Ben Hayes, from the Department of Primary Industries in Melbourne, Australia, will detail recent advances in animal breeding Jan. 11 at a meeting of livestock producers in Siskiyou County.

The meeting is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. at the Miner’s Inn Conference Center in Yreka.

Hayes will detail new developments in genomic technologies which are likely to double the rate of genetic improvements in the dairy industry. Hayes, who was himself raised on a cattle ranch in Queensland, has extensive research experience in the genetic improvement of livestock and aquaculture species, with a focus on integration of molecular information into breeding programs. 

Alison Van Eenennaam, a Cooperative Extension specialist in animal genomics from the University of California, Davis and frequent visitor to Siskiyou County, will follow Hayes with an update of the results of a multi-year USDA research trial that is ongoing in collaboration with several Siskiyou County cattle ranchers. The trial is designed to evaluate the value of genetic testing on commercial cattle ranches.

For more information contact Dan Drake, farm advisor, Cooperative Extension, Siskiyou County, 1655 South Main Street, Yreka, Calif., 96097, Phone (530) 842-2711.

For additional questions see http://cesiskiyou.ucdavis.edu/.