STOCK agents play a critical role in the transaction of information and decision-making between the bull breeder and the commercial cattle producer.

With this in mind, Angus Australia has developed a series of eight short videos and summarised written content providing a one-stop-shop for stock agents looking for information to help them find the right sires for their clients this breeding season.

The Stock Agent’s Toolkit covers various key components such as:

• The role genetics plays in a client’s herd
• Interpreting and understanding the information in sale catalogues
• What tools are available to identify the right genetics for each clients’ needs
• DNA – Parent Verification, Genomics and Genetic Conditions
• What an agent needs to do before starting to look at bulls
• How to find bulls to suit clients’ needs
• Why is focusing on genetics a worthwhile exercise?
• Selecting your clients’ next Angus bulls

Each of the eight modules were born out of discussion with leading stock agents in the industry, helping to identify the key areas where agents and clients could conduct some pre-game (prior to sire purchasing) discussions and planning to ensure the sires being evaluated met the client’s breeding objective and were going to contribute the most genetic gain in the traits of importance first.

“The Stock Agents Toolkit was developed as Angus Australia identified the important role that livestock agents play in the decisions made by producers within their breeding operations,” said Angus Australia extension manager Jake Phillips.

“The learning tools provided through the education modules are designed to assist stock agents in being well-equipped to find the right sires to suit their client’s breeding objective this breeding season. It’s a great educational resource for new stock agents starting their career or for well-established agents looking for the latest information and insight in genetics and breeding decision making,” he said.

The Stock Agent’s Toolkit has been well-received by the industry, with presentations of the module made to more than 100 livestock agents at the ALPA Young Auctioneers training schools and the South Australian Nutrien Livestock conference.

“ALPA would like to pay tribute to Jake Phillips and the team at Angus Australia on their impressive and informative presentation to ALPA members at the Victorian Auctioneers School in Melbourne, South Australia Auctioneers School at Naracoorte and the Nutrien South Australia conference,” said ALPA Chief Executive Officer Peter Baldwin.

“The feedback has been positive and full of endorsement for this invaluable resource which can only be of benefit to agents and clients alike.”

The Stock Agents Toolkit video content supplements traditional written content by allowing a variety of learning styles to take advantage of the content.

Although the Toolkit is designed for stock agents, the messages and content also relate to many seedstock and commercial breeders and the benefits of using the content as a discussion point in planning for the upcoming breeding season will be long lasting for the supply chain.

“We hope that through providing these up-to-date and informative resources we can assist agents and commercial producers alike to make the most informed selection decisions for their different breeding operations,” Mr Phillips said.

Click the link below to watch the first youtube clip in the series, introducing the Toolkit, or click here for access to the full suite of tools.

Source: AuctionsPlus