Breeding EDGE material finalisation

Summary

​The Breeding EDGE material finalization project was developed to update the technical content of the workshop, re-organise the reproduction and genetics workshop notes into appropriate modules on separate days, develop a new 10 module manual and develop participant workbook of activities to develop a Breeding Herd management plan and breeding objectives. 

The previous three day Breeding EDGE was primarily run as a genetic improvement and bull selection workshop. While there was a module on female reproduction, this required updating and improving. The module on breeder herd management was very limited with regard to management systems applicable to northern Australia.

The workshop has now been organised so it can be delivered as 2 days plus one day, 3 separate days or a 3-day Breeding EDGE workshop, allowing greater flexibility especially for those who can't be away from their property for more than 2 days, or are time poor. 

A pilot workshop was run with producers from a Belyando/Clermont producer group and others. Feedback from this workshop was used to further develop the new BE workshop.

The new breeding EDGE is different to the old breeding EDGE in that there is a greater focus on reproduction improvement of the breeder herd, including more detailed information on management systems, options and recommendations for breeding females and bulls.

• Female reproduction management is the focus of day 1.
• Bulls, reproductive diseases and the breeder herd management plan are the focus of day 2
• Genetic improvement is the focus of day 3.

Local vets are employed to deliver modules 4 (Bull reproduction and management) and module 5 (reproductive diseases and diseases affecting reproduction). While this increases the cost of running the workshop, there if an advantage of having local knowledge and personal contact.