Current Projects
Current Research Projects Funded by the Angus Foundation
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The impact of selection using residual average daily gain EPD on reproductive growth performance and carcass traits in Angus cattle.
Compare reproductive and growth performance and carcass characteristics in calves from Angus sires that are divergent in efficiency of gain using residual average daily gain EPDs.
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Evaluation of the contribution of tenderness, juiciness and flavor to the overall consumer beef eating experience.
Analyze the contribution of palatability factors — tenderness, juiciness and flavor —to consumer overall eating experience.
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Genetic evaluation of heat tolerance for growth traits in Angus cattle.
Evaluate the effects of heat stress on Angus cattle growth.
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Uterine and vaginal microbiome associations with fertility in Angus beef cattle.
Characterize the uterine and vaginal microbiome in Angus beef cows during the postpartum period and undergoing fixed-time AI (FTAI); determine whether the uterine and/or vaginal microbiome has an effect on pregnancy establishment and maintenance in Angus beef cattle submitted to FTAI; and determine whether the reproductive tract microbiome is heritable, such as in the rumen.
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Genomic sequencing of Angus sires, University of Missouri (MU)
Angus Foundation dollars will be used in tandem with funding provided by the United States Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (USDA NIFA), to deep sequence the genomes of high-impact Angus bulls to identify variation in growth, carcass quality, feed intake, disease resistance and early embryonic loss. The funding will also support MU’s development of an assay to generate genomicenhanced expected progeny differences (EPDs) and will include up to 6,000 of the variants detected in the sequencing project to test their effects on fertility in 10,000 genotyped heifers.
Executive Summary
November 2012 Angus Journal story -
Improvement for beef cow biological efficiency, University of Illinois (UI) and North Carolina State University (NCSU)
To characterize the variation in efficiency of feed utilization of Angus females and to identify optimal methods of improving the biological efficiency of beef production using a multi-disciplinary approach.
Executive Summary
February 2012 Angus Beef Bulletin story -
Development of genetic evaluation methodology for traits of economic importance in American Angus cattle, University of Georgia (UGA)
To develop methodology that will lead to improvements in the genetic evaluation of American Angus cattle.
Executive Summary
Questions and Inquiries
If you have any questions regarding current research projects supported by the Angus Foundation, please call the Angus Foundation at 816-383-5100.