NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF ANIMAL BREEDERS INC

𝗡𝗔𝗔𝗕 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗴𝗿𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀 𝗨𝗦𝗟𝗚𝗘 𝗼𝗻 𝗦𝗲𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝟮𝗻𝗱 𝗨𝗦𝗗𝗔 𝗙𝗔𝗦 𝗥𝗔𝗣𝗣 𝗔𝗹𝗹𝗼𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 NAAB is thrilled to congratulate @USLGE on receiving their second USDA FAS RAPP allocation for the livestock sector. NAAB extends our sincere gratitude to USDA Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) for their continued support, including the $1.25 million allocated to NAAB to advance the bovine semen sector. 👏 In collaboration with our members and allied industry partners, we are committed to increasing the use of artificial insemination and ensuring producers around the world have access to high-quality, safe genetics. With this funding, we look forward to expanding market development initiatives and providing training where it’s needed most. Together, we can drive meaningful progress in global livestock production. #USDA #USLGE #FAS #Bovinesemen #genetics 

🎄 Making Your List and Checking It Twice 🐂 The December 2024 dairy genetic evaluations are complete, and NAAB has distributed the latest evaluation data on thousands of AI dairy bulls. Unfortunately, at every evaluation we see a couple bulls slip through the cracks. Bulls that are either missing their updated values entirely or are receiving only partial data. We also regularly see bulls that miss part of their animal identification, most often their name, which restricts finding them online. To prevent this from happening, here’s how 𝘺𝘰𝘶 can ensure your bulls are ready for the April evaluation: ✅ 𝗣𝘂𝘁 𝗻𝗲𝘄 𝗯𝘂𝗹𝗹𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗡𝗔𝗔𝗕 𝗰𝗿𝗼𝘀𝘀 𝗿𝗲𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗮𝗯𝗮𝘀𝗲 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲. The deadline is six weeks before the evaluation. For April 2024, that’s 𝗙𝗲𝗯𝗿𝘂𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝟭𝟰𝘁𝗵—easy to remember, it’s Valentine’s Day! ✅ 𝗗𝗼𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗲-𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗰𝗸 𝗲𝗻𝗿𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗱 𝗯𝘂𝗹𝗹𝘀’ 𝗱𝗲𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗹𝘀. Ensure all data—like registration names and NAAB codes—is accurate. These details are essential for bulls to appear on industry websites and ranking lists. if data is missing, login to your NAAB portal or contact NAAB to help you fill in the blanks ✅ 𝗨𝗽𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗲𝗶𝗴𝗻 𝗯𝘂𝗹𝗹𝘀’ 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝘁𝘂𝘀𝗲𝘀. Foreign bulls over 15 months old must be moved to an active status (P or G) if they are currently C status. Bulls in C status won’t receive a genomic evaluation. You must change the status before the cut off deadline (14th of February) ✅ 𝗥𝗲𝗴𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗼𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗨𝗦 𝗯𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗼𝗰𝗶𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻. Bulls not registered with the US breed associations risk having linear data and total merit indexes (such as TPI) left out of publications. Breed associations own this data, so registration ensures it flows seamlessly across platforms. 💡 Pro Tip 1: NAAB sends multiple reminders before each evaluation. Don’t ignore those emails—log in, review your bull list, and update any flagged entries. We color-code bulls requiring attention to make it easy! While NAAB staff is always here to help, relying solely on us for updates isn't recommended. 💡 Industry websites (such as dairybulls.com) update their data files directly from CDCB with each evaluation cycle. However, updating or adding missing information (such as names) in the NAAB database will not automatically propagate to these websites. NAAB submits data to CDCB before each evaluation, and CDCB distributes it during evaluation week. To ensure complete and accurate data for your bulls at the time of publication, make sure all updates are completed on time. Updates made after the evaluation may take up to four months to appear Help us make sure all your bulls land on the 'nice' list this April! #geneticevaluations #naab #genetics #CDCB #bulls 

🎉 December 2024 Sire Evaluation: The Results Are In! 🎉 This week, the COUNCIL ON DAIRY CATTLE BREEDING (CDCB) unveiled new U.S. evaluations for over 87 million dairy animals, with 99.1% of those being females. But at NAAB, our focus is on the 0.9% that are males—the sires shaping the future of dairy genetics! Out of 756,067 males updated by CDCB, 6,240 bulls holds an s A (Active), F (Proven), or G (Genomic) status from NAAB. These bulls are eligible for U.S. ranking lists, meaning they are actively marketed and leading the industry forward. Here are some highlights from this latest evaluation: ✅ Bulls from 15 countries are represented. Notably, China has climbed to 3rd place in total reported active bulls, following the U.S. and Canada, and pushing Netherlands (NLD) and Germany (DEU) down one position. ✅ Among dairy breeds, BS (Brown Swiss) now holds the 3rd spot, joining the powerhouse breeds HO (Holstein) and JE (Jersey) in 1st and 2nd positions respectively. ✅ Did you know? NAAB also tracks a unique P status code, representing 4,678 bulls—our largest bull status group. P-status bulls are actively marketed but do not appear on U.S. ranking lists. Why? Many are marketed internationally, where U.S. rankings are less relevant. Altogether, this means over 11,000 active bulls have semen available and are marketed based on updated U.S. genetic values! It’s exciting to witness how the global dairy genetics landscape continues to evolve! A big thank you to CDCB and all stakeholders working tirelessly to remain the golden standard in our industry. #DairyGenetics #SireEvaluation #NAAB #InnovationInDairy #GlobalDairy

