Collecting DNA Samples In Beef Cattle

Resource: Matthew Spangler, Asst Professor, Animal Science, Univ. of Nebraska - Lincoln

There are a variety of reasons why a beef cattle producer might want to collect a DNA sample from an animal. Some seedstock producers might need to verify the parentage of an animal before the animal can be registered. With the recent discovery of many genetic defects, producers might need or want to test animals that are potential carriers of a certain defect. There are also several commercially available DNA marker tests for production and carcass traits. All of these require obtaining a clean (i.e. no manure, dirt, or other contamination) sample from an animal. This video describes different methods of collecting a DNA sample including hair, blood, and tissue.

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