A NEW genomic testing suite designed specifically for commercial Hereford producers across Australia has been launched, providing beef producers with powerful new tools to make more informed breeding and marketing decisions.

Developed through a partnership and collaboration between Herefords Australia, the Agricultural Business Research Institute and Neogen, the GenSelect for Herefords product suite delivers genomic insights powered by the BreedPlan genetic evaluation system.

The GenSelect suite represents the first product of its kind on the market specifically designed for commercial Hereford producers in Australia and New Zealand, underpinned by real industry data.

Hannah Bourke

“In this era of genomic testing, we can deliver real tools to commercial Hereford producers that can have a positive impact on their bottom line,” Neogen spokesperson Hannah Bourke said.

By utilising the BreedPlan evaluation to analyse the genomic information, GenSelect provides producers with more accurate insights into the genetic potential of their cattle, helping to accelerate genetic gain and support more profitable and sustainable beef production systems, Ms Bourke said.

BreedPlan has been analysing cattle genetics for more than four decades and now evaluates millions of animals globally, underpinning breeding decisions across the beef industry.

“GenSelect gives commercial Hereford breeders a great tool to benchmark their herd and better understand where further improvements can be made,” Ms Bourke said.

“It aligns with Hereford BreedPlan, meaning users can now match their replacement heifer choices with bull purchase decisions.

“This is a really exciting piece of technology to be able to deliver to industry,” Herefords Australia chief executive Hamish Chandler said.

Three tools delivering practical insights

The GenSelect for Herefords package includes three products tailored to different stages of herd management and marketing decisions.

GenSelect Profile enables commercial Hereford producers to test a sample of 30 females to generate a snapshot of where their herd sits in relation to the wider industry. The results can be used to help inform breeding objectives, guide future breeding and selection decisions, and support more targeted bull purchasing strategies.

GenSelect Heifer provides genomic testing for individual Hereford females, delivering insights across 11 traits that are relevant to the beef supply chain. These results can help producers identify animals with greater genetic merit, support culling and selection decisions, and ultimately improve the rate of genetic gain within the herd.

GenSelect Steer is designed to assist commercial producers with marketing decisions by providing genomic information that can help determine the most suitable pathways for steers within the production system.

Driving informed decisions on-farm

The development of GenSelect reflected a growing demand from commercial producers for tools that deliver clear, science-based insights to support on-farm decision making, Neogen said.

By providing accessible genomic information powered by BreedPlan, GenSelect aims to reduce the guesswork in herd improvement and allow producers to benchmark their cattle against industry standards.

“For the first time, commercial Hereford producers have access to a genomic product suite backed by BreedPlan. The GenSelect product not only supports smarter selection and culling decisions, but also helps commercial Hereford producers better identify seedstock bulls that complement their herd – driving more consistent calves, faster genetic progress and stronger returns,” ABRI’s extension and engagement team leader Catriona Millen said.

Ultimately, the GenSelect for Herefords suite is designed to put more information and power into the hands of producers — helping them make informed breeding, selection and marketing decisions that improve herd performance and drive greater profitability and sustainability across the beef supply chain.

Source: Neogen