Brief Summary of Minutes of Annual Meeting

Minutes for the S-1064 Multi-State Research Projects, Kansas State University, Manhattan KS, 2018, May 30, 2018

The S-1064 meeting was called to order on May 30, 2018 at the Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS. Megan welcomed everybody and invited everyone to enjoy the coffee and refreshments and covered other general housekeeping items. All participants introduced themselves.

Present: Megan Rolf, David Riley, Raluca Mateescu, Romdhane Rekaya, Mauricio Elzo, Robert Godfrey, James Sanders, Jeremy Powell, Bryan Kutz, Rhonda Vann, Joe West

Dr. Ernie Minton - Assoc. Director Ag Exp. St., Assoc. Dean Research. Dr, Minton welcomed everyone and gave a brief overview of KSU and College of Ag: 2,594 undergards, 540 grad students, 200 teaching faculty members, 16 undergraduate majors, 10 graduate programs. Departments: Ag Economics, Agronomy, Animal Sciences and Industry, Communication and Agricultural Education, Entomology, Food Science Institute, Grain Science and industry, horticulture and natural resources, plant pathology. Many positions are open and searches are ongoing (ANS department chair, provost, Dean, etc).

Lakshmi Matukumkali presented an update on NIFA programs. New acting director for NIFA - Dr.Tom Shanower and new NIFA director search is underway. Several open positions. AFRI budget approved for $375M in 2018. Farm Bill passed the House Committee, did not pass the full house. Senate version still in committee. Move the regulation of GE (genomic engineered) animal under USDA. NIFA program. Specific science priorities: Plant and Animal Breeding, microbiome, cyberinformatics. Foundational Program stays the say, released yesterday. FACT (food and ag cyberinformatics and tools) – last year there were meetings to identify priorities within the communities. This year program has money for 500K or 1M proposals. Animal Breeding and Genomics: high-throughput phenomics, systems approach, breeding strategies. Changes: multiple challenge area (SAS – apply systems based approach, combine multiple fields, similar to old CAP grants, multidisciplinary projects, recurring program). Breeding and Genetics program, last year funded 3 FAANG projects at the 1M level: poultry, cattle and swine functional annotation.

Station Reports:

Mauricio Elzo, UF. Data Collection: multibreed herd 499 cows, Brahmnan 162 cows. 2,394 genotyped with 250K, 1557 with 50K. Udder and teat score by Brahman fraction – slight upward trend toward Brahman. Maybe an effect of younger age in Brahman and maybe the culling effect. FL Brahman Genomics Project – goal to develop a statewide database with genotypes pedigree and phenotypes in the Florida Brahman population. Also increase the size of the UF Brahman herd to 260 cows. Genomic-polygenic EBS for a number of traits.

Raluca Mateescu, UF (Obj. 3). Reported data on genetics of thermotolerance in two herds at UF and the Seminole Tribe of Florida. At the UF project they recorded temperature vaginally and environmental air temp and relative humidity. 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 about 1500 two year old Brangus heifers were analyzed. They measured coat color, score and hair length, diameter. Coat score had a significant effect on body temperature. Heritability of body temperature under low THI around 25% and under low THI around 11%. GWAS for coat scores reveals strong signals throughout the genome.

Megan Rolf, Kansas State. Water Intake (Obj. 3). 579 crossbred steers, prediction correlations up to 64%, the lowest on e 33% when the env. was very different. Determine the duration test required around 35-42 days which is similar to the feed intake. Longer for the ad-lib group. Water intake prediction equations – R2 range from .34 .4 correlation, somewhat predictive. Water efficiency: residual water intake and water to gain ratio. Water intake range from 28-50kg. Genetic parameters (based on genomics): genetic correlation WI an ADG .05, WI and DMI .34. Also looked at carcass traits.

Joe West provided an administrative update for the group. He reminded the current officers: Megan – President, Jeremy – President Elect, Raluca - Secretary. He asked for a nomination committee for next year at the business meeting: Jim Sanders, Bob Godfrey. Resolution committee – (David and Brian and Rhonda). Project expires Sept 2019, need to re-write this year. Proposal – up to 3 pages what we would like to do with the rewrite need to be done by June. Has to be submitted Jan. 2019. Asked to think about the next project who will start next Sept. Lakshmi suggested to have the old objectives up tomorrow to revisit what we need to do next. Incorporate some of the new faculty and their work into the objectives.

