|
BREEDPLAN Welcomes New Staff Member 2013 BREEDPLAN has welcomed a new staff member, Pilar Argente to the pedigree and performance team. Pilar joins the team in the role of BREEDPLAN consultant and will be responsible for processing performance information and providing associated support to BREEDPLAN members. To meet Pilar, please click here. Performance Submission Dates 2013 The cut off dates for the submission of performance information to BREEDPLAN for inclusion in Australian BREEDPLAN analyses during 2013 are now available. To view the submission cut off dates, please click here. New Product Release : MateSel January 2013 A new product has been released within the BREEDPLAN suite of genetic evaluation tools. Known as MateSel, the new tool provides beef cattle seedstock producers with a guide for objectively optimising mating allocations within their breeding program. The use of MateSel by seedstock beef producers will take breeding programs to the next level by including objectivity and proven science in mating allocation decisions. In particular, use of MateSel enables beef producers to maximise the rate of genetic gain being achieved within their breeding program without compromising inbreeding through better mating allocation. Other benefits also exist such as the potential to save significant time previously spent compiling mating lists, and enabling more informed decisions to be made about which bulls to use within a breeding program. Initially MateSel is only available to members of Australian Breed Societies that utilise BREEDPLAN, have selection indexes published and operate on ABRI’s ILR2 pedigree and performance database system. For further information about MateSel, please click here. Revision to Reportability of Australian Brahman EBVs January 2013 At the request of the Australian Brahman Breeders Association, changes have been made to the minimum accuracy threshold for Fertility, Carcase and Mature Cow Weight BREEDPLAN EBVs for non-recorded animals. For further information about these revisions, please click here. Revision to Reportability of Australian Simmental Weight EBVs December 2012 The Australian Simmental Technical Committee has recently resolved to revise the reportability criteria of the Simmental BREEDPLAN Weight EBVs (i.e. 200, 400 and 600 day weight). Australian Simmental will now follow the industry standard of “linking” the reporting of the three Weight EBVs. That is, if one weight EBV meets the minimum accuracy threshold to report then all three Weight EBVs will be published. For further information about these revisions, please click here. Enhancements to Simmental BREEDPLAN August 2012 A number of enhancements have been made to the BREEDPLAN software used to calculate EBVs for Simmental animals. They will be applied in the Spring 2012 Trans-Tasman Simmental GROUP BREEDPLAN analysis, then to all subsequent analyses. The enhancements include an upgrade to BREEDPLAN Version 6.2. This latest version of the BREEDPLAN software has several enhancements including a revised method for the calculation of accuracies for Days-to-Calving (DTC) EBVs and a revised method for handling different groups of “base” animals. For further information about these enhancements (click here) or contact staff at BREEDPLAN. Wagyu Release Selection Index June 2012 The Australian Wagyu Association (AWA) has announced that a selection index will now be calculated for eligible Wagyu animals. The selection index is titled Fullblood Feedlot and estimates the genetic differences between animals in net profitability per cow joined in an example commercial Wagyu herd targeting fullblood steer production where steers are feedlot fed for 450 days. More detailed information on the new Wagyu selection index is available by clicking here. Upgrades made to Wagyu BREEDPLAN May 2012 The Australian Wagyu Association (AWA) has upgraded the software used to manage the Wagyu pedigree and performance database and is now using ABRI's new generation of breed registry software known as ILR2. The change in software will have no effect on the EBVs that are calculated on Wagyu animals however the new ILR2 system does include several new features. These include the running of monthly GROUP BREEDPLAN analyses and production of enhanced BREEDPLAN reports. By undertaking this upgrade, the AWA joins Australian Red Angus, Charolais, Brahman, Angus, Brangus, Santa Gertrudis, Limousin, Droughtmaster & Murray Grey breeds in using the ILR2 software. For further information, please contact Keryn Hutton at Wagyu BREEDPLAN on (02) 6773 3059. New BREEDPLAN Promotional Brochures May 2012 A range of new BREEDPLAN promotional brochures are now available. The brochures provide a range of the information regarding BREEDPLAN and related genetic technologies such as BreedObject Selection Indexes, TakeStock, the Completeness of Performance Herd Rating System, GeneProb, Internet Solutions and MateSel. The new promotional brochures are available from the technical area on the BREEDPLAN website (click here). Alternatively, paper copies of the promotional brochures can be requested from the BREEDPLAN office. Revised Limousin Selection Indexes May 2012 A revised set of selection indexes will now be calculated for Limousin animals following the implementation of four new indexes in the May 2012 Limousin GROUP BREEDPLAN analysis. These are the Vealer Terminal, Domestic Terminal, Heavy Steer Terminal and Self Replacing Index. The revised selection indexes were a result of a comprehensive review that had been completed by the