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United States Department of Agriculture

Agricultural Research Service


Location: Genetics, Breeding, & Animal Health

2009 Annual Report

1a.Objectives (from AD-416)




1b.Approach (from AD-416)

3.Progress Report
Transferred a web interface for the USMARC-constructed Bovine Gene Atlas Database, that provides information about gene expression for 95 bovine tissues, to Mississippi State University for public access. The data provide a snapshot of genes expressed in a normal, healthy animal and reveal differences between cattle gene expression compared to other mammals. A collaborative effort with ARS scientists at BARC and LARRL, generated microRNA profiles of normal cattle tissues to create a “microRNA Atlas” of cattle to complement the Bovine Gene Atlas. Ten tissues have been profiled; the remaining 85 should be completed next FY. These projects relate to the National Program Action Plan by providing extensive annotation of the bovine genome and leveraging the investment in the complete genome sequence of cattle.

The BovSNP50 chip, created in collaboration with BARC, U. of Missouri, and Illumina, Inc., was used to analyze growth and carcass traits of a large research herd and identify numerous regions of the genome affecting growth including birth weight, weaning weight, and yearling weight. Relative differences between weights at different ages were analyzed along with feed intake and efficiency of growing steers and heifers. This data was used to identify potential genetic markers associated with animals of ideal production characteristics: low birth weight to improve calving ease and reduce calf loss, but high postnatal growth at minimal feed intake to achieve desired final weight with reduced cost of feed. Initial results from this study will be used for further analysis to validate effects and to identify a reduced set of markers for routine use. Markers that have progressed further down the development pipeline include some on BTA20 associated with health parameters including Johne’s disease, being validated in wider population samples. Additionally, copy number variation (CNV) where different animals have different number of copies of DNA segments, were examined as markers associated with bloat.

Obtained NRI grant support for Bioinformatics to implement genomic selection (BIGS) project to develop a genome browser linking whole-genome results and genome annotation, such as those developed as described above, and also to link to QTL information. Also, selection for genetic markers in use in cattle is moving frequencies of the markers towards 50% in four populations. Three-year evaluations of carcass characteristics and heifer reproduction are under way in two populations that are close to their desired marker frequency goals. When completed, this information will better define the role of genetic markers in genetic improvement programs. Finally, 205 markers in twenty genes were identified on chromosomes 3, 4, 5, 10, 14 and 17 in regions associated with meat tenderness and marbling. A variety of traits were analyzed and marker associations were identified. This research will be extended in ensuing years of the CRIS project to determine the best combination of markers to take advantage of this naturally occurring genetic variation influencing valuable production traits in beef cattle.

1. Creation of a DNA-based test for osteopetrosis (marble bone disease) in Red Angus cattle. An emerging genetic disease in the Red Angus breed resulted in stillborn calves and was traced to a pedigree containing one of the most popular sires in the breed, raising the possibility that much of the breed could be affected. Using the BovSNP50 chip developed by a consortium including USMARC, the genome location of the mutation was quickly identified by a consortium of researchers at BARC, U. of Maryland, and U. of Illinois, led by USMARC. Additional analysis rapidly led to identification of the mutation, which is a missing segment of a gene called SLC4A2 that prevents proper functioning of the protein and leads to improper bone formation and death in utero or shortly after birth. A simple DNA test was produced that identifies carriers of the defect, and all animals potentially affected are being or have been tested and listed with the Red Angus Association of America as a condition of registration in the breed.

2. Identification of a DNA marker associated with susceptibility to Bovine Respiratory Disease. Bovine respiratory disease (BRD) is the most economically damaging single disease of cattle currently afflicting U.S. beef herds. A region of chromosome 20 was previously shown to harbor a gene or genes associated with the prevalence of the disease in cattle. A candidate gene called ANKRA2, that lies in the region and is known to be a regulator of immune response in cattle, was studied and a large group of DNA markers was identified. The finding that 24 out of 35 genetic markers were significantly associated with the disease in the population suggests that variation in ANKRA2 contributes to BRD susceptibility, and provides promising markers for genetic testing to select for improved resistance to the disease.

