ABS Australia offer their stable of Shorthorn sires to the commercial beef industry at competitive rates for semen in breed leading sires.
For commercial and seed stock producers, accessing the best genetics possible for their herd, is the real key to accelerating genetic gain.
Given the nature of rising costs in the beef industry, making sure that the genetics in the herd continue to be able to deliver increased production, improved quality and fertility, whilst reducing risk and management costs, is a critical component for beef breeding businesses to ensure they remain profitable into the future.
With returns for quality Shorthorn cattle at premium levels within the industry, there has never been a better time for producers to look to fast track their breeding programs, to ensure that they continue to capture premium returns into the future.
For heifer programs, using proven AI sires allows breeders to not only access breed leading genetics, it also allows breeders to access proven calving ease genetics, reducing calving ease concerns in their heifer programs.
More live calves means more profit and more heifers to select from next year, improving the rate of genetic gain within the herd.
Providing programs are well run and heifers adequately developed, on average, after 1 round of AI, 58% of heifers will calve in the first 10 days of calving, reducing labour hours and managements costs as well as ensuring that valuable first calving cows have a longer interval between calving and joining, increasing pregnancy rates.
For cow herds, accessing leading Shorthorn genetics is also another opportunity to fast track genetic gain and maximise returns from the breeding herd as well as improving the quality of heifer calves destined to be retained for future breeding programs.
Shorthorns are also arguably the most complementary breed in the world, having formed the basis of over 40 breeds worldwide, meaning that they are an excellent cross breeding option, particularly for breeders looking to increase maternal and carcass quality traits.
For those looking to trial Shorthorn genetics in their cross breeding programs, AI provides an opportunity to access quality genetics and experience the benefits first hand before committing to purchase Shorthorn sires.
Hybrid Vigour has the greatest effect on maternal traits, meaning combining 2 maternal breeds will deliver excellent increases in maternal efficiency and production, whilst the consistency and level of marbling exhibited by the Shorthorn breed, allows cross breeders to improve or at least maintain the marbling performance in their herd at the same time and ensure compliance for premium markets.
ABS Australia have proven sires available to commercial breeders at rates from $18 – $20 per straw.