Bovigen has developed another genetic first. GPDs™ are the result of a logical, simple calculation used to describe the actual genetic makeup of animals and the true effect of each allele, or combination of alleles within a trait.
For immediate release:

Bovigen announced last week at a partnership session a new program for use in the increasingly complex DNA arena; Genetic Progeny Difference™, or GPD™.
As the industry has struggled with a way to communicate the true effect of markers for a given trait, Bovigen has responded with another genetic first. GPDs™, available exclusively from Bovigen, are a logical, simple way to describe the actual genetic makeup of animals and the true effect of each allele, or combination of alleles. GPDs™ will be used to describe any trait currently evaluated by DNA companies, and are designed to accommodate an infinite number of genetic combinations, interactions, and genes yet to be discovered. GPDs from Bovigen will become an added component available in conjunction with the current GeneSTAR® diagnostic tests for Tenderness & Quality Grade.
Because each marker for Tenderness for example, may affect true Tenderness differently, each allele is assigned a numerical value based on the proven difference in shear force (WBSF) as reported by independent third party validation results, including NBCEC (National Beef Cattle Evaluation Consortium). An animal with one Star for T1, one Star for T2, and two Stars for T3 shows a difference in shear force of -1.5 pounds, as compared to an animal with no markers for Tenderness. Thus, the Tenderness Genetic Progeny Difference™ would be -1.5.

For Quality Grade markers, A Genetic Projency Difference™ is assigned using the increased percentage of Choice carcasses over Select, also based on factual scientific findings. An animal with two Stars for QG1, and one Star for QG2 would show an increase of an additional 20% improvement in Quality Grade over an animal with no Quality Grade markers. For this animal the Quality Grade GPD™ would be +20.0.
The company also urges breeders to utilize the Bovigen GPDs™ in conjunction with respective Breed Association EPDs for a truly complete picture of all known genetic merit. Individual Stars will still be referenced for predictive mating and individual evaluation purposes.
GPDs™ for Feed Efficiency, Disease Resistance, and Growth will also be available from Bovigen in the future.

In a related statement, Bovigen announced the change of terms for Quality Grade to reflect the actual discovery and validation of these markers. M1 and M2 will now be referenced as QG1 and QG2. The change was made in response to recent inaccurate and sometimes confusing comparisons to Marbling and IMF. The company explained that Marbling is just one component of Quality Grade, and QG markers were developed to give a more complete picture of the real value difference between animals.
For more information, contact Bovigen 877-BEEF-DNA or www.bovigen.com.

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