500,000 Reasons to Celebrate

500,000+ Reasons to Celebrate

ABRI (Agricultural Business Research Institute) is proud to announce that over 500,000  genotypes are now passing through the BREEDPLAN evaluations each month. 

This provides immediate benefits to our member and clients with: 

• Potential for greater accuracy on reported EBV’s, especially for young animals. 

• More accurate selection decisions possible on younger animals. 

• True genomic relationships used in addition to the pedigree. 

• All available information (including genotypes) used to predict the genetic merit of animals more accurately – this is called Single-Step BREEDPLAN 

“Single-Step BREEDPLAN retains as much of the available SNP information (between 50,000 – 100,000 SNPs per animal) and uses all this information in the analysis. This represents a high return on investment for our members testing at 50K SNP densities or more. Single-Step BREEDPLAN evaluations are validated scientifically, demonstrating improved accuracy of prediction compared to pedigree-based evaluations” said ABRI’s Genetics, Research & Development Manager, Dr Brad Crook. 

Single-Step BREEDPLAN is currently available for Australian Angus, Hereford, Wagyu, Brahman, Santa Gertrudis, New Zealand Hereford and Angus and UK Hereford, South Devon and Hungarian Charolais. 

Single-Step BREEDPLAN is in development for Australian Brangus, Speckle Park, Tropical Composites, Limousin, Simmental and UK Charolais, Beef Shorthorn, Angus, and South African Wagyu. 

“The Science underpinning BREEDPLAN is always at the cutting edge of genetic evaluation services world-wide and BREEDPLAN will soon have over 600,000 genotypes passing through monthly.” 

Click here to download the flyer to share to your members.  https://ausmfiletransfer01.blob.core.windows.net/ausmsnpextract01/breedplan_edge_may2023.pdf

Cattle Herd

New Records for Industry Sustainability

Australia’s beef industry is taking its commitment to sustainability to a new level with the Australian Beef Sustainability Framework (ABSF) 2023 Annual Update reporting a decrease in carbon emissions, more forest on grazing lands, and, for the first time, the setting of ambitious goals to guide investment and attention into the future.

Australia’s red meat industry has set a target of being carbon neutral by 2030, known as CN30, and progress towards this goal is evident, with net CO2e emissions in 2020 of 45.21Mt, 64.07% below 2005 levels.

Key Points:

  • Net CO2e emissions of the beef industry 64.1% below 2005 level
  • Mortality rate of cattle during sea voyages at record low of 0.05%
  • Forest on grazing land increases by almost 780,000 hectares with removal of primary vegetation at a historic low
  • Water used per kilogram of liveweight gain down 18%
  • Awareness of Australian Animal Welfare Standards for Cattle reaches 100% for the first time.

The Australian beef industry has committed to the following five goals for sustainability:

  • The Australian beef industry is guided by the five domains of animal welfare. The industry provides all cattle with an environment in which they can thrive in accord with these domains.
  • By 2030, the Australian beef industry will demonstrate its net positive contributions to nature.
  • The Australian beef industry will achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions across its production and processing sectors by 2030.
  • The value of Australian beef industry products and services doubles from 2020 levels by 2030 resulting in a profitable and resilient industry.
  • The Australian beef industry is trusted, attractive to a diverse workforce, a source of pride and belonging, and makes a positive contribution to the food security of Australian and international communities.

To read the ABSF Annual Update go to http://www.sustainableaustralianbeef.com.au

Colby Funnell

ABRI Welcomes Colby Funnell as the Chief Technical Officer

In 2023, Colby joined ABRI as the inaugural Chief Technical Officer, leveraging his extensive professional experience spanning various roles, from Senior Systems Engineer at Emerging Systems to Head of Engineering at Atlassian. With a diverse skill set, Colby excels in team leadership, delivering intricate programs and solutions, and designing innovative technology systems. His responsibilities encompassed overseeing large-scale infrastructure projects, managing stakeholders, allocating budgets, and playing a crucial role in team building through recruitment and fostering high-performance and motivated teams. 

Colby embarked on his career as a Senior Systems Engineer at Emerging Systems, where he successfully designed and implemented systems for over 30 distinct companies, ranging from small office networks to universities and large-scale enterprises. He later progressed to the position of Senior Systems Engineer for the Royal Australasian College of Physicians. However, his most significant role prior to joining ABRI was as the Head of Engineering at Atlassian, where he showcased his expertise leading the Observability teams to deliver global scale real time insights across Australia, America and India.  

Excited about his new endeavour at ABRI, Colby eagerly brings his honed skills and expertise that were refined in a fast-paced chaotic cloud environment to a company dedicated to improving the lives of everyday Australians. 

