New DNA requirements for calf registration highlight the importance of accurate pedigrees

With changes to the Angus Australia Regulations implemented in July 2018 the requirements for registering calves has been simplified. The changes relate to the DNA and parent verification requirements and aim to align the Angus Australia requirements with best practice guidelines for registered breed organisations.

The changes are supported by the implementation of routine parentage verification, which will see genomic data used to regularly check the parentage, sex and recessive gene status of registered animals. Parentage verification will be automatically conducted each time a genotype (i.e. DNA profile) is loaded to the Angus Australia database.

The changes to registration requirements are:

For new registrations:

• If an animal’s sire is born on or after 1/1/2004, the sire must have a DNA profile (microsatellite or SNP) recorded.
• If an animal’s sire is born on or after 1/1/2018, the sire must have a DNA SNP profile with 5,000 or more SNPs (e.g. Angus GS or Zoetis i50K).
• If the animal is bred by ET and the donor dam is born on or after 1/1/2004, the donor dam must have a DNA profile (microsatellite or SNP) recorded.
• If the animal is bred by ET and the donor dam is born on or after 1/1/2018, the donor dam must have a DNA SNP profile with 5,000 or more SNPs (e.g. Angus GS or Zoetis i50K).
• If the animal’s sire or dam are under 12 months of age at the time of conception, the animal must be DNA sire verified.

For modifications to existing or pending registrations:

• The sire of an animal can only be amended if the animal is DNA sire verified to the new sire.
• The dam of an animal can only be amended if the animal is DNA parent verified to both its sire and new dam.
• The sex of an animal that is more than 24 months of age can only be amended if the animal is DNA sire verified.

For overseas sires:

• Requirements when registering sires recorded with overseas breed associations and other breed associations are now the same as registering Australian born sires with Angus Australia.

In the event that an amendment to animal information is required, the amendment will be made and the current owner & breeder notified. If the current owner has any concerns with the amendment, they can lodge an appeal and the amendment will be reviewed.

In cases where the routine checking identifies an anomaly that can’t be resolved:

• If the animal is born before 1/1/2018, the recorded information and registration status will remain unchanged
• If the animal is born after 1/1/2018, the erroneous information will be removed, and registration status revoked

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