The goal of the unit is to develop systems of mating and selection procedures to increase genetic capacity for efficient production of high quality meat products from beef cattle, swine and sheep. Genetics and breeding research is highly integrated with efforts in other research disciplines and units at the center. Molecular and quantitative genetic approaches are applied in experimental populations of beef cattle, swine and sheep to identify quantitative trait loci representing allelic variation in specific genes affecting components of production efficiency and product quality. In beef cattle, germplasm evaluation and utilization of diverse breeds to match genetic potential with consumer preferences, nutrient resources and climatic environments using experimental populations and systems analysis are high priority. In swine, efforts focus on evaluation of direct and correlated response to 11 generations of selection for increased ovulation rate or uterine capacity, two primary components affecting litter size. In sheep, wool and hair breeds are evaluated under intensive and extensive production systems while the callipyge mutation which increases leanness is being investigated and introgressed into a terminal sire composite population.

Staff Scientists:

L. V. Cundiff, PhD, Research Leader

B. A. Freking, PhD, Research Geneticist

K. E. Gregory, PhD, Research Geneticist, Collaborator

T. G. Jenkins, PhD, Animal Scientist

K. A. Leymaster, PhD, Research Geneticist

G. A. Rohrer, PhD, Research Geneticist

G. D. Snowder, PhD, Research Animal Scientist

R. T. Stone, PhD, Research Physiologist

L. D. Van Vleck, PhD, Research Geneticist