University of Queensland researchers test rapid on-farm cattle genetic testing

Researchers from the University of Queensland’s Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation (QAAFI) have demonstrated that fast, on-farm genetic testing for cattle is practical for producers. In partnership with Meat & Livestock Australia and the Department of Primary Industries, the team tested low-pass nanopore sequencing on three commercial farms.

The technology allows for the collection of core genetic information, including age, genomic breeding values, and parentage, in less than 24 hours per farm. This method reads approximately 10 per cent of the total genome, significantly more than the 30,000 to 100,000 DNA positions read by traditional SNP array-based genotyping.

Associate Professor Elizabeth Ross noted that the platform provides a solution for northern beef systems by reducing the need for multiple musters and lengthy laboratory turnaround times. The research also achieved a breakthrough in age prediction, estimating the age of young cattle to within less than six months.