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Participation in Angus GROUP BREEDPLAN

Index for this page (click on the link to "jump" to the relevant area)

• How much does it cost
• Angus GROUP BREEDPLAN Genetic evaluation report
• How does the performance recording system work?
• How much work is involved?
• What traits are included?
• Links with other herds.
• What is the minimum size herd that can enrol?
• Should I record calves from my top cows only?
• Who to contact for further information
• Comprehensive list of answers to Frequently Asked Questions

All Full Members or Junior Full Members of the Angus Society of Australia are eligible to participate in Angus GROUP BREEDPLAN. An enrolment form can be obtained from Angus Australia. On enrolment you will be sent information on how to submit performance data for inclusion in the program.

To be eligible for inclusion in the Angus GROUP BREEDPLAN animals must be registered with Angus Australia in either the Angus Herd Book (HBR), Red Angus Register (RAR), Angus Performance Register (APR), the Angus Commercial Register (ACR), the Angus Progeny Test Register (PTR) or the Multi-Breed Register (MBR).

HOW MUCH DOES IT COST ?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Top
For the most recent schedule of fees and charges click here. The fee is in addition to membership and herd inventory fees.

GROUP BREEDPLAN enrolment and applicable Herd Inventory fees cover the cost of recording all performance data on the current drop of calves – including all weight, carcase and fertility traits. The fees cover the total costs of data entry, analysis and provision of EBV reports for animals in your herd following each batch of data submitted. Historical data (e.g. from progeny recorded prior to the current calf drop) can also be included at a cost of $2.48 (includes GST) per animal (payable to ABRI). If error free data can be electronically entered from a compatible software program then the costs of including historical data can be reduced.

ANGUS GROUP BREEDPLAN GENETIC EVALUATION REPORT
An Angus GROUP BREEDPLAN Directory (Sire Summary) is produced once a year in January. This Directory includes detailed explanatory notes and EBV lists for proven sires (meeting a minimum EBV accuracy criteria) and selected young bulls in the breed. The Directory is circulated to all members and distributed widely throughout the industry. The Angus GROUP BREEDPLAN Directory is a major marketing and promotion document for Angus breeders.

HOW DOES THE PERFORMANCE RECORDING SYSTEM WORK ?
Angus GROUP BREEDPLAN involves a two stage recording system.

Stage One:
Pedigree and birth details, including calving ease and birth weight are recorded on the Angus Calf Record Forms and submitted directly to Angus Australia. All queries regarding pedigrees and recording on the Calf Record Form should be directed to the Registrar at Angus Australia.

Stage Two:
All later performance information (e.g. weights, ultrasound carcase scan data) is recorded by you on pre-printed Performance Recording forms. These forms are prepared and processed by staff at ABRI. All queries regarding submission of performance information and your Angus GROUP BREEDPLAN herd reports should be directed to ABRI.

HOW MUCH WORK IS INVOLVED? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Top
Very little extra work, over and above normal requirements for the registration of cattle is required for participation in Angus GROUP BREEDPLAN. The recording of birth weights and calving ease is optional, but strongly encouraged where feasible. All calves should be weighed at least once, at about 200 days of age. Their weights should be entered on a Performance Data Input Form and returned to ABRI. It is desirable to also weigh calves at about 400 and 600 days of age. Pregnant heifers should be noted as belonging to a separate management group once they are more than three months in calf.

If you and/or your customers are interested in carcase traits then you should consider hiring an accredited contract scanner to measure fat depth, eye muscle area and percentage intra-muscular fat on your animals. Click here for a list of names of accredited ultrasound scanning contractors.

Fertility EBVs can be obtained by providing details of mating dates on the Joining Data Input Form (for the calculation of Days to Calving EBVs) and the measurement of scrotal circumference on yearling bulls.

WHAT TRAITS ARE INCLUDED ? Click here for list. . . . . . . . . . . Top

LINKS WITH OTHER HERDS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Top
In order to obtain reliable EBV figures from Angus GROUP BREEDPLAN it is important that your herd has strong genetic links across years, management groups and with other herds participating in the program. These links are essential to enable the separation of the apparent genetic differences between animals from those simply due to differences in environmental factors.

Linkage is achieved through the use of AI sires that have also been used by several other herds and/or through the purchase of animals which have had progeny in other herds. In a herd with weak linkage the EBVs for particular animals may fluctuate over time relative to the EBVs for animals in other herds.

Where two or more members herds are managed and run as a single mob on the same property then they can be considered as a single herd in the GROUP BREEDPLAN analysis. This situation often occurs where members in the same family have a number of animals registered in their own name but the animals are actually managed and recorded together as a single herd. If you are in this situation then dicuss your options with Angus Australia.

WHAT IS THE MINIMUM SIZE HERD THAT CAN ENROL? . . . .. . . . . Top

There is no actual minimum size herd but to get effective results from your own records, you would need about 10 cows calving in a 12 week period. Small herds can increase the accuracy and effectiveness of their results by keeping their calving period as short as possible and by keeping the number of management groups to a minimum. For example, do not cut bull calves until after the first weighing has been recorded, and do not split the mob into sub-groups unless entirely necessary.

Where only one sire is used in a herd in any year, EBVs cannot be estimated for the sire, but will be estimated for the cows and calves.

Small herds can, however, contribute valuable information on AI sires to the GROUP BREEDPLAN analysis for their breed.

SHOULD I RECORD CALVES FROM MY TOP COWS ONLY?. . . . . . Top

NO! The accuracy of BREEDPLAN relies on building up a complete profile of performance records for the herd. Selective recording will deny you a true picture of what is happening in your herd, and will give you EBVs which are less accurate and of limited use in any breed genetic evaluation program.

Record the outcome of all matings, even if the calf was born dead or did not make it through to weaning. There is no charge for recording dead calves. This information will help you to receive better, more accurate EBVs for reproduction.

CAN RECORDS FROM PAST CALF DROPS BE USED? . . . . . . . . . . . . Top

YES! Past records, or back data as they are called, can be included and it is advisable to do so to build up the performance profile of your breeding herd more quickly.

In general, if you are starting to record with the current calf drop, it would be advisable to add records from the parents and grandparents of these calves. Even the pedigrees will help if there are no performance records on the calves. However, adding records from more distant ancestors will not increase the accuracy of the EBVs.

WHO TO CONTACT FOR FURTHER INFORMATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . Top

• Pedigree details and the registration of calves:
The Registrars: Eliza Newcombe, Rachael Hancock, Michelle Rotcher or Jessica Wright
Angus Australia
Phone 02 6772 3011
Fax: 02 6772 3095
Email

• On submission of performance data and issues relating to GROUP BREEDPLAN herd reports:
Angus GROUP BREEDPLAN
Agricultural Business Research Institute (ABRI)
Phone: 02 6773 3355 or 02 6773 3056
Fax: 02 6772 5376
Email

• On performance recording and use of Angus GROUP BREEDPLAN EBVs
Breed Development and Information Manager: Carel Teseling
Angus Australia
Phone: 02 6773 4602
Fax: 02 6772 3095
Email

Postal Address - Angus GROUP BREEDPLAN
Angus GROUP BREEDPLAN
ABRI
University of New England
Armidale NSW 2351