Bryan Kutz, U. of Arkansas. Brian discussed Arkansas’ work on udder scoring. They followed BIF guidelines for the scoring system and collected the data during three different stages of lactation. He also talked about foot scores and suggested we might add this in the new objectives.

Jeremy Powell U. of Arkansas (Obj. 3). Hair coat shedding and effect on herd performance. Angus based commercial herd about 200/year scored from 2012 to 2018. Wide range of ages 3-16 years. Hair coat shedding score 1-5. BW, WW, bodyW, BCS, pregnancy score. 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. Jim Sanders mentioned that a trend he observed was if a cow sheds down the back she will be fine.

Bob Godfrey, Virgin Islands. Showed pictures and talked about the two hurricanes in Sept 2017. 45 ewes and 50 lambs died, only 1 cow. Estimated cost of recovery > 600K.

David Riley, TAMU. David Riley shared their data regarding udder pigmentation and eye pigmentation. 1500 Bos Indicus and 1100 Bos Taurus 500 Hereford. 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. About a 7% incidence of lesions. They have 3 years of repeated udder and teat scores on whiteface animals. Meta-analyses of fertility and cow productivity – maybe 3 locations that can be combined to start looking at these traits. Brahman early life reproduction –Mcgregor 60 cows, Overton 200 cows. Stressed the importance of continuing these project as we are just building the populations necessary for getting some good data analyses.

Will Fisk, Claudia, and Devin – grad students presented their work.

Discussion on the 4 current objectives took place. Look at parasite resistance and issues related to that - important especially for organic farming. Holistic approach – Using micro minerals to enhance response to vaccination, increase animal health. The eye lesions were discussed and the possibility of extending that work to other breeds. Maybe that will lead us to the numbers needed a lot faster. Collection of phenotypes and standardizing a protocol for collection of the desired phenotypes across research stations. Automation is desired for a lot of phenotypes – could be a good grant proposal for the Exploratory Program.

Romdhane Rekaya shared report on genomics and inbreeding – lessons from Line 1 Hereford. Inbreeding in Holstein population is .015% per year. Line 1 Hereford founded in 1934. Inbreeding estimates based on genotypes: genomic relationships and runs of homozygosity. Aims: determine the effect of animal and its parental level of inbreeding on growth and fertility traits. Inbreeding trend shows a drop and expansion in inbreeding around generation 40, maybe around 1960. Inbreeding estimates of .29 based on pedigree and .3 based on markers. He showed the distribution of the 4 different measures of inbreeding – small variation in the pedigree one, but large variation in the genomic estimated inbreeding.

Megan asked Joe West to lead the discussion on the re-write. Need to have a writing committee with a chair – but everybody will participate in writing. It will have to be a new project with a new number, but we can continue some of the older research, just revise the objectives to reflect some of the new people and newer projects. New project of max 15 pages needs to be completed by Jan. 2019.

Bob – need to continue Objective 3 Documentation of genetic components pertaining to heat tolerance adaptive traits in sustainable beef cattle production systems. KSU, UFL, UAR, MSU, UVI, TAMU. Need to tie to genetics but extend it to incorporate the development of measures for thermotolerance. Include the thermotolerance and adaptability. Design genetic panels for selection purposes, including this information in genetic evaluation.

Physiology: hair score, sweating, UARK, UVI, UFL.

Genetic: UFL, KSU, MSU (Bob and Raluca to coordinate).

David –Old objective 1. Estimate genetic variation associated with animal health using classical animal breeding and genomic techniques to facilitate sustainable beef cattle production systems. Take out the external parasites. Keep the eye, udder include feet, structural soundness, skull. Rename it from animal health to structural soundness. (David, Jeremy, Rhonda and Brian to coordinate)

Feet: TAMU, MSU, UAR, UVI.

Udder: MSU, TAMU, UVI, UFL, UAR, KSU?

Eye: MSU, TAMU, UAR

Skull: TAMU, UARK, MSU

Combine Obj. 2 with Obj. 4. New Objective: Productivity and fertility: longevity and fertility and meat quality and database creation. MSU, TAMU, UARK, UFL. (Rom, Rhonda, David to coordinate)

Call it “Systems approach to analyzing ERT” and include wording to reflect we are collecting new or novel traits.