Australian Limousin Breeders Society to evaluate whether the existing Limousin Selection Indexes were appropriate for current beef markets and to ensure that the economic parameters being used in the calculation of the selection indexes reflected the current costs and returns of a commercial beef enterprise. More detailed information on the new selection indexes that are now calculated for Limousin animals is available by clicking here. Revised Shorthorn Selection Indexes May 2012 A revised set of selection indexes are now available on Shorthorn animals following the release of a revised Domestic Maternal Index to replace the Heavy Domestic Index and the production of a Northern Maternal Index. The Export Maternal Index has remained unchanged. The revised selection indexes were a result of a continued review process that has been completed by Shorthorn Beef to ensure the Shorthorn Selection Indexes are appropriate for current beef markets and that the economic parameters being used in the calculation of the selection indexes reflected the current costs and returns of a commercial beef enterprise. More detailed information on the selection indexes that are calculated for Shorthorn animals are available by clicking here. Upgrades made to Murray Grey BREEDPLAN May 2012 The Murray Grey Beef Cattle Society (MGBCS) has upgraded the software used to manage the Murray Grey pedigree and performance database and is now using ABRI's new generation of breed registry software known as ILR2. The change in software will have no effect on the EBVs that are calculated on Murray Grey animals however the new ILR2 system does include several new features. These include the running of monthly GROUP BREEDPLAN analyses and production of enhanced BREEDPLAN reports. By undertaking this upgrade, the MGBCS joins Australian Red Angus, Charolais, Brahman, Angus, Brangus, Santa Gertrudis, Limousin & Droughtmaster breeds in using the ILR2 software. For further information, please contact Melissa Sweeney at Murray Grey BREEDPLAN on (02) 6773 2244. Modifications to Angus GROUP BREEDPLAN March 2012 A number of modifications have been implemented to the BREEDPLAN software that is used to calculate EBVs for Angus animals within the March 2012 Angus GROUP BREEDPLAN analysis. In particular, a) genomic results calculated from the Pfizer 50K test are now incorporated for scrotal size, yearling weight and mature cow weight, bringing the total number of traits for which genomic data is incorporated within the Angus BREEDPLAN analysis to 12, b) all relevant Days to Calving data on the Angus Australia database has now been included in the calculation of Days to Calving EBVs, and c) a revised set of EPDs for imported American and Canadian Black Angus animals has been included. Further information about the modifications that have been made is available by contacting staff at Angus BREEDPLAN. Modifications to Wagyu GROUP BREEDPLAN March 2012 A number of modifications have been implemented to the BREEDPLAN software that is used to calculate EBVs for Wagyu animals within the March 2012 Wagyu GROUP BREEDPLAN analysis. Estimated Breeding Values (EBVs) for Eye Muscle Area, Rib Fat, Rump Fat and Intramuscular Fat will now be reported as differences in a standard 300kg steer carcase, and Retail Beef Yield EBVs will now be reported. Further information about the modifications that have been made are available by clicking here. Structural Scoring Accreditation Course March 2012 An accreditation workshop for structural scoring of cattle is to be held in Armidale on Thursday 22nd and Friday 23rd March. This provides an opportunity to become accredited to submit structural score information for inclusion in the calculation of BREEDPLAN Structural Soundness EBVs. Further information about the accreditation course is available by clicking here. Completeness of Performance Herd Rating System Released February 2012 BREEDPLAN has announced that a new companion product known as the “Completeness of Performance” herd rating system has been developed and will be released to members over coming weeks. The new system summarises the quantity of pedigree and performance information that has been submitted to BREEDPLAN by each individual seedstock herd and provides a “Completeness of Performance” star rating of between 0 - 5 for each member. To view the press release, click here. More detailed information is also available from the "Completeness of Performance" web page. BREEDPLAN Fees Revised January 2012 As of January 1st 2012, the fees for participation in BREEDPLAN have been revised. Updated fee schedules for each breed are now available from the Breed Specific Documents page in the Technical area of this website. Please contact staff at BREEDPLAN if you have any queries regarding the revised BREEDPLAN fees for your breed. Enhancements to Angus GROUP BREEDPLAN December 2011 A number of enhancements were made to the BREEDPLAN software used to calculate EBVs for Angus animals within the December 2011 TransTasman Angus GROUP BREEDPLAN analysis. With the growing frequency of Angus-content crossbred animals within the Angus analysis, the model used was changed to provide better handling of the performance records available on such crossbred animals. Records are now pre-adjusted for both direct and maternal heterosis based on breed content of calf and cow, and a new genetic grouping methodology has been implemented to better handle effects of breed-type differences. These changes mean that contemporary groups may now comprise both purebred and