Brief Summary of Minutes of Annual Meeting

Minutes are pasted below.  Accomplishments are linked in the attachment below, since I was unable to link the accomplishments in the "Accomplishments" location.

Minutes of the S-1064 Multi-State Research Project Meeting

St. Croix, USVI

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.

 Station Reports for S-1064 projects were presented by objectives:

Objective 1: Estimate genetic variation associated with animal health using classical animal breeding and genomic techniques to facilitate sustainable beef cattle production systems

 Objective 1.1 External Parasites

 Dr. Megan Rolf shared the work they had done at Oklahoma State University on horn flies. They discovered no relationship between reaction norms formed by regressing fly counts on THI and weaning weight. There were, however limitations on the data quality that were not known at the time of collection. The ultimate goal is to collect data on a large number of animals, so project personnel are exploring opportunities to automate fly counts with computer programming and to limit the number of times data needs to be collected to better manage the labor intensity of collecting this type of data.

 Dr. Bob Godfrey shared their work on tick loads on animals. They use a subjective scoring system on both cows and calves pre-dip and they found that tick scores didn’t differ between cows with a variety of performance traits measured. They did find that cows with higher tick burdens had lower BCS. Most animals were in the clean or light category due to weather and environmental conditions for the year the data were collected. Cow and calf tick load were not related.

 Objective 1.2 Eye and facial pigmentation associated with animal health

 Dr. David Riley shared their data regarding udder pigmentation and eye pigmentation. They have over 1000 records on pigmentation and more than 500 animals with repeated records for eye pigmentation. They are also monitoring sclera pigmentation on both the left and right eye. They are monitoring udder pigmentation in a group of cattle at TAMU along with scoring udder quality and teat scores as animals age. They are recording phenotypes at calving, mid-lactation, and after weaning.

 Objective 1.3 Udder conformation

Bryan Kutz discussed Arkansas’ work on teat scoring. They followed BIF guidelines for the scoring system and collected the data during three different stages of lactation including within 24 hours of birth, mid lactation, and at weaning. We had extended discussions about the relationship between udder capacity and udder suspensions and how that is being accounted for among the scores at different locations. Each location collecting data is going to take pictures of the 1, 3, 5, 7, and 9s for both white face and Brahman animals for comparison next year to help in standardizing the data between locations. Bryan also surveyed those that were interested in collecting foot scores using the Angus scoring system.

 Objective 2: Meta-analyses of economically important traits of cow productivity and fertility to assess breed and production system combinations

Dr. Bob Godfrey shared their data on hip height, pelvic scores, sex of calf, and scrotal circumference on a group of Senepol animals. They concluded that there are differences in growth traits between Senepol animals of different sexes reared in a tropical environment.

 Mauricio Elzo presented the UF station report. He reviewed data collection efforts on the multibreed Angus-Brahman and Brahman herds of the University of Florida. He shared their research on genomic-polygenic, genomic, and polygenic estimation of variance components, genetic parameters, and EBV for a wide variety of growth, ultrasound, and carcass traits for animals with varying fractions of Brahman ancestry.

 Objective 3: Documentation of genetic components pertaining to heat tolerance adaptive traits in sustainable beef cattle production systems

Dr. Megan Rolf shared their work on a project related to water intake and climate adaptability in beef cattle. They have found abundant variation in phenotype and response to water restriction and heat stress, and will be performing genetics studies in the coming year. The genotypes on the first three groups of calves should be returned by the end of summer.

 Dr. Jeremy Powell spoke about hair shedding data collected at Arkansas on an Angus-based commercial cow herd. They found that the majority of their cows are shedding in June, but some do not shed at all during the summer. Cows that shed later tend to be younger and those that shed earlier tend to have a larger body weight. Those that shed earlier also have heavier calves at both birth and weaning when examining adjusted weights and have better pregnancy rates. Jeremy also shared information on the white face cattle eye pictures and udder scores that have been collected at Arkansas.

Objective 4: Investigation of early cow-life performance (first four parities) affecting lifetime production in Brahman and Brahman-Angus cows

Dr. David Riley reported that udder quality scores are being recorded at TAMU and NMSU data has been contributed also. LSU and Louisiana Tech collaborators are being recruited also. Brooksville, FL data has also been contributed to objective 4 by Mauricio Elzo.

 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.

 Respectfully submitted,

 Megan Rolf, PhD, 2016 S-1064 Secretary

RESOLUTIONS

S-1064 Technical Committee

St. Croix, USVI

May 25-27, 2016

 Whereas the S-1064 Technical Committee is committed to improving beef cattle production systems in the southern region and other regions of the United States, and whereas the S-1064 Technical Committee is improved by exchange of research findings and approaches at different institutions and locations as well as observing different beef cattle production systems, therefore, be it resolved that the S-1064 Technical Committee expresses its gratitude to Dr. Robert Godfrey for planning and coordinating its 2016 annual meeting in St. Croix, USVI and for coordinating tours of the research sheep and cattle herds at the University of the Virgin Islands and the privately owned beef herd belonging to Hans Lawaetz (Annaly Farms Senepol, Inc.) We would also like to thank Sue Lakos (Research Analyst- Sheep Unit), Henry Nelthropp (Research Analyst – Beef Unit), Willie Gonzalez (Research Assistant – Beef Unit), Ismael Montes (Ag aide – Sheep Unit), Royson Joseph (Ag aide – Sheep Unit), Jacqueline Romer (Admin. Specialist) and undergraduate students Amran Nero, Gilbert Roberts, Serena Joseph and Juan Martinez for welcoming and hosting the S-1064 group.

Be it also resolved that the S-1064 Technical Committee extends its appreciation to WERA-1 committee members Dr. Milt Thomas and Dr. Dave Schafer for their attendance and contributions to this meeting.

Be it also resolved that the S-1064 Technical Committee extends its thanks to officers Dr. Jeremy Powell and Dr. Megan Rolf for their support and leadership to the group. Be it also resolved that the S-1064 Technical Committee extends its thanks to Dr. Joe West for his oversight, leadership, and friendship as administrative advisor of the project. Respectively submitted 5/26/16 Bryan Kutz David Riley

Accomplishments are linked in the attachment below, since I was unable to link the accomplishments in the "Accomplishments" location.