For those suppliers to the Thousand Guineas program, who are able to record a minimum of on farm records prior to cattle being supplied to JBS Australia feedlots, there is now an opportunity to participate in developing the next generation of elite Shorthorn Beef carcass sires.
Genomics offer the next level of prediction for performance within the Australian Beef industry.
The ability to predict the expected performance of sires and breeding females at a much earlier age, will make the selection decisions more accurate for both seedstock and commercial breeders and assist producers to fast track genetic gain within their enterprises.
Building genomics requires animals that have had suitable phenotypes collected to be genotyped, or DNA tested, to identify markers in the DNA responsible for certain trait performance. Capturing phenotypes, or actual performance, on genotyped animals is the key.
Carcass traits have been some of the hardest traits to measure for use in genetic evaluation. However, for Thousand Guineas suppliers, the opportunity now exists, through genomic applications, to use the traits collected to further develop not only genomics but genetic evaluation.
A key to this is the ability to use DNA to sire identify animals from multiple sire mating groups, rather than relying on single sire matings alone. Sires can be genotyped initially, making it easy to then identify the sires progeny by DNA, whilst genotyping suitable progeny at the same time.
Collecting phenotypes will require a minimum number of records to be captured on each animal supplied on farm.
Records required are:
- Dam Age
- Dam Breed Content
- Dam Mating Mob
- Calf ID
- Calf RFID
- Calf week of birth
- Calf weaning weight
- Calf exit weight
With the exception of week of birth, most records are captured under routine management such as weaning weight or weighing prior to sending to the feedlot for induction. Knowing week of birth also has benefits for on farm management.
JBS Australia will be able to supply the calf feedlot and carcass performance and that can then be correlated by RFID number to the on farm records. Where the calf contemporary groups have been maintained throughout their life, the performance and genotypes will be able to be used for genetic evaluation.
Identifying the next generation of elite Shorthorn Beef sires is critical for everyone involved. It is the key to driving further demand for the Shorthorn Beef breeders. Where genetic evaluation has long been the domain of the seedstock industry, the Shorthorn Beef Carcass data Harvest program will allow commercial breeders to participate in building the elite Shorthorn Beef sires of the future.