Brief Summary of Minutes of Annual Meeting

Minutes are posted below.  Accomplishments are linked in the attachment below.

 The S-1064 meeting was called to order on May 24, 2017 by Amber Starnes at the Country Inn and Suites near the University of Florida Campus in Gainesville, FL. Mauricio 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. Amber Starnes asked for volunteers for the nominating committee (Bob and Jeremy) and resolutions committee (Trent, David and Rhonda).  

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. 

 Bob Godfrey shared his work on tick loads on animals in St. Croix. 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. 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 scores at weaning were not related. Correlation of tick load between cows and calves, and within calves will be difficult to select for on the dam side. Selection may be more successful from the sire side. Effective use for management of tick burden.

 David Riley shared their data regarding udder pigmentation and eye pigmentation. He mentioned surgery for Jim. They have over 400 Hereford records and over 1000 Bos indicus and Bos taurus commercial cattle on pigmentation and more than 600 animals with repeated records for eye pigmentation. They are also monitoring sclera pigmentation across time on both the left and right eye.

Showed pictures of an eye with lesion development over time. Presented a table of lesion number on different parts of the eye. They are scoring udder quality and teat scores as animals age. They are recording phenotypes at calving, mid-lactation, and after weaning. Presented means for udder scores and lactation over time in Nellore and purebred Brahman cattle.

 Trent Smith shared work on eye and facial pigmentation associated with animal health and his work on udder conformation. Over 500 records on udder scores were collected. Presented a distribution of scores and ages. Descriptive statistics and simple correlations were also presented. Udder and teat scores were related. Breed differences were presented among Angus, Charolais and Hereford cattle. Breed differences did exist.   Least squares means for weaning weight with teat scores were presented.    

 Bryan Kutz discussed Arkansas’ work on udder 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. Bryan discussed the data on possible relationships of Age, udder suspension and teat size on weaning weight Bryan also presented data on foot scores using the Angus scoring system. Bryan shared data on the possible relationship of Cow weight, Body condition score and weaning weight with claw set and foot angle.

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

 Trent smith is continuing to collect data on all fall and spring cows for meta-analyses of economically important traits.

 Romdhane Rekaya shared report on genomic prediction of continuous and binary fertility traits of females in composite beef cattle breed. Presented genetic study on three fertility traits (Age at first calving, age at puberty and pregnancy status). Genomic information improved accuracy of phenotype prediction by 27%. Age at puberty and pregnancy status showed sufficient genetic variation to respond to selection. Romdhane also shared information on GWAS.

 Mauricio reported ongoing research in this objective.

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

 David Riley reported coat score on Angus cattle. The results are only getting an age effect on shedding scores. Only showing age difference in transition season. Angus cattle in Texas will begin shedding in April. Associated with selection and reproduction pressure.

 Trent Smith is continuing to collect shedding scores for heat tolerance adaptive traits in sustainable beef cattle production systems.

 Jeremy Powell spoke about hair shedding data collected at Arkansas on an Angus-based commercial cowherd. Discussion on shedding data on young heifers that have not calved yet. 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. There was no effect of shedding on BCS. Those that shed earlier also have heavier calves at both birth and weaning when examining adjusted weights. Pregnancy rates were not affected by MFS in these data. Jeremy also shared pictures of eyes in white face cattle for objective 1.2. Jeremy also provided information on collaboration for the NIFA project with Dr. Jared Decker on creating region-specific genomic predictions. In addition, Jeremy discussed the project on prolactin gene and hair scores in collaboration with Dr. Rosenkrans at the University of Arkansas.

 Raluca reported data on genetic tolerance in two herds at UF and the Seminole Tribe in Florida. At the UF project they recorded temperature vaginally and environmental air temp and relative humidity. They tracked movement pattern and correlated with body temperature. Brahman stayed much cooler (consistently below 39 Celsius) during the heat of the day as compared to other breeds and crossbreds. ¾ Brahman stay under 39 Celsius under medium heat stress. Under low heat stress Angus and ¾ Angus remained over that threshold of 39 Celsius. At the Seminole reservation 725 two year old Brangus heifers were analyzed. They measured coat color, score and hair length, diameter. Coat score appeared to be related to body temperature. Perspiration rate was measured with a VapoMeter. Time had an effect on sweating rate but there was still variation within time. Does not seem to be any trend in relationship of coat score with sweating rate. Raluca also shared data related to their project” Breeding climate-smart beef cattle”

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

 Mauricio presented the UF Station Report. Additional Data collection on udder scores, ultrasound and actual carcass data is continuing. They have and will continue to collect phenotypic and genotypic data over a number of years on Brahman herds in Florida. He is developing a statewide database with genotypes, pedigree and phenotypes in the Florida Brahman population, increase UF herd, establish statewide repository, conduct annual genomic evaluations and publish an annual summary. Identify and establish connected herds in Florida Brahman population.