crossbred animals, allowing head-to-head comparisons where such breed types are being run together. In addition, ET calves born to different breeds of recipient dam are now potentially compared head-to-head within the same contemporary group. For further information about these enhancements, please contact staff at BREEDPLAN. Revised Simmental Selection Indexes December 2011 A revised set of selection indexes are now available on Simmental animals following the release of four new indexes. These are the Domestic Maternal, Export Maternal, Northern Terminal and Vealer Terminal Index. The revised selection indexes were a result of a comprehensive review that had been completed by the Australian Simmental Breeders Association to evaluate whether the existing Simmental Selection Indexes were appropriate for current beef markets and to ensure that the economic parameters being used in the calculation of the selection indexes reflected the current costs and returns of a commercial beef enterprise. More detailed information on the selection indexes that are calculated for Simmental animals are available by clicking here. Revisions to Shorthorn Selection Indexes December 2011 Recently a considerable amount of feedback has been received from Shorthorn Beef members in relation to the industry relevance of the SB3 Carcase Selection Index. The Technical Directors for Shorthorn Beef have carefully considered all the feedback received and as a result the SB3 Carcase Selection Index will be “switched off” (i.e. no longer generated or published) from the upcoming Summer 2011 GROUP BREEDPLAN analysis. Please note that the Export Maternal and Heavy Domestic Selection Indexes have not changed and will continue to be calculated and published. For further information, please contact Christian Duff, Shorthorn SBTS Technical Officer P: 02 6773 2472 E: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it or Ian McDouall, Shorthorn Beef Technical Director. Live Export Selection Index Released for Brahman November 2011 The Australian Brahman Breeders Association has released a new "Live Export" selection index as part of the November 2011 Brahman GROUP BREEDPLAN analysis. The existing "Jap Ox" selection index has remained unchanged. More detailed information regarding the new "Live Export" selection index calculated for Brahman animals is outlined in the Interpreting Australian Brahman Selection Index tip sheet. Upgrades made to Droughtmaster BREEDPLAN November 2011 The Droughtmaster Stud Breeders Society of Australia (DSBS) has upgraded the software used to manage the Droughtmaster pedigree and performance database and is now using ABRI's new generation of breed registry software known as ILR2. The change in software will have no effect on the EBVs that are calculated on Droughtmaster animals however the new ILR2 system does include several new features. These include the running of monthly GROUP BREEDPLAN analyses and production of enhanced BREEDPLAN reports. By undertaking this upgrade, the DSBS joins Australian Red Angus, Charolais, Brahman, Angus, Brangus, Santa Gertrudis & Limousin in using the ILR2 software. For further information, please contact Sam Barr at Droughtmaster BREEDPLAN on (02) 6773 3032. Updated Information for Small Herds October 2011 The tip sheet "Small Herds - Obtaining Effective Results from BREEDPLAN" has been updated. The tip sheet discusses the collection of effective performance information and provides an overview of the steps that small herds can take in order to ensure that they ontain effective results from BREEDPLAN. The tip sheet is available from "Technical" page or by clicking on the link below. Small Herds - Obtaining Effective Results from BREEDPLAN Brangus Release Selection Indexes October 2011 The Australian Brangus Cattle Association (ABCA) has announced that two selection indexes will now be calculated for Brangus animals. The selection indexes will be titled Domestic Steer and Export Steer. More detailed information on the Brangus selection indexes is available by clicking here. New Genetic Parameters Included in Limousin BREEDPLAN September 2011 The genetic parameters and adjustment factors utilised within the Limousin GROUP BREEDPLAN analysis have been re-estimated by the Animal Genetics & Breeding Unit (AGBU). The genetic parameters include the heritability of each trait and the correlations between the different traits. The adjustment factors are the adjustments that are made to the performance records to remove the non-genetic effects of age and age of dam. These new genetic parameters and adjustment factors will influence the EBVs that are calculated for all animals from the September 2011 Limousin GROUP BREEDPLAN analysis onwards. For some traits the effect will be minimal but for other traits the effect may be significant. Accuracies of EBVs will also be affected, due to changes in trait heritabilities and the revised influence of correlated traits. For further information, please contact Alex McDonald on (02) 6771 1648. Upgrades made to Limousin BREEDPLAN August 2011 The Australian Limousin Breeders Society has upgraded the software used to manage the Limousin pedigree and performance database and is now using ABRI's new generation of breed registry software known as ILR2. The change in software will have no effect on the EBVs that are calculated on Limousin animals however the new ILR2 system does include several new features. These include the running of monthly GROUP BREEDPLAN analyses and production of enhanced BREEDPLAN reports. By undertaking