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66 Business View Australia - August 2015
The fact that Angus Australia is
the driving force behind projects of
this nature illustrates the level of
commitment that the Society has
towards its ongoing objective of
helping its members develop and
produce world-leading Angus-based
cattle and related genetics. In addition
to the ABSP, there are several other
projects in the areas of education and
software development that the Society
is actively pursuing. In addition to this
it is also involved in programs directed
towards its young members.
Speaking about the use of modern
scientific techniques to meet the
objectives of Angus Australia, Peter
Parnell says, “Oneof thebiggest changes
in the last five years has been the greater
use of DNA or genomics technology
where we actually take samples of the
DNA of animals and we now have data
fromwhich we derive a lot of information
on thegeneticpotential of animalsbased
on the DNA sample.
“We can use DNA samples to screen
animals for undesirable genetic
conditions that they might be carriers
for. They may not express those
conditions but they may carry them
and their progeny might display the
conditions. We are able to screen the
population and effectively eliminate or
minimise the use of animals that carry
undesirable genes.