Speckle Park International

Speckle Park International Release Selection Indexes.

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For the first time, selection indexes have been developed and released for Speckle Park International. Released in conjunction with the December 2023 Speckle Park BREEDPLAN analysis, these four indexes are:

  • Domestic Maternal Index
  • Domestic Terminal Index
  • Export Maternal Index
  • Export Terminal Index

While BREEDPLAN EBVs provide cattle producers with a comprehensive range of information regarding the genetic merit of an animal, it can be difficult to identify the appropriate level of emphasis to be placed on each EBV to achieve maximum profitability. BreedObject selection indexes are tools that help in solving this dilemma.

The BreedObject software combines the BREEDPLAN EBVs for an animal with an economic weighting (based on costs of production and returns on outputs) to produce selection index values. As selection indexes balance the relative growth, carcase and fertility genetic merits of each animal, they can identify the animals that are most profitable for a particular production system. Thus, selection indexes enable cattle producers to make selection decisions that account for both the short-term profit generated by a sire through the sale of his progeny, and (where applicable) the longer-term profit generated by his daughters in a self-replacing cow herd.

The four new selection indexes were developed by Speckle Park International in conjunction with staff from BREEDPLAN.

Further information about these new selection indexes is available from the Help Centre on the BREEDPLAN website https://breedplan.une.edu.au/using-selection-indexes/using-speckle-park-international-selection-indexes/

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Dairy Express Exploring New Services

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Dairy Express is exploring offering testing for Staphylococcus aureus, Australia’s most common sub-clinical mastitis pathogen. The proposed test has a 98% accuracy and is substantially cheaper than the traditional testing methods. The proposed testing benefits are as follows:

  • Detection of non-shedding animals resulting in significant financial gain
  • Receiving financial incentives offered by processors
  • Identification of animals to target with specific dry cow treatments
  • Higher milk production
  • Reduced use of antibiotics

Once the animals are identified, management strategies can be implemented to minimise spread, resulting in better products with a longer shelf life for the consumer.

The Next Steps

  • Herds / animals will be selected for trial based on SCC results and geographic location
  • Milk samples will come from the samples that you currently send in for herd recording.
  • At this stage we will require samples that are between 25-30ml only
  • To discover the likely economic impact Staphylococcus aureus will have on you hers, please click the link below
  • https://www.korudiagnostics.com/farmers-and-vets/how-much-is-subclinical-mastitis-costing-your-farm/
  • We will notify vets / consultants that the test is available once we have moved out of the trial that will be commencing in January 2024.

To find out more please contact the Fiona Brierley, Dairy Express Manager dxmanager@abri.une.edu.au https://dairyexpress.une.edu.au/

Angus Cattle

Major Enhancements Implemented for Angus Australia and New Zealand Angus

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A number of major enhancements have been implemented in the December 2023 TransTasman Angus Cattle Evaluation (TACE) for Angus Australia and the New Zealand Angus Association. These are outlined below:

  • Increased weighting on SNP genotype information in Single-Step BREEDPLAN: The relative emphasis given to pedigree and genomic information in the Single-Step BREEDPLAN evaluation has been modified so that stronger emphasis is given to the genomic data. Based on our test evaluations, some changes in the EBVs reported for individual animals are expected – especially those with a genotype but without performance records – while maintaining a high correlation of animal rankings overall. Increased accuracy in the EBVs reporting for genotyped animals, especially those currently reporting at low to mid accuracy, is also expected. These outcomes will depend on trait.
  • Revised Single-Step Calving Ease analysis: Updated software to improve the efficiency of the SSCE analysis has been implemented, the goal being to reduce the amount of time taken for the analysis to complete. In addition, we have increased the weighting given to genomic information in the calculation of Calving Ease EBVs and accuracy. Based on our test evaluations, the increased weighting given to the influence of genomics will be the main source of change in EBVs and accuracy, all else being equal. Changes in Selection Indexes are to be expected if Calving Ease EBVs have economic weighting in the Selection Index.
  • Enhanced Docility analysis:  An enhanced Docility analysis has been implemented following review and endorsement by the MLA BREEDPLAN and Sheep Genetics Technical Committee. This enhancement includes genomic data and involves changes in the way the temperament scores are modelled in the analysis. The goal of these enhancements is to improve the efficiency of the Single-Step Docility analysis, with overall improvements to be expected in the accuracy of predictions based on Docility EBVs.