this upgrade, the ALBS joins Australian Red Angus, Charolais, Brahman, Angus, Brangus & Santa Gertrudis in using the ILR2 software. For further information, please contact Louise Lawrence at Limousin BREEDPLAN on (02) 6773 4093. Inaugural TransTasman Devon GROUP BREEDPLAN Analysis, May 2011 For the first time, the Devon GROUP BREEDPLAN evaluation involves the analysis of the performance data from the separate databases of the Devon Cattle Breeders Society of Australia (including data from several American herds) and the New Zealand Red Devon Cattle Breeders Association. Subsequently, the GROUP BREEDPLAN EBVs calculated in this analysis allow for the direct comparison of Australian, New Zealand and American Devon animals. In addition to the inclusion of the New Zealand Devon animals, a number of other enhancements have also been made to the Devon evaluation. Complete details of the enhancements that have been implemented are available by clicking here. A Leap Forward in Genomic Enhanced BREEDPLAN EBVs, April 2011 In a first for the Australian beef industry, the BREEDPLAN analysis is now able to incorporate genomic (i.e. DNA) information for multiple traits developed from a large 50K SNP panel. This was introduced in the April 2011 Angus GROUP BREEDPLAN analysis and was based on Molecular Value Predications (MVPs) from the Pfizer Animal Genetics (PAG) Angus 50K product. To read more, click here. New BREEDPLAN Staff 2011 BREEDPLAN has welcomed 3 new staff members to the pedigree and performance team. The 3 new staff, Louise Lawrence, Jake Phillips and Aaron McMillan, join the team in the role of BREEDPLAN consultant and will each be responsible for processing performance information and providing associated support to BREEDPLAN members. Aaron will also be employed within the BREEDPLAN Technical team. To meet our new staff members, please click the following links : Jake, Louise, Aaron With the addition of Louise and Jack to the BREEDPLAN team, the staff member responsible for the receival and processing of performance information for several breeds in Australia has changed. An updated list of staff contacts is available by clicking here. Northern Terminal Selection Index Developed for Charolais March 2011 The Charolais Society of Australia has developed a new "Northern Terminal" selection index. This index will be implemented in the March 2011 Charolais GROUP BREEDPLAN analysis and will replace the Live Export Index. Both the Domestic and Export Indexes have remained unchanged. More detailed information is available by clicking here. General information regarding the selection indexes calculated for Charolais animals is also outlined in the Interpreting Australian Charolais Selection Index tip sheet. Upgrades made to Santa Gertrudis BREEDPLAN February 2011 The Santa Gertrudis Breeders (Aust) Association has upgraded the software used to manage the Santa Gertrudis pedigree and performance database and is now using ABRI's new generation of breed registry software known as ILR2. The change in software will have no effect on the EBVs that are calculated on Santa Gertrudis animals however the new ILR2 system does include several new features. These include the running of monthly GROUP BREEDPLAN analyses and production of enhanced BREEDPLAN reports. By undertaking this upgrade, the SGB(A)A joins Australian Red Angus, Charolais, Brahman, Angus & Brangus in using the ILR2 software. For further information, please contact Damian Coffey at Santa Gertrudis BREEDPLAN on (02) 6773 2714. BREEDPLAN Fees Revised January 2011 As of January 1st 2011, the fees for participation in BREEDPLAN have been revised. Updated fee schedules for each breed are now available from the Breed Specific Documents page in the Technical area of this website. Please contact staff at BREEDPLAN if you have any queries regarding the revised BREEDPLAN fees for your breed. Upgrades made to Brangus BREEDPLAN December 2010 The Australian Brangus Cattle Association (ABCA) has upgraded the software used to manage the Brangus pedigree and performance database and is now using ABRI's new generation of breed registry software known as ILR2. The change in software will have no effect on the EBVs that are calculated on Brangus animals however the new ILR2 system does include several new features. These include the running of monthly GROUP BREEDPLAN analyses and production of enhanced BREEDPLAN reports. By undertaking this upgrade, the ABCA joins Australian Red Angus, Charolais, Brahman & Angus in using the ILR2 software. For further information, please contact Samantha Barr at Brangus BREEDPLAN on (02) 6773 3032. Collection of Date of Weaning Information December 2010 The Animal Genetics & Breeding Unit (AGBU) have recently requested that members of BREEDPLAN record date of weaning information when submitting performance to ABRI to assist with the further development and enhancement of the BREEDPLAN genetic evalaution system. For further information, please click here. BREEDPLAN Analytical Enhancements November 2010 A number of enhancements will be implemented to the BREEDPLAN software that is used to calculate EBVs for Red Angus animals within the November 2010 Red Angus GROUP BREEDPLAN analysis. These enhancements will all result in the calculation of improved BREEDPLAN EBVs and are part of the normal evolution of the BREEDPLAN software. Complete details of the enhancements that will be implemented are available by clicking here. Changes in BREEDPLAN staff responsibilities October 2010 With the recent addition of several new