March 2011 - Lrf.co.za

LRF/BREEDPLAN eNEWS - LRF/BREEDPLAN eNUUS
Vol 1/No1 – March 2011
Unless noted otherwise all contributions by Peter Massmann. Editor: Dr. Michael Bradfield.
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Indien nie anders vermeld alle bydraes deur Peter Massmann. Redakteur: Dr. Michael Bradfield
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sonder erkenning aan ons. Ons versoek dus dat reproduksie van die inhoud of dele hiervan, direk of indirek in enige medium, slegs
toelaatbaar is met die volgende aanhaling: "Bron - Suidelike Afrika LRF / BREEDPLAN eNUUS
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
eNUUS INHOUD / eNEWS CONTENT
1. Message from the Editor Dr. Michael Bradfield and LRF President Mr. Wessel Hattingh
Editor Dr. Michael Bradfield
"Welcome to the first edition of the LRF/BREEDPLAN eNEWS. This is a joint venture between the LRF Societies and BREEDPLAN®.
Affiliated to BREEDPLAN® is also Dairy Express®, now used by the SA Holstein Society. A number of smallstock societies are also
using the system in Southern Africa. This Newsletter, that will be reproduced on a quarterly basis, also replaces the hard copy version
of the BREEDPLAN® News.
I am also pleased to say that Mr Peter Massmann has agreed to help produce eNEWS. His immense knowledge is thus not lost to
industry and if you know Peter as well as I do, we can expect the very best information in an easy to read format.
eNEWS will also assist astute stud and commercial producers to gain the required knowledge to take their breeding enterprises to
another level. Our aim is to educate and assist producers to compete with the very best breeders internationally. The information given
here will be from various sources, scientifically sound, practical easy to implement and principle based.
The world of genetics is changing at an enormous pace and it is imperative that you do not fall behind. Southern Africa is the source of
very good genetics and if you are serious about breeding the very best animals, then this eNEWS is very much for you. Happy reading.
Regards Michael
admin@agribsa.co.za
LRF President Mnr. Wessel Hattingh:
"Baie welkom by ons eerste uitgawe van eNUUS. Die jaar het vir ons baie goed begin met gunstige weersomstandigheid asook 'n
stygende fase in vleis- sowel as graanpryse.
Ons is baie opgewonde met die verskyning van die nuusbrief en die geleentheid wat dit bied om kennis met u te deel. Met Peter
Massmann aan die stuur en Dr. Michael Bradfield as redakteur kan u verseker wees dat u op hoogte gehou sal bly met die nuutste
tegnologie en aktiwiteite in ons bedryf.
Beste Groete Wessel
klipkraal@heilbron.co.za
2. Het nog nooit van die LRF gehoor nie. Wie, wat, waar is hulle.
LRF staan vir Lewendehawe Registrerende Federasie/ Livestock Registering Federation en dit is in 2000 gestig omdat sekere
genootskappe uit frustrasie met die destyds wetlik verpligte SA Stamboek stelsel hulle eie registrasie/stamboom stelsel tot stand
gebring het.
Stamboek se stoetdier-sertifikaat het vir 70 jaar uit ’n drie-naam 'dier-plus-pa-en-ma' sertifikaat bestaan wat in die laat negentigs nie
meer aan die Simmentaler/Simbra en Santa Gertrudis se vereistes voldoen het nie. Hierdie twee genootskappe het toe hulle eie stelsel

van ’n 30-naam vyf-generasie registrasie sertifikaat binne ’n paar maande ontwikkel. Min of meer dieselfde tyd skep SA Holstein en
Brahman ook hulle eie nuwe moderne stelsel.
Nieteenstaande daarvan dat ons SA Stamboek versoek om as 'assosiasie lede' van hulle oorhoofse SA telers organisasie wil aanbly
deel Stamboek mee dat dit nie moontlik is nie en daar sit ons oornag sonder ’n oorhoofse spreekbuis. Ons vier bestuurders besluit toe
vinnig om ’n nuwe oorkoepelende organisasie buite Stamboek te stig, skryf ’n konstitusie, rapporteer aan ons onderskeie Rade en die
LRF word gestig. Dit klink eenvoudig maar het destyds bloedsweet gekos om ’n 80-jaar gevestigde staatsondersteunde stelsel te
verander omdat dit nie meer aan ons telers se behoeftes voldoen het nie.
Doelstellinge van die LRF
Die bevordering en die beskerming van sy gewone lede se belange as registrerende owerhede, soos na verwys in die Wet; In die
najaag hiervan is die LRF:
• ’n Organisasie van, en mondstuk vir, die stoetdier bedryf verteenwoordig deur sy lede;
• Bevoeg om betrokke te wees in alle sake wat die stoetdier bedryf raak;
• Volkome in beheer in sake van huishoudelike aard;
• Geroepe om enige aangeleentheid wat die stoetdierbedryf raak en wat ook raakpunte het met ander bedryfstakke en
produkte, te bespreek en te oorweeg en aanbevelings met betrekking daartoe aan die betrokke buite instansies voor te lê;
• A-polities.
Die LRF se volle lede en geassosieerde lede sien u hier: www.lrf.co.za/Members.htm (Klik op die genootskap of geassosieerde lid se
embleem vir hulle webblad.
Die LRF se bestuur verkies in November 2010:
Mnr. Wessel Hattingh (Brahman), PRESIDENT klipkraal@heilbron.co.za
Mnr. Johan Potgieter (Simmentaler & Simbra), VISE-PRESIDENT johan@simmentaler.org
Dr Michael Bradfield (Agri-BSA Sekretariaat) admin@agribsa.co.za
Addisionele lede van bestuur:
Mnr Llewelyn Angus (Lewenslange Ere-President) langus@vodamail.co.za
Mev. Charlotte Schuite (Braford) heelbofarms@mweb.co.za
3. Improvement of the cowherd through female selection is not effective. It is 90% more effective
by continuously using good bulls.
Choosing a bull from a stud breeder to improve a commercial cowherd is today much easier than before EBVs were discovered. Why
EBVs? The largest portion of what you see in a bull is controlled by the environment (food, management, weather, etc.) and the smaller
portion is due to genetics. Only the genetic component is transmitted to his progeny. However, we can’t see this genetic component
separately from the environment’s influence and therefore breeders of all breeds all over the word use the BLUP technology to estimate
the genetic component and express it as an EBV. As the name implies, Estimated Breeding Value is an estimate of an animal’s value
as a parent for a particular production trait such as growth rate in other words an estimate of how he will breed. The most important
advantage of EBVs is that animals are comparable within a breed, between herds and over years.
I mention above "choosing a bull from a stud breeder". Why? Because pedigrees and performance testing are essential for EBVs and
consequently stud or pedigree breeding.
The bull is the herd
A long term selection study in the USA has clearly proven the power of bull selection versus selection applied to females. Using
yearling weight, bull selection accounted for almost 90% of the total genetic improvement. The result is presented in the figure. We
suggest breeders enlighten their commercial clients about this.

In central Europe they realised the importance of the bull years ago when they introduced the male-licensing-law (Germany, where I
experienced it, introduced in 1930) which stipulates that only licensed males (bulls, boars, stallions, etc) may be used on any type of
female – pure, commercial or crossbred. Licensing by an independent governmental appointed committee of experts is based on
performance and structural correctness. For the last two decades the performance component stipulates positive EBV's with a minimum
accuracy. Bulls without EBVs or with negative EBVs must be slaughtered and everybody is happy with this because this system
continually improves their herds and the countries livestock industry.
To ensure sound breeding all EU countries have compulsory licensing of bulls. The UK also recognized the value of the bull long ago
by introducing the "Improvement of Livestock (Licensing of Bulls) Act, 1931".
4. Die beste prestasie getoetste bulle, kom ons doop hulle rasleier-bulle, word na elke
BREEDPLAN BLUP analise deur die betrokke telersgenootskappe bekendgestel. Dit is bulle wat
volgens hulle eie prestasie, die prestasie van verwante en/of op grond van hulle nageslag se
prestasie in een of meer eienskappe binne die ras uitblink. Hoe word hulle gekies en waar
word die besonderhede gepubliseer.
Rasleier-bulle (1) word geïdentifiseer op grond van hulle beraamde teelwaardes (EBV's) wat deur BREEDPLAN saamgestel word uit
stamboom en prestasietoetsdata wat oor baie jare deur telers aan hulle genootskappe voorsien is. Die groot voordeel van BLUP
teelwaardes is dat diere van dieselfde ras wat in verskillende jare, seisoene en kuddes gebore is met mekaar vergelykbaar is.
Bulle wat op grond van hulle teelwaardes met ’n hoë akkuraatheid (2) in een of meer eienskappe uitblink word dan as ’n rasleier
bekendgestel. BREEDPLAN se wetenskaplikes waarsku egter dat rasleiers nie noodwendig bedoel is om die beste diere in ’n teler se
teelprogram te identifiseer nie. Telers moet self die bes moontlike kombinasie van teelwaardes vir hulle kuddes bepaal. Sien 'LRF tips'
hieronder.
Watter bulle word gepubliseer
• Die lys van gepubliseerde vaders (Herdbook Sires) bevat bulle met nageslag gebore in die laaste drie jaar en ’n
akkuraatheid van ten minste 75% in een van die groei eienskappe (riglyn - verskil tussen rasse). By elke bul is ’n eienaarnommer
wat op ’n ander lys tesame met volle besonderhede van eienaars gepubliseer word. Die bulle word volgens telers
gelys. In hierdie sowel as al ondervermelde lyste word die rasleier-eienskap aangedui deur die betrokke EBVs in ‘n blokkie te
plaas.
• Spesiaal geselekteerde jongbulle (Selected Junior Bulls) wat in ’n spesifieke jaar gebore is (sien links onderaan die lys) gelys
volgens telers. Die teelwaarde en rangorde kwalifikasie vereistes is van u genootskap beskikbaar. Hierdie is bulle wat u moet
dophou.
• Rasleiers vir die verskillende eienskappe gelys volgens teelwaardes. Indien van toepassing word enige ander rasleier
eienskappe in ’n blokkie vertoon. Vereistes en eienskappe verskil tussen rasse en die volgende is net ’n riglyn (nader u
genootskap vir kwalifikasie besonderhede):
Om as ’n leier vir 200, 400 en 600-dae-gewig; melk; skrotum omvang of karkasgewig te kwalifiseer moet die bul ten minste
75% akkuraatheid vir die eienskap toon en binne die top 10% van die ras lê vir daardie eienskap.
Leiers vir geboortegewig moet in die onderste 30% van die ras lê, maar moet ook in die top 50% lê vir ten minste een van die
groei eienskappe (gemeet op 200, 400 & 600 dae).
Die eienskappe wat vir elke bul aangeteken is, word ook getoon maar verskil tussen rasse. Die kodes is dragtigheids- lengte
(G), geboortegewig (B), 200-dae groei (2), 400-dae gewig (4), 600-dae gewig (6), skrotumomvang (S) en ultrasoniese
skandering rekords vir oogspier- area (E), ribvet (R), kruisvet (P) en tussenspiervet (I). (3)
• Spesiale leiers met ras-spesifieke kwalifikasies: Daar is genootskappe wat ook ander leiers nomineer soos bv. bulle met
raseie gebalanseerde teelwaarde - die 'Balanced Trait Leaders'. Persoonlik was ek ’n voorstander van hierdie leiers.
Geluk aan al die telers van rasleiers, dit is iets waarop u trots kan wees.
LRF tips
Indien jy byvoorbeeld ’n 'melk-bul' soek, kies ’n rasleier in melk maar bestudeer ook sy ander teelwaardes. Let ook op die 'Statistics'
kolomme waar onder andere die getal kuddes waarin hy gebruik is en die aantal nageslag gepubliseer word sowel as die akkuraathede
(2) .
'Copy' dan die ID van die bul op die betrokke lys en 'paste' dit in die 'Animal Identifier' veld van die genootskap se dier-opkyk-fasiliteit vir
volledige stamboom en ander besonderhede van die bul. Hier vind jy ook die moeder en haar nageslag se besonderhede. Oorweeg al
die besonderhede om te bepaal hoe die bul by jou behoeftes inpas.
Opkyk fasiliteite is hier beskikbaar - onder jou ras se embleem kies 'Animal Enquiry':
Suid-Afrika - Kliek hier

