Technical Note: A Comparison of DNA Collection Methods in Cattle and Yaks

The study compared DNA collection methods in 166 Black Angus bulls and 24 yaks, focusing on whole blood sampling, nasal swabs, and hair follicle samples. Nasal swabs were found to provide superior DNA quantity and quality, were easier to collect, and allowed for room temperature storage, despite being more expensive. Blood sampling was invasive and challenging, especially in yaks, and hair follicles were a poor DNA source. Overall, nasal swabs were concluded to be the most effective method for DNA collection in both cattle and yaks, suggesting their potential for use in genetic studies and breeding programs.