staff members to the pedigree and performance team, the staff member responsible for the receival and processing of performance information for each breed in Australia has changed. An updated list of staff contacts is available by clicking here. New BREEDPLAN Staff September 2010 BREEDPLAN has welcomed 2 new staff members to the pedigree and performance team. The 2 new staff, Khusro Mohammad and Becky Fenton, join the team in the role of BREEDPLAN consultant and will each be responsible for processing performance information and providing associated support to BREEDPLAN members. To meet our new staff members, please click here. Angus Trial Structural Soundness EBVs released March 2010 Angus Australia (AA) has released Trial EBVs for Structural Soundness. The EBVs have initially been produced for five leg and feet traits - Front Feet Angle, Rear Feet Angle, Front Feet Claw Set, Rear Leg Hind View, Rear Leg Side View. The Trial EBVs are available from the EBV Enquiry facility for animals that have been assessed by an accredited assessor and have EBVs with an accuracy of 40% or more. Further information regarding the Trial Structural Soundness EBVs is available by clicking on the links below. Understanding Trial Structural Soundness EBVs BREEDPLAN welcomes new staff March 2010 BREEDPLAN has welcomed 2 new staff members to the pedigree and performance team. The 2 new staff, Alice Schmidt and Samantha Barr, join the team in the role of BREEDPLAN consultant and will each be responsible for processing performance information and providing associated support to BREEDPLAN members. To meet our new staff members, please click here. Enhancements to Calving Ease Analysis March 2010 Enhancements have been made to the Calving Ease analysis that is conducted by BREEDPLAN. This will particularly effect the genetic evaluation that is conducted for breeds where both Calving Ease EBVs and Selection Index values are calculated. For further information, please click here. South Devon Release Selection Indexes March 2010 The South Devon Cattle Society of Australia (SDCSA) has announced that three selection indexes will now be calculated for South Devon animals. The selection indexes will be titled Vealer, Supermarket, and Export Maternal. More detailed information on the South Devon selection indexes is available by clicking here. Upgrades made to Angus BREEDPLAN February 2010 Angus Australia (AA) has upgraded the software used to manage the Angus pedigree and performance database and is now using ABRI's new generation of breed registry software known as ILR2. The change in software will have no effect on the EBVs that are calculated on Angus animals however the new ILR2 system does include several new features. These include the running of monthly GROUP BREEDPLAN analyses and production of enhanced BREEDPLAN reports. By undertaking this upgrade, AA joins Australian Red Angus, Charolais & Brahman in using the ILR2 software. For further information, please contact Jenna Taylor at Angus BREEDPLAN on (02) 6773 2244. BREEDPLAN Fees Revised January 2010 As of January 1st 2010, the fees for participation in BREEDPLAN have been revised. Updated fee schedules for each breed are now available from the Breed Specific Documents page in the Technical area of this website. Please contact staff at BREEDPLAN if you have any queries regarding the revised BREEDPLAN fees for your breed. Analytical Enhancements to Murray Grey BREEDPLAN December 2009 The 2010 Summer Murray Grey GROUP BREEDPLAN analysis implemented a revised strategy for analysing the performance from embryo transfer (ET) calves. Historically, the performance of ET calves was only directly compared within the same contemporary group to other eligible embryo transfer calves that had been reared by recipient dams of the same breed. Enhancements have now been made so that the performance for all eligible embryo transfer calves is directly compared within the same contemporary group, with adjustments being made to the performance for any differences in the breed of the recipient dam. This revised strategy will result in the improved calculation of EBVs for ET calves. For further information, please contact Andrew Byrne at SBTS on (02) 6773 3357. Shorthorn Selection Indexes Revised December 2009 Shorthorn Beef have made revisions to the selection indexes that are calculated for Shorthorn animals. The revised selection indexes were implemented in the Summer 2010 Shorthorn GROUP BREEDPLAN analysis. The revised Export Maternal and SB3 Carcase selection indexes have retained a similar market end point and production system to the previous indexes; however the parameters driving these indexes have been revised to reflect the industry trend towards shorter lot-fed feeding programs. A new Selection Index has also been developed to replace the Domestic Supermarket and Domestic Restaurant Indexes. This is the Heavy Domestic Index and is based on a self replacing herd producing pasture grown and finished steers for the domestic trade. More detailed information on the revised Shorthorn selection indexes is available by clicking here. New Charolais GROUP BREEDPLAN logo November 2009 The Charolais Society of Australia has developed a new Charolais GROUP BREEDPLAN logo. Members should ensure that any advertisements, sale catalogues, websites etc. are updated with the new logo. An electronic copy of the new Charolais GROUP BREEDPLAN logo can be accessed by clicking here or by contacting Keryn Hutton at Charolais BREEDPLAN on (02) 6773 3059. Upgrades made to Brahman