Namibië - Kliek hier
(1)
My eie benaming wat van telersgenootskappe se benaming mag verskil. Die wêreldwye Engelse benamings is: Trail leader
of sire leader.
(2) Die akkuraatheid of betroubaarheid van ‘n teelwaarde word in ’n % syfer uitgedruk wat in die rasleier-lyste onder die
teelwaarde gepubliseer word. Hoe hoër die syfer hoe beter.
(3) Vir die na-geboortegewig gewigte, kan twee rekords vir elk aangeteken word. Indien die bul een waarneming vir ’n eienskap
het, word ’n letter gedruk (bv. ’n letter W verteenwoordig een waarneming vir 200-Dae Gewig). Vir twee waarnemings vir die
eienskap, word die nommer 2 gedruk. ’n Oop spasie dui aan dat die bul nie vir hierdie eienskap gemeet is nie.
Waar word rasleiers gepubliseer.
Simmentaler: Kliek hier
Simbra: Kliek hier
Brahman: Kliek hier
Limousin: Kliek hier
Brangus: Kliek hier
Braford: Gaan dit binnekort implementeer.
Namibia NSV: Die onderskeie rasse se trait leader bulle word nie apart gepubliseer nie. Wanneer ’n dier op die web opgekyk word is
trait leaders se eienskap in blou gemerk. Nader Jacque Els (061-235168) vir meer besonderhede.
Holstein : Die beste BVI bulle word elke ses maande opdateer - Kliek hier
5. Wrong EBV's, who is to blame. Why do some breeders cheat themselves, and their stud bulls,
by incorrect recording? Performance testing breeders should read here, as well as serious bullbuyers.
If you ask me, after 35 years of direct involvement, about my biggest headache in local performance recording I will respond with (i)
selective testing and (ii) improper contemporary-grouping. Let's discuss the last mentioned one next time.
Selective testing also referred to as incomplete reporting, leads to biased and wrong EBV's. Complete reporting for every animal
reported at birth (birth notification) and still on the farm at time of reporting is critical for the BLUP evaluation. For example at weaning
all calves are weighed/scored including those culled for whatever reason and sold to the feedlot and not just those that are good
enough for registration. By only weighing "the better" animals breeders are not making their herd better, they are actually punishing
their better animals because their inferior contemporaries are not weighed. Even more distressing is the 'wrong' influence this has on
the EBV's of the sires whose poorer performing calves are not reported. In fact, my personal recommendation is "either weigh all the
animals, including culls, or don’t weigh at all". Refer to the table below.
A couple overseas societies have a fee structure which favours the THE-system (Total Herd Reporting). This boils down to cheaper
fees for cows whose calves are weighed at weaning and encourages submission of all births and subsequent weighing of every calf at
weaning – wonderful system.
Breeders need assistance.
I used to check selective testing after every analysis for every breeder by comparing the number of calves born in a year (birth
notifications) to those weighed subsequently at weaning. The idea of this system was to bring selective testing under the attention of
the relevant breeders and advice them of the correct procedure. It is amazing how many so called 'performance test breeders' weighed
less than 50% of calves reported at birth later at weaning.
Why do local breeders do this?
Maybe tradition caused by an 'only the best' attitude. Only send the best to phase C or only present the best to the inspector.
Or perhaps "I don’t want the office to see my low weights" or "I sell my culls to the feedlot, why weigh them". I think the main reason is
a lack of guidance by breed society advisors.
"The integrity of an EBV is dependent upon the integrity of the information submitted. Garbage in, garbage out."
Table: Don’t cheat yourself and make animals worse than they are.

Bull
no
SELECTIVE WEIGHING leads to incorrect EBV's
(In this example we disregard information on relatives)
Complete reporting
Weigh all weaners including culls
Incomplete reporting
Only weigh the heaviest. Culled animals sold to feedlot
not weighed.
Weight EBV Weight EBV
1 230 7 230 3
2 220 4 220 0
3 210 1 210 -3
4 205 -1 Not weighed No EBV
5 196 -4 Not weighed No EBV
6 185 -7 Not weighed No EBV
Ave 208 220
When only the top 3 calves are weighed (right) the whole group is negatively affected because the group
average has risen. The +7 bull 1 now becomes an incorrect +3.
6. Holsteins eerste in melkproduksie. Die jongste melkaantekening syfers vir SA suiwel koeie.
Vergeleke met alle geregistreerde melkaangetekende suiwel rasse (1) vaar die SA Holstein baie goed. Hier die jongste syfers per
laktasie vir Holstein met alle suiwel rasse tussen hakkies is:
29 000 (67 000) laktasies, 9567 (7435) kg melk, 359 (306) kg bottervet en 305 (254) kg protein.
Holstein spog met die grootste bees-wêreld federasie. Van die 40 ledelande beklee Suid-Afrika wat melkproduksie betref na Israel, die
VSA, Kanada, Swede en Denemarke die sesde plek.
Die kg vet en protein vir die twee getalsterkte geregistreerde rasse word in die grafiek vertoon. Geregistreerde Holstein boere het kg
vet/protein oor tien jaar met 22% verhoog – geluk!
(1) L.N.R. melkaantekening jaarverslag
Praat van melk. ’n Deense Holstein koei het met twee kalwings 101 251 kg melk (3.3% vet/3.2% protein) in ’n produksie periode van
2386 dae geproduseer. Dit is meer as 42 kg per dag!

7. Google "Leachman Cattle of Colorado" and you get 9400 results. Dr. Bradfield persuaded a very
busy Mr. Leachman to speak at the 2011 LRF Stockman's school (his trip sponsored by Unistel).
'Lee' Leachman II graduated from Harvard University with an Honors BA in Economics in 1988 and in animal breeding at Colorado
State University in 1992. For 11 years Mr. Leachman has served as the CEO of Leachman Cattle Company with annual sales of R100
mil. In 2003, Lee formed Leachman Cattle of Colorado, a studstock marketing company. Leachman Cattle is respected worldwide as a
leader in objective selection criteria and Lee’s primary duties include determining genetic selection objectives, financial planning, and
overall company management. Lee travels extensively within the US and globally to advise cattle breeding operations. In 2010,
Leachman launched a new contract breeding initiative know as the Bull Improvement Company in Paraguay, Brazil, and Australia.
For this edition of eNEWS I asked Mr. Leachman a few questions:
• What is the most important trait?
Profit. Most EBVs measure output, but not cost. Income does not equal profit. More and more EBV's will be expressed in dollar
terms – some will measure profit.
• For how many years has the Leachman name been in the beef cattle business?
My grandfather and namesake, Lee Leachman, graduated from Ohio State University in 1940 and started his Angus operation.
In 1971, my father, Jim Leachman, started Leachman Cattle Company in Billings. In 2003, I started Leachman Cattle of
Colorado .
• During your term with Leachman cattle company, how many bulls did you sell per year?
Our Spring Sale featured 1400 bulls and 700 yearling heifers. Per year, we market a total of just over 3,200 bulls.
• The biggest challenge for beef cattle producers?
Managing volatility and rising input costs is the #1 challenge.
• The most important method to improve the profitability of a commercial beef cattle enterprise?
Controlling costs is the key to profitability. Ranchers can control their costs, but they cannot control the price in the
marketplace. Even if ranch productivity is rising at a steady rate, the inevitable market fluctuations will challenge cash flow
and profitability. As such, the only way to ensure profitability is to keep your cost structure low. In practical terms, this means
raising cattle that can reproduce and grow at high levels with a minimum of supplemental feed, labour, and other inputs. Your
genetic selection should ensure that your cattle have rising output while maintaining or reducing the amount of inputs required.
Thanks Mr. Leachman
8. Bewaar populêre bloedlyne vir DNA-merker doeleindes. LRF rasgenootskappe behoort ’n genebank
te stig.
Deesdae is genetiese merkers die populêrste tema op buitelandse bees-kongresse. DNA-merker navorsing en kommersialisering
vorder geweldig vinnig en veral getalsterk stoet rasse soos die Amerikaanse en Australiese Angus raak al hoe meer betrokke tot
uiteindelik voordeel van hulle rasse en telers. Meer en meer merkers word ontdek en wêreldleiers in genetiese evaluering soos
BREEDPLAN gebruik hierdie nuwe tegnologie tesame met 'konvensionele prestasietoets' teelwaardes om meer akkurater teelwaardes
te skep. Gaan hare die skaal vervang? Ek glo nie. Lees gerus die 'Genomics' artikel in Engels in hierdie eNUUS.
Het dit nie tyd geword vir rasse met ’n groot prestasietoets-databasis om hulle populêre bulle se DNA in ’n veilige LRF-DNA-bank te
stoor. Dit sal besmoontlik oormôre gebruik word om merkers te identifiseer. Ek het Dr. M Bradfield die LRF Administrateur se
kommentaar hieroor gevra:
"Tans word meer as 80% van alle navorsing in teling aan DNA merker tegnologie gespits. Die inkorporering van DNA merkers in
teelwaardes is ’n realiteit. Sagtheid van vleis word byvoorbeeld reeds deur BREEDPLAN in Australiese Brahmane teelwaardes
geïnkorporeer. Oorsee word DNA merkers vir beide Holstein en Jersey ook in teelwaardes inkorporeer. Die informasie wat vanaf DNA
merkers verkry word beïnvloed veral die syfers van jong bulle. Alle indikasies wys daarop dat DNA merkers die toekoms van teling
drasties gaan verander. Hoekom is dit dus belangrik dat rasse DNA monsters moet stoor.
• Dit is goedkoop en ’n goeie en noodsaaklike belegging vir die toekoms.
• Vandag se bulle bepaal more se genetika. Met die groot spronge wat gemaak word in die getal “gene” en genetiese merkers
wat geïdentifiseer word sal dit in die toekoms moontlik wees om vandag se bulle te toets om die invloed op die nageslag te
bepaal.
• DNA in ’n databank sal sorg dat die akkuraatheid van teelwaardes drasties sal kan verbeter indien die genetika van die
voorgeslagte bepaal kan word. Teelwaardes word bepaal deur die dier se eie prestasie, die prestasie van die voorgeslag
asook nageslag. Indien die DNA informasie van die voorgeslagte later bekend word sal dit in die syfers inkorporeer word..
• Gene met ’n nadelige of resessiewe geen (siekte) sal vinniger opgespoor kan word.
• Dit kan moontlik diversiteit behou. Seleksie lyne sterf voortdurend uit en genetiese materiaal kan toelaat dat die lyne weer
geskep kan word of ten minste identifiseer watter lyne gebruik moet word. Dit a.g.v die enorme moontlikhede wat kloning vir
die veebedryf kan inhou.

