CSIRO scans cattle data for parasite info

CSIRO Livestock Industries is leafing through vast amounts of historical cattle data to identify if genetics have had any impact on parasite infestation levels over the years.

Quantitative geneticist, Dr John Henshall has been using data and samples collected since the seventies by now retired CSIRO scientist, Dr John Frisch.

Frisch put together a vast collection of data on the levels of tick and worm infestation in beef cattle, and also – luckily for today’s geneticists -- collated the data with tissue samples for future use.

"It's like having the animals here because we not only have their phenotypes and pedigrees, we have the opportunity to get their actual DNA," Henshall said. "From a modern-day research perspective the most significant work his team did was to collect and store animal tissue, like semen, which we can now use to conduct DNA tests,” he added.

Henshall and his team are using molecular-level technology to attempt an identification of a gene marker for parasite resistance. This would be used to improve breeding opportunities for Australian farmers. He noted that having access to such a wealth of historical data has saved researchers many years of expensive, labour-intensive research.

"We are now in a really good position to apply current molecular technology to hunt for genes that have an effect on parasite resistance traits," he said. "In the same way CSIRO had a major role in the development of a gene marker for 'beef tenderness', we now have a greater chance of finding a gene marker test for parasite-resistance,” he added.