Celebrating 40 Years of Excellence: Thank You, Donna Craig! Exactly 40 years ago, NAAB made one of its best decisions—hiring Donna Craig. Donna’s incredible contributions to the ever-evolving U.S. genetics industry are nothing short of remarkable. Often working behind the scenes, she has been a steady and reliable presence, a guiding light that has kept us grounded through four decades of change and progress. Her dedication, expertise, and unwavering commitment have not only kept NAAB on course but have also left an indelible mark on the entire industry. Donna, thank you for everything you’ve done for NAAB and the industry at large. Your impact cannot be overstated. Here’s to celebrating your 40 years of excellence—congratulations on this incredible milestone! #NAABCSS

𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗠𝗶𝗰𝗿𝗼𝘀𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗲 𝗔𝗻𝗮𝗹𝘆𝘀𝗲𝘀 𝗦𝘁𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗥𝗲𝗾𝘂𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗦𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻 𝗘𝘅𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁? With advanced genomic tools like SNPs available, shouldn’t we be moving on from microsatellites? It’s a question we get asked frequently at NAAB. And yes, we’d love to see all countries make the switch from microsatellites to SNPs for parentage verification. Verifying the parentage of a bull has always been essential for validating its genetics before export. All countries request official parentage verification from the exporter, which is standard practice. The challenge, however, is the growing divide in the technology used for these verifications. 𝗠𝗶𝗰𝗿𝗼𝘀𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗲𝘀 𝘃𝘀. 𝗦𝗡𝗣𝘀: 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗞𝗲𝘆 𝗗𝗶𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲𝘀 Most major semen exporters, including the United States, have already transitioned to SNPs (Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms) for parentage verification, while many importing countries still require microsatellites. • Microsatellites (also known as STRs, or Short Tandem Repeats) are repeated DNA segments tested at around 12 locations on a genome. Introduced in the 1990s, microsatellites became the gold standard for DNA-based parentage verification. • SNPs became popular in 2009 as a faster, more efficient, and more affordable alternative. SNP genotypes are easy to automate, cheaper and can serve multiple purposes beyond parentage, which is why many labs, including those in the US, now rely on them. Since most North American labs have shifted to SNP-based genotyping, microsatellite testing is now a costly, labor-intensive, and slow part of the process, causing frustration for exporters required to conduct it. 𝗦𝗼 𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝗛𝗮𝘃𝗲𝗻'𝘁 𝗔𝗹𝗹 𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗦𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗦𝗡𝗣𝘀? Several reasons explain the lag in moving away from microsatellites: 1. 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗖𝗼𝘀𝘁𝘀: Moving to SNPs requires investment in time, technology, and training, which can be challenging for some countries. 2. 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗲𝗿 𝗚𝗮𝗽𝘀: Not all SNP arrays currently cover every needed parentage marker, which sometimes necessitates fallback to microsatellites, keeping them relevant. 3. 𝗥𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘂𝗲 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗺𝘀: Some companies continue to profit from microsatellite testing services and thus keep the technology in demand. 4. 𝗟𝗮𝗯𝗼𝗿 𝗗𝗲𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗱𝘀: Microsatellite testing involves more manual work, which maintains jobs in certain sectors. 5. 𝗦𝗽𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗟𝗶𝗺𝗶𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀: SNP chips aren’t available yet for all species, meaning microsatellites remain necessary for some. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗣𝗮𝘁𝗵 𝗙𝗼𝗿𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱 At NAAB, we’re committed to supporting any country interested in transitioning to SNPs. If your country relies on microsatellites, reach out to us. We’d like to know why and support where we can to transition to SNPs. If you have ideas on how we can move forward, let us know in the comments! #SNP #STR #Genetics #Semenexport #parentageverification #cattlebreeding

