloe, J.J., M.J. Webb, R.N. Funston, K.R. Underwood, M.G. Gonda, A.D. Blair, and K.C. Olson.  2016.  Impact of maternal protein restriction in first-calf heifers during mid- to late-gestation on gene expression, feedlot performance, and carcass characteristics of progeny.  Proceedings, Western Section, American Society of Animal Science, Vol. 67. Krehbiel, B.C., M.G. Thomas, H.D. Blackburn, S.E. Speidel, R.M. Enns, and L. Keenan. 2016. Evaluation of genetic structure across five US climate zones using prominent AI sires of two British Bos taurus breeds. Proc. West. Sect. Am. Soc. Anim. Sci. 67:65-68. Krehbiel, B.C., M.G. Thomas, H.D. Blackburn, S.E. Speidel, R.M. Enns, L.D. Keenan. 2016. Evaluation of genetic structure across five U.S. Climate zones using prominent AI sires of two British Bos taurus breeds. J. Anim. Sci. 94(E. Suppl. 5): E4-E5. Kuehl, C.R., A.B.P. Fontoura, F.E. Keomanivong, C.R. Dahlen, K. Ringwall, K.A. Vonnahme, L.L.H. Hanna, and K.C. Swanson. 2016. Relationship of frame size and body measurements with feed efficiency traits in heifers. J. Anim. Sci. 94(Suppl. 2): 199. Luna-Nevarez, P., J.C. Leyva-Corona, M.A. Sanchez-Castro, R. Zamorano-Algandar, J.F. Medrano, G. Rincon, R.M. Enns, S.E. Speidel and M.G. Thomas. 2016. A polymorphism within the PAPPA2 gene is associated with postpartum fertility traits in Holstein Dairy cattle located in southern Sonora Mexico. J. Anim. Sci. 94(E. Suppl. 5): E163-E164. Luna-Nevarez, P., M. Pavlovich-Sotomayor, R.I. Luna-Ramirez, C.M. Aguilar-Trejo, G. Luna-Nevarez, X. Zeng, S.E. Speidel, R.M. Enns, and M.G. Thomas. 2016. Study of genetic basis of immune response in gilts vaccinated with a modified live PRRS virus in a swine farm from southern Sonora Mexico. J. Anim. Sci. 94(E. Suppl. 5): E86-E87. Moraes, J.G.N., T.W. Geary, P.J. Hansen, H. Neibergs, S. Behura, T.R. Hansen, T.E. Spencer. 2017. Conceptus elongation in beef heifers with superior uterine capacity for pregnancy. 2017 Society for the Study of Reproduction, Washington, D.C. Olson, C.A., G.E. Carstens, A.D. Herring, D.S. Hale, I.L. Parsons, J.R. Johnson, W.C. Kayser and R.K. Miller. 2017. Temperament on arrival alters growth efficiency, feeding behavior, and carcass characteristics of feedlot cattle. Proc. Plains Nutrition Council 2017 Spring Conference. Pp 100. Pauling, R.C., S.E. Speidel, M.G. Thomas, M.M. Culbertson, R.K. Peel, and R.M. Enns. 2016. Winter climate variables and their effect of feed intake in Bos taurus bulls. J. Anim. Sci. 94(E. Suppl. 5): E606. Perea, K., K. Perz, S. K. Olivo, A. Williams, M. Lachman, S. L. Ishaq, J. Thomson, C. J. Yeoman. 2017. Feed efficiency phenotypes in lambs involve changes in ruminal, colonic, and small intestine-located microbiota. Proceedings 2017 Congress on Gastrointestinal Function. Perkins, S.D., P. Sutovsky, S. Subramanian, J.L. Gonzalez-Hernandez, G.A. Perry, T.G. McDaneld, and M.G. Gonda. 2016. Characterization of miRNAs and piRNAs in the seminal plasma of beef bulls with predicted high and low fertility. International Congress of Animal Reproduction, Tours, France. Peters, S.O., M. Sinecen, M.G. Thomas, I.G. Imumorin, and K. Kizilkaya. 2016. Genome-enabled prediction of genetic values of growth traits using artificial neural networks. J. Anim. Sci. 94(E. Suppl. 5): E151-152. Ramsay, J.M., L.L. Hulsman Hanna, and K.A. Ringwall. 2016. Maximizing use of extension beef cattle benchmarks data derived from Cow Herd Appraisal Performance Software. J. Extension 54(3): 3TOT5. Sarlo Davila, K.M., A.D. Herring, J.E. Sawyer, J.F. Ridpath, and C.A. Gill. 2017. Genome-wide association study for monocyte count at day 7 post-challenge with bovine viral diarrhea virus in F2 and F3 Nellore-Angus halfblood steers. Proc. 36th International Society for Animal Genetics Conference, 16-21 July, Dublin, Ireland. Abstr. MT367.* (*Also selected for Platform “Lightning Talk” presentation.) Smith, P.S., G.E. Carstens, C.A. Runyan, J.F. Ridpath, J.E. Sawyer, and A.D. Herring. 2017. Effects of vaccine treatment and temperament classification on intake and feeding behavior responses to bovine viral diarrhea virus challenge in beef steers. J. Anim. Sci. 95 (Suppl. 4): 42 (Abstr.) doi:10.2527/asasann.2017.085 Smith, P.S., W. Kayser, G.E. Carstens, C.A. Runyan, J.F. Ridpath, J.E. Sawyer, and A.D. Herring. 2017. Type of BRD vaccine alters feed intake and feeding behavior responses to BVD viral challenge in beef steers. Proc. Plains Nutrition Council 2017 Spring Conference. Pp 103. Taylor, J.F., J.E. Beever, J.E. Decker, H.C. Freetly, D.J. Garrick, S.L. Hansen, K.A. Johnson, M.S. Kerley, D.D. Loy, H.L. Neibergs, M. Saatchi, R.D. Schnabel, C.M. Seabury, D.W. Shike, M.L. Spangler, and R.L. Weaber. 