• Indien genetiese merkers bepaal word wat produksie drasties beïnvloed sal rasse kan opspoor hoe die merkers in die
populasie segregeer.
• Dit sal die identifisering van DNA merkers met n invloed op produksie eienskappe kan bepaal. DNA tesame met die fisiese
produksie word benodig om die invloed van genetiese merkers te bepaal." (Einde)
Dr. Munro Marx van Unistel (die LRF se lab) is ook vir kommentaar oor ’n LRF-DNA bank versoek:
"Ontwikkelings op die gebied van genomiese DNA ontledings vind teen ‘n ongelooflike tempo plaas en toetse wat twee jaar gelede
uiters progressief was, is vandag ou nuus. Neem byvoorbeeld die 56 merker GeneStar profile. Twee jaar terug was die toets die “goue
standard”. ‘n Jaar later verskyn die 3 000 merker Igenity toets wat 13 verskillende ekonomies belangrike kenmerke se genetiese
potensiaal voorspel. Net 6 maande later word die 50 000 merker toets vrygestel en vandag praat hulle reeds van die 700 000 tot 900
000 merkertoets wat binne kort vrygestel gaan word. Dit is dus duidelik dat genomiese DNA profiele ‘n nuwe dimensie aan seleksie- en
teelprogamme gaan bied.
Die stoor van genetiese material (semen, hare en DNA) is dus van uiterste belang om te verseker dat top bulle se DNA bewaar word en
onmiddellik beskikbaar is vir wanneer nodig. Beestelers sal deeglik kennis moet neem van hierdie nuwe tegnologie. Dit is hier om te
bly! Dit gaan al hoe toepasliker word en produsente wat nie hul beeste toets en die resultate aanwend gaan stagneer en agter raak.”
Hieruit kan u sien dat so ’n DNA-Bank belangrik vir ’n ras kan wees. Ons beveel aan dat genootskappe hierna kyk en georganiseerde
aksies loots. Telers kan Unistel direk nader (021 938 9213) vir Guthrie kaarte, spesiale bruin koevert en inskrywings vorm. Sterthare
werk die beste maar sorg dat hulle droog en skoon is. Trek 20-30 hare MET groot haarwortels en moet nie aan die wortels vat nie.
Monster kan korter geknip word maar stuur die deel met die wortels aan. Plaas in spesiale koevert (nie plastiek sakkie nie), verseël en
merk onmiddellik met dier se besonderhede.
Unistel en die LRF sal ’n spesiale prys vir so ’n DNA-Bank onderhandel.
9. The beef cattle stud industry reaches a 20 year high. What's happening in the stud industry.
Which breeds types are dominating.
Its going well with the SA beef cattle stud industry (1) . Total females over two years (hereafter females) in procession of breeders
increased in the last decade with 30% to 275 000 of 35 breeds and 3200 breeders which gives you an average of 86 females per
breeder. Breeders increased in the same period by 17%. Bearing in mind the unique advantage pedigree combined with performance
recording has in determining breeding values or ' how will he breed', this trend should continue if the Dpt. of Agriculture with its
provincial associates, private role players and the stud breeders will propagate the advantages of using good bulls.
I wonder why? Any idea for the decline from the 240 000's in early 1900's to 180 000s in early 2000. Would like to hear from you –
cpeterm@iafrica.com
Breeds with more than 5000 females today which showed an increase of 100% plus in the last decade are in alphabetical order
Beefmaster, Boran, Brangus, Nguni and Simbra – well done.
Breed types
Based on international recognized breed type groups the current relation in South Africa (2) is Tropical 80% (up from 74% ten years
ago), Continental 12% (down from 16%) and British 8% (down from 10%). The most important breeds within these types are:

Tropical (80%) consisting of Bonsmara, Nguni en Brahman (jointly 54% within this group), Afrigus, Afrikaner, Afrisim, Beefmaster,
Boran, Braford, Brangus, Charbray, Drakensberger, Huguenot, Sanganer, Santa Gertrudis, Simbra, Senepol and Tuli.
Continental (12%) consisting of Simmentaler (63% within group), Braunvieh, Charolais, Chianina, Gelbvieh, Limousin, Pinzgauer,
Romagnola and Salers.
British (8%)
Angus, Hereford (jointly 65%), Beef Shorthorn, Dexter, Red Poll, South Devon, Sussex and Wagyu (Australian).
Comparable breed type data for selected countries are presented in the figure. The details for Namibia (3) : Tropical (79%) mainly
Brahman, Simbra and Bonsmara with eight others. Continental (19%) made up of nearly 70% Simmentaler and five others. British (2%)
made up of Angus 47% and three others.
Top-3 dominate the industry
In many countries the beef stud industry is determined by around 30 breeds but essentially by only 3. This dominance is shown in the
following figure for a few countries. (Namibian animals under SA Societies included under Namibia).

The top-3 in order of females are:
South Africa: Bonsmara, Nguni and Brahman.
Namibia: Brahman, Simbra and Bonsmara.
Australia: Angus, Hereford and Brahman.
USA: Angus, Charolais and Hereford.
Top-5 in membership 25 years ago and today.
Unfortunately I don't have female figures for a ¼ century ago and have to take number of active breeders which is not necessarily a
good measurement of the number of females. For example, the average females per breeder for the top-20 breeds varies from 40 to
203.
The top-5 twenty five years ago were in order of membership: Brahman, Simmentaler, Hereford, Bonsmara and Afrikaner.
Today in order of membership: Brahman, Nguni, Bonsmara, Simmentaler and Simbra.
(1) Includes Namibian Simmentaler, Simbra and some Santa Gertrudis, Brangus.
(2) Here I excluded animals of all Namibian breeders – They are included in the Namibian stats
(3) Included Simmentaler, Simbra, Bonsmara and Santa's registered by SA Society.
Sources: ARC Reports; J.Els,NSBA; NPLC, USA; ARCBA, Austrlia and own notes/stats accumulated over years.
10. Suider-Afrika se populêrste internet stoetbees diensverskaffer verby die miljoen kerf. Die
populariteit van enige webtuiste word gemeet aan die getal gebruikers of aantal transaksies. Die
LRF/BREEDPLAN rasse in Suid-Afrika en Namibië se webtuistes het verlede jaar vir die eerste
keer ’n miljoen transaksies oorskry. Hoekom die populariteit en watter rasse staan uit.
Nog ’n groot voordeel van die BREEDPLAN stelsel is hulle fantastiese internet-gebruikers platform waar
’n magdom inligting gratis en sonder lastige registrasie of wagwoorde aan almal beskikbaar gestel word.
Hierdie informasie bevat omvangryke prestasie en stamboom inligting van elke dier, lewendig of dood,
aktief of gekanselleer. Volle besonderhede van alle telers word vinnig bereik en as jy op ’n teler se e-pos
adres klik open jou e-pos program outomaties. Aangesien die meeste gebruikers volgens my ervaring
nog nie bewus is van hierdie en ander dienste sal veral soek-fasiliteite wat volgens die gebruiker se
behoefte opgestel kan word d.m.v. hierdie eNUUS bekend gestel word.
Terug na die miljoen 'hits' rekord. Die LRF-rasse van Namibië en Suid-Afrika se transaksies is verlede
jaar met 14% na 1 018 000 verhoog. Hierdie sluit net BREEDPLAN transaksies in en NIE besoeke na
ander inligting op rasse se webtuistes. ’n Paar afleidings:
• Daar is ook ’n nuwe maandelikse rekord opgestel toe in Augustus 2010 meer 110 000 transaksies plaasgevind het.

• In Suid-Afrika het die Brahman die meeste transaksies gevolg deur Simmentaler en Simbra (laasgenoemde twee sluit Namibië
in). Interessant, al drie rasse wat sterk op hulle BREEDPLAN komper veilings-dienste konsentreer.
• By die groot aantal Namibiese rasse het Brahman nagenoeg ¾ van alle transaksies aangeteken gevolg deur die Braunvieh en
Nguni.
• Die grootste jaarlikse toename by rasse met meer as 10 000 transaksies was Holstein 43%, SA Brangus 30% en SA/Namibië
Simmentaler met 25%.
BREEDPLAN voorsien aan web-administrateurs ’n funksie waardeur die populariteit van die verskillende web-dienste gemonitor kan
word. Dit is veral die volgende dienste wat aandag trek:
• Soos vermeld het die rasse met die meeste "BREEDPLAN- stelsel veilings" ook die meeste hits. Die binne-veiling soekfunksie
na spesifieke diere sal in die volgende eNUUS bespreek word, dit werk fantasties.
• Opkyk van stambome tot sovêr as 12 generasies (hang af van hoeveel die genootskap destyds opgeneem het);
• Teelwaarde navrae in tabel of skets vorm sowel as ’n soekfunksie na diere wat aan sekere prestasie vereistes voldoen en
• Besonderhede van koeie se nageslag en ’n soekfunksie na alle nageslag wat ’n bul geteel het.
Veilings op die BREEDPLAN stelsel 2010
Dit is seker een van die voordeligste BREEDPLAN dienste omdat die gebruiker ’n aantal fasiliteite binne veilings verband kan gebruik.
Nog ’n voordeel is dat al die besonderhede direk van die stelsel kom m.a.w. daar kan nie "foute in die katalogus wees nie". In 2010 is
die volgende veiling katalogusse binne die BREEDPLAN stelsel (m.a.w. nie net ’n pamflet op die web nie) saamgestel en vryelik aan
enige belangstellende d.m.v. die web beskikbaar gestel.
1. Simmentaler 43 veilings (met oor die 40 000 hits net vir veilings).
2. Simbra 35 veilings.
3. Brahman 31 veilings (55 000 hits).
4. SA Holstein hou soos alle suiwelrasse nie baie veilings nie maar publiseer hulle nasionale en ’n paar ander op hulle web volgens
die BREEDPLAN stelsel.
Namibia. Die NSV verskaf die inligting aan die betrokke Afslaers Huise. Dit sluit die stamboom, reproduksie en teelwaarde inligting in,
wat dan deur die Afslaers in hulle katalogusse gepubliseer word. Veilingsdienste op van die rasse se webtuiste sal uitgebrei word.
11. Why is weaning-time the most important weighing/recording time for the BREEDPLAN breeder?
Because weaning weight is compulsory and a couple of other very important traits can only be
recorded at weaning before calves are culled and sold. Do I weigh the calf at exactly 200 days or
can I reduce weighing to only a few times a year.
At around 200 days of age, there are a few records that should be collected from every animal recorded at birth. I assume breeders
reported every birth by an active cow (update cows ICP and days to calving record) regardless how bad the calf is. The larger the group
the better and therefore BREEDPLAN allows an age range of 100 to 300 days for weaning. If weaned and unweaned calves are
weighed together they should be flagged/indicated as a weaned and unweaned group.
What records can we measure at weaning time?
This will depend on your breed society policy and your breeding aims but BREEDPLAN can handle the following if adequate data is
available:
• The most important weight of all is the weaning weight which is used for the 200-day weight EBV. Because of a genetic
correlations between weaning and other weights, recording at weaning also helps to improve the accuracy of other weight
EBVs. It also provides information to all pedigree and contemporaries.
• In general we do not only aim for heavy weaners but also for mothers which wean a heavy calf relative to their weight. This is
only measureable if the mothers are also weighed at weaning for a mature cow weight (MCW) EBV. (I prefer a +12 weaner
with a +25 MCW dam to a +16/+40 combination). Also read the article on MCW in this eNEWS.
• The 200-day weight is also the contributing weight used to estimate the MILK EBV This provides an estimate of the maternal
contribution of a dam to the 200 day weight of her calf. In the case of sires, this estimates the maternal contribution that his
daughters will make to the 200 day weight of their progeny.
• Sheath/naval score, according to the society score card, is done when calves are weighed and before they are culled for this
trait.
• Simultaneously with weighing and sheath score, animals can also be scored for temperament by the breeder according to the
society score-chart.
What about scoring at inspection
Please note that docility, sheath and all other structural scores at inspection are not used for the BLUP analysis because it is selective
testing (see article in this eNEWS) which will lead to incorrect EBVs because animals with problems are culled long before inspection. I
investigated this bias recording in a few breeds and found that only between 3-4 bulls reported at birth are presented to the inspector. I
suggest "BLUP is more interested in the score of the 6 to 7 culled ones".
Another facet of inspection scores is that animals are often older than the analysis cut off age and unusable.