3. Improved marker system for the bovine calpastatin gene to identify genetic propensity to produce tender beef. Previous studies had determined that genetic variation in the calpastatin gene (abbreviated CAST) makes a substantial contribution to variation in beef tenderness. Commercially available genetic markers in the gene have been successfully used for nearly ten years, but the marker system has limited utility in some breeds and populations. A thorough analysis of the gene identified 41 additional markers in the CAST gene, which were co-analyzed with the commercial markers to develop an improved test with wider applicability and better ability to separate animals into functional categories related to tenderness. In a test population of 556 animals, the improved test was able to separate animals into genetic groups that differed by nearly twice the amount of tenderness as groups based solely on the commercial markers, presenting the opportunity to make more rapid progress in genetic selection for increased meat tenderness.

6.Technology Transfer

Number of Other Technology Transfer2

Review Publications
Larue, R.S., Jonsson, S.R., Silverstein, K.A., Lajoie, M., Bertrand, D., El-Mabrouk, N., Hotzel, I., Andresdottir, V., Smith, T.P., Harris, R. 2008. The artiodactyl APOBEC3 innate immune repertoire shows evidence for a multi-functional domain organization that existed in the ancestor of placental mammals. BioMed Central (BMC) Molecular Biology. 9:104.

Ratnakumar, A., Barris, W., McWilliam, S., Brauning, R., McEwan, J.C., Snelling, W.M., Dalrymple, B.P. 2009. A Multiway Analysis for Identifying High Integrity Bovine BACs. Biomed Central (BMC) Genomics. 10:46 (13 pp).

Casas, E., Snowder, G.D. 2008. A putative quantitative trait locus on chromosome 20 associated with bovine pathogenic disease incidence. Journal of Animal Science. 86:2455-2460.

McDaneld, T.G. 2009. MicroRNA: Mechanism of Gene Regulation and Application to Livestock. Journal of Animal Science. 87(E. Suppl.):E21-E28.

McDaneld, T.G., Smith, T.P., Doumit, M.E., Miles, J.R., Coutinho, L.L., Sonstegard, T.S., Matukumalli, L.K., Nonneman, D.J., Wiedmann, R.T. 2009. MicroRNA Transcriptome Profiles During Swine Skeletal Muscle Development. Biomed Central (BMC) Genomics. 10:77.

Clawson, M.L., Heaton, M.P., Keele, J.W., Smith, T.P., Harhay, G.P., Richt, J., Laegreid, W.W. 2008. A sequencing strategy for identifying variation throughout the prion gene of BSE-affected cattle. BMC Research Notes [journal online]. 1:32. Available:

Wiedmann, R.T., Smith, T.P., Nonneman, D.J. 2008. SNP discovery in swine by reduced representation and high throughput pyrosequencing. BioMed Central (BMC) Genetics. 9:81.


Elsik, C.G., Gibbs, R., Skow, L., Tellam, R., Weinstock, G., Worley, K., Kappes, S.M., Green, R.D., Alexander, L.J., Bennett, G.L., Carroll, J.A., Chitko Mckown, C.G., Hamernik, D.L., Harhay, G.P., Keele, J.W., Liu, G., Macneil, M.D., Matukumalli, L.K., Rijnkels, M., Roberts, A.J., Smith, T.P., Snelling, W.M., Stone, R.T., Waterman, R.C., White, S.N. 2009. The Genome Sequence of Taurine Cattle: A Window to Ruminant Biology and Evolution. Science. 324:522-528.

Gibbs, R., Van Tassell, C.P., Weinstock, G.M., Green, R.D., Hamernik, D.L., Kappes, S.M., Liu, G., Matukumalli, L.K., Matukumalli, A., Sonstegard, T.S., Silva, M.V. 2009. Genome-Wide Survey of SNP Variation Uncovers the Genetic Structure of Cattle Breeds. Science. 24:528-532.

Matukumalli, L.K., Lawley, C.T., Schnabel, R.D., Taylor, J.F., Allan, M.F., Heaton, M.P., O'Connell, J., Moore, S.S., Smith, T.P., Sonstegard, T.S., Van Tassell, C.P. 2009. Development and Characterization of a High Density SNP Genotyping Assay for Cattle. PLoS One. 4(4):e5350. Available:

Last Modified: 9/10/2014
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