ON FARM NATIONAL GENETICS h How to choose a sire when youcan’t Tune in to attenda sale select traitsMLA has launched a range of resources to help commercial T he impacts of COVID‑19 The videos are tailored for different beef and sheep producers mean many producers enterprises – tropical bulls, temperatetarget specific traits identified in may not be able to attend bulls, prime lamb rams and Merino rams.their breeding objectives when bull and ram sales this buying Topics for each include: buying bulls and rams. season – especially if they need • Getting started with breeding valuesNew videos explaining some to travel interstate. • Using breeding values to select of the most popular traits for for traits cattle and sheep are now live However, this doesn’t mean the quality on MLA’s online genetics hub, of sire selections needs to be impacted.• Using breeding values to find bulls or rams on genetic service websites genetics.mla.com.au. Bulls and rams are a mobile delivery including BREEDPLAN, LAMBPLAN The videos add to the genetics system for genes and accessing and MERINOSELECT hub’s one‑stop‑shop of tools and breeding values will provide information• Putting breeding values into resources, aimed at demystifying on the genetic merit of different sirespractice when shopping for a genetics and breeding values. on offer. high‑performing sire. ■ The videos detail the traits What can’t be seen in an animal is just producers can use to target their as important as what can be, and with Clara Bradford breeding objectives and select breeding values available pre‑sale, E: cbradford@mla.com.au sires to achieve those objectives. producers can do most of the research To access the how‑to videos and before a sale to identify the sires which Sheep producers: the videos for more information on how cover traits including animal are right for their business. genetics can accelerate your health and welfare, reproduction, Here are some tips to invest wisely herd’s or flock’s productivity, visitcarcase, growth and wool. in new genetics, even if you can’t genetics.mla.com.au head to a sale: Beef producers: traits covered For a guide to shopping for a include fertility and calving ease, 1.Use breeding values (Estimated high‑performingsire, visit carcase traits and growth rates. Breeding Values for cattle and mla.com.au/sire‑handy‑guide Australian Sheep Breeding Values for sheep) to filter the sale catalogue and shortlist sires which meet your breeding objectives. 2. Request photos, videos and additional information from breeders well before sale day to check physical elements of each sire on your shortlist, such as their structure and temperament. 3. Use this additional information to equip your agent (or whoever will be representing you at the sale) with your prioritised list of sires, taking into account the number of sires required and budget. Quick guides to get started with genetics To help producers get started with genetics, MLA’s genetics hub, genetics.mla.com.au, has free short videos on understanding breeding values, breeding objectives and indexes, which lead to choosing a sire for more productive and profitable results. 18