Polled Red Brahman heifers
A NEW genetic test designed specifically for Bos Indicus cattle is set to provide Australian breeders with greater insight into the poll genetics of their herd.
Known as the Guarani Poll, the new test will assist in identifying the presence of a new poll variant predominately found in Brahman cattle.
The test, launched this week at the Australian Brahman Breeders Association conference in Airlie Beach (see today’s separate report), has been developed based on research from the University of Queensland and licensed to Neogen by UniQuest.
The test will be available from the beginning of May.
The Guarani* Poll test detects the presence or absence of a poll-associated genetic variant identified in Bos Indicus cattle populations. This variant is distinct from the well-known Celtic (Friesian-derived) poll mutation commonly found in Bos Taurus breeds.
As a result, animals that test negative for the Celtic poll variant may still carry the Guarani Poll variant, making this test particularly relevant for indicus and indicus-derived breeding programs.
Importantly, the Guarani Poll test does not determine whether an animal is homozygous or heterozygous for the Guarani Poll mutation. Instead, it provides a clear result indicating whether the Guarani Poll variant is present or absent, allowing breeders to make more informed decisions when evaluating animals within indicus populations.
The test will be available in two formats to support a range of breeding and testing strategies:
- As an add-on to new genomic testing submissions
- As a standalone test for animals of interest or those previously tested
The release of the test represents an important advancement in the understanding and application of poll genetics in Bos Indicus cattle, complementing existing genetic tools and enabling more precise identification of poll-associated variation within these populations.
Associate Professor Elizabeth Ross and her team at UQ said, “We know that this allele is out there in the Australian Brahman population. We have seen it directly in three of the four herds that we studied. This test will finally give producers with the Pg poll allele accurate genetic test results.”
“The Guarani Poll test has been long awaited addition to the Brahman tool kit and will give breeders more confidence in their breeding decisions,” Harry Stewart, Neogen’s Northern Genomic Beef Specialist said.
*The Guarani poll test is a specialised genetic test used in cattle breeding to identify the presence of a specific poll-associated (hornless) genetic variant in Bos indicus populations, such as the Australian Brahman. Through bovine genome sequencing initiatives, several different sequence variants of DNA have been identified and shown to be associated with polledness in different breeds. Currently, these include Celtic (Pc), Friesian (Pf), Mongolian (Pm) and Guarani (Pg) mutations.
excellent research