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AWA DATABASE

Sire Nominations open for Multi-breed Project

Thursday, 23 July 2020

The New South Wales Department of Primary Industries (DPI) are seeking bull nominations for the second year of the Southern Multi-breed Project. The Southern Multi-Breed Project is a collaborative project between NSW DPI, Meat & Livestock Australia (MLA), Animal Genetics and Breeding Unit (AGBU) and the University of New England (UNE).

The objective of the Southern Multi-Breed Project is to underpin development of multi-breed Estimated Breeding Values (EBVs) by evaluating several breeds (Hereford, Wagyu, Shorthorn, Charolais, Angus and Brahman) side by side across 5 locations in NSW over the course of 5 years. Heifer progeny will be assessed for several fertility traits and joined naturally, while steers will be feedlot finished with feed efficiency and carcase records collected. For the second year of the project we are seeking to source semen straws from registered bulls, with AI beginning in September 2020. The progeny of these bulls will add to the base population for the remainder of the project.

The first round of joinings were conducted during the second half of 2019 with approximately 1300 females participating in the AI program and approximately 1600 females in total exposed to back-up bulls. The project has purchased approximately 100 PTIC females since December 2019 with approximately another 70-100 heifers to enter the joining program in 2020.

Successful applicants will need to provide 35 straws to be utilised by the AI technician for the second round of AI. Two (2) of these semen straws are required for genotyping. 

Criteria for sire selection

Bulls will be chosen based on the following:

  • Linkage with the breed
  • Influence in the breed, both current influence and potential future
  • EBVs – Diversity and Accuracy
  • Parent verified
  • Semen availability
  • Health/genetic conditions
  • Straws from past high accuracy sires are also encouraged
  • Proof of semen quality is required before shipment

Why nominate?

  • Linkage to the base herd in the program will increase EBV accuracy of the sires used and close relatives
  • Progeny will be measured from birth to slaughter contributing data for new or existing hard to measure traits
  • Data from progeny entered into an across-breed genetic evaluation

 

 Next steps

  1. Nominate up to 10 sires by July 31, 2020.Click here to nominate
  2. Please keep a record of your nominated sire/s
  3. Successful applicants will be notified between August 10-14, 2020
  4. Breeders to organise semen collection
  5. Last day of semen shipment Monday September 7, 2020. Cost of dispatch and shipment will be covered by NSW DPI

If you require any further information regarding semen collection, storage or shipment please contact Margaret Shedden, Castlereagh Artificial Breeders.

PH: 0408 498 922, email: [email protected]

If you require any further information or wish to discuss the project, please do not hesitate to contact the Project Operations Manager, Jason Siddell.

PH: 0459 162 295, email: [email protected]

Important Notice and Disclaimer

It is very important that you appreciate when viewing the AWA database that the information contained on the AWA database, including but not limited to pedigree, DNA information, Estimated Breeding Values (EBVs) and Index values, is based on data supplied by members and/or third parties.

Whilst every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of the information reported through AWA, AWA officers and employees assume no responsibility for its content, use or interpretation. AWA disclaims all liability (including without limitation, liability in negligence) for all expenses, losses, damages and costs you may incur as a result of the use by you of the data on this AWA database and the information supplied by ABRI and AGBU being inaccurate or incomplete in any way for any reason.

Regarding EBVs and Index values, it is very important to appreciate, and you need to be aware that:

  • EBVs are derived using Wagyu Single Step BREEDPLAN technology developed independently by the Animal Genetics and Breeding Unit (AGBU), using the information contained within the AWA database.
  • AGBU is a joint venture of NSW Department of Primary Industries and the University of New England, which receives funding for this purpose from Meat and Livestock Australia Limited.
  • AWA relies solely on advice provided by AGBU and ABRI in accepting Wagyu Single Step BREEDPLAN software.
  • EBVs published in Wagyu Single Step BREEDPLAN are estimates of genetic potential of individual animals and may not reflect the raw animal phenotype.
  • EBVs can only be directly compared to other EBVs calculated in the same monthly Wagyu Group BREEDPLAN analysis.

Regarding pedigree and DNA testing results submitted to the AWA, it is very important to appreciate, and you need to be aware that:

  • Pedigree and DNA data submitted and supplied to AWA may have errors in it which cannot be detected without further DNA testing.
  • Technology may have advanced since a particular test was undertaken so that previous inaccuracies which were not detectable are now able to be detected by current testing technology.
  • AWA estimates that less than 1% of the pedigree entries, ownership or breeding details in the AWA Herdbook may have errors or which may be misleading. For this reason, users ought to consider if they need to obtain independent testing of the relevant animal (if possible) to ensure that the data is accurate.

Regarding prefectural content, it is very important to appreciate, and you need to be aware that:

  • Prefectural content is based on the estimation of prefectural origin from Japanese breeding records of 201 foundation sires and 168 foundation dams.  As genotype-based parent verification is not used in Japan, and full Japanese registration certificates are not available for all foundation animals, exact prefectural composition for these sires and dams cannot be validated.
  • The calculation of prefectural content for Australian Herdbook animals relies on the accuracy of pedigree records and DNA samples provided by AWA members.
  • The reporting of prefectural content for animals within the AWA Herdbook relies on the calculation provided by ABRI.

If you consider that you do not understand or appreciate the nature and extent of the data provided on this website or the EBVs of a particular animal, then AWA strongly recommends that you seek independent expert advice.

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