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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. 

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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

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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

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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

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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
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New Accuracy Calculation Software for Single-Step BREEDPLAN Analyses

As the volume and density of genomic (DNA) information used in BREEDPLAN evaluations continues to grow, it highlighted the need for greater efficiencies to account for SNP effects in the calculation of EBV accuracy. Rather than reducing the amount of genomic data to keep things “workable”, BREEDPLAN developed an advanced algorithm for accuracy calculations that allows the highest of genotype densities to be retained. Read more here https://breedplan.une.edu.au/news/new-accuracy-calculation-software-for-single-step-breedplan-analyses/

If you have any questions please contact contact our team.

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Major Enhancements for Angus Australia and New Zealand Angus

In the December 2022 Single-Step BREEDPLAN analysis several major enhancements were implemented:

  • Updated adjustment factors and genetic parameters.
  • Revised Docility analysis
  • New accuracy software
  • Updated parameter files for Index Calculation
  • Changed approach to using imported EPD’s.

Read more here https://breedplan.une.edu.au/news/major-enhancements-implemented-for-angus-australia-and-new-zealand-angus/

If you have any questions please contact contact our team.

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Southern Multi Breed Project (2020-2025) Update.

The aims of this project are to collect performance information (including DNA) to support existing breed genetic evaluations for temperate cattle breeds and additionally may assist in the future development of EBV’s for new traits and multi-breed evaluations in the future. This project has reached a significant milestone with the first heifers born within the project now having their own calves on the ground that represents the first opportunity for the project to fully evaluate female fertility.

This is just one of the numerous research projects that are contributing to BREEDPLAN that are detailed in the Spring News Update. https://issuu.com/sbtstbts/docs/sbts_tbts_spring_news_update_2022?utm_medium=referral&utm_source=sbts.une.edu.au

If you have any questions please contact contact our team.

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The International Hereford & Brahman Project

ABRI’s research and development team regularly conduct projects that explore opportunities to address international reach and demands from breeders. Despite the low level of across-country linkage that often exist among beef breeds, the international trade in beef genetics and the accumulation of genomic data has opened the way for some beef breeds to start moving towards genetic evaluations of an international scale. ABRI has been working with Brahman populations in Australia, South Africa, Namibia, Zimbabwe and the USA and seven Hereford breed clients in Australia. New Zealand, Canada, United Kingdom. Namibia, Uruguay and Argentina.

Read more here Autumn 2022 Update Magazine

If you have any questions please contact contact our team.