In the U.S., there are more than 135,000 captive deer and elk on 2,000 ranches in 42 states. Some ranchers have used deer to replace or supplement traditional livestock. Primary products of deer are meat and velvet antler, and the industry is growing. We propose to assist the industry and regulatory agencies using molecular genetics. Ranchers want genetic tests to help establish breeding programs to enhance performance (such as antler or body growth) and avoid inbreeding. Agencies need to distinguish individuals, subspecies or species to assess effects of game ranching on wild populations. Our Phase I effort will develop methods for analysis of microsatellite loci linked to functional genes which affect growth, milk, and disease resistance (e.g., Major Histocompatability Complex, K-casein, insulin like growth factor 1). We will focus on elk (Cervus elaphus). We will use automated DNA technology to analyze ten microsatellite loci and seven loci with RFLP for each of 100 individuals. We will assess associations of genotypes with performance traits of families over two calf crops. Our project should provide a system which allows game ranchers to operate safely, and to use modern genetic technology to enhance productivity. We anticipate the project will result in an affordable (about $50/sample) commercial testing system.Applications:This project will result in a modern molecular genetic system for the game ranching industry. We will have the capability of DNA fingerprinting several deer species currently being developed as livestock. We will also have the capability of identification of genotype for performance-related loci, or level of heterozygosity for these animals. The commercialization potential of these capabilities include services for game ranchers: a genetically-based registry, with services to identify individuals, parents, or genotype at important loci, and for regulatory agencies to identify individuals or products as legally owned or poached from the wild.
