Beef Central’s genetics columnist Al Rayner is in Rockhampton for Beef 2021 this week. Here is the first of a series reports on the key genetics messages he is picking up from the event’s vast seminars and competitions program.

INVESTING in genetics is often described as a long term investment.  As with any investment there is a period where this investment has to not only provide a short term return, but ideally offers long term improvements.  This was one of the key themes to emerge from the MLA DNA to Dollars forum this morning at Beef Australia.

Speaking to producers this morning, North Queensland producer Michael Lyons emphasised the need for producers to consider genetics as they would when thinking about financial investments.

Ideally those investments should increase the value of the operation but provide greater and increasing returns over time.

Underpinning this message is the need to collect data that will support strategic decisions for a breeding program – the key selection decision beings based on the sires and their genetics.

In the case of the Lyons’ operation, this information commenced with genotyping their entire herd and establishing just how productive their Alf Collins bloodline females were.

From here the ability to develop breeding decisions was informed through the use of balanced selection through indexes and the approach of using bulls suited to the clear breeding objectives of the program.

Emerging from this focused and planned approach is the capacity to rank animals on their value to the program and identify leading females for embryo transfer programs to increase the rate of genetic gain within the herd.

Darren Hamblin

The value of data and identifying those animals that have performed was re-enforced by Wagyu producer Darren Hamblin from Central Queensland. The Hamblins’ operate a 6000 cow breeding herd and the use of data to inform and make, in Darren’s words “strategic and smart selection decisions.”

Emphasising the value of data and how that can be used to refine breeding decisions, Mr Hamblin presented information on the financial impact those decisions made on his program.  Prior to commencing the process, his average Wagyu carcase value was $3827. Over the course of four years, the average value had increased to $4801.

As part of the decision process, this has practical applications for decisions on cow selection and clear objectives that translate to production figures. In this instance, cows which fail to rear a calf that will achieve a 400kg carcase with a marble score 7 are drafted from the breeding program, to a role as embryo recipients. Higher-performing cows are joined by AI while the elite 1pc of females become the source of IVF embryos.

While genetics offers the opportunity to increase production, the clear messages of the session emphasise the importance of accurate and reliable data to inform decisions.

Darren Hamblin suggested many producers overlook how much data they already record or have available through feedback sheets, and sale weights to specific production records.

In order to make the decisions that can compound the genetic investments, it’s clear there is an opportunity for producers to reassess their data and use it with greater intent.

Alastair Rayner is the Principal of RaynerAg, an agricultural advisory service based in NSW.  RaynerAg is affiliated with BJA Stock & Station Agents.  He regularly lists and sell cattle for clients as well attending bull sales to support client purchases.  Alastair provides pre-sale selections and classifications for seedstock producers in NSW, Qld and Victoria.  He can be contacted here or through his website www.raynerag.com.au