Neogen launches first crossbred beef heterosis test

Neogen Corporation, a food safety development company, has announced that it has released Igenity® + Envigor™. According to the company, this is the first genetic test in the beef industry that measures heterosis in crossbred cattle.

“Envigor is an important release for us as it represents many years of research and planning to create a tool that helps commercial producers get the most out of their crossbreeding programmes,” said Dr. Stewart Bauck, Neogen’s Vice President of Agrigenomics. “Igenity + Envigor will provide producers with an avenue to select better replacements and make genetic progress in traits of relevance to their operations.”

Envigor adds several new features to Neogen’s existing Igenity Beef platform. In addition to the 16 traits reported with Igenity Beef, Envigor reportedly provides an estimate of heterosis in crossbred cattle on a scale from one to 10 – a higher score indicates increased heterosis.

“Envigor is based on characterising genomic data of relevant US breeds, with breed composition placed into a retained heterosis formula,” said Dr. Jamie Courter, Neogen’s Beef Product Manager. “Good crossbreeding programmes have proven that heterosis leads to increased fertility, lower cull rates, more pounds weaned per cow exposed and greater feed efficiency. Rather than replace an effective crossbreeding programme on its own, Envigor will help ranch owners make more informed decisions.”

Analysis by Neogen’s research and development team suggests that a one-score-increase in Envigor leads to a four percent increase in the probability of a heifer getting pregnant alongside a four percent increase in her likelihood to stay in the herd for six years. Both are critical traits regarding the bottom-line-impacting costs of raising replacement heifers.