Changes in EBVs, accuracy and index values are to be expected because of these enhancements to TACE. 

Limousin

A Multi-Country Single-Step BREEDPLAN Analysis Released for the Limousin Breed Across the Southern Hemisphere

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The BREEDPLAN team at the Agricultural Business Research Institute (ABRI) is pleased to announce the release of a multi-country Single-Step BREEDPLAN analysis for the Limousin breed across the Southern Hemisphere, released as the November 2023 Southern Limousin BREEDPLAN analysis.

The Southern Limousin BREEDPLAN analysis combines data from three participating breed societies:

  1. The Australian Limousin Breeders’ Society.
  2. The Limousin Cattle Breeders Society of Namibia.
  3. The Limousin Cattle Breeders Society of South Africa.

Members of the participating breed societies, located across at least seven countries (including Australia, Botswana, Namibia, New Zealand, South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe), now have access to an analysis that includes genomic (DNA) information in the calculation of BREEDPLAN EBVs. This achievement has been made possible through collaboration between the three Limousin breed societies and staff at the Animal Genetics and Breeding Unit (AGBU) and ABRI.

What is Single-Step BREEDPLAN?

Single-Step BREEDPLAN uses analytical software developed by AGBU, a joint venture of NSW Department of Primary Industries (NSW DPI) and the University of New England (UNE), funded by Meat and Livestock Australia Limited (MLA). The Single-Step BREEDPLAN evaluation utilises pedigree, performance and genomic information simultaneously. The evaluation takes account of each animal’s actual genetic relationship with all other genotyped animals, including those in the reference population. The reference population is the set of Limousin animals that have genotypes (SNP data) and phenotypes (performance records) for each particular trait.

SNP data is now being used along with pedigree and performance data to calculate BREEDPLAN EBVs and accuracy “in one step”. This applies to all traits in a multi-trait model combining birth, growth, fertility and carcase traits. As such, SNP data provides additional information in these calculations by accounting for the true genomic relationships among animals and how the SNP information relates to the performance records for each trait in the analysis. An important feature of the Single-Step BREEDPLAN approach is that complete use is made of the high density of genotypes recorded by members of participating Limousin breed societies.

What are the advantages of Single-Step BREEDPLAN?

There are advantages that come with genomics and the Single-Step BREEDPLAN model. When young animals are genotyped at an early stage in life, they can achieve higher levels of EBV accuracy earlier in life – especially for traits expressed later in life – than is possible with a conventional (non-genomics) BREEDPLAN model. This equates to greater accuracy of selection decisions, at an earlier stage in the growth of animals, for Limousin breeders in the Southern Hemisphere. Furthermore, for breeders with small herds, accuracy levels are often limited by small contemporary group sizes even when pedigree and performance records are available. If calves are genotyped, however, they can accumulate additional information – and accuracy – via their relationship to the wider genotyped and performance recorded population.

Ultimately, implementation of Single-Step BREEDPLAN for the Limousin breed provides members of the Australian Limousin Breeders’ Society, the Limousin Cattle Breeders Society of Namibia and the Limousin Cattle Breeders Society of South Africa with greater returns on their investment in the genotyping of seedstock cattle.

Brahman

Release of a Single-Step BREEDPLAN Analysis for the Brahman Breed Across Southern Africa

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Brahman breeders across Southern Africa now have access to BREEDPLAN EBVs that include genomic (DNA) information, following the release of the November 2023 Brahman BREEDPLAN analysis for Namibia, South Africa and Zimbabwe. This significant enhancement uses a methodology known as Single-Step.