12. Is mooi uiers by suiwel beeste net mooi of ook funksioneel?
Alle suiwel rasse punt uiers vir verskeie eienskappe. So bv. punt SA Holstein klassifiseerders ongeveer 16 000 koeie jaarliks vir agt
verskillende eienskappe van 1 tot 9. Suiwel rasse het gevind dat daar ’n verband is tussen die somatiese sel telling, wat ook gemeet
word, en uiers. Die mooi uier is meer funksioneel.
In Oostenryk punt hulle jaarliks 12 000 eerste kalf Simmentalers en het hulle ook ’n hoë korrelasie tussen somatiese EBV's en uier-
EBVs gevind (in sentraal Europa word alle Simmentalers gemelk). Alhoewel somatiese telling ’n goeie barometer van mastitis is
(genetiese korrelasie 0.70), vertel dit nie die hele storie nie en is somaties ook nie ’n goeie barometer van kliniese (akute) mastitis nie.
Dr. C Fuerst van Oostenryk het die verband tussen uier punting en werklike voorkoms van mastitis bepaal.
Hy het 6880 eerstekalf-koeie koeie volgens hulle stelsel vir ’n aantal uier eienskappe gepunt, dit in een uier teelwaarde vasgelê en ook
mastitis voorkoms in elk van hierdie koeie gemonitor. Die bevindinge is toe statisties ontleed en het getoon dat daar ’n baie goeie
verband tussen hulle uier klassifikasie en die werklike voorkoms van mastitis bestaan. Sien Fuerst se grafiek – uiers word van 1
(pateties) to 9 (ideaal) gepunt en KI bulle se moeders moet ten minste ’n 6 kry.
13. Expert on advantages of using performance tested bulls. This should also be very informative
to your commercial bull buyer.
The reader will gather that there are a few contributions on the financial rewards for farmer and country in using good bulls. For that
reason the approved bull with superior genetic merit plays for years already an important role in many countries. Here a summary from
a statement by Dr. Rob Banks the Manager of Genetics of Australian Meat & Livestock.
"Buying better genetics is the easiest and most reliable way for commercial producers to improve their bottom line. Commercial
producers should look to buy bulls from breeders who have a strong track record of using BREEDPLAN. They are the ones that will
have more bulls with higher $Index-values within their respective breeds. Accelerating genetic progress through BREEDPLAN could
earn the Australian beef industry an additional $50 million (R350m) annually".
Rob advice to stud breeders is:" To keep increasing the rate of progress breeders need to use the best bulls for traits that would make
money for their clients, make better use of high merit young bulls, use the best bulls and replace them as soon as there is something
beter."
14. Fase C groeitoets deelname daal. In die dae voor BLUP was daar meriete in hierdie toetse,
vandag nie. Teel die fase C goue meriete beter as die dood gewone fase C bul?
Die deelname aan fase C bul groeitoetsing deur LRF rasse (ingesluit Santa Gertrudis wat by die L.N.R. prestasie toets) het van net
onder die 500 tien jaar gelede na 75 gedaal. BREEDPLAN bevorder nie fase C toetsing nie omdat die beste bul uit sy groep geneem
word om op ’n toetssentrum getoets te word met 'enkelgroep-groepering' as gevolg. Dit dra glad nie by tot sy EBV nie en die bul kry

gevolglik ’n lae akkuraatheid wat later, tot ontsteltenis van die eienaar, baie kan verander. Dit is jammer want dis meestal die teler se
bulle met die beste potensiaal. Wat sê die kenners:
Dr M Bradfield onderskraag deur Prof F Neser:
"Voor die ontdekking van EBVs was dit onmoontlik om diere oor verskillende groepe, jare, seisoene en kuddes te vergelyk. Die
enigste logiese manier van vergelyking was om jong bulle vanaf verskillende telers in 'n sentrale toetsstasie (Fase C soos Irene,
Armoedsvlakte, Omatjenne, ens) saam te toets. Daar is egter nooit voldoende voorsiening gemaak vir voorspeense verskille nie.
Onder andere het kalwers van koeie met min melk, kalwers uit verse en kalwers sonder kruipvoeding 'n agterstand gehad wat hulle
finale indekse kon beïnvloed."
Dr. W Shaefer Hoof prestasietoetsing VSA Simmentaler:
"Peter jy het my gevra waarom daar nog enkele rasse is wat bulle op stasies toets. EBV's is sonder twyfel die belangrikste seleksie
hulpmiddel in die bedryf en by vere die beste metode om bulle met mekaar te vergelyk. Omdat stasie-toetsing geneig is om
kontemporêre groepe op te breek, kan 'n mens met redelike sekerheid sê dat bultoetse genetiese evaluasie teenwerk Daar is nog ’n
paar telers met 'n bultoets-mentaliteit maar omtrent al ons groter telers breek nie meer hul kontemporêre groepe op nie om bulle na
bultoetse te stuur."
Dr. J Kluyts, Simmentaler/Simbra President:
Verwys na ’n klassieke eksperiment waar Falconer bewys dat seleksie vir groei onder intensiewe 'ad lib.' voeding (fase C voeding) niks
anders is as seleksie vir aptyt (inname) nie terwyl meer doeltreffende diere onder beperkte voedings toestande geselekteer word.
Volgens my navorsing (onder) is die verband tussen die prestasie van bulle by stasies en die genetiese prestasie (EBVs) van hulle
nageslag laer as wat verwag word. Inderwaarheid, die laer indeks-bulle teel baie keer beter as die goue meriete bulle. Dit is seker ook
die rede waarom sentrale toetsing van bulle in lande soos die VK en Australië al jare gelede gestaak is en in die VSA en Kanada
dramaties afgeneem het.
Bewys dit
Agtergrond - Ons het in die verlede, toe daar nog nie EBV's was nie, by die Simmentaler ’n gesogte KI skema gehad waar bulle aan
streng destydse prestasie en voorkoms vereistes moes voldoen. Hierdie bulle is aan Taurus voorsien vir landswye semen distribusie
(die 1ste vleisbees KI skema in die land, 1979). Die vereistes was streng:
.... positiewe Fase C (i) GDT sowel as (ii) Voeromset indekse;
.... speenindeks (die destyds weergawe van melk) moes oor 100 wees;
.... voorkoms van bul en ouers - streng spesiale inspeksie deur senior beoordelaars en
.... goeie Simdeks (oud 1ste kalwing en TKP).
Om te kyk hoe hierdie bulle werklik in baie kuddes in Suidelike Afrika (weens KI) teel het ek vandag se EBVs met die destydse fase C
vergelyk. Om nader aan die werklikheid te wees het egter net KI bulle geneem met ’n 400 dae gewig en melk EBV akkuraatheid van
oor 90%. Daar was uiteindelik 34 bulle wat voldoen het.
Hier word die fase C toetsperiode groei (GDT) sowel as die gewig aan einde van die toets (GDO) vergelyk met die 400 dae gewig
teelwaarde (EBV). Ek het die beste en swakste 10% groepe volgens fase C gebruik. U sal opmerk dat, nieteenstaande die groot indeks
verskille in die hoogste en laagste indeks-groepe, daar geen verskil in werklike teelprestaie was nie.
Groei in toetsperiode (GDT).
Seleksie prioriteit
Fase C groei
(Gem. GDT indeks)
400 dae EBV
(Akkuraatheid >90%)
Beste 10% in groep op GDT indeks 125 16
Die swakste 10% op GDT indeks 102 15
Gem. vir alle bulle: ’n Goeie GDT indeks van 115 maar 400dae in swakste 40% van die ras.
Groei van geboorte tot einde toets (GDO). Het teen
te hoog gediskrimineer.
Groei tot einde fase C
(Gem. GDO indeks)
400 dae EBV
(Akkuraatheid >90%)
Beste 10% in groep op GDO indeks 121 14
Die swakste 10% op GDO indeks 97 13
Gem. vir alle bulle: ’n Goeie GDO indeks van 110 maar 400dae in swakste 40% van die ras.
Melk en geboortegewig
Destyds het ons by die uitsoek van KI-bulle die speenindeks gebruik om melkproduksie te voorspel en die bul se geboortegewig
(sonder enige tussenkudde korreksies) is as barometer vir kalfprobleme gebruik. Kom ons kyk hoe hierdie groep KI-bulle se destydse
seleksie hulp middels vergelyk met hulle werklike teling of teelwaardes.

Melk: Die beste 10% speenindeks bulle (gem. indeks ’n baie hoë 126) se melk EBV is 2.7 (swakste 20% van ras) en die swakste 10%
(gem. indeks 99) se melk EBV is 3.5.
Geboortegewig: Die swaarste 10% van die bulle se gem. geboortegewig was 49kg en hulle het ’n gem. geboortegewig EBV van 1.5
(dis nou nadat BLUP kudde- en omgewings verskille in ag geneem het). Die ligste geboortegewig groep (gem. 35 kg) se EBV is 1.7,
dus swakker as die swaar geboortegewig groep. Bul 'H' het 36kg geweeg maar sy EBV is in die swaarste/swakste 5% van die ras
vergeleke met bul 'A' wat 48kg geweeg het met ’n EBV in die beste 15% van die ras.
Dit toon die voordeel van teelwaardes teenoor indekse.
15. Genomics, the new buzzword in the stud industry. A popular discussion issue at US, Australian
and European congresses is genomic research and applications. In just a few years it has
evolved from covering just a few markers (remember the tenderness and marbling Genestar
tests) to a powerful selection tool.
LRF-breeders should be aware of the latest developments in the use of DNA markers. It's not just a matter of sending hair samples to
the lab and getting results, times changed. The smart 'EBV providers' like BREEDPLAN have developed the methodology to combine
the pedigree and performance information of the breed society with gene marker information from the lab to calculate a more powerful
EBV's.
What is your breed society policy in this regard? Give Drs. Munro Marx or Joubert Oosthuizen of Unistel (the LRF lab.) a call at 021-
9389213/4 and enquire about availability in SA, costing and how to submit hair, semen or blood samples. Unistel is an associate
member of the LRF.
A few brief remarks from countless publications on this subject:
• It's more complicated than we believed. BREEDPLAN CEO Dr. A Rickards: "We thought that producers would simply DNA test
their cattle and then use the information to determine the best way to manage their stock. However, what the scientists have
since learned is that hundreds if not thousands of genes determine the phenotypic expression of each trait and that a more
practical approach to use of DNA markers is to combine them with phenotypic measures to provide marker-assisted EBVs.
Suddenly, the pendulum has swung in the other direction with more phenotypic records being required to validate DNA
markers".
Shows you our 'old fashioned' weighing, scanning and measuring stays important.
• Prof. M Goddard, Australia: "BREEDPLAN will become more important in future. The inclusion of DNA information in
BREEDPLAN will further enhance the system and provide producers with even more information by which to select sires.
Producers won’t have to worry about DNA markers at all. They’l just select animals with the EBVs they think are most
appropriate to their own breeding objectives,”
• More good news for BREEDPLAN users is that the Cooperative Research Centre (CRC) in Australia announced that
prediction equations for growth, feed efficiency, carcase and beef quality and female reproduction attributes that account for at
least 15% of the genetic variation for these traits within Bos taurus and Bos indicus breeds will be delivered to BREEDPLAN
by December 2011. When this information is used in conjunction with current performance and pedigree information the
resulting EBV's will add value for industry.
LRF breed societies one ahead
BREEDPLAN's involvement in this new technology is a big plus for LRF breeders in Southern Africa. Why? I asked the BREEDPLAN
representative in Africa Dr. Michael Bradfield:
" The BREEDPLAN® SmartGENE for beef project has been going for over five years. This project has considered the efficacy of DNA
marker technology and the ability to incorporate DNA results into EBVs. The first Marker assisted EBV’s for tenderness (measured as
shear force) was produced by BREEDPLAN® in 2010. Breed Societies that have sufficient genetic marker information have a lot to gain
from this transformational technology. It is technology that will allow the LRF breeds to remain internationally competitive and has again
put it way ahead of its South African competitors."

