Edmonton DNA lab lets ranchers take a look under the hide

The tufts of hair that ranchers pull from their livestock and send to Edmonton-based Delta Genomics could be key to helping feed a hungry planet. The not-for-profit company — spun off from the University of Alberta’s Livestock Gentec genetic research centre and celebrated Thursday for graduating from TEC Edmonton’s business incubator — is the first full DNA lab specializing in livestock in Canada. “The livestock industry will send us samples of their animals, and we can look under the hide for them,” said Delta chief executive Colin Coros. “We look at the DNA sequences and from that, we can infer traits of importance for those producers.” Genomics is the extraction and analysis of DNA to identify genetic markers. Ranchers are looking to encourage traits that make animals feed more efficiently and improve the quality of their meat. “We provide that information back to the breeders and producers to allow them to make better breeding decisions.” Farmers who breed livestock and typically rely on observable qualities such as physical size can now get an animal’s full hereditary information. “What we can do now is add another layer of information to them, looking at the genotype as well,” Coros said. As global demand for protein rises due to population growth and a burgeoning middle class, Coros says Delta will help the livestock industry boost its production using fewer resources...More