Page 13 - Hooked on Herefords Feb 2021

November 2020 Hereford BREEDPLAN

Calving Calving 200 400 600 Mat Eye Retail
Ease Ease Gestation Birth Day Day Day Cow Milk Maternal Scrotal Days to Carcase Muscle Rib Rump Beef IMF Hereford
DIR DTRS Length Wt. Wt. Wt. Wt. Wt (kg) Value Size Calving Wt Area Fat Fat Yield (%) Docility Prime
(%) (%) (days) (kg) (kg) (kg) (kg) (kg) (kg) (cm) (days) (kg) (sq cm) (mm) (mm) (%) ($)
+9.1 +6.9 -1.9 +3.0 +43 +92 +135 +128 +32 +27 +4.2 -2.3 +99 +6.2 +0.4 +0.3 +1.1 +1.7 -6 +$204
71% 43% 92% 94% 91% 91% 90% 84% 71% 76% 90% 55% 79% 69% 74% 78% 71% 78% 60%
+11.7 +10.6 -4.2 +0.7 +37 +64 +82 +47 +25 +22 +4.4 -8.3 +65 +3.6 +3.1 +3.7 -0.7 +2.4 -8 +$199
89% 71% 98% 98% 96% 97% 97% 92% 84% 86% 95% 69% 94% 91% 92% 94% 81% 93% 94%

internet solutions on the red drop down, ‘On Line Recent Developments in the BreedObject Software
Search’ menu and clicking on the index name to sort Like BREEDPLAN, research into improving the BreedObject
the animals or catalogue that you have selected. methodology is ongoing and recently a new version of the
iii. Consider the individual EBVs of importance. Selection BreedObject software has been made available by AGBU.
Indexes could be viewed as an initial drafting gate New developments in this version of the BreedObject
but it is important to look closer. Two bulls could have software include:
a similar $ index value but quite different EBVs. For • Improved modelling of young animal growth. This
example, one could have more growth and another includes:
bull might have more marbling. Which traits are » Separate modelling for each sex rather than
important to your breeding objectives. If you know assuming there is a fixed difference between them.
the EBVs of previous bulls you have bought you can » Revised modelling of feed requirements for
use this to help your decision making. If there is a young animals and how this change with body
particular part of your system that is letting you composition/stages of growth.
down then you need to focus on the EBVs effecting • Improved modelling of cow weight and condition
it directly. For example, if you are disappointed with score throughout the year. This includes:
pregnancy scanning, keep a close eye on the Days » More advanced modelling of cow weight, and
to Calving and Scrotal EBVs. If you are happy with subsequently feed requirements, at times of year
your growth rates but you are missing out on quality when feed is in short supply and/or expensive.
premiums then look at the IMF EBV. Typically in New Zealand, this is during the winter
iv. Consider other traits of importance that aren’t when grass growth slows or stops and cow feed
included in the genetic evaluation. Structure, bull requirements are increasing due to cold and
fertility, bull docility, genetic conditions and pedigree pregnancy.
are all important considerations in this step. » Inclusion of cow condition score and production
penalties for cows outside of optimum condition
The BreedObject System (e.g. too lean or too fat affecting milking ability
The Selection Indexes calculated by BREEDPLAN are and/or fertility).
generated using a software package called BreedObject. » Revised methodology for valuing cows when culled.
The BreedObject technology was developed by the Animal This allows for variation in sale weight and value
Genetics and Breeding Unit (AGBU), and the development between cows culled for various reasons (e.g. cast
process involves four major steps. These steps are: for age, reproductive failure, poor condition, etc.).
1. A detailed description of the input costs (e.g. feed) and • Enhanced modelling of carcase market specifications
value generation (e.g. sale animals) of the commercial and values.
herd and target market system. For New Zealand » This includes the ability to handle non-linear price
Hereford, some of these values were sourced from: structures like Beef Schedules that penalise both
a. A meeting with a group of NZ producers in 2019. too lean and too fat carcases, and/or those that
b. Past research including Beef & Lamb NZ progeny penalise under and overweight carcases.
tests. These developments have changed how EBVs are
c. Lincoln University Farm Budget Manual. valued in Selection Indexes. In particular, the enhanced
2. Once the target production systems have been modelling of cow weight increases the impact that total
described, the BreedObject software then evaluates cow feed costs (i.e. length of feeding + feed price + feed
how each trait influences profitability and the quality) have on the profitability of the represented
economic value of improving each trait. production systems. This means that the new software
3. The BreedObject software then assesses what can construct indexes that can be tailored to the different
emphasis needs to be applied to each EBV trait to production environments that are found across New
achieve the maximum profitability in the production Zealand where variation in cow feed costs exist.
system and market end point that index was designed
for. New Zealand Hereford Selection Indexes
4. The importance placed on each EBV results in the The updated selection indexes calculated for New Zealand
Index value that is calculated for each animal. Hereford animals are as follows and will be calculated in
the March group run:

Hooked on Herefords NZ Herefords Newsletter. February, 2021 | 13