In conjunction with the October 2019 Hereford BREEDPLAN analysis, Herefords Australia will release four new selection indexes.
The four new indexes are: The Southern Self-Replacing Index (SSR), the Northern Self-Replacing Index (NSR), the Southern Baldy Maternal Index (SBM), and the Northern Baldy Terminal Index (NBT).
The new indexes aim to better reflect the different production systems across Australia in which Hereford bulls are used.
The four new indexes have been developed by Herefords Australia along with staff from the Animal Genetics and Breeding Unit (AGBU) and Southern Beef Technology Services (SBTS).
The new Herefords Australia indexes have been calculated using Version 6 of the BreedObject software (developed by AGBU), which among other things more accurately accounts for cost of feed and cow maintenance.
Herefords are one of the first Australian breeds to move to indexes calculated using the new software.
Extensive consultation was sought throughout the development of the new indexes from a range of stakeholders including seedstock and commercial Hereford producers, feed lotters and processors.
Each of the new selection indexes describes a different production system that relates to typical commercial herds using Hereford bulls. The balance between on-farm and finishing traits has been adjusted, to better reflect on-farm production costs and returns.
This move to production-based indexes is a big step in the right direction according to Herefords Australia General Manager Andrew Donoghue:
“It is a significant step to move to production-based indexes as this has a much bigger impact on profitability than finishing based indexes, particularly when cow maintenance and feed costs are taken into account,” Mr Donoghue said.
Producers are advised to use the selection index that most closely aligns to their production system and not just use the index with the highest value, as different bulls are better suited to different production systems.
All four indexes are focussed on maintaining and improving eating quality, with significant premiums applied for increased marble scores up to a marble score of three.
Pressure is also applied to early life growth to maintain low ossification scores and good MSA compliance.
Each index targets slightly different overall specifications combining production and slaughter requirements.
The Southern Self-Replacing Index estimates the genetic differences between animals in net profitability per cow joined in a commercial self-replacing straight bred Hereford herd targeting the domestic market.
Daughters are retained for breeding and so maternal traits are of importance. Steers are slaughtered at 18 months of age to produce 300 kg carcases with 10 mm P8 fat depth.
A moderate cost is applied for cow feed costs during the annual feed shortage period.
The Northern Self-Replacing Index estimates the genetic differences between animals in net profitability per cow joined in a commercial self-replacing herd targeting the domestic market.
This index is suitable for use by both straight bred Hereford herds and crossbred herds where Hereford bulls are being used over a Bos indicus composite based cow herd.
Daughters are retained for breeding and so maternal traits are of importance. Steers are slaughtered at 18 months of age to produce 340 kg carcases with 12 mm P8 fat depth.
A high cost is applied for cow feed costs during the annual feed shortage period.
The Southern Baldy Maternal Index estimates the genetic differences between animals in net profitability per cow joined in a commercial crossbred herd using Hereford bulls over Bos taurus females (e.g. Angus).
A portion of the heifers are retained for breeding and so maternal traits are of importance. The steers and surplus heifers are destined for slaughter at 18 to 19 months of age. Steers produce 300 kg carcases with 10 mm of P8 fat depth, while heifers produce 270 kg carcases with 12 mm of P8 fat depth.
A moderate cost is applied for cow feed costs during the annual feed shortage period.
The Northern Baldy Terminal Index estimates the genetic differences between animals in net profitability per cow joined in a commercial crossbred herd using Hereford bulls over Bos indicus/Tropical females (e.g. Santa Gertrudis) where all progeny (male and female) are destined for slaughter.
Steers and heifers are slaughtered at 18 to 19 months of age. Steers produce 340 kg carcases with 14 mm of P8 fat depth while heifers produce 300 kg carcases with 17 mm of P8 fat depth.
Of these four new indexes, two are designed for use in winter-dominated rainfall regions where feed costs are inherently lower, (e.g. southern New South Wales, Victoria, Tasmania, southern South Australia and south-west Western Australia).
For those living in one of these regions and producing straight-bred Herefords for the domestic market, then the Southern Self-Replacing Index will be the selection index of choice.
For those living in these regions but using Hereford bulls in a cross-breeding program (e.g. to produce Black or Red Baldies), then the Southern Baldy Maternal Index is the most suitable selection index.
The two Northern indexes are designed for producers located in summer-dominated rainfall regions where feed costs are inherently higher, (e.g. Queensland, northern New South Wales, northern Western Australia, northern South Australia and the Northern Territory).
For those in these locations that keep a portion of heifers (whether they be straight-bred Hereford heifers or flatback/baldy heifers), then the Northern Self-Replacing Index will be the selection index of choice.
For those in these regions that don’t keep any replacement heifers (e.g. all heifers are sent for slaughter), then the Northern Baldy Terminal Index is the most suitable selection index.
“A lot of time and work has been spent ensuring that the new indexes align with the key production and market systems for Hereford cattle.
“By using these indexes seedstock and commercial Hereford and Hereford cross producers will be ensuring that they choose the right genetics for their production system.
“This will enable producers to move their herd and the breed forward to maximise their profitability and meet the needs of the processor,” Mr Donoghue said.
Please find more detailed information regarding the new selection indexes by clicking on the links below:
Introducing the New Herefords Australia Selection Indexes