BREEDPLAN November 2009 The Australian Brahman Breeders Association (ABBA) has upgraded the software used to manage the Brahman pedigree and performance database and is now using ABRI's new generation of breed registry software known as ILR2. The change in software will have no effect on the EBVs that are calculated on Brahman animals however the new ILR2 system does include several new features. These include the running of monthly GROUP BREEDPLAN analyses and production of enhanced BREEDPLAN reports. By undertaking this upgrade, ABBA joins Australian Red Angus & Charolais in using the ILR2 software. For further information, please contact Jenna Taylor at Brahman BREEDPLAN on (02) 6773 2244. Removal of Multibreed EBV Adjustment Table November 2009 As a result of recent changes that have been made to the BREEDPLAN analytical software, coupled with the updating of both the genetic parameters and genetic base within the GROUP BREEDPLAN analysis for several breeds, the Multibreed EBV adjustment table is no longer applicable and consequently, should no longer be used. The Multibreed EBV adjustment table was developed in 2003 and enabled producers to adjust Hereford, Angus, Simmental and Limousin EBVs to make them comparable across breeds. For further information, please contact staff at BREEDPLAN. BREEDPLAN Analytical Enhancements November 2009 A number of enhancements will be implemented to the BREEDPLAN software that is used to calculate EBVs for Hereford animals within the 2010 Summer Hereford GROUP BREEDPLAN analysis. These enhancements will all result in the calculation of improved BREEDPLAN EBVs and are part of the normal evolution of the BREEDPLAN software. Complete details of the enhancements that will be implemented are available by clicking here. Charolais Releases Revised Selection Indexes October 2009 The Charolais Society of Australia (CSA) have released a new selection index in association with the results from the October 2009 Charolais GROUP BREEDPLAN analysis. The new selection index will be titled the Live Export selection index. The existing Domestic and Export selection indexes have also been updated to ensure that they are appropriate for current beef markets and that the economic parameters being used in the calculation of the selection indexes reflect the current costs and returns of a commercial beef enterprise More detailed information on the selection indexes that are calculated for Charolais animals are available by clicking here. Revisions to Days to Calving EBV October 2009 As part of the ongoing research and development of BREEDPLAN, the information that is required for the calculation of the Days to Calving EBV has recently been reviewed by the Animal Genetics & Breeding Unit (AGBU). Resulting from this review, there have been significant modifications made to a) the information that needs to be submitted by members interested in having Days to Calving EBVs calculated for their animals, and b) the methods that should be used to submit this information for inclusion in the Days to Calving analysis. Further information on the information that is now required for Days to Calving is available by clicking on the link below. Understanding Days to Calving EBVs New HerdMASTER Tip Sheets Available October 2009 A range of new tip sheets have been developed for members that use HerdMASTER as their herd recording program. The tip sheets have been specifically developed to provide members with assistance in the use of HerdMASTER for their BREEDPLAN recording. The new tip sheets are available from the technical area on the BREEDPLAN website (click here). Alternatively, paper copies of the tip sheet can be requested from the BREEDPLAN office. Wagyu GROUP BREEDPLAN Analysis September 2009 The first GROUP BREEDPLAN analysis for the Wagyu breed in Australia has been completed. The GROUP BREEDPLAN analysis included performance information from 27 different Wagyu herds, with 4,145 sires and 38,487 dams represented. GROUP BREEDPLAN EBVs for Wagyu animals are now available via the EBV Enquiry facility on the Australian Wagyu Association website (alternatively, click on Database Search from the menu at the top of the BREEDPLAN website). Herds that participated in the GROUP BREEDPLAN analysis have also been sent reports containing the GROUP EBVs for their animals. For further information regarding the Wagyu GROUP BREEDPLAN analysis, please contact Michael Beattie on (02) 6773 3355. Upgrades made to Charolais BREEDPLAN August 2009 The Charolais Society of Australia have upgraded the software used to manage the Charolais pedigree and performance database and is now using ABRI's new generation of breed registry software known as ILR2. The change in software will have no effect on the EBVs that are calculated on Charolais animals however the new ILR2 system does include several new features. These include the running of monthly GROUP BREEDPLAN analyses and production of enhanced BREEDPLAN reports. For further information, please contact Keryn Hutton at Charolais BREEDPLAN on (02) 6773 3059. New Calving Ease EBVs for Gelbvieh July 2009 The upcoming 2009 Gelbvieh GROUP BREEDPLAN analysis will include, for the first time, the calculation of Calving Ease Estimated Breeding Values (EBVs). Gelbvieh animals that meet minimum accuracy thresholds will now have Calving Ease Direct and/or Calving Ease Daughters EBVs displayed in BREEDPLAN Herd Reports and on the Gelbvieh Internet Solutions facility. Further information is available by clicking on the link below. Calculation of Calving Ease