At Kallion Farms we understand the importance of using new and emerging technologies. We utilize all the tools available to create the ideal Brahman.

 

Kallion Farms has been utilizing the technology from Merial for over five years. IGENITY® now has the beef industry's most comprehensive list of DNA analyses for seven genetic abnormalities. This list consists of both Neuropathic Hydrocephalus (NH) and Arthrogryposis Multiplex (AM) as well as Coat Color Dilution (DL), Idiopathic Epilepsy (IE), Osteopetrosis (OS), Pulmonary Hypoplasia Anasarca (PHA) and Tibial Hemimelia (TH). We look to IGENITY® as a herd management resource tool to assist us in making decisions that will increase our profiability.

Kallion Farms has usedGeneStar for testing our herd for the last five years. NowGeneStar is owned by Pfizer and we continue utilizing this tool. Pfizer has launched a new era in DNA-marker technology with GeneSTAR Molecular Value Predictions (MVPs). The advanced technology reflects a molecular breeding value with more markers. In addition, a reliability value carried on each trait easily shows the level of reliability. Based on an expanded 56-marker panel—11 existing markers plus 45 recently identified ones—GeneSTAR MVP reliability values help producers place greater trust in the ability of the panel to accurately predict a phenotypic response. While more markers and enhanced accuracy are important, the real GeneSTAR MVP advantage lies in the extensive, third-party validation effort used to verify marker panel effects. Pfizer Animal Genetics has used global cattle populations through third-party organizations to validate the power of GeneSTAR MVP to impact economically important traits.

 

Kallion Farms has been used sexed semen since 2004. Sexing Technologies Inc. was created with the goal of producing Sexed Sorted Semen around the globe. In 2003 they acquired the license and in 2004 the first lab started operations in Navasota, TX. If you run the economics of using sexed semen, particularly in flushing, it is clear that using sexed semen is more cost effective than using conventional semen.