16. LRF-Rasse se toetsplan. Druk en bewaar. [Bylae tot LRF-BREEDPLAN E-NUUS 1/2011]
Gerieflike indiening van gewigte/punte d.m.v. (i) HerdMaster (1) ; (ii) elektroniese Excel weegvorm; (iii) via internet; (iv) 'papier' vorm of (v) voorafgedrukte
BREEDPLAN weeglys. Nader u genootskap vir hulle keuses. Sien ook "Watter EBVs is vir u ras beskikbaar".
Watter
stadium
Dek-
seisoen
By dekking
en
kalwing
By kalwing
van koei
By speen
van kalf
Rondom
400 dae
Rondom
600 dae
Meet dit
Verw
Nr
Notas
NIE moontlik as bul heeljaar met koeie loop.
Reproduksie koeie 1 Voorsien Bul-in, bul-uit en resultaat vir ELKE
koei wat bul kry.
Dragtigheid lengte (Gekoppel aan
kalwings gemak)
Wanneer
Ouderdomsgroep
Van bul in datum tot
bul uit datum
Slice (2) EBV benaming
Sodra voldoende data
Days to Calving
2 Voorsien dek/KI datum en geboorte kennis Sien notas Gestation Length
Geboorte gewig (Gekoppel aan
kalwingsgemak)
Kalwingsgemak: Vader van kalf
3
4
Weeg kalf by geboorte
Toekenning van ’n kalwingsgemak kode by
Binne 24 uur 45 d
Birth Wght
Calving Ease Direct
Kalwingsgemak: Moeder van kalf 5 geboorte
Calving Ease Maternal
Speen- of 200 dae gewig 6 200 d wght
Speengewig van kalf 80 tot 300 dae oud 45 d
Melk 7 Milk
Skede/Nael 8
Temperament 9
Skede/nael punting volgens genootskap se 1
tot 9 skaal.
Temperament punting volgens genootskap se
skaal.
80 tot 300 dae oud 45 d Sodra voldoende data
60 tot 400 dae oud 45 d Sodra voldoende data
Koei grootte (Gekorrigeer 5 jaar) 10 Weeg ma en kalf saam by speen. By speen van kalf MCW
400 dae gewig 11 Gewig 300 tot 500 dae 60 d 400d wght
Reproduksie 12
Doen aansoek om geakrediteerde
skandeerder.
13
Meet skrotum omvang volgens genootskap
instruksie nie later as 23 mde ouderdom (Bos
Taurus rasse)
Skandeer bulle en verse vir oogspier
oppervlakte, rib- en kruisvet dikte, % verkoopbare
vleisopbrengs en binnespierse vet%
300 tot 700 dae 60 d Scrotum Circumference
300 tot 800 dae 60d
Cwt; EMA; RIB;
RUMP; RBY%; IMF%
600 dae gewig 14 Gewig 500 tot 900 dae 60 d 600 d wght
Reproduksie Skrotum soos hierbo (Bos Indicus rasse) 300 tot 700 dae 60 d Scrotum Circumference
(1) HerdMaster rekenaar program word sterk aanbeveel (2) Diere gebore binne hierdie periode word as groep saam ontleed

Watter EBV's is vir u ras beskikbaar – In 2010 gepubliseer
(Eerste kolom tussen hakkies die verw. nr. vir ’n beskrywing by "LRF-rasse se Toetsplan"
EBV beskikbaar vir...
Braford
SA
Namibia
Brahm
SA
Namibia
Brangus
SA
Namibia
Limou
SA
Namibia
Simbra
SA
Namibia
Simment
SA
Namibia
Dae tot kalwing (1) Ja Ja
Dragtigheidslengte (2) Ja Ja Ja Ja
Namibia
ander (1)
Geboorte gewig (3) Ja Ja Ja, Ja Ja Ja Ja
Kalwingsgemak-bul (4) Ja
Kalwingsgemak-koei
(5)
Ja
200 dae gewig (6) Ja Ja Ja Ja Ja Ja Ja
Melk (7) Ja Ja Ja Ja Ja Ja Ja
Koeigrootte-MCW (10) Ja Ja Ja Ja Ja Ja Ja
400 dae gewig (11) Ja Ja Ja Ja Ja Ja Ja
Skrotum omvang (12) Ja Ja Ja Ja Ja Ja Ja
600 dae gewig (14) Ja Ja Ja Ja Ja Ja Ja
Karkas gewig (13) Ja Ja Ja Ja Ja Ja Ja
Oogspier oppervlakte Ja Ja Ja Ja Ja Ja
Rib en kruisvet dikte
(13)
Ja Ja Ja Ja Ja Ja
% verkoopbare vleis
(13)
Ja Ja Ja Ja Ja Ja
Binnespierse vet (13) Ja Ja Ja Ja Ja Ja,
Breed object
Ja
Ja Ja
Namibia
Daar is rasse wat besig is om ander eienskappe te meet en data te versamel
vir die toekomstige vrystelling van EBVs
(1)
Namibia ander: Braunvieh, Hereford, Nguni, Santa Gertrudis

17. What a pleasure, for a decade part of a world leader. Ten years ago a mad idea but today all
smiles.
It was a crazy, unheard idea to move away from an established local government supported system to the then unheard foreign
BREEDPLAN system but I had no difficulty to convince our visionary Board and AGM to do so. After some heavy and often nasty
résistance from SA Studbook and the ARC we at Simmentaler were the first in Africa to introduce the BREEDPLAN
registration/performance test system ten years ago. In retrospect, this was the best decision our AGM ever took. The Braford, Brahman,
Brangus, Limousin, Simbra and Namibian breeds also joined and the Holstein launched the registry arm of BREEDPLAN. Today nearly
40% of all the South African beef breeders are with BREEDPLAN, all the Namibian breeders except Bonsmara as well as all the
Zimbabwe breeders.
World leader
BREEDPLAN (ABRI) today is a major provider of livestock recording and genetic evaluation technology in Australia, the USA, Canada,
South Africa, Namibia, Zimbabwe, the United Kingdom and New Zealand. Services are also provided in Malaysia, Thailand, the
Philippines, Hungary, Brazil, Chile, Russia, Turkey, and China and include traceability as well pedigree recording. This covers 120
breed societies with 44 breeds and over 40 million animals recorded in the database with 65 000 participating breeders. (To get some
perspective – in total there are 4100 registered breeders of the 42 beef and dairy cattle breeds in SA).
To stay at the forefront BREEDPLAN has a team of more than 200 highly professional staff which annually has R140 million available
for research and development of new recording and evaluation techniques. The useful animal information is made available to
everybody free of charge via their 24/7 Internet Solutions System which gets more than 3.2 million hits per month. Shows you how
popular this system is among breeders and their client's worldwide.
Top service
To commemorate a decade of service provision in Africa, Dr. A Rickards the CEO of ABRI (BREEDPLAN) emphasized a few key
components of their model:
• Participating breed societies utilize the BREEDPLAN one-stop recording and genetic evaluation services without any form of
government subsidies;
• The breeds have in-office access to an integrated pedigree / performance recording database using BREEDPLAN
International software under an inexpensive licence from ABRI;
• All data is owned by the respective breeds and it resides in Southern Africa under breed society control. A copy of the breed
data is sent electronically to ABRI periodically where the across-herd genetic evaluation report is computed by fast ultra
modern computers and the results are returned electronically to the breed involved;
• In contrast to the SA INTERGIS system were breeds have to pay for their own data, breeds which wish to depart from
BREEDPLAN to join any other system of their choice get their data free of charge.
• The breeds involved have access to and benefit from the substantial international research program conducted by
BREEDPLAN. The BREEDPLAN product also has the unique advantage of access to the output of the R280M research and
development program being undertaken by the Beef Quality Cooperative Research Centre
• Breed society staff are trained to run genetic evaluations at a herd level throughout the year using in-house facilities;
• Research on breed data is conducted within South Africa (by universities) and by the ABRI team to ensure that genetic
parameters are South-African specific. There is no charge for supplying data to bona fide research organisations.”
Put your service where your mouth is:
Ten years ago. We worked 12 hours a day for months to 'clean the data' inherited from the ARC and Studbook (to ensure quality EBVs
the data has to be of high quality) and BREEDPLAN puts the relevant genetic aspects in place. We 'challenged' them to produce the
first SA/Namibian BLUP breed analysis before 31 Dec 2001 and on the 24 rd December 22h00 Australian time the person in charge
phoned me from his office to inform that the EBV's for all Simmentalers will be on the system when I get up on the 25 th . I could not tell
him that breed societies in SA close shop from mid December. Thanks Arthur and your capable team.
18. My speengewigte is vanjaar weens droogte heelwat laer as verlede jaar maar my kudde se
speen-teelwaarde (EBV) het gestyg. Wys jou BLUP werk nie.
Die BREEDPLAN-ontleding elimineer die effek van veranderde seisoene en voeding en publiseer dit on vorm van ’n genetiese tendens
grafiek/tabel vir deelnemende kuddes. Hieruit kan die teler waarneem:
(i) of daar oor die jare genetiese vordering is en
(ii) hoe die kudde op genetiese vlak met die ras vergelyk.

