Tissue tagging
The benefits of testing
The use of tissue tag testing opens the opportunity for tests for both disease (BVD) and genetics. Neogen, the laboratory which the Society uses, provides a full range of options and you can find out more, including the costs and the procedure to be used below.
The use of tissue tagging will enable a much better method of ensuring the genetics of the Highland Cattle are secure and, for Society members, it will also have many other benefits which we can develop over time.
Benefits include:
• Fully authenticated Herd Book entries and cattle parentage
• Fully authenticated semen or embryos
• Full authentication that the animal is Highland
• Assurance for consumers that the end product is Highland beef
• Being a selling point throughout the supply chain where genetic testing is already taking hold
• Enabling consumers to ensure that the animal is organic or grass fed
• It measures the tenderness of the beef
• Enabling identification of calves that have the propensity to develop diseases such as BVD
• Enabling every member to ask for whatever genetic testing required, for example, for selection of bull or heifers according to traits needed such as: eye muscle sizes, back fat, milkiness, temperament or potential diseases
• Enabling the Society review genetic traits good and bad for Highlanders
FAQs
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The tissue tag will be used for DNA analysis to authenticate parentage thereby protecting the integrity of our breed. Initially, until we have built up enough data on females, testing will be for bull calf sire verification only. We must ensure the entries in the Herd Book are accurate and up to date.
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To ensure the integrity of our breed, it is the recommendation of the Society to start parentage testing of females. Your sample can then be used to verify parentage.
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They may be more expensive than normal tags. Tags are changing all the time, so it is best to contact your supplier.
Please note: BVD tags are not compatible.
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We are using Neogen, who are based at the Dairy School in Auchincruive, Ayr (KA6 5HU).
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Yes, but you should check with your current supplier on what they have available.
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This depends on the type of preservative within the tag you use, please contact your supplier for more information. Liquid preservative is preferred. To prevent degradation of the sample, you should follow your tag manufacturer’s guidelines for storage before sending into the office.
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You should follow the country rules for tagging your calves (currently 27 days), but you must include tagging with a DNA tissue tag.
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Yes, you must send in the tissue sample when you tag the calf. Once he is of age to be fully registered, the normal procedure will apply. Please send the completed forms back to the office once your vet has completed the inspection. No hair sample will be required.
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No, you must send in the tissue sample when you tag the calf and birth notify the animal online or send the form to the office.
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Call the office for a DNA Testing Kit.
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Not currently.
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Neogen has received a copy of existing Parentage (DNA) profiles which have been generated previously. This enables parentage verification to take place between a newly tested animal (calf) and a potential sire.
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No. It is no longer a requirement to supply a DNA tissue tag to register your females. For older animals, DNA tests and analyses can be done from blood, semen or hair tail samples.
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Ownership of the sample and any DNA test results remains with the breeder, although the Society will reserve the right to use or publish any information that results from the DNA profiling.
