In This Section

Breeding and Genetics

Our Mission

We combine research, teaching, and outreach to meet the CSU land-grant mission while improving the genetics of economically important livestock.

We use genetic evaluation, genomic technology and improvement programs as part of our research regimen. And have succeeded in developing novel techniques like EPD in reproduction, feed utilization, health, adaptability and carcass merit.

Research Projects

Beef and Equine

Broadly speaking, our group focuses our work on both beef cattle and equine genetics.

We use modern laboratory DNA and RNA extraction techniques, PCR an other molecular biotechnologies to identify candidate genes affecting traits of interest. We also profile tissue specific gene expression and whole genome and microbiome sequencing to get the broadest understanding of how traits are affected by physiology and environment.

Collaborative Research

Most of our research is a collaboration with agricultural industry partners, CSU Extension and our graduate students.

Animal Productivity

Development and implementation of genetic evaluation and improvement programs for economically relevant traits related to reproduction, maternal productivity, efficiency of feed utilization, feedlot health, environmental adaptability high altitude via pulmonary arterial pressure, and carcass merit.

Disease Resistance

Genetics of resistance to bovine respiratory and feedlot diseases, and development of methods for genetic evaluation of animal health traits.

Facilities

CSU Center for Genetic Evaluation of Livestock

CGEL conducts numerous genetic evaluations and developmental research for breed associations, private companies, and producer groups around the world. The facility continues to service breed associations and producer group clientele by providing population level cattle evaluations.

CSU Beef Improvement Center

The CSU Beef Improvement Center, near Saratoga, Wyoming, is used for research in beef cow-calf production and efficiency, adaptability to high-altitude, and related reproductive traits of genetic and economic importance, with a herd of about 450 Angus cows.

Outreach

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Genetic Short Courses

Currently, the Breeding and Genetics group provides several short courses to further educate producers. These courses are taught by specialists within each topic with a goal to disseminate research findings and future research topics.

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Equine Genetic Short Courses

This course provides horse breeders and owners with valuable information regarding the selection of animals for breeding. The course discusses current and future research in the realm of equine genetics. Producers are provided information on the equine genome in addition to tools for selecting animals to breed the next generation of horses.

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Pulmonary Arterial Pressure Short Course

Cattle raised at higher elevations are susceptible to the development of high altitude disease. Pulmonary arterial pressure, or PAP, is a veterinarian procedure that is used as an indicator of the presence of high altitude disease. The PAP short course provides veterinarians information on testing procedures and current research developments in high altitude disease. The course is taught by leading veterinarians, physiologists and geneticists who study high altitude disease and pulmonary hypertension.