The introduction of Single-Step BREEDPLAN for the Brahman Cattle Breeders’ Society of Namibia, the Brahman Cattle Breeders’ Society of South Africa and Brahman breeders recording with the Zimbabwe Herd Book has required a considerable amount of research, testing and validation to ensure the genotypes are used as correctly and accurately as possible.

Dr Brad Crook, BREEDPLAN Manager Genetics Research and Development, explains. “Collaboration among the three Brahman societies has resulted in quite a well-structured reference population, where most genotyped animals are also well-recorded for traits of importance to the Brahman breed in Southern Africa. This includes feed efficiency, fertility and cow weight traits, all of which are becoming increasingly important in developing breeding programs for sustainable beef production. Brahman breeders can tap into this reference population by genotyping their own cattle and gaining greater accuracy on these important traits at earlier ages in the herd.”

What are the advantages of Single-Step BREEDPLAN?

There are advantages that come with genomics and the Single-Step BREEDPLAN model. When young animals are genotyped at an early stage in life, they can achieve higher levels of EBV accuracy earlier in life – especially for traits expressed later in life – than is possible with a conventional (non-genomics) BREEDPLAN model. This equates to greater accuracy of selection decisions, at an earlier stage in the growth of animals, for Brahman breeders across Southern Africa.

Furthermore, for breeders with small herds, accuracy levels are often limited by small contemporary group sizes even when pedigree and performance records are available. If calves are genotyped, however, they can accumulate additional information – and accuracy – via their relationship to the wider genotyped and performance recorded population.

Ultimately, the implementation of Single-Step BREEDPLAN for the Brahman breed across Southern Africa provides members of the Brahman Cattle Breeders’ Society of Namibia and the Brahman Cattle Breeders’ Society of South Africa, as well as Brahman breeders recording with the Zimbabwe Herd Book, with greater returns on their investment in the genotyping of seedstock cattle.

Brangus

Australian Brangus Cattle Association Implement Single-Step BREEDPLAN Evaluation

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The Australian Brangus Cattle Association (ABCA) has become the next Australian breed society to incorporate genomic (DNA) information into their BREEDPLAN genetic evaluations, using a method known as Single-Step. This major upgrade was implemented in the November 2023 Brangus BREEDPLAN evaluation.

The introduction of Single-Step was achieved through collaboration between ABCA and staff at the Animal Genetics and Breeding Unit (AGBU) and the Agricultural Business Research Institute (ABRI). The composite nature of the Brangus breed, where crossing of the original base breeds is on-going, means that there is a much greater diversity expressed within the population compared to a straight-bred population.  

“This creates a more complex scenario than is the case when evaluating one or the other of the base breeds. It is much simpler to determine how one Angus animal might relate to another Angus animal, or one Brahman to another Brahman – than to determine how one animal of high Angus content relates to one animal of high Brahman content in the Brangus population,” explains Dr. Brad Crook, BREEDPLAN Manager Genetics Research and Development.

“Consequently, the introduction of Single-Step BREEDPLAN for the Brangus breed has required a considerable amount of research, testing and validation to ensure the genotypes are used as correctly and accurately as possible.”

What is Single-Step BREEDPLAN?

Single-Step BREEDPLAN uses analytical software developed by AGBU, a joint venture of NSW Department of Primary Industries (NSW DPI) and the University of New England (UNE), funded by Meat and Livestock Australia Limited (MLA). The Single-Step BREEDPLAN evaluation utilises pedigree, performance and genomic information simultaneously. The evaluation takes account of each animal’s actual genetic relationship with all other genotyped animals, including those in the reference population. The reference population is the set of Brangus animals that have genotypes (SNP data) and phenotypes (performance records) for each particular trait.