EBVs for Gelbvieh Calculating Inbreeding with Enhanced Mating Predictor May 2009 The mating predictor facility available within the Internet Solutions package now has the extra capability to calculate the expected level of inbreeding in the progeny from a specified mating. This enables members to carefully analyse and monitor the level of inbreeding that exists within their animals. Initially the "enhanced mating predictor" has only been made available within the internet solutions package offered by the Blonde d'Aquitaine Society of Australia and New Zealand, but will now progressively become available in other breeds as these Breed Societies choose to adopt this new facility. More complete details regarding the calculation of inbreeding levels using the enhanced mating predictor are available by clicking on the link below. Calculating Inbreeding with Enhanced Mating Predictor (2.5 MB) BREEDPLAN Analytical Enhancements April 2009 A number of enhancements have been implemented to the BREEDPLAN software that is utilised by Blonde d'Aquitaine, Devon, Red Poll and Blonde d'Aquitaine (Australia and New Zealand only) in April 2009. These enhancements are similar to the enhancements implemented previously for Angus, Murray Grey, Shorthorn, Simmental, Charolais and South Devon. The enhancements will all result in the calculation of improved BREEDPLAN EBVs and are part of the normal evolution of the BREEDPLAN software. Complete details of the enhancements that have been implemented within each breed are available by clicking on the links below. Blonde d'Aquitaine BREEDPLAN News April 2009 The latest edition of BREEDPLAN News is now available for download. BREEDPLAN News is an annual publication produced by ABRI which updates members on the latest developments regarding BREEDPLAN and related genetic technologies. The April 2009 edition contains comprehensive information of topics such as the development of Marker Assisted EBVs, TakeStock, GeneProb, the new Inbreeding Calculator, Trial Structural Soundness EBVs & Trial Flight Time EBVs, an update on the coordinated national extension programs within Australia, and an overview of the adoption of BREEDPLAN around the world. To download the April 2009 edition of BREEDPLAN News, please click here. New Structural Soundness Tip Sheet Available April 2009 In association with the development of Trial Structural Soundness EBVs by the Animal Genetics & Breeding Unit (AGBU) in Armidale, a new tip sheet is now available. The tip sheet provide an overview of the the new Trial Structural Soundness EBVs and information on recording structural score details on animals for inclusion in the calculation of Trial Structural Soundness EBVs. The tip sheet is available from "Technical" page or by clicking on the link below. Understanding Trial Structural Soundness EBVs Two Breeds Sign on with BREEDPLAN March 2009 Both the Mandalong Specials Cattle Association of Australia and the Australian Speckle Park Association have joined the long list of Australian breeds that will be conducting a genetic evalaution with BREEDPLAN. Initially, Mandalong Specials and Speckle Park members will be able to access a Within Herd BREEDPLAN analysis for their herd. Once sufficient pedigree and performance data has been recorded, the feasibility of conducting a GROUP BREEDPLAN analysis for these breeds will be investigated. BREEDPLAN wishes to extend a warm welcome to both organisations and looks forward to providing a comprehensive genetic evaluation service to their members. For further information about either Mandalong Specials BREEDPLAN or Speckle Park BREEDPLAN, please contact Keryn Hutton at BREEDPLAN on (02) 6773 3059. BREEDPLAN Analytical Enhancements February 2009 A number of enhancements have been implemented to the BREEDPLAN software that is utilised by Charolais and South Devon (Australia and New Zealand only) in February 2009. These enhancements are similar to the enhancements implemented in December 2008 for Angus, Murray Grey, Shorthorn & Simmental. The enhancements will all result in the calculation of improved BREEDPLAN EBVs and are part of the normal evolution of the BREEDPLAN software. Complete details of the enhancements that have been implemented within each breed are available by clicking on the links below. BREEDPLAN welcomes new staff members January 2009 On January 12th, BREEDPLAN welcomed 3 new staff members to the pedigree and performance team. The 3 new staff, Keryn Hutton, Ashlee Austin and Jenna Taylor, join the team in the role of BREEDPLAN consultant and will each be responsible for processing performance information and providing associated support to BREEDPLAN members. To meet our new staff members, please click here. BREEDPLAN Fees Revised January 2009 As of January 1st 2009, the fees for participation in BREEDPLAN have been revised. Updated fee schedules for each breed are now available from the Breed Specific Documents page in the Technical area of this website. Please contact staff at BREEDPLAN if you have any queries regarding the revised BREEDPLAN fees for your breed. New Flight Time Tip Sheets Available December 2008 In association with the development of Trial Flight Time EBVs for Australian Santa Gertrudis and Brahman animals, two new tip sheets are now available. The tip sheets provide an overview of the the new Trial Flight Time EBVs and information on recording flight time measurements on animals for inclusion in the calculation of Trial Flight Time EBVs. The tip sheets are available from "Technical" page or by clicking on the links