NEW YORK, June 7 (GenomeWeb News) - MetaMorphix and Cargill said today that they have completed the first whole cattle genome association study and developed tools that could identify cattle that meet certain quality and consistency levels.
The companies entered their exclusive research and development deal in June 2002.
MetaMorphix said that it had previously identified and characterized a dense map of novel genetic markers based on single nucleotide polymorphisms in beef cattle. It then conducted a whole genome association study in a population of commercial cattle in a Cargill feedlot and discovered specific regions in the cattle genome associated with desirable beef traits.
The companies said that over the next year, the tools will be validated in Cargill feedlots in order to examine their potential use in commercial cattle production.
"The creation of this unique set of markers in the bovine genome will permit the development of a product that we expect will aid the cattle feedlot technology aimed at production of superior cattle and beef," Albert Paszek, director of animal productivity and genomics at Cargill, said in a statement. "We look forward to working with MetaMorphix to bring this innovation to the cattle industry."