Hierdie is wat my betref die belangrikste verslag wat uitgereik word en kan jaarliks met die inspekteur/voorligter/bestuurder bespreek
word. Telers wat deelneem kan die verslae van hulle kantoor bestel of van hulle privaat BREEDPLAN internet fasiliteit afgelaai. Daar is
ook ’n aantal ander "privaat-verslae" wat afgelaai kan word maar daaroor gesels ons volgende keer. Nader u kantoor vir die prosedure.
Om die verskil tussen teelwaarde en rou gewig te demonstreer het ek ’n ekstensiewe kudde van ’n LRF ras geneem en die speengewig
(blou - driehoek) en speengewig-EBV (rooi - kwadraat) hieronder in die grafiek uitgebeeld. Die genetiese tendens 2000 tot 2009 toon ’n
redelik styging oor jare. Die daling in die 2006 kalweroes is deur ’n spesifieke bul veroorsaak. Alhoewel die werklike speen gewigte
(fenotipiese tendens) in 2002-03 en 2007 deur omgewing (droogte/voeding/bestuur) beïnvloed is toon dit nie in die genetiese tendens
nie. Dis interessant dat die 2001-02 kalwers deur dieselfde bulle verwek is.
19. How do we define the optimum cow? Cattle farmers world wide and judges of all breeds have
discussed this for many decades and scientists investigated this comprehensively. I found a
few very noteworthy comments by well known beef cattle specialists on this important subject.
In my exploration the optimum cow was also defined as the high performance cow; the minimum care cow; the low maintenance cow
and the biologically efficient cow.
Harlan Ritchie says: "The optimum beef cow is indeed an elusive beast. I have searched for her for more than twenty years, and have
come up empty handed. But I believe I’m getting close."
A Large number of experts measure cow efficiency as kg of calf weaned per cow exposed to the bull which incorporates cow fertility,
calving ease, calf survival, milk and growth up to weaning. To complicate matters some use kg of calf produced per unit of energy
consumed by the cow and calf.
Kit Pharo says "Most of the discussions I have read lead you to believe optimum is different for different environments. A few will lead
you to believe the optimum cow could be different for different people within the same environment. I’m not sure I agree with either of
those viewpoints and think that for most ranchers, the optimum cow is the most profitable cow, the cow that can do the most for the
least."
Bob Taylor suggested more than a decade ago: "Maximum profitability is usually achieved before maximum productivity".
Scott Greiner is more specific:" She reaches puberty early, calves at two years of age, and then annually thereafter with minimal calving
difficulty. She weans a calf annually which fits demands of marketplace and meets consumer expectations. She is highly adapted to
environmental and managerial resources and optimizes revenue vs. costs over a long, productive life".
The world renown Beef Improvement Federation - 2010 Convention: “For the majority of producers, the most efficient cow is the one
with the highest milk potential that can, without reducing the percentage of calves successfully weaned, repeatedly produce a calf by
bulls with growth and carcass characteristics valued most in the marketplace.”
Lets wrap up with Harlan Ritchie's food for thought:
Is there an optimum cow? Yes, for a given production and marketing environment.

Have we fully characterized those optimum cows? No, but we are getting closer.
What is impeding our progress? Antagonisms between reproduction, growth, and carcass traits.
Is there a solution? Perhaps. Development of selection indexes within a production / marketing environment is a possibility.
Is it do-able? — I would hope so!
20. Kan rasgenootskappe die bulle voorsien. Is daar genoeg koeie vir die bulle wat ons produseer.
Lisensiëring van bulle.
Die standaard van enige land se bees populasie word bepaal deur die genetiese meriete van die bulle wat gebruik word. Die enorme
invloed van die bul op ’n kudde en derhalwe op die land se koeikudde word duidelik in hierdie eNUUS uitgewys. Vooruitstrewende
lande se landbou leiers is al etlike jare deeglik bewus hiervan en akkommodeer dit tot groot voordeel vir die bedryf deur wetlike en/of
opleidings aksies in hulle nasionale teelbeleid.
Tydens my oponthoud in Duitsland kon ek eers nie hulle streng bul lisensiëring wette verstaan nie en het nie verstaan waarom
duisende bulle geslag moet word. Ek het egter vinnig besef waarom hulle al voor die 2de wêreldoorlog ’n 'nasionale bulwet' geskep het.
Hulle het besef dat die maklikste en vinnigste manier om die land se totale veestapel jaarliks geneties te verbeter is om net die beste
manlike diere (bulle, bere, hingste, ramme, ens.) vir paring te lisensieer (permit-bulle). Kortweg niemand insluitende die kommersiële
bedryf mag ingevolge die land se wette ongelisensieerde manlike diere gebruik nie en almal is gelukkig met die wet omdat dit net goeie
bulle en derhalwe voortdurende verbetering vir almal teweeg bring.
Lisensiëring geskied gereeld landswyd deur ’n kundige komitee en daar word streng vereistes gestel: Bulle moet struktureel korrek
wees (keuring), met positiewe BLUP teelwaardes met ’n minimum akkuraatheid (derhalwe moet alle bulle sonder en met swak
teelwaardes geslag word) en moet die veearts se streng semen toets slaag. Hierdie 'bulwet' vereistes word intussen ook deur die
Europese Unie voorgeskryf.
Die nadeel van hierdie fantastiese stelsel – die boere en hulle beeste is te produktief. Kan dit nadelig wees? Sentraal Europese lande
produseer meer melk en vleis as ooit tevore met minder koeie en daar heers ’n oorproduksie wat d.m.v. van subsidies na buite EU
lande uitgevoer word.
Weens redes wat ek nie hier wil uitspel nie is ’n geordende nasionale 'bulwet' in Suider-Afrika onmoontlik. Dit is die primêre
verantwoordelikheid van die stoetveebedryf om meerderwaardige bulle aan die land beskikbaar te stel om sodoende produktiwiteit te
verhoog. Soos reeds elders vermeld is prestasiedata en stambome nodig om teelwaardes te bepaal en derhalwe is geregistreerde bulle
die enigste bulle met meetbare genetiese meriete en by rasse met verpligte keuring voldoen elke geregistreerde bul ook aan minimum
strukturele standaarde.
Hoeveel bulle word benodig?
Kan die stoetveebedryf genoeg bulle aan die kommersiële beesvleis bedryf in SA voorsien. (Het ongelukkig nie syfers vir Namibië nie
maar glo dat Reinie Rusch, Mecki Schneider en Jacque Els dit vir die bedryf daar kan uitwerk). Weens swak/geen behoorlike Dpt.
Landbou statistieke is dit baie moeilik bepaalbaar en verskil die opinies. Ek het koei getalle, vrugbaarheid en seleksie-druk syfers van
die LRF rasse beraam en by kenners Charl Hunlin (SA Stamboek rasse se syfers) en Peter Milton (kommersiële vleisbees bedryf) gaan
kers opsteek om die volgende te beraam:
• Die kommersiële bedryf benodig jaarliks ongeveer 42 000 vleis-dekbulle (syfers varieer van 38 tot 48 000).
• Die stoetvee bedryf kan ongeveer 36 000 hiervan lewer maar dit sluit alles in m.a.w. gekeur/geregistreer minus bulle aan
mede telers verkoop plus bulle deur stoettelers as graad verkoop (variasie 30 000 tot 40 000).
• Van hierdie 36 000 het hoogstens 25 000 BLUP teelwaardes (ingesluit ongetoetste bulle met teelwaardes d.m.v. getoetste
verwante) maar ek gaan nie raai hoeveel van die 25 000 positiewe waardes het nie. (Nota: Retensie van geboorte tot
registrasie en prestasie toets deelname verskil baie tussen rasse.)
Daar is ’n geweldige mark vir 'ordentlike bulle' maar ons het, vergeleke met Australië, VSA, Kanada en natuurlik Europa, ’n enorme
agterstand wat voorligting/opleiding oor die waarde van goeie bulle betref. In hierdie verband speel genootskappe ’n belangrike rol om
d.m.v. hulle veldpersoneel, beoordelaars, bestuurslede en veral telers landswyd die boodskap uit te verkondig deur byvoorbeeld
'kommersiële boeredae".
Lees ook eNUUS artikel 3: "Improvement of the cowherd through female selection is not effective".
21. Whow! HerdMASTER® introduces new version computer program for breeders. This reduces
the breeders' paperwork significantly.
Let's ask a test-user Me Charlotte Shuite (Braford and Hereford breeder). "I am very impressed with the new HerdMASTER4®
program. There are many new functionalities, you can create your own reports much easier than previously and, to me very important,
is the ease with which I can load animals and weights and submit the reports to the breed society. This should end grumbling by some
stud breeders about the "paperwork" involved in stud breeding."

Here a brief summary by the HerdMASTER® CEO in South Africa.
Firstly, welcome to Duard Cloete whom has taken over the support. Duard has worked in IT all his life and is the ideal person to support
HerdMASTER.
The new "HerdMASTER® 4 is a significant upgrade compared to all the other versions. It is basically a complete new program but has
the same feel as the older versions. It also creates a complete new database on your computer. The older version is retained.
HerdMASTER® 4 has significantly new useful functions including:
A cleaner interface throughout. Loading new calves for e.g. is a breeze and it uses mating's to achieve this ensuring that reproduction
records are updated.
Ability to update itself from the webserver (no more CD's need to be sent as your version is now always updated). Producer requests
are easily incorporated at the same time.
Days to Calving (DTC) recording forms a significant part of the upgrade. BREEDPLAN has recently put a lot of work into the
development of DTC to ensure proper records are taken. This aspect is a major enhancement.
Reports are easily changed on the fly. HerdMASTER has used a new, modern database that allows reports to be created a lot easier.
The new database is also a major improvement from the old database.
Lots of new functionality; for example Visual farm (downloaded from Google maps), new reports, inbreeding functionality in the matings
option, updated crush side recorder, update to mobile version and a whole lot more."
SOS is a new Internet function that gives 24h/365day support. Tips, frequently asked questions and a complete repository of all
HerdMASTER® issues.
Contact Duard Cloete at 012-6675258 or herdmaster@agribsa.co.za
22. Hoe vergelyk ek die genetika van diere met mekaar. Dis mos belangrik om perspektief te kry.
Hoe hanteer ek dit.
Telers en kommersiële bulkopers kan bulle op grond van voorkoms of die uiterlike vergelyk maar hoe vergelyk jy bulle op grond van
hulle genetiese waardes wat bekend staan as BLUP teelwaardes (1) .
(i) Vergelyk diere met mekaar
Moet nie die teelwaarde in die veilings katalogus met '0' vergelyk nie, vergelyk dit met die ’n ander bul sin. Baie boere dink +28 vir sê
maar 400 dae is 28 kg beter as die ras se gemiddelde. Nee, +28 beteken dat die bul se teelwaarde18 kg beter is as die +10 bul van
dieselfde ras.
Wat sê dit vir die koper? Die kanse is goed dat die bul met die +28 teelwaarde swaarder kalwers sal teel as die +10 bul ongeag die
omgewing waarin hulle gebruik word. Op gelykwaardige suiwer of kruis-koeie beteken dit vir die speenkalf produsent 9 kg meer vir elke

