DNA tests confirm carcase quality for Norbreck Newman

A new cattle-testing service that uses DNA markers to identify favourable traits has secured a ringing endorsement this week from Norbreck Genetics.

Merial Animal Health, makers of the IGENITY® testing service, revealed that test results from Norbreck Newman, had proved beyond doubt the accuracy of marker-assisted selection.

Norbreck Newman is Cogent Breeding’s top-selling Belgian Blue sire and a favourite amongst the dairy beef sector. Newman’s breeder, Norbreck Genetics’ Philip Halhead, says that Belgian Blues account for over 75% of beef semen sales.  “Newman’s position at the top of the chart represents a strong belief in the bull – sales of 150,000 straws are testimony to that.

“The IGENITY results clearly back up the characteristics we’ve come to associate with Newman’s progeny.  He has one of the highest calving indices – +13, compared with a breed average of +9 – and his gestation rarely strays from 280 days.  His calves are long, show tremendous vigour and achieve good market prices at only 3-4 weeks.

“I’m really excited by the IGENITY results, particularly as it’s the first time a Belgian Blue has been tested.  As breeders, it gives us immense confidence in this new technology when selecting future bull mothers and young sires. 

“It’s a valuable extra tool which gives us real objectivity in genetic selection,” he adds.

“Many dairy farmers have chosen to use Norbreck Newman because of his calves’ exceptional growth abilities and their continued attraction to buyers at market,” says Merial’s David Bonsall.

“Now that he’s been IGENITY-tested, we can see exactly why his calves have those attributes,” explains Mr Bonsall.  “Results showed a low score for fat content – indicating a high proportion of lean meat – and high scores for growth potential and meat tenderness, or eating quality. 

“We’ve always said that IGENITY would be a valid selection tool enabling farmers to choose the most beneficial and valuable breeding traits at an early stage.

“The implication is clear: we now have – literally – ‘inside information’ to understand why a particular sire or cow family delivers the traits that farmers and breeders want.  No longer do we have to rely only on guesswork, hunches and the stockman’s eye.

“For just £30 – the cost of an IGENITY test – farmers and breeders can have almost instant access to that inside information, enabling quicker genetic progress and a shorter route to increased herd profitability.”