2017. The genetic improvement of feed efficiency in beef cattle. J. Anim. Sci. 95(Suppl. 2): 161. Thomas, M.G., S.J. Coleman, S.E. Speidel and R.M. Enns. 2016. Multi-omics data resources and use in genetic improvement of cattle growth and health. J. Anim. Sci. 94(E. Suppl. 5): E369-E370. Thomas, M.G., R.M. Enns, R. Hagevoort, J.S. Neibergs, A.L. Van Eenennaam, H.L. Neibergs, and J.E. Womack. 2016. Integrated program for reducing bovine respiratory disease complex (BRDC) in cattle, coordinated agricultural project (CAP): translation of multi-omics research results into teaching programs. J. Anim. Sci. 94(E. Suppl. 5): E852-853. Webb, M.J., J.J. Kincheloe, R.N. Funston, K.R. Underwood, J.F. Legako, M.G. Gonda, K.C. Olson, and A.D. Blair. 2017. Impact of maternal protein restriction on progeny carcass characteristics, meat quality and fatty acid profile. J. Anim. Sci. 95 (Suppl. 2): 46. Zeng, X., T.N. Holt, S.E. Speidel, R.M. Enns, and M.G. Thomas. 2016. Angus cattle at high elevation: Comparison of models to estimate breeding values of yearling pulmonary arterial pressure. J. Anim. Sci. 94(E. Suppl. 5): E166-E167. Zuidema, D.M., M.G. Gonda, W.C. Rusche, and J.A. Walker. 2017. Comparison of Igenity Silver Profile and Zoetis PredicGEN DNA tests in crossbred beef cattle. J. Anim. Sci. 95 (Suppl. 2): 193. Non-Referred/Popular Press Articles: Carroll, H. and M.G. Gonda. 2016. How do genetics impact animal well-being? SDSU Extension iGrow Article. <a href="https://igrow.org/livestock/beef/how-do-genetics-impact-animal-well-being/">https://igrow.org/livestock/beef/how-do-genetics-impact-animal-well-being/</a> (Accessed 10 August 2017). Gonda, M.G. 2016. How can I use DNA tests for complex traits?  Progressive Cattleman.  August 24. <a href="http://www.progressivecattle.com/topics/reproduction/7452-how-can-i-use-dna-tests-for-complex-traits">http://www.progressivecattle.com/topics/reproduction/7452-how-can-i-use-dna-tests-for-complex-traits</a> (Accessed 10 August 2017). Producer and Industry Meetings and Presentations: Herring, A. 2016. New technologies in the beef industry. Brahman Summer Junior Leadership Camp. July 19, 2016, College Station, Texas. American Junior Brahman Association (American Brahman Breeders Association). 40 participants. Herring, A.D. 2016. Texas Aggie Commercial Steer Camp. College Station, Texas. 60 participants. Herring, A.D., K.A. Sarlo, R. Gooder, J. Delgadillo, D.G. Riley, J.O. Sanders, J.E. Sawyer, J.F. Ridpath, and C.A. Gill. 2016. Influences of calf background information on health responses and carcass traits. Proc. 62nd Annual Texas A&M Beef Cattle Short Course. Pp F34-F41. 80 participants. Paschal, J., S. Hammack, and A.D. Herring. 2016 Coordinators of animal breeding sessions, 62nd Annual Texas A&M Beef Cattle Short Course. 140 participants. Herring, A.D. Topic: Genetic and selection tools to enhance beef quality. BEEF 706 (9 August 2016, 11 August 2016, 10 January 2017, 12 January 2017, 30 March 2017). 175 participants total (35 per session). Herring, A.D. 2017. Genetic and selection tools for improving beef quality. Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association Annual meeting. San Antonio, Texas. 125 participants. Herring, A.D. 2016. Beef cattle productions considerations for improved beef quality assurance. Meetings with Dominican Republic Government agencies and cattle industry producer groups to pursue U.S. beef production equivalency standards. Santo Domingo, Monte Plata and El Seibo provinces. 100 participants. Herring, A.D. 2016. Roundtable discussion of merits for national beef carcass grading systems. Aldam Stockman’s School. Welkom, Free State Province Republic of South Africa. 200 participants. Hulsman Hanna, L.L. North Dakota Beef Cattle Improvement Association Board of Directors Meeting. Bismarck, North Dakota. 2016. Neibergs, H.L. American Association of Bovine Practioners Conference. Charlotte, North Carolina. 2016. Presentations on: Genomics of health traits in dairy cattle. Updates on the genomics of reproductive traits in dairy cattle. Neibergs, H.L. Washington State University and Angus Association Boot Camp. Kennewick, Washington. 2016. Improvement of Beef Feed Efficiency.

Impact Statements

Collaborative work with wildlife geneticists has led to science-based considerations regarding management implications of the U.S. Endangered Species Act (ESA).