Skinner_Steven

Steve Skinner Announces Retirement

After 30 years of extraordinary service to the Agricultural Business Research Institute (ABRI) and the wider international beef industry, our Chief Operating Officer, and Manager of the International Beef Recording Scheme (IBRS), Steve Skinner has decided to retire. 

Mr Skinner commenced with ABRI as a BREEDPLAN processor working for the late Arthur Rickards and progressed to the position of COO and Manager of ABRI’s beef business as well as holding the position of ARCBA’s Executive Officer for 8 years. 

 “Steve’s contribution to, and knowledge of, the Australian and international beef seedstock industries is enormous. As Managing Director, I have appreciated his wise counsel, deep background understanding, and quiet efficiency in delivering the vitally important IBRS services, including BREEDPLAN. He will be sorely missed, but we wish him all the best in his retirement,” said Mr Nivison.  

“It has been a pleasure to work with the ABRI staff and our clients, and their members for over 30 years. I greatly appreciate the support and guidance of the late Arthur Rickards during this time, and I am most proud of the fact that I have been given an opportunity to work in, and make a difference in a business and an industry that are both stimulating and rewarding,” said Mr Skinner 

There are exciting changes planned for ABRI including the development of the next generation of breed registry software and new options for BREEDPLAN service delivery, particularly for non-breed society clients. 

“I am timing my departure from ABRI when it is looking to identify the best resources and service provision to take the company into the future,” said Mr Skinner 

Steve will be departing ABRI in early August, and he will be looking forward to spending time with his family, particularly his forever supportive wife Patsy. 

Bull

BREEDPLAN – Example Sale Catalogue Notes

Have you discovered the example sale catalogue notes now available for a large number of Australian and New Zealand breed societies?

These have been designed to assist those of you who wish to provide an overview of BREEDPLAN information to your bull buying clients. They include a description of available EBVs and Selection Indexes (if applicable) for each society. Visit the website to access your catalogue notes. Search “Catalogue Notes’ in the help centre.

For each breed society represented you will receive:

  • Sale Catalogue Notes
  • BREEDPLAN Logo
  • Using and Understanding BREEDPLAN QR Code

hhttps://breedplan.une.edu.au/help-centre/

southern multi breed

Southern Multi Breed Project Update May 2023

The Southern Multi Breed project represents a considerable investment in the Australian Beef Industry and has been made possible through the contributions on NSW Department of Primary Industries (NSW DPI), the University of New England (UNE) and Meat and Livestock Australia (MLA).

Funded for five years (2020-2025), the project is being conducted on five NSW DPI research stations and the UNE Research Feedlot at Tullimba. the project will collect performance information (Including DNA) to support existing breed generic evaluations, particularly for hard-to-measure traits. The project will also assist in the future development of EBVs for new traits and allow for the possibility of multi-breed evaluations into the future. More information on the Southern Multi Breed project can be found on the project website

https://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/dpi/animals/beef-cattle/breeding/smb-project

The below update on the project has been provided by Emily Johnston, genetics Development Officer at NSW DPI.

Weaning has been completed for the third cohort of calves (T-Calves-2022 calving year) across all five sites. At weaning, the following data was collected:

  • Live Weight
  • Temperament – docility score & flight time
  • horn/scur/poll assessment
  • hip height
  • worm egg count (WEC) sampling

CSIRO staff were also on-site during weaning to collect data for the immune competency overlay project.

Ovarian scanning has begun on the first round of T Heifers at Triangie, Tocal, Wollongbar and Glen Innes. these heifers will be scanned every 4-5 weeks, while those at the Elizabeth MacArthur Ag Institute will begin their ovarian scanning in June.

All S steers (2021 calving year) have entered Tullimba feedlot with two groups already processed through the abattoir with all remaining steers processed at the abattoir by the end of 2023.

ILR2 Accounting Software

ILR2 Integration with Accounting Software.

ABRI’s ILR Support team have reported reported an increase in interest from breed societies wanting to consolidate the management of their financials into dedicated external platforms such as MYOB and Xero.

ABRI recognises that providing accounting software is not our core business and we have therefore created a process to integrate your ILR2′ system’s transactions with your preferred external accounting platform.

Download the flyer or contact us today to find out more support@abri.une.edu.au

https://abriweb.une.edu.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/ILR2-Accounting-Software-Integration-Flyer.pdf

ABRI_Services_01

The BREEDPLAN Edge

Did you know?

  • BREEDPLAN represents over 15 million animals, almost 40 cattle breeds and 100+ breed associations distributed across 14 countries.
  • BREEDPLAN uses pedigree, performance and genomic information combined with advanced analytical processes to provide Estimated Breeding Values (EBVs)
  • For over 40 years the Animal Genetics & Breeding Unit (AGBU) has undertaken the underpinning Research and Development (funded by MLA) to develop and continually enhance the BREEDPLAN analytical software.
  • All technical developments and enhancements are reviewed by a large team of Australian livestock geneticists to ensure the science that underpins BREEDPLAN remains at the cutting edge of genetic evaluation services world-wide.

