Breedplan – 30 years of taking the guess-work out of cattle breeding

Common-sense cattle breeding*

1. Be knowledgeable and use good information

* Bourdon, R. M., (1997). Understanding Animal Breeding. Prentice Hall

The National Beef Recording Scheme (NBRS)

The National Beef Recording Scheme (NBRS)

1972 NBRS started (43 years). 1978 Bob Freer appointed as the first National Co-ordinator of the National Beef Recording Scheme Animal Genetic and Breeding Unit (AGBU) technical development Agricultural Business Research Institute (ABRI) commercialisation

Breedplan

1982 Simmental breed produces first set of EBVs 1985 Breedplan introduced – BLUP technology (30 years) (Breedplan Group Breedplan Breedplan International) 1990s Selection Indices using Breedobject software NSW Agriculture and major breed societies extension role 2005 SBTS and NBTS formed – Breedplan extension 2011 Genomic enhanced EBVs

Breedplan International – worlds most widely used genetic evaluation

system for beef cattle

Developed in Australia

Used by - 44 breeds

- 100 breed associations

- across 15 countries

Growth, carcase and fertility EBVs evaluated together in a multi trait model

Database of over 40 million animals

R and D budget A$20 million per year

Skinner S. (2012)

Allen J. ABRI (2012)

Allen J. ABRI (2012)

Allen J. ABRI (2012)

environment genetics

BreedPlan

Estimated Breeding Values (EBV)

EBV = (weight of individual – ave. weight of group)

x heritability

= (380 – 350) x 0.3

= 30 x 0.3

= +9 kg

mob average single animal

Estimated Breeding Values (EBV)

Increased accuracy – pedigree information

Initial Parents 200 day weight EBV av. EBV

calf A +9 +11 (12 and 10)

calf B +9 +3 (4 and 2)

2

+10

+7

New

Initial Calf weight 200 day weight EBV at 400 days

Calf A +9 430 kg

Calf B +9 410 kg (group av 390 kg)

2

Estimated Breeding Values (EBV)

Increased accuracy – correlated trait information

+12

+8

New

2015 (August) Hereford Group BREEDPLAN EBVs

Birth 200 day 400 day 600 day Mature Milk

weight growth growth growth weight kg kg kg kg kg kg

+4.9 +33 +59 +77 +61 +11

94% 91% 86% 89% 84% 79%

+ 4.3 +29 +47 +67 +63 +13

Rib Rump E.M.A. Retail Carcase I.M.F.

fat fat Beef Yield weight mm mm sq. cms % kg %

+0.1 +3.0 +0.4 -0.1 +31 +0.3

68% 73% 63% 71% 87% 72%

+0.3 +0.3 +2.7 +0.8 + 41 + 0.2

Gest. Calving Ease Days to Scrotal Docility

length Direct Daughters calving size days % % days cms

-1.7 -4.0 +2.1 -1.6 +1.0 +1.6

90% 49% 45% 75% 84% 58%

-0.1 -0.1 +1.0 -2.0 +1.6 +1.0

EBV

Acc

Ave

Breedplan

New analysis run monthly (ILR2 software)

Angus, Red Angus, Devon, Charolais, Brahman, Brangus, Santa Gertrudis, Limousin, Droughtmaster, Murray Grey, Wagyu, Blonde d’Aquitaine, Hereford, South Devon

Other major breeds – 4 times a year

2015 Breedobject $ Index

Angus Domestic Heavy Heavy

Breeding Index Grain Grass Index Index Index

Bull A +104 +80 +60 +78

Bull B +84 +64 +72 +58

Breed Ave +99 +99 +99 +99 (August 2015)

https://abri.une.edu.au/online/cgi-bin/i4.dll?1=char&2=bavg

http://www.angusaustralia.com.au/breedplan/199-relationship-between-traits.html?device=desktop

Genetic correlations (Australian Angus 2015)

2010

2010 2014

Improving accuracy of breeding values with genomics

pedigree

measurements

(phenotype)

DNA

EBV

accuracy

GE EBV

C A Future Direction 5321

www.wyunapollherefords.com.au/images

Structural soundness

Genetic differences in animals that have a desirable structure score

Expressed as the percentage more progeny with the desirable score

Scored by accredited scorer on cattle less than 750 days of age

Front and rear feet angle: 1(SA) – 9(SH) Bull A +30 Bull B -50

40% more progeny with desirable feet angle

SH SA

Common-sense cattle breeding*

1. Be knowledgeable and use good information

2. Take time to think

3. Be consistent

4. Keep it simple

5. Be patient

* Bourdon, R. M., (1997). Understanding Animal Breeding. Prentice Hall

‘Long gone were the days when the only criteria in cattle selection were “beautiful” cattle and pedigrees. With the introduction of BREEDPLAN in Namibia a new technological “quantum leap” has been made and breeders who have been involved in weighing and taking measurements with reliable record keeping over longer periods are now rewarded.’ Mecki Schneider “Namibian Master Farmer of the Year for 2000”

http://breedplan.une.edu.au/bpnews/bpn_2006/bpn_06.pdf