Tours, Speeches and Genomics

            This week I had the pleasure of being selected to attend the DNA Technology conference led by Dr. Matt Spangler (University of Nebraska-Lincoln). This conference was started in 2008 to inform young members about the advances being made in the genomics field. Two students may be selected from each major beef breed association and Mr. Jack Ward was kind enough to think of me.

            We began meeting at The Cornhusker Hotel (b-e-a-utiful!) and traveled to the University of Nebraska-Lincoln campus to tour the Animal Science building as well as a general campus tour. The ladies and I then had dinner with Dr. Spangler and our guide Jeremy. They were very sweet and dinner (at Lazlo’s) was fantastic.

            The next day we were given a tour of the Geneseek labs in Lincoln and learned about the techniques for DNA extraction and the many different types of machinery used to process all the data. Who knew how much you could learn from one tiny follicle?!

We then traveled to the United States Meat Animal Research Center (USMARC) in Clay Center. After lunch, we began an afternoon of research presentations by Dr. Spangler, Mark Thallman (USMARC), Dr. Allison Van Eenenman (University of California-Davis), Megan Rolf (Oklahoma State University), Steve Kachman (University of Nebraska-Lincoln), Tara McDanald (USMARC), and Dr. Bob Weaber (Kansas State University).

Throughout that time we covered SNP panels, reduced genotyping costs, feed efficiency EPD development, accuracy erosion and fertility EPDs. Needless to say, I had a sore hand after several pages of notes!

That night we had the opportunity to have dinner and mingle with the many brilliant minds assembled for this conference. Dr. Weaber and Dr. Tait (Iowa State University) joined our table so we got to have a great conversation with them.

The next day we were treated to a thorough tour of the USMARC facilities. You would not believe how huge it is! They have huge cattle, pig and sheep operation. The research done is truly remarkable.

Sadly after that, I began the drive home just in time to turn around and come back for Junior Nationals, not twenty minutes from where I had just been! But I went home with lots of knowledge and I definitely encourage our other juniors to pursue this conference in the following years!

Bridget Beran

2011-2012 Kansas Hereford Queen