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August 28, 2009
Angus Foundation
Invests $75,000 in Research
Producing a quality product to satisfy customers has long been the goal of Angus breeders. Helping to fund research activities for the purpose of advancing the agricultural industry, benefiting Angus breeders and other beef producers has long been a goal of the Angus Foundation. By investing in two specific research projects aimed at helping Angus producers fulfill their goals, the Angus Foundation is doing its part to ensure the future of the Angus breed and the cattle industry are on the cutting edge of science and profitability.
One of the projects, spearheaded by Stephen Smith of Texas A & M University, aims to create more of these satisfied customers.
The American Angus Association®’s Research Priorities Committee set similar goals last fall, and sought financial support from its nonprofit affiliate the Angus Foundation.
Smith, along with colleagues at the University of Idaho and Texas Tech University, submitted the proposal titled, “Regulation of Marbling Development in Beef Cattle by Specific Fatty Acids.”
“Marbling and
quality of end product surfaced in our priority list,” says
That’s why the Foundation pledged $50,000 in supplemental funding to assist the scientists in researching how vitamins A and D affect fat deposition.
“In a nutshell, we’re trying to figure out how to improve quality grade and yield grade simultaneously by understanding the development of fat,” says Matt Doumit, University of Idaho meat scientist. “We’re looking at the effects of fatty acids on the differentiation of fat cells from intramuscular fat depots – which give rise to marbling – as well as those from subcutaneous fat.”
“This is a time when it’s difficult for the cattle industry because the price of feed is high and the price of beef is not, so anything the industry can do to improve efficiency and still maintain product quality is a benefit,” Doumit says.
Another project titled, “Genomic and Proteomic Markers for Angus Bull Fertility,” also met the goals of the research priorities committee and is being funded by the Angus Foundation at $25,000.
Dr. Erdogan Memili, DVM, Ph.D, at Mississippi State University states that despite improvements in genetics, reproduction efficiency of cattle has been declining and causing millions of dollars of economic loss. A thorough understanding of proteins and gene sequences regulating bull fertility are essential for obtaining consistently high reproductive efficiency and to ensure lower cost and prevent time-loss by breeders.
As the lead researcher, Memili hopes this research will help to identify protein biomarkers and SNP markers associated with Angus bull fertility and to make these markers available to producers.
“We feel
that this research project will make a significant impact on Angus
breeders as we are able to more thoroughly understand the proteins and
gene sequences that regulate bull fertility, and how their function is
essential for obtaining consistently high reproductive efficiency," states
Research projects to identify possible solutions to the unique challenges incurred by agricultural interests, specifically the beef cattle industry and its various segments from the producer to the consumer, will continue to be at the forefront of the Angus Foundation's research activities.
Resources are required to address these aforementioned endeavors. Hence, the Angus Foundation encourages the commitment of personal and financial resources from Angus breeders, allied industry interests and friends toward these priority objectives. Balancing the interest of the donor with the needs of the Angus Foundation, and helping them understand how their charitable generosity can have an indelible impact on the education, youth and research programs of the Angus Foundation, is the goal of the Angus Foundation.
“We’re able to make this level of investment only because of generous charitable contributions to the Angus Foundation by breeders, allied industry interests and friends of the breed,” Jenkins says.
The Foundation’s ambitious Vision of Value: Campaign for Angus is working to raise $11 million by December 31, 2011, with funds going toward youth, education and research. For more information about how you can support the campaign, log on to www.angusfoundation.org.
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