EPISODE 1: What are Estimated Breeding Values?
Estimated breeding values – or EBVs – allow you to predict the genetics each animal will pass on to their progeny. This short animation clearly explains the ins and outs of EBVs.
Tropical cattle
What difference can genetics make to tropical herds?
There’s no doubt. When you’re buying a bull, his physical and structural soundness must be factored in.
But what you can’t see is just as important.
Using breeding values allows you to see ‘under the hood’ of an animal. You can see his weak points and his strengths to help decide if he’s the right fit for your herd.
Can you pick the performer?
Take two Brahman bulls. Same live weight. Both structurally sound. Both passed BULLCHECK® and morphology. Which one would you choose? Find out by watching this short video and see the difference breeding values can make.
What have other tropical cattle producers gained from genetics?
Meet tropical cattle producers Russell Lethbridge, and Tom and Marie Copley.
They share their journey with breeding values and how they’ve accelerated the performance of their herd.
Tom and Marie Copley
Faced with a challenging climate and the myriad of variables involved in breeding cattle, Queensland seedstock producers Tom and Marie Copley are leveraging genetics to map out a productive path for their herd.
Certain in the knowledge that their genetic inputs are entirely within their control, the couple has made gains with a data-driven focus on fertility at their property, ‘Salty’. The result is a robust, well-adapted herd, capable of thriving in harsh conditions with minimal inputs.
Meet Russell Lethbridge
Russell and his wife Donna manage Werrington Cattle Company, a commercial tropical cattle operation, based north of Hughenden in North Queensland.
"Without using genetics to improve production results, the family business would have been put under extreme pressure to even exist." Russell Lethbridge
How do I get started with genetics?
Accelerating your herd’s performance with better breeding values starts with setting your breeding objective, understanding estimated breeding values and selection indexes and knowing your way around the BREEDPLAN website.
You can then start to apply your new-found knowledge when you’re ready to shop for your next high performing bull.
Here are some short ‘how-to’ animated videos to help get you started with using breeding values. It’s best to watch them in the order shown. Take your time. Watch and re-watch the videos at your leisure.
MODULE 1: Getting started with breeding values
EPISODE 1: What are Estimated Breeding Values?
EPISODE 2: How do I set a breeding objective for my beef herd?
EPISODE 3: What are beef indexes?
EPISODE 2: How do I set a breeding objective for my beef herd?
Before you start using breeding values, you need to know what you’re trying to achieve with your herd. Here are some important things to consider when setting your breeding objective.
Resources
EPISODE 3: What are beef indexes?
A beef index takes a range of important production traits and combines them into one number so you can rank bulls, quickly and easily. Find out how they work and the different indexes you can pick and choose from.
Resources
MODULE 2: Using breeding values to select for traits
Episode 1: Fertility traits
Episode 2: Calving ease and Birth traits
Episode 3: Weight Traits
Episode 4: Carcase traits
Episode 1: Fertility traits
Fertility is one of the most important profit drivers in a self-replacing beef breeding herd, so it’s important to select bulls that have favourable genetics for fertility, and that will positively influence their daughters’ reproductive performance. This short video explains the two fertility traits available.
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Episode 2: Calving ease and Birth traits
Birth and Calving Ease traits are important traits in beef production systems as they assist in preventing dystocia and calving problems in the breeding herd. This short video explains the 4 traits available.
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Episode 3: Weight Traits
Weight traits are used in beef production systems to either improve growth or control mature cow size. This short video explains the five weight traits available.
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Episode 4: Carcase traits
Carcase and eating quality traits are important for most production systems, as more profit can be made from higher yielding and higher quality carcases. This short video explains the seven carcase traits available.
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MODULE 3: Using breeding values to find bulls on BREEDPLAN
EPISODE 1: How do I find tropical bulls on the BREEDPLAN website?
EPISODE 2: How do I search sales catalogues on the BREEDPLAN website?
EPISODE 1: How do I find tropical bulls on the BREEDPLAN website?
BREEDPLAN is where you’ll find breed-specific databases that store and update EBVs for thousands of animals. Here’s how you find and rank cattle based on their EBVs or beef indexes.
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EPISODE 2: How do I search sales catalogues on the BREEDPLAN website?
BREEDPLAN contains sales catalogues of upcoming bull sales. Here’s how you can search these catalogues and find bulls of your desired breed that meet your breeding objective.
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MODULE 4: Putting breeding values into practice
EPISODE 1: How do I shop for a high performing bull?
EPISODE 1: How do I shop for a high performing bull?
This video steps you through how to go about buying a high performing bull, providing tips on what to do before, during and after the sale.
Resources
More information
Contact
Paul Williams, ABRI Extension Services
Resources
- BREEDPLAN is Australia’s genetic evaluation system for beef cattle breeders and buyers.
- ABRI Extension Services provides technical support and extension initiatives supporting the use and understanding of BREEDPLAN and related genetic technologies.
- BredWell FedWell workshops is a practical one-day workshop on how productivity and profitability can be improved through good breeding and feeding over the livestock production cycle.
- Breeding EDGE workshops help you develop a cattle breeding program or improve your existing one.
- Profitable Grazing Systems takes small groups of producers and pairs them with specialist coaches who share their knowledge, skills and experience on topics including genetics and reproduction.