Need to get objectives outlined and then by email the participating universities can describe each objective and activities.

Megan nominated that Trent head up the Writing committee based on Trent’s volunteering of helping in any re-writing. David, Rhonda and Bryan will assist.

Current Title: Genetic improvement of adaptation and reproduction to enhance sustainability of cow-calf production in the southern US. New Title: Enhancing sustainability of beef cattle production in Southern and Central US through genetic improvement.

The S1064 was selected and nominated by the UF Dean of Research for the Southern Region Multistate research projects excellence awards, and Eric Young just informed Joe West that we won the nomination from the Southern region. We are now competing at the national level and we will know at the Fall Directors meeting.

We discussed the location for next year. Georgia was proposed but there is a Centennial year celebration and next year would be difficult. Rhonda is willing to host at Brown Loam (Mississippi State). Nomination was approved.

In the afternoon we visited the Range Unit at the Konza Prairie.

On Friday, May 31 we toured the Diedrich Ranch and Fink Beef Genetics.

Respectfully submitted,

Raluca Mateescu, 2018 S-1064 Secretary

2018 Officers

Megan Rolf – Chair

Bryan Kutz – Chair elect

Raluca Mateescu – Secretary

New Officer elect - Romdhane Rekaya

2018 Participants for S-1064

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. Megan Rolf and graduate students Mr. Will Fisk, Ms. Devin Jacobs, and Ms. Claudia Silveria, for planning and coordinating its 2018 annual meeting in Manhattan, Kansas, and for coordinating tours and activites. The committee expresses its gratitude to Dr. K.C. Olson for his tour of the research cattle herds at the Kansas State University Range Unit, Mr. Mark Diedrich for the tour of Diedrich’s Ranch, and Mr. Galen Fink for the tour of Fink’s Beef Genetics and for providing lunch to the S-1064 group. We would also like to thank Ms. Angie Denton and Ms. Lois Schreiner for assistance with planning and meals, and to Dr. Ernie Minton, Associate Director of the Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station, 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 Dr. Megan Rolf, chair, Mr. Bryan Kutz chair-elect, and Dr. Raluca Mateescu, secretary, for their support and leadership to the group.

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

Be it also resolved that the S-1064 Technical Committee again extends its appreciation to Dr. Joe West for his continued oversight, leadership, and friendship as administrative advisor of the project.

Respectfully submitted 5/31/18

Rhonda Vann

Bryan Kutz

David Riley

A summary of Accomplishments is in the attached file.

PUBLICATIONS:

