GENETICS TROPICAL CATTLE The basics of bull buying Tropical Beef Technology To help northern beef producers fine‑tune their approach to buying Services’ Tim Emery believes new geneticsand the bull buying process, Tim suggests: developing breeding 1. Developing breeding 4. The reproductive performance objectives for your business objectives and knowing what of dams can be investigated, is fundamental and can drive your traits are important for your along with genetic conditions genetic direction, productivity own operation. in some instances. and profitability. 2. Determine the selection 5. Talk at length with seedstock index and individual EBVs of producers and obtain data “When developing breeding objectives, most relevance to you. This prior to the sale – ask about it’s important to have a clear understanding involves knowing exactly their breeding objectives of how your herd is currently performing, what you want to use the and joining window, seek where you want to go, what markets you’re bulls for, e.g. using over BULLCHECK certificates and targeting and the environmental constraints heifers or cows, terminal ask about their vaccination, at play,” he said. use, producing replacement biosecurity and feeding “Having the objectives actually written down females or producing programs. can assist with having all those involved in progeny for a target market. 6. Go to the sale with a list the business on the same page. 3. Do your homework. Most of of bulls you are confident the genetics planning should in (based on EBVs and “And, just because you write them down once, take place in the office. Use BULLCHECK certificates) doesn’t mean they can’t change. Reviewing the BREEDPLAN website and then spend the majority and refining them over time with all parties to sort available options of your time assessing involved in the business is a key step.” based on selection index and temperament and structure. Tim (pictured) recommends focusing on individual EBVs relevant to Put a line through those that Estimated Breeding Values (EBVs) and your business.aren’t suitable.■ understanding what they mean and how they work. “EBVs are a free tool, they’re available for anyone to use and they can assist producers make an informed, objective decision about their future genetic direction,” he said. “They shouldn’t be used in isolation, but instead in conjunction with fertility, structural soundness and temperament.” Tim Emery E: tim.emery@tbts.une.edu.au breedplan.une.edu.au genetics.mla.com.au/tropical 5