kalf of R15 000 meer as die +10 bul oor die aantal 'bul gebruik jare' (2) . Die koper van die +28 EBV bul kan derhalwe R10 000 meer vir
sy bul betaal en maak nog R5 000 meer as die +10 bul se koper. Hier het ons nie die addisionele voordeel van die beter dogters en
hulle kalwers in ag geneem nie.
Gepaard hiermee kyk ook na die akkuraatheid (3) maar meer oor dit in ’n volgende e-nuus.
(ii) Vergelyk diere met die ras.
Alle LRF-rasse het ’n raseie persentiel-tabel waar die teelwaarde distribusie van alle tweejaar oud diere se getoetste eienskappe gelys
word. Waarom tweejaar oud: Die ras gemiddeld verbeter jaarliks en dit is nutteloos om vandag se behoeftes met standaarde van vyf
jaar gelede te vergelyk. Ons beveel aan dat genootskappe hierdie tabel in elke veilings katalogus publiseer. Aan die einde hiervan is
die 'links' om die tabelle af te laai.
Die tabel werk so - getoetste eienskappe verskyn in die persentiel tabel kolomme en die rangorde word in rye van 'Top 1%' tot 'Top
99%' aangetoon. Voorbeeld: ’n +16 in die speengewig kolom staan regoor 'Top 25%' en is derhalwe in die top 25% van die spesifieke
ras se tweejaar oud diere. Syfers hoër as 'Top 50%' is bokant ras gemiddeld en Top 80% is inderwaarheid in onderste 20% van die ras.
My grootste probleem met rangordes is dat teling nie met sport of skool resultate verenigbaar is nie omdat die hoogste teelwaarde nie
noodwendig die beste nie. Telers van die groter groeikragtige rasse gaan nie sommer ’n bul koop wat in die top 10% van die ras se
geboortegewig is nie. Top 10% is vir hulle swakker as top 50%. Eweneens sal ’n ekstensiewe boer normaalweg bulle met ’n MCW
(mature cow weight) in die middelste ⅓ kies omdat ’n top ⅓ bul is weens onderhoud/konstitusie van sy dogters vir nadelig is.
(iii) Ek hou nie van syfers nie
Vir die 'kyker' wat sy dier se teelwaardes op ’n skematiese wyse met die ras wil vergelyk het BREEDPLAN ’n mooi histogram geskep
wat soos hieronder vertoon met 50% as die ras gemiddeld. Dit is by BREEDPLAN se 'Animal enquiry' funksie vir elke dier met
teelwaardes beskikbaar as jy op die blou View druk – dit lyk so: EBV Graph: [View]
Die bul in die diagram hierbo:
Nie op verse nie (lang dragtigheid periode, geboortegewig en kalwingsgemak swakker as rasgemiddeld); sy dogters kalf egter maklik;
positiewe groei veral 600 dae gewig; baie goeie skrotum omvang (vrugbaarheid) met swaar karkasgewig en die ras-spesifieke indekse
is positief (dit het niks met die ouderwetse indekse te make nie).
Indien u die figuur vanaf die web na ’n e-pos of enige ander dokument wil kopieer regsklik u op die figuur, kies 'Copy image' en 'paste'
in jou dokument.
(iv) Onbetekenend
’n Fout wat telers dikwels maak is om klein verskille in teelwaardes as betekenisvol te interpreteer. Moenie gepla wees deur klein
verskille nie. Klassifiseer die teelwaardes volgens die persentiel tabel in drie groepe op te deel nl. laag of onderste ⅓, gemiddeld
(middelste ⅓) en hoog boonste ⅓) en vergelyk bulle dan so.

(v) Mik vir die ras se ideaal
Alle rasse het ‘n teeldoelwit gebaseer op voorkoms of die 'standaard van voortreflikheid'. Van die rasse het ook ’n genetiese doelwit in
vorm ’n ideale stel teelwaardes wat op die ras persentiel aangedui word. By die rasse waar ek betrokke was, is die EBV-teeldoelwit
gebaseer op die toekomstige marknavraag omdat vandag se teling al afgehandel is. Hierdie teeldoel-EBVs is baie belangrik vir
stoettelers en is van die betrokke genootskappe beskikbaar.
(vi) Stoettelers moet hulle kommersiële bulkopers hieroor inlig.
Moet nooit rasse se EBV's met mekaar vergelyk nie. Ek vind dit ’n groot probleem by alleras- veilings soos bv. Vryburg of Ermelo.
Afslaers moet asb. dit voor elke alleras-veilings aankondig. Die Limousin bul met ’n +15 speengewig EBV is in die top 20% van sy ras
en die Simmentaler +15 bul is in die top 5% van sy ras. Dit sê dat nieteenstaande dieselfde teelwaarde die Sim binne sy ras beter is as
die Limo binne sy ras. Dit beteken ook nie dat die Limousin weens hierdie rangorde swaarder kalwers speen as die Simmentaler want
EBVs is nie oor rasse vergelykbaar nie.
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
(1) Teelwaarde of EBV: Die grootste gedeelte van wat ons in ’n dier sien word deur die omgewing beheer (kos, bestuur, weer)
en die kleiner gedeelte word aan genetika toegeskryf. Slegs die genetiese komponent word aan die nageslag oorgedra. Ons
kan egter nie hierdie genetiese komponent afsonderlik van die omgewing se invloed sien nie en daarom gebruik telers van alle
rasse wêreldwyd die BLUP tegnologie om die genetiese komponent te beraam en in teelwaardes uit te druk. Teelwaardes
word bereken vanaf stambome en prestasierekords van diere en al hulle verwante. Die grootste voordeel van EBV's is dat
diere binne ‘n ras, tussen kuddes en oor jare vergelykbaar is.
(2) = 28 kg min 10 = 18kg X 50% bydrae deur bul = 9 kg X R14/kg X 30 kalwers/jaar X 4jaar in kudde = meer as R15 000
(3) Die akkuraatheid of betroubaarheid van ‘n teelwaarde word in ’n % syfer uitgedruk, hoe hoër die syfer hoe beter.
Teelwaardes verander jaarliks (gelukkig) deur die toevoeging van meer inligting en lae akkuraatheid teelwaardes kan nogal
baie verander. Hou altyd in gedagte dat ‘n teelwaarde ‘n gelyke kans het om op- of afwaarts te verander soos wat meer
inligting bykom.
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
Skakels na rasse se persentiel tabelle
Suid-Afrika
Braford - Kliek hier
Brahman - Kliek hier
Brangus - Kliek hier
Limousin - Kliek hier
Simmentaler - Kliek hier
Simbra - Kliek hier
Namibia
Brahman - Kliek hier
Die 13 ander Namibië rasse kan die NSBA se web blad gebruik - vir instruksies kontak NSBA. Kliek hier
23. DNA tests alone don’t tell you much but can be used much more effectively when incorporated
into the performance testing evaluation of a breed and presented as an EBV.
The combination of DNA results from the lab with the breeds genetic or performance test evaluation will result in higher-accuracy EBVs.
This will especially benefit buyers of young bulls who normally buy the bull before he has progeny and therefore a bull with a low EBV
accuracy. These EBVs often change when the bull's progeny is weighed/analysed.
Although the Austrian/German Simmentaler analysis cannot be compared with the BREEDPLAN Sim-analysis (they combine
milk/fat/protein produced, beef, carcase and a large number of confirmation traits) it gives us a good indication of how the accuracy of
EBVs of young bulls at purchase age is improved with inclusion of DNA information. I summarised this from a study by Fuerst and
Egger-Danner.
Total merit EBV accuracy of Simmentaler in Austria and Germany:

Conventional EBV accuracy
Genomic EBV accuracy Marker
assisted EBVs)
Young bull 35% 65%
Cow – 1 st lactation 50% 70%
Bull with progeny 88% 90%
Including genomics into BREEDPLAN EBVs
Just before publication of this eNEWS, BREEDPLAN released information on the incorporation of Pfizer Animal Genetics MVP
information in the Angus BREEDPLAN analysis. The example below shows the change in some EBVs when Pfizer MVP information
has been incorporated for a young bull with only limited recording for early weight traits. With no scanning or carcass data available this
bull has low accuracy EBVs for the carcass traits but the inclusion MVPs (triats in highlighted boxes) increased accuracies.
Original EBV
Source: AGBU Research press
release
24. Meer vleis met minder koeie. Dit vind in die meeste westerse lande plaas. Wat is die situasie by
ons.
Die doeltreffendheid van beesvleis produksie in ’n land word hoofsaaklik deur die produksie per koei of koei produktiwiteit bepaal. Die
meeste navorsers definieer dit ook as kilogram kalf gespeen per koei wat by die bul gekom het m.a.w. as 100 koeie by die bulle kom
meet jy kg gespeen ongeag van hoeveel koeie gekalf het aldan nie. Hierdie maatstaf word verbeter deur
(i) die verhoging van bul en koei vrugbaarheid,
(ii) hoër speengewig en
(iii) laer mortaliteit vanaf geboorte tot speen.
Van die bekende vleisbees lande het goed gevorder – volgens my bronne a.g.v. beter bulle met EBVs, geordende kruisteling, vroeër
kalwing en hoër kalfpersentasie weens beter bestuur:
Kanada – Vleisproduksie per koei verhoog van 170 kg in 1972 na 260 kg in 2008. Minder diere produseer meer vleis.
Brasilië, die grootste beesvleis uitvoerder in die wêreld, sê koei-doeltreffendheid het sedert 1990 met ’n indrukwekkende 50%
toegeneem. Hulle (Beef Issue quarterly) skryf dit toe aan doelgerigte kruisteling, KI met goeie bulle en vermindering van slagouderdom
van die geharde laatryp Nelore – getalsterkste ras in die land.
VSA – Oor die afgelope tien jaar is die produksie per koei met ’n geweldige 20% of 57kg verhoog (Beef magazine). Beter bestuur, beter
genetika, beter reproduksie. 'The industry has produced more with less'.
Dr. LR Corah van die VSA het produktiwiteit bestudeer en kom tot die gevolgtrekking dat die goeie verhoging hoofsaaklik toegeskryf
kan word aan EBV gebaseerde seleksie (hoër gewig) sonder dat geboortegewig noemenswaardig verhoog is (kalfprobleme) sowel as
bestuur faktore (reproduksie).
Wat is die situasie by ons
Gesprekke met verskeie persone by die Dpte Landbou en Statistieke oor koei produktiwiteit was nodeloos. Ander bronne geraadpleeg
praat van ’n verhoging in totale beesvleis produksie wat egter eerder aan hoër karkasgewig, voerkraal effektiwiteit, ens. toegeskryf kan
word en nie noodwendig aan verbeterde koei produktiwiteit nie.
Weens ’n gebrek aan enige betroubare statistieke oor koei produktiwiteit het ek die saak daar gelaat en gaan kyk hoe die kommersiële
bedryf (1) gaan baat indien die volgende elk met 5% verhoog word:
- kg vleis gespeen per koei deur die gebruik van goeie bulle met positiewe groei EBVs en
- koeikudde reproduksie deur beter bestuur.
Original
accuracy
New
EBV
New accuracy
Birth weight 5.6 76 5.3 78
200 day weight 30 60 29 64
400 day weight 40 58 39 58
600 day weight 52 57 50 57
200 milk 7 33 7 48
Carcass weight 28 43 27 52
Carcass traits – Rib -1.5 36 -1.5 51
- P8 -1.3 36 -1.3 44
- EMA 0.5 29 -0.4 44
- RBY 0.4 30 0.4 30
- IMF 0.2 28 0.0 33