📢 Attention #NAAB Fellowship Applicants! 📢 We’ve received a lot of inquiries about the application requirements, so let’s make sure you have all the details you need. To apply for the NAAB Fellowship Program, please submit the following four items by December 1st: 1️⃣ Resume 2️⃣ Academic Transcripts 3️⃣ Contact Information for Three References 4️⃣ Cover Letter – (maximum 2 pages) detailing your qualifications, motivation, and addressing these key questions: a) Why are you excited about the future of the dairy and/or beef industry? Share your vision and explain how genetic improvement through artificial insemination can help. We want to know why you are the one to help achieve this future! b) Describe the research topic you would like to present and how it contributes to the advancement of bovine artificial insemination and genetic improvement. Each piece is important to ensure we understand your background and your vision for the future of this industry. Please double-check that all four components are included before submitting. We look forward to reading your applications and learning how you aim to drive the future of bovine genetics! 🐄📈 Good luck to all applicants! #NAABFellowship #FutureOfDairy #BovineGenetics #ArtificialInsemination #ResearchOpportunity

𝟭𝟬 𝗳𝗮𝗰𝘁𝘀 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗦𝗟𝗜𝗖𝗞 Discovered 10 years ago but gaining traction today: SLICK. With growing emphasis on sustainability, this only known genetic mutation affecting thermo-tolerance is attracting attention. But what exactly is SLICK? Here are 10 key facts: 𝟭. 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝗦𝗟𝗜𝗖𝗞? SLICK refers to a genetic mutation found in the last part (exon) of the Prolactin Receptor Gene on Bovine Chromosome 20. 𝟮. 𝗪𝗵𝗼 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗰𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗦𝗟𝗜𝗖𝗞? The SLICK mutation was simultaneously discovered by scientists working at USDA/AGIL and Iowa State University in collaboration with LIC (NZ). The discovery was first published by Littlejohn et al in 2014. 𝟯. 𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝗱𝗼𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗺𝘂𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸? The mutation causes a premature stop in the PRLR gene, shortening the final protein’s structure. Imagine a roadblock that forces traffic to take a detour, resulting in a different outcome. In this case, the mutation produces a shorter, sleek hair coat instead of the typical woolly coat. See Figure 1 for an illustration. 𝟰. 𝗗𝗶𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗦𝗟𝗜𝗖𝗞 𝗠𝘂𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 There are six known SLICK mutations, each stopping the same gene at different points. SLICK1 is a deletion of a SNP, all others (SLICK2-6) are SNP substitutions. All mutations lead to the same phenotype: a sleek hair coat. The mutations are largely breed specific. SLICK1 was patented by LIC and segregates in the Senepol. 𝟱. 𝗠𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗧𝗵𝗮𝗻 𝗝𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗦𝗵𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝗛𝗮𝗶𝗿 SLICK animals not only have shorter, sleek hair but also fewer hair follicles, larger sweat glands, and increased blood flow to the skin, enhancing heat tolerance. 𝟲. 𝗢𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗶𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝗦𝗟𝗜𝗖𝗞 SLICK arose from convergent evolution, where Bos Taurus cattle evolved heat tolerance through natural selection in tropical regions. SLICK is traced back to the Spanish colonization of the Americas 𝟳. 𝗕𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗱𝘀 𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗿𝘆𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗦𝗟𝗜𝗖𝗞 The SLICK mutation was initially found in Senepol, Carora, and Romosinuano. It’s also present in Limonero and other Latin American breeds of Spanish descent. 𝟴. 𝗦𝗟𝗜𝗖𝗞 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗕𝗼𝘀 𝗜𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗰𝘂𝘀 𝗕𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗱𝘀 Tropical Zebu breeds like Nelore, Gir, and Brahman do not carry the SLICK mutation. Their heat tolerance evolved over a much longer period, resulting from different genetic traits that also produce a slick coat. 𝟵. 𝗦𝗟𝗜𝗖𝗞 𝗛𝗼𝗹𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗶𝗻𝘀 Current SLICK Holsteins are the result of introgression with Senepol. The Senepol breed carries the SLICK1 mutation. Registered Slick bulls should indicate this in their registered name. 𝟭𝟬. 𝗧𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗦𝗟𝗜𝗖𝗞 It’s unnecessary to test Zebu breeds or Holsteins without Senepol (or breeds of Criollo descent) ancestry for the SLICK1 mutation. Given that the trait is dominant and it’s difficult to identify a slick coat, it can be interesting to test for homozygosity in Holstein with Senepol ancestry. #Sustainability #Genetics #Agriculture #HeatTolerance #SLICK #naabcss

𝗖𝗮𝗻 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘀𝗽𝗼𝘁 𝘂𝘀? NAAB is a proud and important link in the data flow from farm to National Cooperator Database. We support COUNCIL ON DAIRY CATTLE BREEDING in their efforts to increase transparency in genetic evaluations.  Data is vital, even more so in this genomic era. Knowing where the data comes from and how it flows to the genetic evaluations is important. It will ensure our evaluations remain of optimal reliability and create genetic gain on farms all around the world. NAAB supplies CDCB with the needed data on AI bulls, so sires can be linked to farm observations such as breedings. NAAB also tells CDCB what type of semen was used in those breedings, through the NAAB coding system. If a bull is not enrolled with NAAB or does not have an NAAB code, chances are that farm data is not correctly flowing to the genetic evaluations because sires cannot be linked (or ‘cross referenced’). #cdcb #dairycattle #genetics #dataflow #transparency #genetics #dairycattle #cdcb