SNP data is now being used along with pedigree and performance data to calculate BREEDPLAN EBVs and accuracy “in one step”. This applies to all traits in a multi-trait model combining birth, growth, fertility and carcase traits. As such, SNP data provides additional information in these calculations by accounting for the true genomic relationships among animals and how the SNP information relates to the performance records for each trait in the analysis. An important feature of the Single-Step BREEDPLAN approach is that complete use is made of the high density of genotypes recorded by ABCA members.

What are the advantages of Single-Step BREEDPLAN?

There are advantages that come with genomics and the Single-Step BREEDPLAN model. When young animals are genotyped at an early stage in life, they can achieve higher levels of EBV accuracy earlier in life – especially for traits expressed later in life – than is possible with a conventional (non-genomics) BREEDPLAN model. This equates to greater accuracy of selection decisions, at an earlier stage in the growth of animals, for Australian Brangus breeders. Furthermore, for breeders with small herds, accuracy levels are often limited by small contemporary group sizes even when pedigree and performance records are available. If calves are genotyped, however, they can accumulate additional information – and accuracy – via their relationship to the wider genotyped and performance recorded population.

Ultimately, implementation of Single-Step BREEDPLAN for the Brangus breed provides ABCA members with greater returns on their investment in the genotyping of seedstock cattle.

Hereford

Recording Performance Data During Drought

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With large areas of Australia having received below average rainfall, the ABRI Extension Services Team felt it would be timely to remind beef breeders of the considerations when collecting performance information for BREEDPLAN during drought.

Beef producers are sometimes reluctant to submit performance data collected in drought conditions due to concerns that lighter weights will correspond to,lower EBVs. Thankfully, this is not the case. While it is true that the average performance of a group will likely be lower relative to the average performance of a group in a good year, there will still be variation in performance within each group. It is this variation in how each anmial has perfromed relative to the other similarly treated animals that is imppeortant to the BREEDPLAN analysis, amnd not the raw measurements.

However, there are a number of considerations that beef producers should be aware of.

  • If early weaning, remember that BREEDPLAN can only analyse the 200 day weight of calves that are older than 80 days of age when the weight is recorded
  • BREEDPLAN can analyse 200 day weights on each animal. Therefore, if early weaning it may be beneficial to weigh the calves at weaning and then take a later weight.
  • Mature cow weights should be collected within two weeks of collecting the 200 day weights of their calves. If you delay 200 day weight recording, you should also delay the collection of mature cow weights.
  • Only record ultrasound scan informaiton on animals that are in adequate condition especially when scanning for fat depth and IMF. Ideally, animals should have a minimum average rump fat depth of 4-5mm.
  • Fertility performance information of cows running under drought conditions can be vaery vakuable information to the BREEDPLAN analysis, as drought generally places more pressure on female fertility than in a good season.

In addition, some beef producers may find that due to the constraints of drought, they are unable to continue with their normal performance recording schedule. If you are in this situation, you could consider the following options as interim measures.

  1. Restricting your performance recording to a core of important traits (consider which traits are important to you and/or your clients breeding programs)
  2. maintain full trait recording but limiting this to a single sex (e.g. bull calves)

If you choose to undertake either of these options, you should aim to return to your full performance recording program for the whole herd as soon as possible (i.e. once drought conditions ease)

Droughtmaster Australia

Droughtmaster Australia Implement Single-Step BREEDPLAN

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Droughtmaster Australia has worked collaboratively with staff at the Animal Genetics & Breeding Unit (AGBU) and the Agricultural Business Research Institute (ABRI) to incorporate genomic information into the calculation of Estimated Breeding Values (EBVs) within Droughtmaster BREEDPLAN, using a method known as Single-Step. This major upgrade was implemented in the October 2023 Droughtmaster BREEDPLAN Evaluation.

What is Single-Step BREEDPLAN?

Single-Step BREEDPLAN uses analytical software developed by AGBU, a joint venture of NSW Department of Primary Industries (NSW DPI) and the University of New England (UNE), funded by Meat and Livestock Australia Limited (MLA).

