ASA genetic tests

[oakview]

I just received my official ASA genetic test results today for the bred heifer I had consigned to the Iowa Beef Expo.  There's good news and bad news.  The bad news is I did not take her to the sale, held 8 days ago, because the TH, PHA, and DS test results were not completed on time.  I will not sell one if I don't know the defect status.  The good news is that she was, as I expected, triple clean.  The other good news is that she is one outstanding female and my grandson will have lots of fun showing her as a cow/calf pair.  He didn't want me to sell her, anyway.  I'm not complaining about the length of time it takes to get test results.  I had many, many opportunities to pull a hair sample since we spent lots of time last year working her hair and preparing her for the shows we attended.  It was my own fault that they were not sent in earlier.  I guess I am using this forum to advise others to send in your samples far, far in advance of the sale.  I would not expect results in any less than 45 days and will certainly send in samples at least 60 days in advance in the future.  Not having the test results prior to the sale cost me some money.  Of course it is my opinion, but the bred heifer we consigned is one outstanding female and I believe would have sold well.  It won't bother me, though, to have another great producing Zulu daughter in the herd.  I have been told that results from the "other testing lab" are received in a week or less, but the ASA will not put them on the pedigrees.  Is this true?

 

[Dale]

Oakview, although I do not know you personally, you are a reputable breeder and want to do the right thing.  I have no problem with test results from another lab, but some people using other labs, not the one designated by their association, (in other breeds) have used them, so they can selectively list results.  Some unethical breeders then sell the clean ones listing clean results and the dirty ones, may get sold to buyers not aware of genetic defects, especially commercial breeders.  Breed associations have no choice, except to require testing that goes directly through the ASA or whatever association, so that all results are reported to them as well as the breeder.  If the association accepted the "selective testing results" from another lab, the some breeders would have only clean animals listed....

Transparently and looking for defects is not as common as it should be.  I applaud those testing their older potential carrier cows, and then daughters of carrier cows until they get a clean test on every potential carrier in their herd.  Also, it seems to me that triple testing bulls in Shorthorns is a good precaution. 

 

[764wdchev]

My issue with the ASA is that I can send my samples, to the man that developed the tests, and save $24 per animal. For the same exact test. And yes, the ASA will accept his results. But why doesn't the association want the best value for our dollar?

 

[mark tenenbaum]

My issue with the ASA is that I can send my samples, to the man that developed the tests, and save $24 per animal. For the same exact test. And yes, the ASA will accept his results. But why doesn't the association want the best value for our dollar?/// is that De Beever? O0

 

[Doc]

My issue with the ASA is that I can send my samples, to the man that developed the tests, and save $24 per animal. For the same exact test. And yes, the ASA will accept his results. But why doesn't the association want the best value for our dollar?

I didn't think the ASA would accept his anymore? I thought he didn't automatically send the results to the ASA and so if you only wanted to report the "free" results and not the carrier results you could.

 

[764wdchev]

Yes, that is Beever. As of a month ago, they said they will accept them, but you have to tell Beever to send them on to the ASA. But you can send the GeneSeek cards, that ASA supplies, to Agrigenomics (Beever).

 

[oakview]

Just received response from ASA:  "They need to go through us to get recorded on our system."  I want my results to be "official", so it appears to me that my samples need to be sent to the ASA.

 

[764wdchev]

The ASA has to enter the results into the database. Doesn't matter who performs the tests. They are all legitimate. I prefer to save $24 per animal.

 

[oakview]

I specifically asked the ASA if I could send my samples to the U of I and received the exact response I reported earlier.  That leads me to believe that if I want the results shown on ASA papers, I need to send the samples to the ASA.  If someone has sent samples to the U of I within the last month or two and had the results put on their ASA papers, let me know and let me know how you did it. 

 

[764wdchev]

Well, I got the explanation. They ASA has been accepting TH/PHS/DS results from other labs. At their next meeting they plan to do away with that. Agrigenomics charges $45 for the three tests, Geneseek charges $69. I was told the extra cost was because Geneseek also records the blood sample.

So if you don't want to be stuck paying $24/head more, and stuck with only one provider, you need to call a board member before Monday's meeting. 

 

[764wdchev]

Newest policy was just posted today. The ASA will accept TH, PHA, and DS results from Agrigenomics or GeneSeek. They are now both priced the same, except the ASA will charge $3 per sample to enter data from AgriGenomics.

 

[RyanChandler]

Any idea why the association would stipulate which lab could be used?  When an extortionist position like this is taken,,  the same position they've taken with the the compulsory Shorthorn Country subscription, reasonable minds can't help be suspicious of the motive.

 

[RyanChandler]

Reminds me of the State of Florida mandating drug test for welfare recipients--- all the do rights were all gung ho about it until it was released that the owner of the "chosen" testing lab was the governor's brother in law.  With that, it became clear that the incentive for implementing such a policy was more about funneling money to the in law than it was establishing some standard. 

 

[oakview]

The way I interpreted the new policy is that you had to use the ASA's "official" provider (Geneseek) to get anything other than TH, PHA, or DS tests done.  I would assume that means anything that needs a DNA test for parentage, etc., has to go through the ASA.  It could be that the rules have something to do with licensing, accuracy, consistency, or a multitude of other reasons.  I wouldn't be too quick to say the testing lab is giving a kick back to some ASA board member.  I'm sure a call to Robert Alden or some other board member would answer your questions.