🌍 𝗚𝗹𝗼𝗯𝗮𝗹 𝗕𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀: 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗡𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗞𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝗔𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗨𝗦 𝗚𝗲𝗻𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗰 𝗘𝘃𝗮𝗹𝘂𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗗𝗮𝗶𝗿𝘆 𝗖𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗹𝗲 🐄 As breeders across the globe seek genomic evaluations for their male and female cattle, here’s a breakdown of the process for obtaining a 𝗨𝗦 𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗰 𝗲𝘃𝗮𝗹𝘂𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 from the COUNCIL ON DAIRY CATTLE BREEDING (CDCB): 1️⃣ 𝗪𝗵𝗼 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗽𝘂𝘁𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗘𝘃𝗮𝗹𝘂𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀? US national genomic evaluations are computed by the 𝗖𝗗𝗖𝗕, a trusted leader in dairy cattle genetic evaluations. 2️⃣ 𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗼 𝗦𝘂𝗯𝗺𝗶𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗘𝘃𝗮𝗹𝘂𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻? To get a US genomic evaluation on your male or female dairy animal, you need to work with 𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗱 𝗻𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘀. These nominators are organizations authorized by CDCB to submit animal ID and pedigree data. 📌 Only approved nominators can submit this data for genomic evaluations. 3️⃣ 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗥𝗼𝗹𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗱 𝗟𝗮𝗯𝗼𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀 CDCB partners with a network of 𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗱 𝗹𝗮𝗯𝗼𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀 to receive genotypes. This ensure that all genotypes are submitted in a standardized manner for high-quality results. 🔍 𝗞𝗲𝘆 𝗧𝗶𝗽: All approved laboratories are also approved nominators, making them a one-stop shop for submitting your data to CDCB. 4️⃣ 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗡𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘀 & 𝗟𝗮𝗯𝗼𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀 Nominators and laboratories are located in both the US and internationally, so you can choose a nearby lab to send your sample for processing. Here are a few key things to keep in mind: 𝗗𝗶𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗰𝗲𝘀 & 𝗽𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗲𝘀: Nominators and labs may offer various tests and services at different price points, but all national evaluations will always come from CDCB. 𝗛𝗼𝗹𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗶𝗻 𝗚𝗧𝗣𝗜 (𝗚𝗲𝗻𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗰 𝗧𝗼𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗣𝗲𝗿𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗜𝗻𝗱𝗲𝘅): If you’re looking for GTPI on a Holstein animal, that must come from the Holstein Association, as it’s not a national evaluation trait. Various nominators will be able to provide GTPI in collaboration with the Holstein Association. 𝗙𝗲𝗲𝘀: CDCB evaluation fees can be found here: https://lnkd.in/eG-D3e68 Approved nominators and laboratories can be seen below, and are listed by CDCB here: https://lnkd.in/g8hM4uQN Happy genomic testing! #Genomics #DairyCattle #Breeding #CDCB #GenomicEvaluation #DairyFarming #GlobalBreeders #CattleGenetics #Holstein

🌟 Exciting Opportunity for Graduate Students in Bovine Genetics and Reproduction! 🌟 It is that time of year again. We are looking for our 2025 NAAB Fellow! Are you passionate about bovine genetics or male reproductive physiology? Do you want to contribute to the improvement of the artificial insemination industry? The NAAB Doak Graduate Fellowship is your chance to make an impact! 🔬 What is the Fellowship? This prestigious fellowship offers a two-year Master of Science program focused on advancing bovine genetics and male physiology for the benefit of the artificial insemination industry. 📅 Application Deadline: December 1, 2024 🎓 Eligibility: Open to U.S. and international candidates who have completed or will complete a 4-year degree (or equivalent). 💡 What You’ll Get: Research Assistantship & Tuition support (up to $50,000/year) Full benefits, lab, and research supplies An opportunity to contribute to cutting-edge research that directly supports the industry 💼 What’s Expected? Full-time commitment as a graduate student Participation in NAAB and industry-related events Research focused on genetic improvement and male reproductive physiology to enhance the artificial insemination industry 🚀 This is your chance to shape the future of bovine genetics and male reproduction science! 🔗 [Link to list of NAAB members] 📩 How to Apply: Submit your application via email to Jay Weiker at scholarships@naab-css.org or mail your documents (address in header). Don’t miss out on this incredible opportunity to further your career and contribute to a thriving global industry. Apply now! Click https://lnkd.in/eySYyQMN for more information, or email us with questions