Weekly genetics review: Getting your bulls safely through joining
Beef Central Genetics editor Alastair Rayner, 21/09/2021 IN breeding cattle, joining is a make-or-break period, in more ways than one. In areas where controlled matings are used, production levels for the following season are determined by events that occur during a 6-12 week window. While much attention is placed on the numbers achieved in that…
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Weekly genetics review: Financial progress through genetic selection
Beef Central Genetics editor Alastair Rayner, 14/09/2021 SELECTION decisions underpin the long-term viability of any beef enterprise. These decisions include those made on phenotype as well as on genetic potential of new sires to make changes across a herd. Genetic improvement is a long-term process that offers cumulative improvements. The results of genetic selection can…
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Understanding the long timeframes involved in genetic change in beef
Beef Central Genetics editor Alastair Rayner, 07/09/2021 MAKING genetic change is a long-term undertaking in the beef industry. It is easy to appreciate the time associated with choosing a bull and seeing the resulting calves, but the longer-term changes are often more challenging to consider. The timeline of impact a sire has on a herd…
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Weekly genetics review: Going in, feet-first
Genetics editor Alastair Rayner, 07/09/2021 STRUCTURAL assessment should underpin any selection decision producers make on new herd bulls, or when select replacement breeders. Structure is a trait that has moderate to high heritability. As a result, poor selection decisions may quickly result in an issue developing within a commercial herd. While this poses a long-term…
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Weekly genetics review: Going the distance – the bull’s increased workload during joining
Beef Central Genetics editor Alastair Rayner, 31/08/2021 The average herd bull travels and additional 11km a day in the first 21 days of joining – on top of normal walking for feed and water. This is directly correlated with calving numbers, and so the ability to walk and make this happen is crucial to joining…
Bull selection decisions linked to profit drivers
Beef Central, 31/08/2019 BE CLEAR on what drives profit in your business and match your bull selection to those profit drivers. That’s the message from Meat & Livestock Australia’s genetics program manager Hamish Chandler, who says this should underpin how every producer uses genetic selection tools such as Estimated Breeding Values and indexes. “What drives profitability…
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