Angus Australia is pleased to announce that a number of important enhancements have been made to the calculation of Estimated Breeding Values (EBVs) for Angus cattle in Australia and New Zealand.
The enhancements form part of the annual updates that are applied to the TransTasman Angus Cattle Evaluation (TACE), with the enhancements implemented in the December 2024 analysis.
The enhancements which were implemented broadly fall into three main categories:
1. Advancements in Estimated Breeding Values (EBVs): TACE will introduce two new EBVs, the transition of Mature Body Condition (MBC) and Mature Cow Height (MCH) from Research Breeding Values (RBVs) to Estimated Breeding Values (EBVs). This transition will provide Angus breeders with EBVs focussed on making breeding decisions related to cow performance.
Additionally, the structural soundness EBVs will see updated percentile graph descriptions for easier, more intuitive interpretation.
2. Expansion of selection indices: In response to the growing demand for Angus genetics in the dairy sector, Angus Australia will also launch a new Angus on Dairy Research Selection Index.
This index will assist dairy farmers in selecting Angus genetics for beef production from dairy herds.
The growing interest in producing quality beef from dairy cattle highlights the importance of this new tool, designed to improve the genetic selection process for dairy beef production.
3. Enhancement to the genetic evaluation model and pipeline: The 2024 updates will also include several enhancements to the genetic evaluation pipeline and model itself.
These improvements are designed to better manage the growing number of genotyped animals and better address issues such as duplicate genotypes (including those from identical twins) and sex discrepancies. These updates ensure that TACE remains accurate and reliable as the volume of data continues to increase.
These exciting advancements are the result of ongoing collaboration with leading research and service partners, including the University of New England (UNE), the Animal Genetics and Breeding Unit (AGBU) and the Agricultural Business Research Institute (ABRI).
Their expertise has been essential in ensuring that the latest research is incorporated into the TACE evaluation process.
Angus Australia general manager of genetic improvement Christian Duff said these updates demonstrate Angus Australia’s commitment to providing breeders with the most advanced genetic tools available.
“For instance, transitioning the Mature Body Condition and Mature Cow Height RBVs to EBVs is a significant milestone, driven by focused research and the growing number of phenotypes being collected by our members,“ he said.
“The Angus on Dairy Research Selection Index is another important step forward, responding to the increasing interest in using Angus genetics to enhance beef production from dairy cattle.“
To ensure that all members are well-informed about the December updates, Angus Australia acting extension manager Nancy Crawshaw advised that comprehensive explanatory materials have been distributed to Angus Australia members and are available from their website.
These resources provide clear guidance on how the changes will affect breeding decisions and how to make the most of the new tools.
“We encourage our members to reach out with any questions they may have about the 2024 TACE enhancements,” Ms Crawshaw said.
“Our team is here to support breeders as they navigate these exciting enhancements.“
For further information please visit the Angus Australia website or contact the team at Angus Australia on (02) 6773 4600.
