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.
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The companies entered their exclusive research and development deal in June 2002.
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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.
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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.
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"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."
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