Management
Successful and Efficient DNA Testing
By Alison Jones, NALF director of DNA processing & accounting operations
Greetings NALF members and
Limousin enthusiasts! As you
read this, we are gearing up for
two of the biggest NALF events
of the year; the National Junior
Limousin Show and Congress,
followed by the International
Limousin Congress. I look
forward to seeing and talking
with as many of you as possible
in the next few weeks. What
an incredible opportunity our
breed will have to show off
some of our best cattle to our
international colleagues, as
well as network with Limousin
breeders from around the globe.
In the midst of the summer
chaos, I hope that as many
of you as possible can meet
our new DNA Processing and
Accounting assistant, Tammy
Anderson. I have known Tammy
for six years, and not only does
she know cattle, she brings
with her the highest level of
customer service, and a grinding
work ethic ready to be utilized
by NALF members. This summer,
Tammy and I will be working
together every day to bring
her up-to-speed on the DNA
processes and policies of NALF.
It is important to understand
that training someone in a
position as unique as this
takes time, so we appreciate
your patience. Once our initial
training is complete, I expect
46 | JUNE/JULY 2018
operations at NALF to run
smoother than they ever have.
As we transition into a new fiscal
year, I still expect to hear one of
the most common questions:
“Is there a way to rush my DNA
testing?” Short answer: no. You
cannot rush science. Our labs
that we work with have specific
processes, steps, and protocols
for each type of test and sample.
As more research is conducted
in labs and universities,
perhaps turnaround time will
be reduced in the future. But
for now, once your sample is
at the lab, there is no rushing.
It will be done when it’s done.
There are a few things you as a
breeder can do to assure that
your samples and results are
processed efficiently. By doing
your homework, you can help
assure things run smoothly.
Preparedness
The pinnacle of DNA testing
is being prepared. The 3 to 4
week turnaround time has not
changed, and I do not expect
that to change soon. If you have
a show or sale in a month, try
to get your samples in at least
two months ahead of the event
to account for unexpected
issues. The busiest times of the
year for DNA processing are
September through November
and January through March. If
you are working cattle in an off
month, it may save you time in
the long run to collect samples,
determine your required testing,
and send them to NALF right
away. Once samples arrive at the
NALF office, they do not sit on
my desk for more than two days,
unless there are circumstances
that require cards to be held
(blood sent in a tube as opposed
to on a card, improperly
filled out test request form
or no test request form at all,
moldy samples, improperly
packaged semen, etc).
Sample Submission
Efficiency for DNA testing
begins at home. As you collect
your DNA samples, make sure
blood samples have been dried
overnight, and hair samples
have at least 45 useable roots
in the sample. When collecting
tissue samples, make sure
that there is a tissue sample
housed in fluid, and not an
empty tube. Failure to collect
samples correctly will most
times result in a sample failure
at the lab, adding at least
four more weeks of waiting.
DNA Test Requests
Once samples are collected,
make sure that you have filled