METHOD FOR EVALUATING HEALTH AND GENETIC PREDISPOSITION OF ANIMALS

• US 20200131589A1
• Filed: 12/13/2019
• Published: 04/30/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 08/04/2014
• Status: Active Application

• Current Assignee: Etalon Diagnostics
• Original Assignee: Etalon Diagnostics
• Inventors: Lafayette, Christa, Lopez, Henry Wilfred, Freund, Adam
• Application Number:
  US16/714,282
• Publication Number:
  US 20200131589A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 29/00 Other apparatus for animal husbandry
• CPC Class Codes: C12Q 1/6888 for detection or identification of organisms
• CPC Class Codes: C12Q 2600/124 Animal traits, i.e. production traits, including athletic performance or the like
• CPC Class Codes: G16B 20/00 ICT specially adapted for functional genomics or proteomics, e.g. genotype-phenotype associations

Abstract

The methods of the present invention are based upon the gathering of information from various sources about animals. The information is based upon laboratory testing, genetic analysis and observations by owners and/or trainers about various traits that can be readily observed. Based upon this collection of information, one method generates Performance Index which scores or ranks an animal in terms of how well an animal might function for the intended purpose. Other methods include the ability to selection an optimum breeding pair from one or more stallions and/or one or more mares that would likely produce an offspring with the desired traits.

Claims

1. A method for evaluating an animal comprising the steps of

gathering information about the animal from one or more sources selected from the group consisting of:

a. information obtained from the someone knowledgeable about the animal, pertaining to one or more predetermined traits about the animal,

b. determining one or more genetic markers which are correlated with either positive or negative traits of the animal,

c. performing one or more clinical assays of biological tissue obtained from the animal,

d. scores assigned to the animal during a competition, and

e. performing one or more diagnostic tests on the animal; and

providing an overall assessment of the animal based upon the gathered data.

2. The method for evaluating an animal as described in claim 1 wherein said providing an overall assessment step is based upon an intended use of the animal.

3. The method for evaluating an animal as described in claim 1 wherein said animal is selected from the group consisting of horses, cattle, sheep, dogs, camels, cats, pigs, goats, companion animals, service animals and laboratory animals.

4. The method for evaluating an animal as described in claim 1 wherein said one or more genetic markers are selected from the group consisting of Agouti, Black/Red, Brindle, Champagne, Cream, Dominant White, Frame Overo, Grey, Pearl, Sabino, Silver, Splashed White, Tobiano, White Spotting, AR, MUTHYECA11, SLC5A3, GBE1, PPIB, SCN4A, FKBP6, LAMC2, MYOSA, RYR1, CLCN4, GYS1, DNAPK, WNVR, ECA20, DRD4, MSTN, and DMRT3

5. The method for evaluating an animal as described in claim 1 wherein said providing an overall assessment step is based upon determining a purchase or sales price for said animal.

6. A method for selecting a breeding pair of animals of predetermined species comprising the steps of:

gathering information about one or more male animals of said species as described in claim 1;

gathering information about one or more female animals of said species as described in claim 1;

performing a breeding cross-match between at least one male animal of said species and at least one female of said species; and

evaluating which potential breeding pair is preferred.

7. The method for selecting a breeding pair of animals of a predetermined species as described in claim 6 where said evaluating step is based upon selecting which breeding pair will be most likely to produce an offspring with predetermined traits.

8. The method for selecting a breeding pair of animals of a predetermined species as described in claim 7, wherein information is gathered from only a single male of the species.

10. A method for monitoring the health of an animal comprising the step of evaluating the animal as described in claim 1 a plurality of times at predetermined intervals.

9. The method for selecting a breeding pair of animals of a predetermined species wherein information is gathered from only a single female of the species.