Twinner Cattle Newsletter -- Spring 2001
The twinner cattle meeting held January 31st in Hastings, NE was attended by approximately 20
individuals. Brian Kirkpatrick provided an update on the status of the twinning interest mailing list, the
twinning cattle herdbook and ongoing research work at the University of Wisconsin(described below).
Drs. Keith Gregory and Sherrill Echternkamp from MARC were present and gave an update on the status
of work with the MARC twinning herd. In addition, information on current twinning breeding value
estimates for bulls previously purchased from USDA-MARC was distributed (thanks to Dr. Mark
Thallman of MARC for providing the updated breeding value estimates). For those who could not attend
a copy of the breeding value estimates is enclosed.
The North American Twinning Cattle Herdbook is underway. An initial genetic evaluation has been
performed thanks to Drs. Dale Van Vleck, Mark Thallman and others at MARC. This evaluation used
combined data from three private herds and the MARC twinner population and provided estimated
breeding values for ovulation rate and twinning rate to the participating private breeders. Combining
data from the two sources is particularly valuable in light of (1) the great amount of data previously
collected on the MARC herd and (2) the genetic relationship between the MARC herd and the private
herds which use MARC-derived breeding stock. Here is something to bear in mind: if you register cattle
from your herd in the herdbook, but use no MARC breeding stock, only the data collected in your herd
has any influence on breeding value estimates of your animals. In contrast, if you have both MARCrelated and non-MARC twinner animals in your herd, the MARC-related animals create a genetic tie
between yours and the other herds which aids the genetic evaluation. Next up for the genetic evaluation
work is extending the genetic evaluation to other traits, including but not limited to birth weight,
weaning weight and yearling weight.
Those that are already participating in the herdbook can expect to receive a form or spreadsheet file
shortly on which to provide updated calving and performance information. If you want to participate in
the herdbook simply contact Brian Kirkpatrick at the address given at the bottom of the newsletter.
DNA tests for chromosome 19 and for other regions will be available in the near future. As noted
previously, our work at Wisconsin (with MARC twinner families) has now confirmed the existence of a
gene for ovulation rate on cattle chromosome 19. This research was conducted using the USDA-MARC
families sired by the Swedish Friesian bulls 839802 and 839803. At this time last year we had a battery of
genetic markers which could have been used as a DNA test for this gene, but it would have been a
complicated and expensive test to employ for cattle in private herds. We are very close to having a more
cost-effective test to offer, but are still at the stage of validating the test. We plan to provide an update on
that in a separate mailing, probably within about two months. Given the significant contribution of
839802 and 839803 to the MARC twinner gene pool, we expect that this test may be a useful tool in
selecting replacement heifers or bulls for many breeders. In the last four years 151 of the 192 twinner
cattle listed in the MARC sale catalog included 839802 or 839803 in their pedigree, and 53 of these 151
included 839802 or 839803 as an ancestor twice or more.
In other work at the University of Wisconsin, we are conducting a study in which we are trying to
replicate ovulation rate gene effects observed in Swedish Friesian families from the MARC twinner herd
using twinning rate data and large families from the US Holstein population. This effort should permit
us to narrow the estimated location of genes affecting twinning rate which is an important stepping stone
in the process of developing DNA tests for use in selection. It will probably be the beginning of next year
at the earliest before we have preliminary information from this study. A long term project which has
been mentioned before is the evaluation of alternative twinner germplasm. We now have 10 offspring,
born fall 1999 and spring 2000, from the highly prolific Alberta cow (her record: three twin sets and one
set of quadruplets in her first four calvings). We anticipate another eight calves from our embryo transfer
work with Alberta this spring. Four of the first ten calves from her were males, and we began last year to
make progeny test matings with these young sires. Further information on three of these young bulls is
included below.
Marketplace:
USDA-MARC's annual sale of twinning breeding stock this past February averaged $922 for 18 bred
cows and $2383 for six bulls.
Semen from twinner bulls:
USDA ID#928507, 26.8 twinning rate EBV (USDA), polled. Owner: Dave Serfling. Contact Dave Serfling
at 507-765-2797.
USDA ID#888521, 48.2 twinning rate EBV (USDA), Owner: Daren Cyphers. Contact ABS Global Inc, 1 800 - ABS - STUD.
USDA ID#949673, 47.2 twinning rate EBV (USDA). Owner: Daren Cyphers. Contact Hoffman A.I.
Breeders, 801 - 753 - 7883.
USDA ID #918521, 51.4 twinning rate EBV (USDA), contact Sean Smith, 1211 240 th Avenue, Thurman, IA
51654, 712-628-3005.
USDA ID#969549, 52.5 twinning rate EBV (USDA). Owner: Dave Serfling. Contact Dave Serfling at 507765-2797.
USDA ID#969381, 61.8 twinning rate EBV (USDA), contact Brian Kirkpatrick, 5615 Longford Terrace,
Madison, WI 53711, 608-271-6904.
Wanted:
10-15 heifers with twinning genetics. Steve Begley, email: ohtoak@hotmail.com, P.O. Box 354,
Waynesville, OH, 45068.
Yearling bulls for sale:
Three sons from the mating of ProlifiCow 7011 x Alberta produced at the University of Wisconsin.
ProlifiCow 7011 is a son of the Swedish Friesian sire, 839802. These bulls are part of the Wisconsin
project and will be available after semen collection is completed in early to mid-May. Bear in mind that
until progeny data on ovulation rate is obtained we have little idea about their genetic merit for twinning
rate (specifically, we know a bit about what they've inherited from their sire but nothing concerning
inheritance from their dam). Here is a brief description of their appearance:
UW0008, white faced with brown coat color, polled,
UW0016, solid black, horned, inherited favorable chromosome 19 ovulation rate allele allele from sire
UW0019 white faced, black coat color, horned
Contact Brian Kirkpatrick at the address given below for further information.
If you have something for sale that you'd like to bring to the attention of the twinning mailing list (cattle,
embryos, semen) just drop me a line and I'll include it in the next communication.
Twinner Cattle Newsletter -- Spring 2001
Brian Kirkpatrick
University of Wisconsin-Madison
1675 Observatory Drive
Madison, WI 53706
608-263-4323
608-262-5157 (fax)
kirkpat@calshp.cals.wisc.edu