Weatherbys Scientific Bovine VersaSNP 50K
The Versatile SNP chip for Beef and Dairy genotyping

The new Weatherbys Scientific Bovine VersaSNP 50K is the result of our experience developing and running high capacity Bovine Genotyping for more than 8 years. The content and density of this highly versatile SNP chip has been optimised to contain markers of most economic interest for both Dairy and Beef breeders. The versatility goes beyond genetic markers, the Bovine VersaSNP 50K is integral to Weatherbys Scientific Parental Verification algorithm, delivering the most accurate and precise Parental Verification available. Changing to Weatherbys Scientific Bovine VersaSNP 50K is simple. The data is reverse compatible with other 50K SNP chips, including the IDBv3 and Illumina 50K SNP chips.
Version 1.2 released, 35 new trails are available with this new release.
Beneficial | SLICK 39136558 |
Beneficial | SLICK 39263696 |
Beneficial | SLICK 39339348 |
Coat Colour | Telstar |
Colour | Dun Dexter |
Lethal | Cardiomyopathy and Woolly Hair Syndrome |
Lethal | Holstein Cholesterol Deficiency |
Lethal-Embryo | Braunvieh Haplotype 2 |
Lethal-Embryo | Holstein Haplotype 6 |
Lethal-Embryo | Holstein Haplotype 7 |
Milk | A2 Corporation A1/A2 Test |
Milk | Beta Casein Sub Variant X14711_6690 |
Milk | Beta Casein Sub Variant X14711_8101 |
Milk | Beta Casein Sub Variant X14711_8178 |
Milk | Beta Casein Sub Variant X14711_8219 |
Milk | Beta Casein Sub Variant X14711_8267 |
Milk | Beta Casein Sub Variant X14711_8356 |
Milk | Kappa Casein Sub Variant AY380228_12951 |
Milk | Kappa Casein Sub Variant AY380228_12971 |
Milk | Kappa Casein Sub Variant AY380228_13065 |
Milk | Kappa Casein Sub Variant AY380228_13068 |
Milk | Kappa Casein Sub Variant AY380228_13104 |
Milk | Kappa Casein Sub Variant AY380228_13111 |
Milk | Kappa Casein Sub Variant AY380228_13124 |
Milk | Kappa Casein Sub Variant AY380228_13165 |
Unwanted | Alpha Mannosidosis_961 |
Unwanted | Cardiomyopathy Dilated |
Unwanted | Dystrophic Epidermolysis Bullosa |
Unwanted | Mulefoot G907R |
Unwanted | Pompes GSD E7 |
Unwanted | Pompes GSD E13 |
Unwanted | Pompes GSD E18 |
Unwanted | Pulmonary Hypoplasia with Anasarca 1 |
Unwanted | Spinal Muscular Atrophy |
Unwanted | Xanthinuria Tyrolean Grey |
Compatible with your existing SNP data assets
Moving to the Weatherbys Scientific Bovine VersaSNP 50K has many advantages and the data is also reverse compatible with data you may already have.
SNP chip | Number of SNPs in common | Compatibility |
IDBv3 | 44,818 | Fully reverse compatible |
Illumina 54K | 42,606 | Direct compatible high accuracy imputation to the full 54K |
Illumina 8K LD2 | 7,898 | Reverse compatible and meets CDCB minimum requirements for evaluations |
Illumina 777K HD | 46,091 | Allows data generated by the research community to be used |
Parental Verification
Weatherbys Scientific Bovine VersaSNP 50K is different; We designed the content of the chip to use over 45,000 data points in Parental Verification far exceeding the ISAG standard of 100 SNPs and the proposed additional 100 SNPs (that increases the panel to 200 SNPs) or the ICAR recommendation of 554 SNPs required for parentage discovery. Parental Verification is performed using proprietary algorithms on dedicated computing hardware.
Weatherbys Scientific has ICAR Parentage Analysis Accreditation for DNA Data Interpretation Centres. Accreditation verifies that Weatherbys Scientific can proficiently perform SNP based Parentage Verification using ICAR’s recommended 200 SNP verification panel.

Parental Discovery
Weatherbys Scientific Bovine VersaSNP 50K offers new possibilities such as Sire or Dam discovery for parental assignment. By searching our database, we can discover the parents, removing the guesswork of nominating Sires or Dams and producing a high accurate result beyond dispute.
Fast and Efficient
Weatherbys Scientific Bovine VersaSNP 50K offers fast turnaround times, routinely 10 workings days. The chip utilizes Illumina XT chemistry which is processed within a robust proprietary workflow which we have used to deliver over 2 million high quality genotypes in 5 years. We have the capacity and expertise to support your SNP genotyping project providing rapid genotype delivery and additional values adds including parental verification, breed composition and genetic traits all delivered within 5 days of genotypes, to answer all your questions and drive precision breeding.
Genetic Diseases and Traits of Importance
Weatherbys Scientific Bovine VersaSNP 50K contains specifically designed probes to accurately genotype 100 genetic markers of economic importance. Trait categories cover; beneficial, colour, lethal, lethal-embryo, unwanted and specific beef and milk related traits. To help breeders select the markets of interest we have mapped all validated traits to 41 cattle breeds.
