Ask people in the research business if they have a wish list, and many will answer in the affirmative.

There are always different things you want to see done, says Jim Reecy, an animal scientist and director of the Office of Biotechnology at Iowa State University.

Much of Reecys work involves genetically changing traits in cattle to better predict performance.

For example, researchers are working to find cattle that offer genetic resistance to respiratory ailments such as bovine respiratory disease (BRD). This trait would be similar to others producers have selected for years, such as birth and weaning weights.

There is a large consortium of universities working on this, and its very exciting, Reecy says. It would work just like any other EPD (expected progeny difference) that producers are already using to select genetics.

Heat tolerance is another trait being looked at under the microscope. Reecy says projects at the University of Missouri and the University of Florida could greatly influence genetic selection.

The project at Missouri is looking at hair coat shedding, and the other in Florida is looking at internal body temperatures, he says. This research would allow producers to select cattle that handle heat better.

At Iowa State, researchers are looking at what traits allow certain cattle to better respond to vaccinations used for respiratory disease.

Something like this will allow producers to cull off cattle that do not respond as well to vaccinations, Reecy says.

The top item on his wish list would be the elimination of communicable diseases like BVD (bovine virus diarrhea).

Something like this would be similar to the gene editing that led to de-horning, Reecy says. Something like that would change the industry.

Much of the work in the hog industry also involves genetics, says Dave Pyburn, a veterinarian and senior vice president for science and technology with the National Pork Board.

The most promising research, he says, comes from the University of Missouri where scientists have isolated the point where the PRRS virus enters a cell.

They have been able to remove that attachment point from the cell, Pyburn says. They also looked at pigs who were not affected. So, through natural selection or gene editing, we could get to the point where we have pigs that are resistant to PRRS.

This disease cost the industry $664 million last year, so this is very significant.

Pyburn says the technology could be available in five to 10 years.

Other areas receiving attention from researchers include biosecurity, animal welfare and pork quality.

We need to take our biosecurity research to the next level, Pyburn says. There are things we need to better understand, such as filtration systems in buildings. The key is to try and prevent the disease, and subsequently reducing the need for antibiotics.

He says animal welfare issues include different euthanasia methods and pain management.

More research is needed on teeth and tail clipping, as well as castration, Pyburn says. We need to look at analgesics that can be passed through the mammary glands to the baby pigs. So far, weve had to use too much analgesic to be effective, but I think we will figure it out.

Continue reading here:
Genetics key to livestock disease relief - Iowa Farmer Today - Iowa Farmer Today