The Single-Step BREEDPLAN evaluation represents a new genetic analysis for the Droughtmaster breed, where pedigree, performance and genomic (SNP) information will be processed and analysed together “in a single step”.

The Single-Step method represents a major leap forward in how EBV and accuracy calculations are made by accounting for the true genomic relationships that exist among genotyped Droughtmaster animals and how these genotypes relate to performance records on Droughtmaster animals in the BREEDPLAN analysis. The inclusion of SNP genotypes in Single-Step BREEDPLAN is expected to contribute to changes in EBVs and accuracy that overall will improve the accuracy of prediction of EBVs and the selection decisions to be made.

Other Changes to the Droughtmaster Analysis

For the first time, a selection index has been released for Droughtmaster Australia. This is the Jap Ox selection index, released in conjunction with the October 2023 Droughtmaster BREEDPLAN analysis.

While BREEDPLAN EBVs provide cattle producers with a comprehensive range of information regarding the genetic merit of an animal, it can be difficult to identify the appropriate level of emphasis to be placed on each EBV to achieve maximum profitability. BreedObject selection indexes are tools that help in solving this dilemma.

The BreedObject software combines the BREEDPLAN EBVs for an animal with an economic weighting (based on costs of production and returns on outputs) to produce selection index values. As selection indexes balance the relative growth, carcase and fertility genetic merits of each animal, they can identify the animals that are most profitable for a particular production system. Thus, selection indexes enable cattle producers to make selection decisions that account for both the short-term profit generated by a sire through the sale of his progeny, and (where applicable) the longer-term profit generated by his daughters in a self-replacing cow herd.

The new Jap Ox selection index was developed by Droughtmaster Australia in conjunction with staff from BREEDPLAN. Further information about the new Jap Ox selection index is available from the Help Centre on the BREEDPLAN website here.

Summary

The October 2023 Droughtmaster BREEDPLAN analysis has included a major upgrade. Single-Step software has been introduced, meaning that genomic information, along with pedigree and performance data, will now be used in the calculation of BREEDPLAN EBVs for Droughtmaster Australia animals. Additionally, a new Jap Ox selection index has also been released for the Droughtmaster breed.

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Congratulations to 5 Star Completeness of Performance Herds for 2023

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Congratulations to the following herds who have achieved a 5 star Completeness of Performance (COP) rating for 2023. This achievement indicates that these herds are recording a large amount of pedigree and performance data for the majority of their calving crop.

  • Brahman: Blue Gum & Lookout
  • Brangus: Triple B
  • Charolais: Ascot; Belbourie Park & Kenmere
  • Hereford: Days; Glentrevor; Mount Difficult & Wirruna
  • Limousin: Garren Park
  • Murray Grey: Mount Major
  • South Devon: Ace & Alpha
  • Speckle Park: Alinjarra; Blue Sky; Bowan Park; JAD; Minnamurra; Promised Land and Whiteline

Please note: COP ratings are updated annually for BREEDPLAN members of all Australian breed socities in the relevant July analyses. Not all breed societies publicly list the COP ratings of their members. We have only reported 5 star COP status for members of Australian breed societies that list these publicly.

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The BREEDPLAN Edge; Where we have been and what lies ahead!

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Welcome to the October edition of the BREEDPLAN Edge that provides an overview of recent advancements in livestock breeding as presented by the Animal Genetics and Breeding Unit (AGBU, UNE).

The rise of genomics is presented as a major turning point and further advancements could change the structure of these genetic industries forever.

The BREEDPLAN Edge has been designed as a downloadable PDF to enable Breed Societies to share these assets and promote the benefits of BREEDPLAN to members in newsletters, emails, board meetings etc.

https://ausmfiletransfer01.blob.core.windows.net/ausmsnpextract01/breedplan_edge_october_2023.pdf

breedplan_edge_october_2023Download