LATEST

NEWS

FOR BETTER BALANCED BEEF

Collecting Docility Information

Docility scores taken on calves between 60 and 400 days of age are used to calculate Docility EBVs within the TransTasman Angus Cattle Evaluation (TACE). Recording docility scores Animals can … Read more

Bringing your new bull home

Bulls are a large investment, so spend a little time making sure they adjust to their new environment, are fit, free from disease and actively working. • Consult with your … Read more

Do EBVs work?

Trials are occasionally carried out to validate Estimated Breeding Values (EBVs), to prove that what they are predicting is actually happening on commercial farms. This involves matching the expected performance … Read more

Where your breeder goes, you go

Is the breeder making real progress? The bull breeder’s breeding programme should be clear, easily explained and backed up by good records and clear facts. It is important to ask questions to establish the genetic merit of the herd and whether genetic progress is being made in the traits that are of interest to you.

Setting Breeding Objectives

Which traits contribute to production and profitability? What emphasis should you place on each trait when selecting breeding stock? Setting a breeding objective can be as simple as choosing a breed, or more sophisticated such as increasing weaning weight.

Breeding values: your tool for looking under the hood of your next sire

There’s no doubt that 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 allow you to see ‘under the hood’ of an animal. You can see his weak points and his strengths to decide if he’s the right fit for your herd. In this presentation,

Recording Mature Cow Weights

Mature cow weight has been a topical trait in 2020 and whether your breeding program aims to increase, decrease or remain constant the genetic merit of the herd for the trait, the critical practice remains the same. We need to be recording mature cow weights, as it is only with the accurate description of the trait that we as breeders can make the selection and breeding decisions which will ultimately drive the direction of the breed.