In addition to the 100 validated genetic traits on Version 1, further traits are scheduled for release, providing additional value to choosing Weatherbys Scientific Bovine VersaSNP 50K.
Precision Breeding and integration with Genomic Evaluation Centres
Improve the profitability, replacement indexes, carbon efficiency and speed of advancement of your herd. Weatherbys Scientific collaborates with leading genomic evaluators including CDCB, EGENES, Breedplan, ICBF, and we are constantly working to expand the list of Evaluators. Using 50K genotypes generated we can make nominations to these evaluators. Results can be sent directly to you or we can consolidate evaluations with parental verification and genetic trait analysis into single reports.
- Decide which stock to keep for breeding
- Predict herd and individual performance
- Identify elite bulls and females for breeding and AI
Bos Indicus content
Weatherbys Scientific Bovine VersaSNP 50K contains over 10,000 Bos Indicus SNPs that have been shown to be highly informative within a number of Bos Indicus breeds.
Future proof your investment in SNP genotyping
Performing SNP based genotyping is more than just answering immediate questions, it is a valuable asset acting as a long-term investment for your breeding program. When we designed the Weatherbys Scientific Bovine VersaSNP 50K it was with one eye to the future, based on trends and what our customers have told us.
The Weatherbys Scientific Bovine VersaSNP 50K has available space for nearly 5000 SNPs that can be used for customer specific content on future chip versions and for new Weatherbys Scientific developed content as new SNPs of importance are discovered.
Choose the Weatherbys Scientific Bovine VersaSNP 50K with confidence that it will grow and adapt to your needs for many years.
Technical Specifications
Product description
Chip Name: | Weatherbys Scientific Bovine VersaSNP 50K ™ |
Product Code: | GXL018801 |
Chip Version: | 1.0 |
Species: | Bovine |
Manufacturer: | Weatherbys Scientific |
Technology Platform: | Illumina |
Chemistry: | XT |
Chip Format: | 96 |
Base Reporting Content (Illumina SNPs): | 49,629 (SNP map available on request) |
Average spacing between SNPs: | ~53.4kb |
Recommended ISAG 200 SNPs on VersaSNP 50K: | 200 |
Recommended ICAR 554 SNPs on VersaSNP 50K: | 554 |
Recommended Microsatellite Imputation 980 SNPs: | 966 |
Validated Diagnostic Test Designs: | 133 |
Applications: | Genomic Evaluations, GWAS studies, Parentage Verification (Weatherbys Scientific Parentage Verification, ISAG and ICAR SNPs), Microsatellite Imputation, Breed Assignment, Sex Determination. |
Content Overlap Across Range of Bovine SNP Chips
Common Illumina SNP Content Across a Selection of Bovine Chips | |||||
Illumina LD2 | Illumina 54K | Illumina HD | Versa Chip 50K | IDBv3 | |
Illumina LD2 | 7931 | 6900 | 7757 | 7916 | 7729 |
Illumina 54K | 54609 | 49345 | 42779 | 40865 | |
Illumina HD | 777962 | 46225 | 41529 | ||
Versa Chip 50K | 50345 | 44969 | |||
IDBv3 | 45080 |

Chromosomal SNP Coverage: 29 Autosomal, X, Y and MT

Validated Diagnostic Tests
Beneficial | Polled Celtic | Meat | Myostatin nt419 | |
Beneficial | Polled Friesian_1909396D2 | Meat | Myostatin nt748_78 | |
Beneficial | Polled Friesian_51D | Meat | Myostatin nt821DEL11 | |
Beneficial | Polled Friesian_C1655463T | Meat | Myostatin Q204X | |
Beneficial | Polled Friesian_G1654405A | Meat | Myostatin S105C | |
Beneficial | SLICK 39136558 | Milk | A2 Corporation A1/A2 Test | |
Beneficial | SLICK 39263696 | Milk | ABCG2 | |
Beneficial | SLICK 39339348 | Milk | AcylCoA:Diacylglycerol Acyltransferase | |
Coat Colour | Telstar | Milk | Beta Casein Sub Variant X14711_6690 | |
Colour | Coat colour Black gene E, extension | Milk | Beta Casein Sub Variant X14711_8101 | |
Colour | Coat colour Red factor e | Milk | Beta Casein Sub Variant X14711_8178 | |
Colour | Dominant_red | Milk | Beta Casein Sub Variant X14711_8219 | |
Colour | Dun Dexter | Milk | Beta Casein Sub Variant X14711_8267 | |