1. Sumreddee, P., Togniani, S., EH Hay, SE. Aggrey, and R. Rekaya. (2018). Inbreeding depression in line 1 Hereford cattle population using pedigree and genomic information. J. Anim. Sci. (Under review)
2. Toghiani, S., E. Hay, P. Sumreddee, T. W. Geary, R. Rekaya, A. J. Roberts. (2017). Genomic prediction of continuous and binary fertility traits of females in a composite beef cattle breed. J. Anim. Sci. Journal of Animal Science 10/2017; DOI:10.2527/jas2017.1944
3. Sumreddee, P., S. Toghiani, E.H. Hay, A. Ling, S. E. Aggrey, R. Rekaya (2018). Inbreeding depression in a Herford beef cattle population using the pedigree and genomic information. ASAS Meeting, Vancouver, Canada (Abstr).
4. 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.2017.1385.
5. Chase, C.C. Jr., R.D. Randel, D.G. Riley, S.W. Coleman, and W.A. Phillips. 2017. Evaluation of tropically adapted straightbred and crossbred beef cattle:Cortisol concentration and measures of temperament at weaning and transport. J. Anim. Sci. 95:5253–5262. doi:10.2527/jas2017.1924
6. Engle, B. N., A. D. Herring, J. E. Sawyer, D. G. Riley, J. O. Sanders, and C. A. Gill.       2018. Genome-wide association study for stayability measures in Nellore-Angus crossbred cows. J. Anim. Sci. 96:1205–1214 doi: 10.1093/jas/sky067.
7. Vann, R.C., B.P. Littlejohn, D.G. Riley, T.H. Welsh, Jr., R.D. Randel, and S.T. Willard.       2017. The influence of cow temperament on temperament and performance of offspring. J. Anim. Sci. 95(Suppl. 4):242(Abstr.) doi:10.2527/asasann.2017.496
8. Koltes, J. E., S. K. Chewning, D. A. Koltes, J. G. Powell, J. J. Chewning, L. Meyer, B. E. Mote, J. Tucker, and D. S. Hubbell, III. 2018. Automated collection of heat stress data in livestock: new technologies, opportunities and applications. Translational Animal Science. (Submitted)
9. Koltes, D. A., S. K. Chewning, J. G. Powell, L. M. Meyer, J. Tucker, D. S. Hubbell, III, and J. E. Koltes. 2018. In search of novel phenotypes and biomarkers associated with tall fescue and heat tolerance in crossbred beef cattle. Midwest ASAS Omaha, NE.
10. C. Ahlberg, Allwardt, K., A. Broocks, K. Bruno, A. Taylor, C. Krehbiel, M. Calvo-Lorenzo, C. Richards, S. Place, U. DeSilva, D. VanOverbeke, R. Mateescu, J. Bormann, R.L. Weaber, L.A. Kuehn, and M.M. Rolf*. 2018.  Test duration for water intake in beef cattle. Journal of Animal Science. (Accepted)
11. Allwardt, K., C. Ahlberg, A. Broocks, K. Bruno, A. Taylor, S. Place, C. Richards, C. Krehbiel, M. Calvo-Lorenzo, U. DeSilva, D. VanOverbeke, R. Mateescu, C. Goad, and M.M. Rolf*. 2017. Technical note: Validation of an automated system for monitoring and restricting water intake in group-housed beef steers. Journal of Animal Science 95(9):4213-4219.
12. Dikmen, S., R. G. Mateescu, M. A. Elzo, and P. J. Hansen. 2018. Determination of the optimum contribution of Brahman genetics in an Angus-Brahman multibreed herd for regulation of body temperature during hot weather. J. Anim. Sci. (https://doi.org/10.1093/jas/sky133).
13. Elzo, M. A., R. Mateescu, C. Carr, D. O. Rae, T. Scheffler, J. Scheffler, K. C. Jeong, J. D. Driver, and M. D. Driver.  2018. FCEF 2018 Report 1 for Florida Brahman: Genomic selection for tenderness, marbling, and reproductive tract score.       University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, p 1- 9.
14. Elzo, M. A., R. Mateescu, C. Carr, D. O. Rae, T. Scheffler, J. Scheffler, K. C. Jeong, J. D. Driver, and M. D. Driver.       2018. Florida Brahman: Genomic selection for tenderness, marbling, and reproductive tract score. The Florida Cattleman & Livestock Journal, 82(6):102-103.
15. Elzo, M. A., R. Mateescu, C. Carr, D. O. Rae, T. Scheffler, J. Scheffler, K. C. Jeong, J. D. Driver, and M. D. Driver.       2017. FCEF Report 2 for Florida Brahman: Genomic selection for tenderness, marbling, and reproductive tract score.       University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, p 1- 12.
16. Elzo, M. A., R. A. Mateescu, D. O. Rae, C. C. Carr, T. L. Scheffler, J. M. Scheffler, M. D. Driver, and J. D. Driver. 2018. Genomic-polygenic EBV for reproduction, ultrasound-carcass, and tenderness traits in the Florida multibreed Brahman-Angus population. 11^th World Conf. Gen. Appl. Livest. Prod., Auckland, New Zealand, February 11-16, 2018.
