i) to design and implement a PC-based system of capturing research data on beef cattle and buffalo breeding programs undertaken by the DLD and use this system to create a computerised database of the last 15 years of breeding and performance records taken on DLD breeding centres and stations on an individual centre/station basis.

ii) to transfer the records from the PC databases to a central database on a modern mini-computer from Digital Equipment Corporation to be installed for the project at DLD's headquarters in Bangkok. (This computer has sufficient power to allow Australian geneticists and Australian-trained Thai scientists to conduct detailed analyses of the database to estimate heritability, genetic and phenotypic variances for the beef cattle and buffalo run in DLD's nucleus herds).

iii) to research the data to assess the nature and extent of genotype (sire) x environment interactions and their importance to the future genetic improvement of the Thai herds.

iv) to extend the research to the enhancement of BREEDPLAN for Thai beef and buffalo industries (including the appropriate treatment of female live weights and linear measurements for which there are not equivalent measurements taken in other countries using BREEDPLAN) and thus develop BLUP-based genetic evaluation procedures for the two species in Thailand.

v) to use Thai BREEDPLAN to identify superior animals and assist DLD officers to develop appropriate strategies for maximising the dissemination of the genetics of superior animals.

vi) to assist the DLD to modify their on-centre breeding programs in order to minimise the confounding effects between sires, management and environment and to maximise the value of the data being collected.

vii) to train Thai scientists and technicians in all the relevant techniques for implementing an advanced genetic improvement program to the beef and buffalo programs of Thailand.

viii) to undertake research on the correlation between linear measures and weights of calves in order to develop and test a simple performance evaluation system on village farms which do not have access to scales.

ix) to provide DLD scientists with evaluation techniques which can be applied to native cattle.

Objectives of the extension are:

x) To develop sufficient experience in Thailand for the ongoing operation of a national system of genetic improvement of beef cattle and buffalo, to be achieved by:
a) Providing a field visit in Thailand every quarter for the duration of the extension by an experienced member of the Australian team,
b) Providing intensive training of a second computer systems manager and a person to support Herd Magic for data capture,
c) Formal involvement of Thai universities in the project to strengthen the genetic research capacity within Thailand,
d) Running a national workshop in the design of beef cattle breeding programs and applying these principles to the Thai breeding programs.

xi) Achieving genetic linkage between the Thai and Australian Brahman cattle populations.

xii) Holding a regional workshop on the implementation of national livestock improvement programs so that other countries can benefit from the experience of the Thai project.

xiii) To seek support from the Thai Research Fund for genetic research for this project and others in Thailand.