Phase 2 – Hereford Information Nucleus & Young Sire progeny Test Project Final Report
Did you know, this report delivers complete details of the young sire evaluations and also provides an inventory of the phenotypic data collected and stored during the entire life of the project.
| Project start date: | 14 February 2016 |
| Project end date: | 29 October 2020 |
| Publication date: | 04 July 2022 |
| Project status: | Completed |
| Livestock species: | Grass-fed Cattle |
| Relevant regions: | National |
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Download Report
(1 MB)
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Summary
Herefords Australia has conducted an extensive audit of production and market specification performance of Hereford cattle across the feedlotting, pasture finishing and processing sectors of industry. Key areas for breed development have been identified and the strengths and weaknesses of currently available selection tools have been considered with a view to maximizing the benefits of existing and emerging technologies. Herefords Australia aims to address these issues through the establishment of an information nucleus that will contain verified pedigree data together with accurately collected and stored phenotypic information and stored DNA for cross-referencing with DNA markers and their validation as they are released onto the market by genomics companies at an ever increasing rate. The most effective way to create an information nucleus is by progeny testing young bulls where all male progeny are grown out and taken through to chiller and meat science lab assessment. This project is an extension of the initial Hereford BIN project (P.PSH.0502).
Objectives
To progeny test approximately 15 young Hereford sires each year cohort in co-operator herds. The design and size of the project has evolved throughout the project based on funding models and evolving technologies. Extensive data was collected on BIN animals for the following information.
• Birth information – date, weight, sex, calving difficulty, gestation length.
• Weaning information – date, weight, docility score
• Post Weaning information – 400 and 600 day weights, ultrasound scanning (EMA, IMF, P8 and Rib)
• Structural Soundness – feet angle, claw set and rear legs.
• Chiller assessment – carcase weight, fat depth, eye muscle area, marble score, pH, meat colour
• Meat science lab – shear force, compression, IMF%, cooking loss
• Feed efficiency
• DNA – parent verification and SNP genotyping
Key findings
A sizable dataset has accrued over the life of the project. In particular, the BIN project represents the Hereford’s primary data for key economic traits abattoir carcase, meat quality and feed efficiency. With BIN animals genotyped, they make a valuable contribution to the reference data for Hereford.
Benefits to industry
The outcomes of this project have significantly contributed to the Hereford reference population which has allowed Herefords to transition to a single step analysis that simultaneously utilises pedigree, phenotype and genomic information.
MLA action
MLA to continue to investigate the on-going development of reference populations for hard to measure and new/novel traits.
Future research
On-going development of the reference population for current and new traits.
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For more information Contact Project Manager: Peta Bradley |
