Angus breeders should expect that the EBVs that are calculated for individual animals may change considerably when the enhancements are implemented, particularly for the carcase traits.
Following the announcement that a number of significant enhancements will soon be made to the calculation of Estimated Breeding Values (EBVs) for Angus cattle in Australia and New Zealand, Angus Australia will be hosting Angus CONNECT – TACE Enhancements on Wednesday November 16.
Angus CONNECT – TACE Enhancements is one of a number of activities planned by Angus Australia in the coming months to explain the enhancements to Angus breeders across Australia and New Zealand and their expected impact on EBVs.
The enhancements form part of the annual updates that Angus Australia makes to the TransTasman Angus Cattle Evaluation and are scheduled for implementation in the December 2022 analysis.
The upcoming enhancements are focussed on providing Angus breeders with the tools to make more accurate selection decisions from the availability of next generation breeding values, particularly for the EBVs related to carcase weight, quality and yield, while also introducing evaluation efficiencies that will ensure the long-term viability of the genetic evaluation. In addition to these enhancements breeders will also have access to new EBVs on animals as well as EBVs becoming available on more animals than previous.
Angus CONNECT – TACE Enhancements will be presented as a Zoom webinar that will provide information to members regarding the upcoming TACE enhancements, as well as an opportunity for members to join in discussion with Angus Australia staff regarding the updates, so registrations are essential.
Angus Australia’s General Manager Genetic Improvement, Mr Christian Duff explained that Angus Australia is focused on providing a world leading genetic evaluation service to Angus breeders.
“The annual updates that are made to the TransTasman Angus Cattle Evaluation ensure that the EBVs published for Angus animals continue to be the best possible estimate of an animal’s breeding value, maximising the genetic improvement that is being achieved in Angus breeding programs,” said Mr Duff.
“The enhancements are made possible through strong collaboration with R&D and service delivery partners, particularly the Animal Genetics & Breeding Unit (AGBU), the Agricultural Business Research Institute (ABRI) and CSIRO – Australia’s national science agency,” Mr Duff added.
Angus Australia’s Genetic Evaluation Manager, Mr Andrew Byrne, highlighted that the introduction of new variance components represents one of the most significant updates to the TransTasman Angus Cattle Evaluation in recent times.
“The availability of comprehensive phenotypic measurements on modern Angus animals in the Angus Sire Benchmarking Program, particularly abattoir carcase measurements, has provided geneticists at AGBU in Armidale with an invaluable resource for the estimation of variance components, such as the heritability of each trait and the genetic relationship between different traits.”
“The availability of the new variance component estimates will result in the calculation of EBVs that better predict the breeding values of contemporary Angus animals.”
“Angus breeders should expect that the EBVs that are calculated for individual animals may change considerably when the enhancements are implemented, particularly for the carcase traits,” Mr Byrne said.
Pre-registration will be required for Angus CONNECT – TACE Enhancements. For further information or to register please visit the Angus Australia website or contact Angus Australia Extension Manager Jake Phillips at jake.phillips@angusaustralia.com.au.
-Angus Australia