Brief Summary of Minutes of Annual Meeting

Minutes of the NCERA225 Annual Meeting

Implementation and Strategies for National Beef Cattle Genetic Evaluation
November 7-8, 2024
Location: Department of Animal Science, Michigan State University

The NCERA225 annual meeting convened to discuss ongoing research, advancements, and strategies for national beef cattle genetic evaluation. The meeting included a business session, research presentations, and discussions on collaborative efforts. The event included hybrid participation, with remote attendees joining via Zoom.

Business Meeting Summary

During the business meeting, the following key decisions and discussions occurred:

1. Future Meeting Plans:
• The 2025 annual meeting will be hosted by the University of Georgia in late October to better accommodate the group’s schedules.
• The chair for the 2025 meeting is Daniela Lourenco.
2. Secretary for 2025 and Incoming Chair for 2026:
• Lauren Hanna from North Dakota State University was elected as the secretary for 2025 and incoming chair for 2026, with all participants unanimously voting in favor.
3. Proposal Renewal:
• Members discussed the NCERA225 proposal renewal, which is due in December 2026.
• Work on the renewal will begin at the 2025 meeting at the University of Georgia.
4. Engagement and Outreach:
• The group agreed to actively engage with a broader range of academics and will identify a list of academics who could be interested in joining the group. Members committed to reaching out and inviting these individuals to join.
5. Collaborative Grant Application:
• The group plans to pursue a collective grant application focusing on:
• Data compression methods for large genomic data.
• Novel approaches for utilizing sequence data in genomic prediction.
• A shared workspace will be created, and an additional meeting will be held in 2025 to prepare for the grant submission process.

Research Presentations

Presentations were delivered by researchers and stakeholders covering various topics, including genomic evaluations, precision livestock technologies, and institutional updates:

• Foundational Thinking in Statistics – Jacqueline Borgert.
• Current Attempts to Predict Efficiency Traits Using Host and Metagenomic Sequence – Matthew Spangler.
• North Dakota State University Station Report – Lauren Hanna.
• Research Updates at UGA – Daniela Lourenco.
• Genomic Evaluations for Binary Traits: Challenges and Alternatives – Jorge Hidalgo.
• Application of Precision Livestock Farming Technologies in Swine and Beef Cattle Production – Brittney Keel.
• American Angus Association’s Functional Longevity EPD – Pedro Ramos.
• Genetic Prediction of Gas Fluxes and Metabolic Heat Production from Grazing Angus Cattle Using a GreenFeed – Elizabeth Dressler.
• Genetic Parameter Estimation for Scrotal Circumference and Semen Characteristics of Angus Bulls – Danielle Stock.
• Genomic Heterozygosity in Stable Populations – Warren Snelling.

The day concluded with a closing discussion summarizing the presentations and identifying future directions for collaborative work.

Objective 1: Provide a venue for the discussion and exchange of information for the many disconnected and diverse research activities – biological, genomic, statistical, computational, and economical – that support National Cattle Evaluation (NCE).

• The 2024 NCERA-225 meeting was held in-person and via Zoom on November 7-8, 2024, in the Department of Animal Science at Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI. The meeting fostered productive dialogue among researchers, industry representatives, and other stakeholders.
• Committee members were active in the National Beef Cattle Evaluation Consortium (NBCEC), participating in the NBCEC Brown Bagger Series and serving on the Beef Improvement Federation (BIF) board and annual meeting.
• Members shared emerging research methodologies, including approaches for genomic data integration, low-pass sequencing, AI-driven predictions, and advanced statistical models, ensuring that knowledge flows freely among institutions.
• Efforts to train the next generation of scientists and producers continued through undergraduate and graduate coursework, mentorship programs, short courses (e.g., BLUP, genomic prediction tools and AI methods applied to animal breeding), and outreach presentations worldwide, including the U.S., Mexico, Peru, Canada, Korea and others.

Objective 2: Develop through this exchange new tools for delivery and use of beef cattle genetic research, including genomic information, to beef breed associations and beef cattle producers.

• Multiple advancements were made in genomic evaluation methods and computational tools:
• Formulas derived to convert breeding values on the observed scale to the liability scale, increasing the utility of categorical trait analysis.
• Strategies to improve prediction accuracy and reduce bias in multi-breed and crossbred populations, including genomic evaluations for beef-on-dairy cattle.
• Strategies for incorporation of low-pass genomic sequencing, metagenomics, and multi-omic data to enhance predictive accuracy for economically relevant traits.
• Development of AI methods for genomic prediction.
• Collaborations among stations (e.g., USMARC, UNL, CSU, KSU) and breed associations (e.g., American Simmental Association, International Genetic Solutions) led to prototype multi-breed genetic evaluations, development of pulmonary arterial pressure (PAP) EPDs, and improved understanding of genetic parameters for traits such as feed efficiency, methane emissions, heart score, and disease susceptibility. A collaboration between Angus Genetics and MSU is developing AI prediction models that uses climate variables to estimate phenotypic outcomes of production traits in angus cattle.
• iGENDEC software, a key decision support tool, now supports economic selection index development for four U.S. beef breed associations; it is used by extension personnel in six states and Canada and is also integrated into undergraduate and graduate curricula at three universities. In 2024, a beef x dairy module was added, expanding the software’s relevance to emerging production systems.
• Projects addressed sire conception rates in both beef-on-beef and beef-on-dairy systems, multi-breed analyses of bull semen traits, and using GreenFeed technology to genetically evaluate gas fluxes in grazing beef cows. Additional efforts explored candidate genes related to male fertility traits in Angus bulls and evaluation of scrotal circumference, semen motility, and morphology traits.

Objective 3: Update the beef cattle industry on current developments in beef breeding and genetics research including changes in genomics tools and analyses.

• Committee members organized and participated in national and international meetings, including the Beef Improvement Federation Symposium, American Society of Animal Science (ASAS) Annual Meeting, and breed association conferences. They presented cutting-edge findings on genomic selection, genetic prediction methodologies, and novel evaluation strategies.
• The NBCEC Brown Bagger Series, led by committee members, provided timely educational webinars for extension educators and breed association technical staff. Topics included emerging issues in genetic evaluation, low-pass sequencing, and leveraging commercial data.
• Committee members contributed to eBEEF.org, maintaining and expanding online resources for producers and extension professionals. Presentations at producer-oriented venues (e.g., Colorado Cattlemen’s Association Meeting, Kentucky Cattleman’s Annual Convention) ensured knowledge transfer to end users.
• Research on emerging traits, such as methane emissions and PAP, and the development of best practices for data sharing, including the use of encryption and blockchain technology, keep the industry informed and future focused.
• Extension and outreach activities included short courses on mixed models, genomic selection (BLUPF90), and the integration of AI in genomic analyses, as well as invited presentations at international symposia.

Objective 4: Collaborate with appropriate groups (e.g., BIF and USDA/NIFA funded integrated projects) on research and outreach.

• Committee members held leadership roles within BIF and engaged in integrated projects that directly influence breed association genetic evaluations. This engagement ensures novel research seamlessly flows into industry applications.
• The development and refinement of iGENDEC, supported by BIF, exemplifies a successful technology transfer. Expanded capabilities, including a beef x dairy module, and widespread adoption indicate ongoing, impactful collaboration with industry stakeholders.
• Partnerships with USDA and NIFA-funded projects supported the integration of advanced computational methods, data security measures (e.g., encrypted genotypes, blockchain), and environmentally responsive models into NCE pipelines.
• Collaborations also extended to global partners, including research institutions in Mexico, Peru, Brazil, Korea and Australia, multi-omic integration workshops, and engagements with breed associations in multiple countries.