 Amber invited Lakshmi Matukumalli to visit with us about the USDA update. He reported a hiring freeze in place so award time is two to 3 months and going up. Along with retirements there is a bottleneck occurring. He just wanted to let us know to be patient. He visited with us about funding opportunities and the kinds of grant proposals that look more inviting.   Animal genome blueprint is 10 years old. What does the genomic community want for the future? Wanted this groups’ input about animal genomics outlook. He visited about the NIFA budget. There is a 10% cut to the budget. He encouraged this group to send in writing any concerns about the review process for grant proposals for NIFA. Mentioned that he would like to see more proposals from the animal side. Extended discussion occurred about submission of grants within this community.

 Dr. Geoff Dahl welcomed the group to Florida and specifically to the University of Florida Campus. He was excited for us to tour campus and Beef research unit and see the long standing multi-breed cowherd. He talked of the development of a purebred Brahman herd in replace of the angus/Brangus and visited with us about the other specie industries within the state. He also talked about student population in Animal Science and campus enrollment. He shared information about support from the industry as it relates to facility development.  

 Amber 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 Raluca Mateescu as incoming secretary for the S-1064 executive board. Bryan moved we accept this nomination and David seconded it. His nomination was accepted by unanimous vote. Trent read the resolution committee report. It was moved by Bob and seconded by Jeremy 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 appreciation of the group’s meeting quality and efficiency. He talked with us about the upcoming rewrite. The project runs through 2019 and has been around in one form or another since the 1950s. He explained the usefulness and importance of good impact statements. He advised us to begin thinking about information to be used as the project comes to the termination point and the need to develop a report and the rewrite. He also recommended a group picture for the record of attendance. He also encouraged recruitment of new members and solicitation of new types of funding to grow the group’s expertise and ability to do research. He reminded us of the annual report that is due in 60 days. He read appendix E and we visited as a group about opportunity for potential new members. He questioned the groups work on all objectives. The group intends to continue meeting every other year with the WERA-1 group.

 We discussed meeting locations for next year. We discussed meeting at a location with the WERA -1 group. Kansas State was nominated as the location as a backup for the next meeting in 2018. It was mentioned that we nominate a back up to the back up. Georgia was nominated as our third option for the meeting. Bob suggested using a doodle poll as to the date of the meeting.

 In the afternoon, we visited the BRU Beef Research Unit at the University of Florida and the research unit located in Santa Fe. We concluded with dinner at Longhorn steakhouse.

 On Friday, May 28, we toured Kempfer Ranch in St. Cloud, FL.

 Respectfully submitted,

 Bryan Kutz, 2017 S-1064 Secretary

2017 Officers

Amber Starnes – Chair

Megan Rolf – Chair elect

Bryan Kutz – Secretary

New Officer elect - Raluca Mateescu

Resolutions

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. Mauricio Elzo for planning and coordinating its 2017 annual meeting in Gainesville, FL and for coordinating tours of the research cattle herds at the University of Florida Beef Research Unit and Santa Fe River Unit and the privately owned beef herd belonging to George and Henry Kempfer (Kempfer Ranch, St. Cloud, FL). We would also like to thank Ms. Pamela Krueger (Administrative Assistant) for her assistance with planning and meals, Dr. Mauricio Elzo for his sponsorship of meals and transportation and to Dr. Geoffery Dahl, Animal Science Department Chair for the University of Florida, for his welcome and support of the S-1064 annual meeting.

 Be it also resolved that the S-1064 Technical Committee extends its thanks to officers Ms. Amber Starnes and Mr. Bryan Kutz for their support and leadership to the group. 

Be it also resolved that the S-1064 Technical Committee extends its thanks to Dr. Lakshmi Matukumali (National Program Leader for AFRI Animal Breeding, Genetics, and Genomics) for his attendance and insight into USDA-NIFA funding opportunities.

 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. Respectfully submitted 5/25/17 Rhonda Vann

Trent Smith

David Riley

Accomplishments are linked in the attachment below.