RDAR invests $2.2 million towards beef genomics

RDAR is making a $2.2 million investment into Livestock Gentec, a biotechnology company specializing in livestock genetics.

With RDAR’s financial backing, Livestock Gentec aims to accelerate genetic progress within the beef industry. The support will fuel research and development efforts towards more accurate and efficient genetic markers. These markers play a crucial role in identifying desirable traits such as disease resistance, feed efficiency, and meat quality.

Livestock Gentec will engage with beef producers, industry service providers, and regional producer associations to transform genomic data into decision-making information.

Over 60 Alberta producers and more than 10,000 animals have already been committed to this project. Selected traits include: feed efficiency, disease resistance, female fertility, and longevity.

RJ Sigurdson, Minister of Alberta Agriculture and Irrigation, says that Alberta’s government is committed to maintaining the province’s reputation for producing and exporting safe, sustainable, great-tasting beef.

“With this investment, farmers will be able to use real-time genetic data to improve the performance of their cattle and the profitability of their operation,” says Minister Sigurdson.

Improving hybrid vigour is worth $160/cow/year, according to Genomic Validation studies done on Alberta’s commercial cows. This means that improving hybrid vigour for Canada’s 3.56M beef cattle would equate to over $200M for the beef sector, benefiting not just producers but the entire supply chain.

This funding will support further development of genomic tools. It will also help producers and service providers in implementing technology, driving adoption across the sector.