This could be for a number of reasons:

1. The animal has NOT been DNA verified, because:
   • The animal does not have a sample in storage.
   • The test has not been requested by you.
2. The animal HAS been DNA verified but there is an issue, such as:
   • Parentage of the animal is incorrect.
   • An element of the testing has failed to produce a valid result (i.e. Genotyping and Parentage has passed, but Myostatin Testing has failed).
   • The sample as a whole has failed to produce any valid results.

If any part of the DNA testing process has failed, please ensure you are prepared to obtain a fresh sample for the animal for re-testing.

Should you have any queries on this please contact the Registrations & DNA Team;

Caroline: 01738 448341

Sarah: 01738 448348

PV (Parent Verified) means that both Sire & Dam have been DNA verified to the animal.

SV (Sire Verified) means only the Sire has been DNA verified to the animal.

DV (Dam Verified) means only the Dam has been DNA verified to the animal.

F (Failed) means the animal has failed parentage verification, and you must contact the office with further options to resolve.

The ‘G‘ number is the Genotype ID of the animal. This means an animal has been Genotyped and holds a profile with the Aberdeen-Angus Cattle Society.

Sometimes you will see a G number with an _R1 or _R2 after it – this means that the sample has been Repeated for any reason (mostly for parentage exclusions).

On Imported animals, you will see an _FT after the G number, this means it is a Foreign Type profile.

The ‘W‘ number is another type of DNA Profile. This one is called a Microsatellite Profile.

A Microsatellite Profile and a 50K SNP Profile both do the same job, however we would compare them to a Cassette and a CD: They both work, but they are not compatible with each other.

This is often why you will see that some animals are not Sire Verified, because the sire holds a Microsatellite Profile and therefor additional testing (at an additional cost) is required to complete the verification process.

Myostatin, often known as the “Double Muscling” gene, is a protein that regulates and influences muscle development in cattle.

In Aberdeen-Angus cattle, NT821 is a disruptive mutation of the Myostatin gene, it is the breeds most common gene, and is also found in Galloway, Piedmontese and Limousin cattle.

There are six myostatin mutations, including Q204 found in Charolais, and F94L predominantly found in Limousins.

Cattle carrying two copies of the broken NT821 gene will produce very muscular progeny.

The Aberdeen-Angus Cattle Society carry out testing for 2 variants of Myostatin:

• NT821
• F94L

Any animal carrying 2 copies of the Myostatin gene are not eligible for entry into the herd book. This can be a double carrier of either variant, or a single carrier of both variants.

Instructions for taking a hair sample:

• Ensure the hair is as clean and dry as possible.
• Pull 40-60 hairs from the tail of the animal and ensure root follicles are attached to the hair pulled, this is a MUST as this is where the DNA is extracted from.
• Pop the hair sample into a sandwich/freezer bag.
• Label the bag with the FULL UK tag number of the animal it is from.

Hair samples should be submitted to;

The Aberdeen-Angus Cattle Society, Pedigree House, 6 Kings Place, Perth, Scotland PH2 8AD. 

Additional tests can be requested from the office, they are;

• POLL/HORN
• CA
• DD
• AM
• NH

What are they?

POLL/HORN : A genetic testing process used to determine if an animal carries genes for horns, or if they are genetically polled (naturally hornless).

CA (Contractural Arachnodactyly) : Commonly known as Fawn Calf, is a heritable, recessive genetic defect in in cattle that causes calves to be born with restricted movement in their legs, a slightly arched spine, and poor muscle development.

DD (Developmental Duplication) : Is a recessive genetic defect found in cattle which causes calves to be born with additional front legs, that originate in the shoulder or neck area.

AM (Arthrogryposis Multiplex) : Commonly known as Curly Calf, is a lethal recessive genetic defect primarily affecting Angus cattle. Affected calves are born dead or weak, with crooked spines, rigid joints, and thin muscles. 

NH (Neuropathic Hydrocephalus) : Is a lethal genetic defect in cattle, primarily in the Angus breed. Affected calves are born stillborn, or die shortly after birth. It causes calves to be born with an enlarged, fluid filled cranium (volleyball sized), lack of brain tissue, and malformed skull bones.

A report that states ‘NO RESULT’ means that the lab have failed to generate a result from the sample supplied. This could be for a number of reasons:

• The tissue sample tube was empty.
• The tissue sample contained live tissue, but there was no lysate (liquid) in the tube and the sample quality dropped.
• The hair sample did not contain enough root follicles.
• The hair sample was wet and degraded the quality of the DNA follicles.

In any of these cases, a new sample is required to complete analysis, and we will request this from you in the form of a fresh hair sample.

Tissue samples are the most common type of sample taken as a newborn calf. They are supplied by your tag supplier, and are taken when you tag the calf at birth.

Our 3 most common brands of tissue tags are:

• Caisley
• Allflex
• Datamars

When taking the sample, please ensure the notch from the ear has remained inside the tube and is secured with the metal insert.

Please also ensure that the tag you are supplying is a DNA tissue tag, and NOT a BVD tag. Although these are very similar, they are for different purposes, and we will not accept BVD tags into the office.

Tissue samples should be submitted to:

The Aberdeen-Angus Cattle Society, Pedigree House, 6 Kings Place, Perth PH2 8AD.

No paperwork is required with tissue, as we scan the QR Code on the sample to identify which animal it has come from.

For a standard testing procedure, DNA Results can take anywhere from 4-6 weeks from submission. Every sample is different and not all results will be reported to you at the same time.

If there are any issues with the sample, results can be delayed. Please be patient while the lab run the analysis to complete your testing requirements.

If you have any questions regarding this, please contaact a member of the Registrations Team and we can (USUALLY) track the status of your sample. If we can’t, we will contact the lab for updates and get back to you.

If you have multiple sire options for an animal, please provide all options before requesting the DNA test. We will run all options (providing they have a valid DNA profile) and we will be able to to report the correct sire to you.

It is very important that you ensure your stock bull(s) and any other sire you wish to use, have a valid DNA result on file for analysis.

You can check this on the online database; look under ‘DNA Ref No’ and ensure there is a G or a W number. Please also check next to PARENTAGE VERIFIED it states, PV, SV or DV. If there is an ‘F’ that means it has failed, and you must contact the office to resolve.