GeneSeek, a Nebraska-based company, recently dedicated its new facilities in Lincoln on June 26, with the help of Nebraska Gov. Dave Heineman and other dignitaries.

GeneSeek's new facilities feature more than 30,000 square feet of lab and office space customized specifically for its core business of providing genomic services. The company moved into the new lab in May 2014 and is in full operation at the new facility.

"This expansion will allow us to continue growing and help us improve customer service. This is particularly important in the fall and winter when we get a large influx of cattle samples," said Stewart Bauck, GeneSeek's general manager.

GeneSeek triples lab size to better serve cattle producers.

"We understand that producers are using test results to make decisions about which bulls they will market and which heifers they are retaining for their cow herds. These are timely decisions and we are always aiming to improve efficiency in getting test results to our customers, " he said.

GeneSeek's technology employs high-resolution DNA genotyping for identity and trait analysis in beef, dairy and a variety of plants and animals.

Seedstock breeders use the GeneSeek Genomic Profile test portfolio, in partnership with their breed associations, to develop genomic-enhanced expected progeny differences. Using genomic tests to validate sire performance is years faster and costs much less than traditional methods alone.

In commercial operations, beef and dairy producers can choose from a range of Igenity Profile tests and results indices to be more confident about which bulls and heifers they select to retain for their breeding herd, Bauck said.

Purebred and commercial producers also use GeneSeek testing to identify specific genetic conditions, test for parentage and manage other reproduction-related challenge, he added.

Bauck says staying in the cattle country was important to the company. "We have a number of breed groups and beef improvement groups coming in for tours to visit the facility."

GeneSeek was founded in 1998 by Dr. Abe Oommen and Dr. Daniel Pomp, who located the company at the UNL Technology Park.  In 2010, GeneSeek was acquired by Neogen Corporation and has since nearly tripled to more than 90 employees, and its business has increased significantly. In 2012, Neogen and GeneSeek acquired the assets of Igenity from Merial, providing the combined company broader exposure to the cattle market and placed it into a role of working with many end-users, according to Bauck.

In 2013, Neogen purchased Scidera Genomics, which had also operated as Metamorphix, bringing to GeneSeek a number of important new clients and test specializations with that acquisition. Neogen also recently purchased access to Cargill's BeefGen patents, which covers genomic decision-making methods and technology to assist in breeding, feeding and managing cattle, he added.

"GeneSeek has taken on the entire process from the cattle chute, where the producer gets a sample and sends it to us to process, to where we provide the information to assist the producer on the implementation of the technology," Bauck said. "And that transformation gives us a wonderful insight into the practical applications of this technology across the industry."

For more information, visit www.neogen.com.