GENETICS Not using bre Here’s what yo Welcome to this special genetics I f you’re not aggressively feature in Feedback. In the accelerating the the coming months you’ll see performance of increased MLA communications on the your herd or flock by value of red meat producers investing using better breeding in breeding values. values, you’re fighting Why? a losing battle. For one, there’s an inextricable link between That’s the message from genetics and profitability. Though not claimed Dr Rob Banks, Director to be a ‘silver bullet’, genetic improvement of the Animal Genetics can help address the key drivers of profit, and Breeding Unit at the including improved market compliance, eating University of New England. quality, fertility, reproduction and productivity. “It’s a message no producer Secondly, adoption of the use of breeding can afford to ignore,” values in Australia could be higher. We tend Rob said. to trust what we see. In the case of selecting “Constant genetic a good sire, it’s natural to go about this by improvement goes a visually appraising a bull or ram. But an long way to offsetting important step is to look beyond appearance the cost–price squeeze, to also ‘look under the hood’. This is what and complements the breeding values allows producers to do. productivity gains available Breeding values can tell producers about through pasture and the fertility of a sire’s daughters, the carcase animal management.” weights of his progeny and the likelihood of Many producers are tapping worm egg counts in his sons and daughters. into the benefits of better Of course, genetics on its own doesn’t genetics by buying bulls or guarantee a good outcome. Ensuring good rams from breeders using structural soundness and then providing good BREEDPLAN, LAMBPLAN nutrition and management are essential. or MERINOSELECT. important component of Producers who pursue the index but, to date, This feature gives you a taste of why genetic progress find few bull‑breeding herds incorporating breeding values into your sire themselves accelerating have had good data on it,” selection decision is worthwhile. the performance of their he said. Here, we talk to commercial producers about herds and flocks in such why they’ve adopted breeding values and the away that their initial “However, the research benefits it’s brought their business. investmentmore than and industry data for fertility paysfor itself now becoming available . If this feature has whet your appetite, we have underpins genomic plenty more for you to discover at MLA’s new “On average, the current Estimated Breeding Values, genetics hub: genetics.mla.com.au rate of genetic progress in and we’re seeing early British breeds is just over signs of a lift in the rate of Keep an eye out in upcoming editions of $4 per cow joined per year,” Feedback for more on the benefits of using genetic progress. There’s he said. lots of upside potential.” breeding values. Rob said for northern But there are still some Australia the rate of genetic commercial producers progress for the past five who aren’t harnessing the years has been $1 per cow power of good genetic Michael Crowley joined per year. traits – even when they’re General Manager, Producer Consultation and Adoption “The lower number in the widely available and north reflectsthe fact identified as essential to E: mcrowley@mla.com.au that fertility has been an sustained profitability. 2