1. ABIC 2014 – Red Deer, AB February 19-21

2. Located in Saskatoon, SK
Founded in 2003
Located in Saskatoon, SK
Focused on linking DNA technologies with animal traits of economic importance
Feedlot, Cow/calf, and Purebred applications
Largest private cattle genomics lab
20 employees
80,000 data points a week
Improve Efficiency, Create Wealth

3. Sister Companies Quantum Biosciences Inc GenServe Laboratories™
GMO seed testing
DNA crop disease detection
GenServe Laboratories™
Breed association parentage testing
Acquired January 2014

4. Services of quantum Performance Traits q•sort q•link
Leptin, PMCH, IGF2, CRH
q•sort
Advanced cattle sorting system
q•link
Commercial cow/calf parentage test
Genetic Defect Testing
AM, NH, MA, OS, CA

5. Technology Performance trait SNPs SNP – Single Nucleotide Polymorphism
Slight difference in DNA
Heritable
Affect gene expression and performance
Not genetic defects

6. Performance Trait SNPs
Genes that influence economically important traits
Leptin
Growth and fat deposition
Other Genes
PMCH: appetite, marbling, tenderness
IGF2: growth and muscle deposition
CRH: ability to respond to stress

7. Economic Benefits of Leptin
Average productive life of dams by leptin genotype TT CT CC
Average Years
6.1
5.6
4.1
Mitchell et al. 2009
Average weaning weight difference by dam leptin genotype
CT-CC
TT-CC
TT-CT
Weaning Wt, lbs
19.4*
27.4**
8.0
*P≤0.05. **P≤0.01. DeVuyst et al. 2008

8. Economic Benefits of Leptin
Difference in profitability per head between TT and CC fed cattle
DeVuyst et al. 2007

9. Feedlot Trials
Live and carcass traits measured over serial harvest dates
LEP-TT compared to LEP-CC pens
Differences observed in economically important traits
utilizes differences to generate optimal animal outcomes

10. Leptin
Kononoff et al in preparation

11. Leptin
Kononoff et al in preparation

12. Leptin Difference of 7 kg at 4 weeks
Kononoff et al in preparation

13. Leptin
Kononoff et al in preparation

14. Leptin
Kononoff et al in preparation

15. Leptin Difference of 4.5 kg at 4 weeks
Kononoff et al in preparation

16. Quantum Leptin SNP publications
7 trials, published and/or in preparation/submission
150,482 head of cattle tested
Publications:
Buchanan et al. 2001
“Association of a missense mutation in the bovine leptin gene with carcass fat content and leptin mRNA levels”
Kononoff et al. 2005
“The effect of a leptin SNP on quality grade, yield grade, and carcass weight of beef cattle”
Woronuk et al. 2012
“Association of leptin genotypes with beef cattle characteristics”
Kononoff et al. 2013
“Impact of a leptin SNP and zilpaterol hydrochloride on growth and carcass characteristics in finishing steers”
Kononoff et al.2014
“Employment of a leptin SNP and use of β-adrenergic agonists in sorting criteria for feeding and management of finishing steers in the High Plains of Texas”(in submission)
Kononoff et al. 2014
“Impact of a leptin SNP and ractopamine hydrochloride (RH) on growth and carcass characteristics in finishing steers” (in submission)
“Impact of a leptin SNP and days on feed on live growth and carcass characteristics in finishing steers” (in preparation)

17. PMCH A gene in the appetite pathway Impacts: Backfat Marbling
Tenderness
Three trials published or in preparation
12,449 head of cattle
Publications:
Helgeson and Schmutz 2008
“Genetic variation in PMCH gene affects carcass traits in Bos taurus cattle”
Walter et al. 2013
“Association of PMCH with beef carcass quality and yield”
Kononoff et al. 2014
“The effect of Leptin and PMCH on carcass traits” (in preparation)

18. PMCH
Data provided by Cactus Research. Trial sponsored by quantum genetix and Intervet Schering-Plough Animal Health

19. PMCH
P=0.0639, Walter et al. 2013

20. Increase carcass value Optimize days on feed
Precisely apply beta agonist
Returns $22 more per head
Kononoff et al submitted

21. Genomics in Feedlot Production
Integration of information into production system
Translation of information into a physical action
i.e. sorting
Physical sort
Genomic information

22. work flow Tissue sample collected upon arrival (ear tagger)
Sample sent to lab and genotyped
Integrate genomic info into feedlot sorting criteria
Sort during re-implant processing or days prior to end of feeding
Result: finishing groups that are more alike genetically and physically
Optional: harvest date projections

23. Link offspring to sires Rank sires by performance
Libido / breeding capacity
Weaning weight
Carcass value

24. q-link case study
Quantum Genetix 2014

25. q-link case study
(Quantum Genetix 2014)