17. Fan, P. ^*, C. Nelson, J. D. Driver, M. A. Elzo, and K. C. Jeong. 2018. Bovine meconium microbiota varies with birthweight and influences the gut microbiota establishment during the early stage of life. Proc. 16^th AMCB Ann. Res. Symp., Crystal River, FL, April 6-7, 2018.
18. Fan, P. ^*, L. Teng, C. Nelson, J. D. Driver, M. A. Elzo, and K. C. Jeong. 2018. Animal breed composition shapes the gut microbiota, and its effects on the host metabolic and immunological status. eLife J. (Submitted)
19. Hamblen, H.^*, A. Zolini, P.J. Hansen, P.A. Oltenacu, and R.G. Mateescu. 2018. Hair coat and thermoregulation in Brangus heifers. Plant and Animal Genome Meeting, San Diego, CA.
20. Hamblen, H. M. ^*, J. D. Leal, M. A. Elzo, D. D. Johnson, C. C. Carr, T. Scheffler, J. M. Scheffler, and R. G. Mateescu. 2017. Association of a single nucleotide polymorphism in μ-calpain gene with Warner-Bratzler shear force in a crossbred Brahman-Angus population. AMSA 70^th Recip. Meat Conf., Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, June 16-21, 2017.
21. Gobena M.^*, M. A. Elzo, and R. G. Mateescu.  2018. Population structure and genomic breed composition in an Angus-Brahman crossbred cattle population. Front. Genet. 9:90.
22. Leal, J. ^*, M. Elzo, D. Johnson, F. Peñagaricano, F. Rezende, and R. Mateescu. 2018. Structural equation analysis and whole genome scan for growth, carcass quality and meat quality in beef. UF Grad. Student Apprec. Week, Gainesville, April 03, 2018.
23. Leal J.D. ^*, M.A. Elzo, D.D. Johnson, and R.G. Mateescu. 2018. Genome-Wide Association and Gene Enrichment Analyses of Meat Sensory Traits in a Crossbred Brahman-Angus Population. 11th World Congress on Genetics Applied to Livestock Production, Auckland, NZ., Volume Species - Bovine (beef) 1, 2018:124.
24. Leal, J. ^*, M. Elzo, D. Johnson, and R. Mateescu. 2018. Genome-Wide Association and Gene Enrichment Analyses of Meat Sensory Traits in a Crossbred Brahman-Angus Population. P0428 26^th Plant and Animal Genome Conference, San Diego, CA, January 13-17, 2018.
25. Leal J. D.^*, M. A. Elzo, D. D. Johnson, T. L. Scheffler, J. M. Scheffler, and R. G. Mateescu. 2018. Association of μ-calpain and calpastatin polymorphisms with meat tenderness in a Brahman-Angus population. Front. Genet. 9:56.
26. Mateescu, R. A., Dikmen, S., Hansen, P., and M. A. Elzo. 2018. Genetic parameters for body temperature under hot and humid conditions in an Angus-Brahman multibreed population. 11^th World Conf. Gen. Appl. Livest. Prod., Auckland, New Zealand, February 11-16, 2018.
27. Martinez, C. A. ^*, K. Khare, and M. A. Elzo. 2018. BIBI: Bayesian inference of breed composition. J. Anim. Breed. Genet. 135:54-61.
28. Martinez, C. A. ^*, K. Khare, S. Rahman, and M. A. Elzo. 2017. Modelling correlated marker effects in genome-wide prediction via Gaussian concentration graph models.  J. Theor. Biol. 437:67-78.
29. Martinez, C. A.^*, K. Khare, S. Rahman, and M. A. Elzo.  2017. Gaussian covariance graph models accounting for correlated marker effects in genome-wide prediction. J. Anim. Breed. Genet. 134:412-421.
30. Mir, R. A. ^*, T. A. Weppelmann, L. Teng, A. Kirpich, M. A. Elzo, J. D. Driver, and K. C. Jeong. 2018. Colonization Dynamics of Cefotaxime Resistant Bacteria in Beef Cattle Raised Without Cephalosporin Antibiotics. Front. Microbiol. 9:500.
31. Phelps, K. ^*, D. Johnson, M. Elzo, C. Paulk, and J. Gonzalez. 2017. Effect of Brahman genetics on myofibrillar protein degradation, collagen crosslinking, and tenderness of the longissimus lumborum.  J. Anim. Sci. 95:5397-5406.
32. Wright, S.^*, P. Ramos, D. D. Johnson, J. M. Scheffler, M. A. Elzo, R. G. Mateescu, A. L. Bass, C. C. Carr, and T. Scheffler. 2018. Brahman genetics influence muscle fiber properties, protein degradation, and tenderness in an Angus-Brahman multibreed herd. Meat Sci. 135:84-93.
33. Smith, T., C. D. Glenn, R. C. White, and W. E. White. 2017. Evaluation of udder and teat scores in beef cattle and the relationship to calf performance. (Abstr) Southern Section Animal Science meeting, Franklin, TN.

^* Graduate Student