Colour | PMEL17_1835C_A | Milk | Beta Casein Sub Variant X14711_8356 | |
Colour | PMEL17_delTTC | Milk | Growth Hormone Receptor F279Y | |
Colour | Silver Char Dilutor_1 | Milk | Growth Hormone_2141 | |
Colour | White Heifer Disease/Roan_coat_colour | Milk | Growth Hormone_2291 | |
Disease | Bovine Spinal Dysmyelination | Milk | Kappa Casein Sub Variant AY380228_12951 | |
Lethal | Alpha Mannosidosis_662 | Milk | Kappa Casein Sub Variant AY380228_12971 | |
Lethal | Arachnomelia Syndrome_MOCS1 | Milk | Kappa Casein Sub Variant AY380228_13065 | |
Lethal | Arachnomelia Syndrome_SUOX | Milk | Kappa Casein Sub Variant AY380228_13068 | |
Lethal | Arthrogryposis with Cleft Palate | Milk | Kappa Casein Sub Variant AY380228_13104 | |
Lethal | Cardiomyopathy and Woolly Hair Syndrome | Milk | Kappa Casein Sub Variant AY380228_13111 | |
Lethal | Citrullinaemia | Milk | Kappa Casein Sub Variant AY380228_13124 | |
Lethal | Congenital Muscular Dystonia 1 | Milk | Kappa Casein Sub Variant AY380228_13165 | |
Lethal | Congenital Muscular Dystonia 2 | Milk | Yellow milk fat | |
Lethal | Holstein Cholesterol Deficiency | Unwanted | Alpha Mannosidosis_961 | |
Lethal | Idiopathic Epilepsy | Unwanted | Axonopathy | |
Lethal | Maple Syrup Urine Disease_Hereford | Unwanted | Bovine Hereditary Zinc Deficiency | |
Lethal | Maple Syrup Urine Disease_Shorthorn | Unwanted | Bovine Leukocyte Adhesion Deficiency | |
Lethal | Neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis | Unwanted | Cardiomyopathy Dilated | |
Lethal | Paunch Calf Syndrome | Unwanted | Chediak_Higashi syndrome | |
Lethal | Perinatal weak calf syndrome | Unwanted | Congenital Myoclonus | |
Lethal | Ptosis, intellectual disability, retarded growth and mortality | Unwanted | Crooked Tail Syndrome delAG | |
Lethal | Tibial Hemimelia_Improver | Unwanted | Developmental_Duplication | |
Unwanted | Dwarfism, Belgian Blue | |||
Lethal-Embryo | Braunvieh Haplotype 2 | Unwanted | Dystrophic Epidermolysis Bullosa | |
Lethal-Embryo | Bulldog Dwarfism 1 | Unwanted | Ehlers Danlos Syndrome-Holstein Variant | |
Lethal-Embryo | Complex Vertebral Malformation | Unwanted | Factor XI deficiency Wagyu | |
Lethal-Embryo | Deficiency of Uridine Monophosphate Synthase | Unwanted | Hypotrichosis Streaked_ERCC6L | |
Lethal-Embryo | Fleckvieh Haplotype 4 (embryonic loss), | Unwanted | Hypotrichosis Streaked_TSR2 | |
Lethal-Embryo | Holstein Haplotype 1 | Unwanted | Hypotrichosis_HEPHL1 | |
Lethal-Embryo | Holstein Haplotype 3 | Unwanted | Hypotrichosis_KRT71 | |
Lethal-Embryo | Holstein Haplotype 4 | Unwanted | Idiopathic Male subfertility | |
Lethal-Embryo | Holstein Haplotype 5 | Unwanted | Mulefoot G1199S | |
Lethal-Embryo | Holstein Haplotype 6 | Unwanted | Mulefoot G907R | |
Lethal-Embryo | Holstein Haplotype 7 | Unwanted | Mulefoot NG1621KC | |
Lethal-Embryo | Jersey Haplotype 1 | Unwanted | Pompes GSD E7 | |
Lethal-Embryo | Montbeliarde Haplotype 2 | Unwanted | Pompes GSD E13 | |
Lethal-Embryo | Neuropathic hydrocephalus | Unwanted | Pompes GSD E18 | |
Lethal-Embryo | RNASEH2B_del | Unwanted | Protoporphyria | |
Meat | Calpain1 316 | Unwanted | Pseudomyotonia_c491G>A | |
Meat | Calpain1 4751 | Unwanted | Pseudomyotonia_c632G>T | |
Meat | Calpain1 530 | Unwanted | Pseudomyotonia_c857G>T | |
Meat | Calpastain 282 | Unwanted | Pulmonary Hypoplasia with Anasarca 1 | |
Meat | Calpastain 2870 | Unwanted | Spherocytosis | |
Meat | Calpastain 2959 | Unwanted | Spinal Muscular Atrophy | |
Meat | Myostatin C313Y | Unwanted | STAT1 | |
Meat | Myostatin D182N | Unwanted | STAT3_19069 | |
Meat | Myostatin E226X | Unwanted | STAT3_25402 | |
Meat | Myostatin E291X | Unwanted | STAT5_13244 | |
Meat | Myostatin F94L | Unwanted | STAT5_13319 | |
Meat | Myostatin L64P | Unwanted | STAT5_13516 | |
Meat | Myostatin nt267 | Unwanted | Thrombopathia | |
Meat | Myostatin nt324 | Unwanted | Xanthinuria Tyrolean Grey | |
Meat | Myostatin nt414 | Unwanted/Milk | Trimethylaminuria | |