A number of enhancements have been implemented for Brahman breeders across southern Africa following the release of the joint July 2024 Brahman BREEDPLAN analysis for Namibia, South Africa and Zimbabwe. These include:

1. Release of three new Selection Indexes

Going forward, Brahman breeders across southern Africa will all have access to the same three selection indexes. These selection indexes are the:

• Rangeland Grazing Index
• Wean Index
• Feedlot Index

The three new selection indexes were developed by representatives from the Brahman Cattle Breeders Society of Namibia and the Brahman Cattle Breeders Society of South Africa in conjunction with staff from the Agricultural Business Research Institute (ABRI) in Australia.

Further information about these new selection indexes is available from the Help Centre on the BREEDPLAN website here.

2. Publication of four new EBVs for Zimbabwe Brahman breeders

Brahman breeders recording with the Zimbabwe Herd Book now have access to four new BREEDPLAN EBVs. These are Days to Calving, Docility, Net Feed Intake (Post Weaning) and Net Feed Intake (Feedlot Finishing). This brings the BREEDPLAN EBVs reported for Zimbabwe Brahman breeders in line with those already reported for the Brahman Cattle Breeders Societies of Namibia and South Africa in the same analysis.

Further information on the new BREEDPLAN EBVs can be found below:

• Days to Calving EBVs are estimates of genetic differences between animals in the time from the start of the joining period under natural matinguntil subsequent calving. Days to Calving EBVs are expressed in days, with a more negative EBV being more favourable. A shorter time from the start of mating to calving is mostly indicative of a shorter time to conception. These EBVs are calculated from the natural joining records submitted for both heifers and mature cows. More information on Days to Calving EBVs can be found in the Help Centre on the BREEDPLAN website here.  
• Docility EBVs are estimates of genetic differences between animals in temperament. Docility EBVs are expressed as differences in the percentage of progeny that will be scored with an acceptable temperament (i.e. either ‘docile’ or ‘restless’). Higher, more positive Docility EBVs are more favourable. More information on Docility EBVs can be found in the Help Centre on the BREEDPLAN website here.
• Net Feed Intake (Post Weaning) EBVs are estimates of genetic differences between animals in feed intake at a standard weight and rate of weight gain when animals are in a growing phase. For example, animals placed in a feedlot post weaning.  NFI-P EBVs are expressed as kilograms of feed intake per day (kg/day). Lower, or more negative, NFI-P EBVs are more favourable. More information on NFI-P EBVs can be found in the Help Centre on the BREEDPLAN website here.
• Net Feed Intake (Feedlot Finishing) EBVs are estimates of genetic differences between animals in feed intake at a standard weight and rate of weight gain when animals are in a feedlot finishing phase. NFI-F EBVs are expressed as kilograms of feed intake per day (kg/day). Lower, or more negative, NFI-F EBVs are more favourable.  More information on NFI-F EBVs can be found in the Help Centre on the BREEDPLAN website here.