Beef

Nov. 9, 2017

Jared E. Decker

IDENTIFYING LOCI RESPONDING TO SELECTIONIn 2012 Decker published a method, now called Generation-Proxy Selection Mapping, to identify loci responding to current selection. In this analysis, birth date (as a surrogate to generation number) is fit as the dependent variable in a mixed model equation. Variants that have changed in frequency rapidly due to selection are strongly associated with birth date, thus the method identifies regions under selection. The mixed model equations correct for demography, relatedness, and population structure within the data. We have previously used this method in Angus cattle using approximately 45,000 SNPs. In…

Oct. 31, 2017

Allison Meyer

My overall research objective is to improve efficiency and productivity in beef cattle production through strategic nutritional management of the cowherd. I am especially interested in physiological adaptation mechanisms of pregnant females to their nutritional environment that allow for maternal maintenance and fetal growth. An additional major interest is the developmental programming implications of maternal nutrition when this adaptation is not possible and fetal development is impaired. This overall objective includes investigation into applied production implications as well as systemic physiological, tissue-level, and cellular mechanisms.