Have your say on KIDPLAN
10 March 2022
Key points:
- Two online surveys have been launched to allow goat producers to provide feedback on KIDPLAN
- All goat producers are encouraged to complete the 10–15 minute survey relevant to them
- Feedback from the surveys will help MLA make improvements to the system
- Complete the survey for commercial producers here, or complete the survey for seedstock breeders here.
Meat & Livestock Australia (MLA) have launched a series of online surveys to allow goat producers to provide feedback on KIDPLAN, the national breeding evaluation service for goat breeders and buyers.
KIDPLAN provides practical information on the value of an animal’s genes for production in the form of estimated breeding values (EBVs) and specialised indexes.
Users can search the database for specific traits or animals including bucks, does, and male and female progeny, and their EBVs.
Professor Louw Hoffman from The University of Queensland has developed the online surveys and he encourages all goat producers to complete the 10–15-minute survey relevant to them.
“The focus of the surveys is around the use of KIDPLAN. Feedback from the surveys will enable MLA to strategically see where it needs to focus to improve the system and encourage a higher uptake of users,” Professor Hoffman said.
There are two survey is divided into two parts, with the first component being a focused survey for seedstock/stud breeders who already use KIDPLAN, and the second component being a survey for producers and seedstock breeders who don’t use KIDPLAN.
“We want to find out why seedstock breeders aren’t using it, what data they collect, if they understand what KIDPLAN is about and if they understand EBVs,” Professor Hoffman said.
“For producers, among the feedback we’re looking for is what criteria they use when they buy a stud animal.”
Professor Hoffman said with the Australian goat industry at a crucial time in its development, it was important for as many producers as possible to provide feedback through the survey.
“The Australian goat industry is going through a transformation phase, from a harvest-based to managed industry,” he said.
“It’s a very extensive production system and a lot of goat producers don’t have a focused genetic improvement strategy yet.
“More and more goat producers are installing exclusion fencing and fencing in smaller paddocks so they can apply scientific livestock management principles such as selective breeding to goats.
“As a scientist, I’m excited to see how we can take technologies applicable to other livestock sectors and apply them to goats.”
The surveys can be completed online on desktop, tablet or mobile.
Complete the survey for commercial producers here, or complete the survey for seedstock breeders here.