below. Understanding Trial Flight Time EBVs BREEDPLAN Analytical Enhancements December 2008 A number of enhancements have been implemented to the BREEDPLAN software that is utilised by several Australian and New Zealand Breed Societies in December 2008. These enhancements will all result in the calculation of improved BREEDPLAN EBVs and are part of the normal evolution of the BREEDPLAN software. Complete details of the enhancements that have been implemented within each breed are available by clicking on the links below. Angus Murray Grey Releases New Selection Index December 2008 The Murray Grey Beef Cattle Society (MGBCS) this week announced that a new selection index will be produced for Murray Grey animals. The new selection index will be titled the Heavy Grass Fed selection index and will join the existing Supermarket and Long Fed selection indexes that are currently produced by the Murray Grey Beef Cattle Society. More detailed information on the selection indexes that are calculated for Murray Grey animals are available by clicking here. Revised Angus Selection Indexes December 2008 A revised set of selection indexes are now available on Angus animals following the completion of the January 2009 Angus GROUP BREEDPLAN analysis. The revised selection indexes were a result of a comprehensive review that had been completed by Angus Australia to evaluate whether the existing Angus Selection Indexes were appropriate for current beef markets and to ensure that the economic parameters being used in the calculation of the selection indexes reflected the current costs and returns of a commercial beef enterprise. More detailed information on the selection indexes that are calculated for Angus animals are available by clicking here. Trial Shear Force EBVs Released October 2008 Trial Shear Force EBVMs (formerly known as Trial Tenderness EBVMs) were released for the Australian Brahman Breeders Association at Brahman Week in early October. The Trial Shear Force EBVMs were produced for a total of 22052 Brahman animals. These were the first EBVs released in Australia that combined pedigree and performance information with gene marker information when calculating the EBVs. Three different sources of information were used when calculating the Trial Shear Force EBVMs. The first source of information was shear force measurements, an objective measure of meat tenderness. To measure shear force, meat samples are collected from the carcase of an animal and the amount of force required to pull a mechanical blade through the meat is measured in a laboratory. The second source of information was the gene markers for tenderness, while the last source of information was flight time measurements. Flight time is the time taken for an animal to travel approximately 2.0 metres after exiting the crush, as measured by two light beams. While not a direct measure of tenderness, tropically adapted cattle with slower flight time (ie. better temperament) have been shown to have more tender beef. Further information on the Trial Shear Force EBVMs is available in the Technical area of the BREEDPLAN website (click here) and on the AGBU website (click here). SmartGene for Beef Results Released August 2008 The results from the SmartGene for Beef project were released in August 2008 at a seminar in Brisbane. The SmartGene for Beef project was a collaborative R&D project between Catapult Genetics, Beef Genetic Technologies CRC, the Animal Genetics and Breeding Unit (AGBU), the Agricultural Business Research Institute (ABRI), Meat and Livestock Australia (MLA), Cornell University and Breedlink Pty Ltd. The Queensland Government also provided co-funding. The major objective of the SmartGene for Beef project was to enhance the accuracy of BREEDPLAN Estimated Breeding Values (EBVs) by developing the methodology to incorporate gene marker information from DNA tests into the calculation of the EBVs. As part of this objective, SmartGene for Beef also evaluated the relationship between the 12 gene markers available from Catapult Genetics for tenderness, marbling and feed efficiency and the observed performance of animals within the CRCI & CRCII projects, plus the Durham Shorthorn and Angus Progeny Test programs. Complete results of the SmartGene for Beef project are available from the AGBU website (click here). Red Angus Release Selection Indexes August 2008 The Red Angus Society of Australia has announced that three selection indexes will now be calculated for Red Angus animals. The selection indexes will be titled Supermarket, Vealer and Northern Steer More detailed information on the Red Angus selection indexes is available by clicking here. Additional GROUP BREEDPLAN Analyses for Hereford and Santa Gertrudis Both Herefords Australia and the Santa Gertrudis Breeders (Aust) Association will now conduct an additional GROUP BREEDPLAN analysis each year. The additional GROUP BREEDPLAN analysis for Hereford will be conducted in August, bringing the total number of GROUP BREEDPLAN analyses conducted annually for Hereford to 4, whereas the additional GROUP BREEDPLAN analysis for Santa Gertrudis will be conducted in February, bringing the total number of GROUP BREEDPLAN analyses conducted annually for Santa Gertrudis to 2. Belmonts Release Selection Indexes July 2008 Belmont Australia has announced that two selection indexes will now be calculated on Belmont animals. The selection indexes will be titled Domestic Steer and Export Steer. More detailed information on the Belmont selection indexes is available by clicking here. |