Utilise modern science for cattle breeding

fokus
brahman
Utilise modern science
for cattle breeding
The utilisation of modern science, such as the value of genetic
improvement for economically important features, holds great
breeding advantages for cattle farmers.
T
he cattle industry
in Southern Africa
got used to oldfashioned growth
test indexes. The
big challenge lies
in convincing everybody to use estimated breeding
values (EBV), according to Dr
Michael Bradfield, head of
Breedplan South Africa.
The Brahman Cattle Breeders’ Society was Breedplan’s
first Southern African customer
when they came to South Africa
in 2001. The Namibia Brahman
Breeders Society (through the
Namibia Stud Breeders Society) became a member in 2013.
This enables both Societies to
combine their data for genetic
evaluation. It was a huge task
to import the data on the system
and educate cattle farmers on the
importance of principles such
as the genetic value of genetic
improvement for economically
important features and the lin-
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Landbouweekblad
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king of herds and contemporary
groups.
He says since 2001 a number
of events enabled the Brahman
breed to become a market leader in Southern Africa and even
internationally, namely:
The internet
The internet solution component,
through which members have free
access to member, pedigree and
performance data. The Brahman section already gets almost
600 000 visits per year.
Selection indexes
Standard selection indexes for
the Brahman, Simmentaler and
Simbra (indexes for other breeds
must still be developed). “These
indexes must not be confused
with the old-fashioned better or
weaker than 100 index points.
Economical indexes use all market-related figures, as well as modern breed values, to calculate
a Rand value for each animal.
www.Landbou.com 11 April 2014
Together with visual inspection
for structural defects, this is seen
as the modern breed method on
which to base selection,” says
Bradfield.
Every selection index was developed for a particular production/market scenario. Three economical values were developed
for the Brahman to provide an
economical value for each Brahman by using cutting-edge technology, namely graze, wean and
feedlot indexes. More information is available on the website
www.breedplan.co.za (click on
“Technical Documents”). Producers can also develop their
own breeding objectives (www.
breedobject.com).
The Brahman grazing index estimates the genetic differences
between animals in net profitability. For example, a commercial herd that produces its own
steers, with the focus on bulls for
the export markets. It is assumed
that bulls reared on grazing al-
Dr. Michael Bradfield
Photo: Charl van Rooyen
ready reach 500 kg live weight
or 250 kg carcass weight at 30
months of age. The index is also
suited for Brahman bulls used
on mixed cow breeds in Namibia
and South Africa.
The Brahman wean index estimates the genetic differences
between animals in net profitability per cow per year, but here
the focus is on weaner calves
to be sold after at least seven
months on grazing. The index
emphasises calving ease and
maternal traits and takes into
account that these animals are