Download the flyer and find out about the exciting new BREEDPLAN developments

Simbra Cattle

Major Upgrade for South African Simbra BREEDPLAN

A number of significant BREEDPLAN enhancements were implemented in the February 2023 South African Simbra BREEDPLAN analysis. These enhancements include:

1. Upgrade to BREEDPLAN version 6.2

The South African Simbra evaluation will now be using the latest version of the BREEDPLAN software, which includes a number of enhancements: a greater range of traits that can be analysed, an improved method for handling different groups of “base” animals, improved modelling of days-to-calving records for tropically adapted breeds, and the capacity to include genomic data via single-step methods in the future.

2. Updated adjustment factors and genetic parameters

An updated set of adjustment factors and genetic parameters have been estimated to reflect the volume of performance data now available for the population. This includes more recently recorded traits such as days-to-calving and net feed intake. As a consequence, the parameters that were implemented in the February 2023 evaluation will better represent the population of animals with performance records.

3. Publication of a Net Feed Intake (Post Weaning) EBV

NFI-P EBV’s are estimates of genetic differences between animals in feed intake at a standard weight and rate of weight gain when animals are in a growing phase. For more information on NFI-EBVs can be found in the Help Centre on the BREEDPLAN website Click Here

4. Three new Selection Indexes released

The new indexes are the:

  • Self-Replacing Feedlot Index (SRF)
  • Self- Replacing Weaner Index (SRW)
  • Self-Replacing Grassfed Index (SRG)

The three new selection indexes were developed by the Simbra Cattle Breeders Society of South Africa in conjunction with staff here at ABRI. Further information about the new selection indexes for South African Simbra is available from the Help Centre on the BREEDPLAN website Here

ABRI Breed Extension Services Logo Horizontal Large

Introducing ABRI Extension Services

The Agricultural Business Research Institute (ABRI) is pleased to introduce ABRI Extension Services.

The newly formed ABRI Extension Services provides technical support and extension initiatives supporting the use and understanding of BREEDPLAN® and related genetic technologies.

ABRI Managing Director Hugh Nivison says “I would encourage breeders and breed society staff to engage with the ABRI Extension Services team to ensure they are making optimal use of the BREEDPLAN system and associated technologies”.

The ABRI Extension Services team offers a range of extension initiatives, including BREEDPLAN workshops and herd consultations. The team are specialised in presenting on a range of beef breeding and genetics related topics, and are available for events facilitated by breed societies, industry organisations and individual producers.

“ABRI’s Extension team will continue to provide high-level technical support to breed societies and to breeding groups in Australia and overseas” says Steven Skinner, ABRI Manager International Beef Recording Scheme.

“They will concentrate on providing client organisations and their members with structured, consistent education and technical support for BREEDPLAN and related technologies and will maintain a strong international presence.”

Meet the ABRI Extension Services Team

Many in the beef industry will be familiar with the ABRI Extension Services team members from their roles in the former Southern Beef Technology Services (SBTS) and Tropical Beef Technology Services (TBTS) projects:

Catriona Millen is based in Armidale, New South Wales and has been with ABRI since January 2015. She has a Bachelor of Science from Monash University and a Bachelor of Agricultural Science (Honours) from the University of Melbourne. Catriona has previously worked as a genetics demonstrator for the ‘Get Into Genes’ program at La Trobe University.Catriona can be contacted on (02) 6773 3357 or via email catriona.millen@abri.une.edu.au
Paul Williams is based in Rockhampton, Queensland, and has been with ABRI since February 2012. Paul was raised on a dairy/beef property in South East Queensland, where he worked for four years after finishing his studies at Queensland Agricultural College. Paul has also previously worked as a Technical Officer at CSIRO for 22 years. During his time in CSIRO, Paul was involved in a number of Beef CRC I, II and III research projects.Paul can be contacted on 0427 018 982 or via email paul.williams@abri.une.edu.au
Boyd Gudex is based in Armidale, NSW and has been with ABRI since May 2017. Boyd was raised on a sheep and beef farm in New Zealand. He has extensive applied livestock experience having worked for breeding programs in multiple species. Boyd also received his PhD in Animal Breeding from the University of New England in 2011. He is also currently employed as a BREEDPLAN Technical Consultant, where he has experience with BREEDPLAN analysis, BreedObject and MateSel.Boyd can be contacted on (02) 6773 1711 or via email boyd.gudex@abri.une.edu.au