MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. and LANSING, Mich.Cargill, Inc., and Branhaven LLC announced a non-exclusive agreement to license Neogen Corporation their patented BeefGen genomics tools that help beef and dairy cattle producers analyze bovine genetics to improve meat and milk production.

The BeefGen patented diagnostics are based on precise molecular tools that may be used to improve beef cattle carcass quality, production efficiency and nutritional value. BeefGen licensees, such as Neogen, will work with cattle feedstock breeders, cattle producers (cow/calf operators), feedlot operators and dairies to improve their herds through reliable, genetics-based, scientific data that will be used for breeding, tracking and management.

For beef cattle producers, the genetic tools help identify animals best suited to optimize weight gain, beef marbling, tenderness, red meat yield, rib eye quality and other important characteristics that maximize the value and yield from each animal harvested. This technology also may help in identifying genetically superior animals for breeding purposes, which in turn would produce high-quality calves.

Dairy cattle producers and dairies benefit from the ability to provide critical information about superior breeding bulls, superior breeding cows and their female calves, with the goal of improved milk production efficiency, improved reproduction and better disease resistance.