Genetic improvementBenefi ts for commercial producers

Dr Michael BradfieldBREEDPLAN SA

World meat production and trade

Source: FAPRI, 2010

3

2001 Chicken Genetics

1957 Chicken Genetics

Day 43 Day 57 Day 71 Day 85

This was Achieved by Maximising Genetic Progress! (n0 hormones!)

Value of genetic improvement to South African beef herd

RSA R40After 10 years

4.50 Billion Rand

In France, like much of Europe, many of the breed societies have become very weak and have very little influence on the industry.

Vincent Ducrocq (ARC 20/02/2012)

+5kg+3kg

- 6 days

EMA RBY+ 3.8 1.6

-3.5 -1.5--------------------7.2cm 3.1%

?

WHAT IS GENETIC PROGRESS ?

The formula is:

R = S x h²

L

Brahman Extensive Rangeland Grassfed Index

Namibian Extensive Rangeland Grassfed Index

Objectives

Steers finished on grass (30 months).

460-500 kg live weight.

P8 Fat 10 mm.

Daughters retained for breeding

Reduce cow size.

+50$

Brahman International Genetic Evaluation

Selecting suitable genetics “across country borders”:

Breeders can benchmark their own herd genetics to other genetics around the world on a common base

Opportunities of a wider gene pool:

- potential for accelerating rate of genetic improvement

- marketing genetics on a common base

Brahman Performance Records AvailableAUSTRALIA USA SOUTH AFRICA NAMIBIA TOTAL

GESTATION LENGTH

- - 404 763 1167

BIRTH WEIGHT 16,649 109,110 135,111 37,393 298,263

200 DAY WEIGHT* 187,534 106,592 106,827 36,246 437,199

400 DAY WEIGHT* 91,834 24,001 60,784 26,753 203,372

600 DAY WEIGHT* 100,363 - 51,437 25,029 176,829

MATURE WEIGHT* 10,881 - 15,042 9,205 35,128

RIB FAT SCAN 12,044 1,160 935 6,577 20,716

EMA SCAN 14,281 1,161 930 6,564 22,936

CARCASE WEIGHT

2,396 2,020 - - 4,416

SHEAR FORCE - 1,954 - - 1,954

GENESTAR TENDERNES

- 659 - - 659

SCROTAL SIZE 21,088 2,318 7,671 2,698 33,775

DAYS-TO-CALVING*

35,585 - - - 35,585

TOTAL NO. OF RECORDS

492,655 248,975 379,141 151,228 1,271,999

% OF RECORDS 38.7 19.6 29.8 11.9 100

*These numbers may include repeat measures on the same animals.

By undertaking this project Brahman would become the first Bos indicus breed to commission an international genetic evaluation.

This should assist Brahman to increase its market share of genetics - particularly to developing country projects.

It needs to be accepted from the outset that while the international evaluation will be more informative than national evaluations - there will be winners and losers. That is part of the price of progress.

Other Considerations

Stud Industry

Put the interests of your

commercial clients FIRSTby selecting animals that

make commercial producers more

MONEY

Lets be courageous, roll up our sleeves, and do it!