Integration of studies related of cow-calf production in Brazil and USA beef industry: a country survey

• Grant number: 23/11754-8
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Master's degree
• Start date: December 01, 2023
• End date: May 31, 2024
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Veterinary Medicine - Animal Reproduction
• Principal Investigator: Rodrigo Silva Goulart
• Grantee: Vitória Toffolo Luiz Rozin
• Supervisor: Angela Gonella
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Zootecnia e Engenharia de Alimentos (FZEA). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Pirassununga , SP, Brazil
• Institution abroad: University of Florida, Marianna (UF), United States
• Associated to the scholarship: 22/08449-6 - Current outlook from the cow-calf operation in Brazil, BP.MS

Abstract

In the NFREC-Repro laboratory (PI: Angela Gonella) at the University of Florida a new test to determine fetal sex using blood samples of the pregnant cow is being developed. This test is based on circulating free fetal DNA (cffDNA) and allows the identification of fetal gender with samples collected from 6 months of gestation. The main goal of the proposal is to develop a commercial cffDNA-based test for bovine fetal gender determination. Aim 1 will establish the accuracy of the cffDNA-based bovine fetal gender determination test when transporting blood samples and using different types of blood collection tubes. Studies will be carried out to compare different types of blood collection tubes (EDTA, Citrate, Tempus), various sample collection-processing intervals (0, 6, 12, and 24 hours post-collection), and different samples' transport conditions (room temperature or refrigerated). Aim 2 will establish the time accuracy window of the cffDNA-based bovine fetal gender determination test. Blood samples will be monthly collected from day 45 to day 230 of gestation and plasma cffDNA concentration and realtime PCR will be conducted to evaluate the accuracy of the test at different gestational ages. Finally, aim 3 will determine the commercial applicability and value of the cffDNA-based bovine fetal gender determination test by surveying and interviewing seed stock producers in Florida. A survey will be conducted to evaluate the perception if this new test, how willing will be producers to adopt it, how much they will pay for it and the perception of the increase in the sale price of sexed gestations. The candidate (Vitória Toffolo Luiz Rozin) will be immersed in the sample collection phase of aim 2, the laboratory analysis of aim 1 and 2, and will oversee the execution of aim 3. (AU)