Die antwoord is ’n addisionele inkomste van R891 000 vir een speenkalf-oes met dieselfde getal koeie.
(1)
= Gegrond op Peter Milton se kommersiële bedryf syfers van 10 000 produsente, 3 mil koeie, speengewig 200kg, kalf
persentasie 60% en speenkalf R14.
Verhoog karkaswaarde met R1.56 mil
Mnr. John Devenport, ’n voormalige voorsitter van die LRF het die volgende projeksies bereken t.o.v. karkasgewig geproduseer (2) :
• Indien die kalfpersentasie met net 1.5% verhoog word beteken dit R477 mil ekstra in karkas waarde.
• As speengewig met 2.5% (5kg) verhoog is dit ’n addisionele R516 mil.
• Totale waarde vermeerdering dus R994 mil.
(2)
= Gegrond op ’n teelkudde (breeding herd) van 7mil met ’n 58% kalf persentasie; mortaliteit van 5%; slaggewig 400kg met
52% uitslag en R23 karkas prys.
25. Cow weight is the best indicator of cow feed requirements and a valuable benchmark for sought
after 'growth curve bender bulls'. But when and how do we weigh cows.
Under Southern African extensive farming conditions mature cow weight (MCW) is the most underrated EBV. This EBV is calculated
from cow weights taken when calves are weaned or, when not weighed at weaning, calculated from weights taken previously (like 600
day). A cow with a MCW EBV of +60 should have a higher mature weight than a cow with a MCW of +40 and will therefore require
more feed to maintain her than the other one.
My biggest problem with the MCW EBV interpretation is that many breeders get a EBV although they don't weigh their cows. This is
normal procedure because of MCW's high correlation with weights taken at 600 and/or 400 days. But be careful, you can only identify
growth curve bender bulls/animals correctly by weighing cows at weaning.
Emphasize 'at weaning'
Many breeders in SA are not aware that BREEDPLAN will only analyze cow weights taken within two weeks of the 200 day weight.
Subsequently, cows should be weighed at the same time as the 200 day weight is recorded. Breed society advisors should inform their
breeders about this rule in order to avoid unnecessary weighing of cows. I checked this: Breed society X weighed 4450 cows in a
certain year but BREEDPLAN informed me that only 1500 or a third could be used for the analysis because the rest were recorded
incorrectly. BREEDPLAN's Dr. B Crook:" Taking lots of cow weights within a year does not make for a better analysis. It is far better to
take ONE weight on the cow in any ONE year, and to take this WHEN the calf is being weighed for its relevant 200-day weight.
Females are only permitted to have a maximum of four MCW records included, and the weight must be taken within 2 weeks of the calf
being weighed for 200-day weight."
Why not weigh cows at birth
At Simmentaler we liked to weigh cows at calving to determine the calf:mother weight relation but we also promoted weighing at
weaning for the same relation at weaning. I often discussed the merit of these cow weighing stages with BREEDPLANs Dr. B Crook
and eventually he analyzed 20 000 of our cows which were weighed at birth and at weaning. He concludes:
“ The high genetic correlation of 0.95 indicates that any attempts to modify cow weight via selective breeding, will achieve a similar
outcome irrespective of whether selection is based on cow weights taken at calving or at weaning. However, the higher repeatability
and heritability for cow weight at weaning indicate that this is the more reliable measure of the two cow weight traits. It is also the more
practical measurement, given that all cows and calves in the management group are being handled and weighed together, as opposed
to weighing single cows in the calving group over a period of time. Weighing cows at calving also has the added problem of greater
stress to the postpartum cows."
You cant compare a show cow with a veld cow
Condition or management notes/codes are also applicable to MCW for example pointing out sick cows or, what nearly all show
people forget, show or sale cows. If no management code is supplied with the cow weight, BREEDPLAN will use the management
code submitted with the 200 day weight of the calves to sub-group the weights of the cows.
Breeders submit cow weights electronically via HerdMaster, weighing lists supplied by the office or a BREEDPLAN compatible
Microsoft Excel template for weaning and cow weights. (only a few societies).
Growth curve bender bulls
Most beef breeds aim for an average birth weight EBV, high wean and post weaning EBV's to maximize weight at the selling stage
combined with an average MCW EBV so that lifetime maintenance energy for the breeding herd is minimized. "Curve benders” are not
common because we try to change natures normal growth curve for our economic benefit.
Bottom line: The only way to identify curve benders is to weigh calves at birth, plus at least one post-weaning stage and definitely cows
at weaning for a reliable MCW EBV.

26. SA Holstein eerste in SA met top registrasie rekenaarprogram.
BREEDPLAN International het verlede jaar hulle "nuwe-generasie" rekenaarprogram vrygestel wat
genootskappe in staat stel om hulle registrasie, teler en prestasie aangeleenthede d.m.v. van die uiters
verbruikersvriendelike "ILR2" program te hanteer. ’n Aantal internasionale genootskappe het al
opgradeer en onlangs was SA Holstein die eerste lokale BREEDPLAN gebruiker wat oorgeskakel het.
Mev. Ellen Jacobs van Holstein sê:" Dit is die beste program in die 23 jaar wat ek vir Holstein werk. Die
opstel van veilings en skou katalogusse werk baie makliker en enigiets wat die teler soek kry jy baie
vinnig d.m.v. ILR2".
Mev. Isabel Bouwer werk ook al tien jaar by SA Holstein: "Ek het nog nie so iets beleef nie – user
friendly, alle inligting op een screen, om op te kyk tik jy nie meer nie jy klik net en die opname van
kalwers se kleur beskrywing (foto’s) werk baie vinnig wonderlik met ’n scanner."
Ander BREEDPLAN gebruiker-genootskappe in onder andere Australië, New Zealand, die VSA, Kanada en die VK is net so in hul skik
met hierdie "lekker program".
27. Let's talk bull.... The experts say and I quote in not more than 5 lines.
"Bull selection is not a "horse race" to maximize a single trait; it is an attempt to find complete, functional bulls capable of making an
contribution to herd profitability through their calves." (Jim Gosey)
"The first thing a bull buyer should do is cull out the breeders. Buy from a breeder that measures performance with no excuses like "I
don’t have the time" or "I can see good cattle". Any breeder who produces good bulls should be able to put his records where his mouth
is." (Rob de Baca).
Preliminary Australian research results on sperm count: "The percentage of normal sperm in a bulls ejaculate is not only a reliable
indicator of the bulls calf getting ability but also points to daughters that reach puberty faster than heifers born from bulls with lower level
of normal sperm. It also seems to point to lactating first calf cows who are ready to mate at a shorter interval after calving." (Dick
Holroyd).
"Usually, the cheap bulls in a sale are the most expensive. Have you ever wondered why the successful cattlemen never buy the
bottom end of a sale? It is because they have figured out that good genetics pay and do not cost."(Steve Meadows)
"Be aware that a bull's physical appearance can mask the true underlying genetics. The heritability of growth rate is moderate at around
30% which means that even among a group of cattle reared together, 70% of the difference you see are due to factors other than
genetics. At multi-vendor sales bulls were prepared different, so the problem of deciding how much of the difference is due to genetics
is even greater. That's why we use EBV's". (Bob Gaden)
"Visual appearance tells you what a bull appears to be. His pedigree tells you what he ought to be. His performance tells you what he
actually is". (A very old saying I often used – Author unknown).
"We tested many bulls. Bulls fed high gaining rations often lay down fat in the scrotum, and this results in lower fertility. The testes
normally maintain a temperature four to six degrees cooler than body temperature. If fat deposits develop in the neck of the scrotum,
the countercurrent heat exchange, where warm blood from the body is cooled by the blood in the testes, is disrupted. Sperm
production is not normal at higher temperatures and results in negative reproductive traits.” (J. Pruitt).
28. Zimbabwe, slaan oor na BREEDPLAN.
In die verlede was die land nie net bekend vir sy uitstaande boere nie maar ook vir sy stoettelers. Ons is bly om te verneem dat die
Zimbabwe Herd Book weer gestalte aanneem deurdat hulle die BREEDPLAN registrasie en prestasie geïnstalleer het. Hulle het tans
55 telers van 15 vleis- en 1 suiwel-ras met 6000 aangetekende diere. Die grootste drie rasse is Brahman, Tuli en Beefmaster. Sodra
alle rekords met prestasies data bygewerk is, sal teelwaardes vrygestel word.
29. Things are moving fast in the stud breeding business and on going research is of the utmost
importance. Agricultural research has stagnated in Southern Africa but BREEDPLAN
participants are privileged to have access to and benefit from the latest research and
development programs.

It's nice to be part of the leaders. I abridged the following for the LRF from various sources.
• For the past 30 years, beef producers have used BREEDPLAN EBV's to accelerate genetic progress, tighten up breeding
operations, improve productivity and increase prices for cattle sold for breeding and slaughter. The inclusion of DNA
information in BREEDPLAN will further enhance the system and provide producers with even more information by which to
select sires. (Beef CRC Chief Scientist Professor Mike Goddard).
• BREEDPLAN released marker assisted Shear Force EBVs for the Australian Brahman a while ago. They combine pedigree,
measured performance of meat tenderness, flight time (temperament) and GeneSTAR DNA marker information. (Tropical
Beef Technology Services).
• The Australian Beef CRC, CSIRO, Meat and Livestock Australia and the Animal Genetics and Breeding Unit (AGBU), in
collaboration with the University of Queensland, have announced the release of a DNA test that accurately predicts polledness
in beef cattle. The test has proven highly accurate in several breeds of cattle in research trials conducted across Australia and
is now available at a reduced cost to producers who are willing to assist in validating the accuracy of the test in wider cattle
populations.(Beef CRC). More on this in the next eNEWS.
• To assist members in improving the structural soundness of their animals, Angus Australia has recently published
BREEDPLAN trial EBVs for Structural Soundness which include five leg and feet traits - Front Feet Angle, Rear Feet Angle,
Front Feet Claw Set, Rear Leg Hind View and Rear Leg Side View. Scores were gathered on 9000 Angus bulls and females
which contributed 37,472 records to the database. (Angus Australia).
• Enhancements have been made to the Calving Ease analysis that is conducted by BREEDPLAN. This will particularly effect
the genetic evaluation that is conducted for breeds where both Calving Ease EBVs and Selection Index values. (Southern
Beef Technology Services).
• ILR2, is BREEDPLANs new generation software to manage pedigree and performance services of breed societies. The new
software includes several new features such as enhanced user-oriented reports and the running of monthly GROUP analyses
(a full analysis of all records within a breed). (Own review from many – PM)
• Pfizer Animal Genetics has released a new DNA test for the Black Angus breed in Australia. The Australian Animals Genetics
and Breeding Unit (AGBU), Pfizer, Animal Genetics and Angus Australia are now working on the integration of these results
into the Angus BREEDPLAN evaluation to create marker assisted EBVs for 13 different traits - Calving Ease Direct, Rib Fat,
Calving Ease Daughters, Eye Muscle Area, Birth Weight, Marbling, Weaning Weight, Tenderness, Milk, Dry Matter Intake,
Average Daily Gain, Net Feed Intake and Carcase Weight. The new DNA test is available at R1400 per animal. (From SBTS).
• The Australian Beef CRC is currently conducting a research project to develop new knowledge which will enable beef
producers to select for improved cow efficiency. The project involves ongoing performance and reproduction recording on
approximately 8000 BREEDPLAN recorded heifers from conception to their second calf. (From SBTS).
• "I can't keep up with all the fancy new developments". No problem in Australia – Their stud breeders now have access to
ongoing support and assistance in the use and understanding of the different genetic technologies. Assistance is primarily
provided by a team of experts through phone and email consultation, supplemented by property visits where required. (Own
review).
Mr Wessel Hattingh, Chairman of the LRF, commentary on "It's nice to be one of the leaders":
In recent years we have seen exponential development in the genetic advancement of agriculture. Dry land yield of cash crops are
closing up on crops under irrigation. Active participation in all the options of performance testing under BREEDPLAN will afford us as
breeders the opportunity to achieve the same results. The best technology in the world is available to LRF breeders – Make use of it.
30. Stud breeders must be responsible.
Unfortunately I cannot call to mind the person responsible for the following very wise notes which I scribbled down at a cattle congress
a few years ago. My version of the notes:
Stud breeders provide genetic leadership to the industry, but it comes with responsibilities. Don't practice 'single trait' selection. The
single trait frame chase years ago messed up many a breed and the 'elephant-chaser-breeders' did not show leadership at all.
Profitability lies in the middle of the road in a lot of traits.
Furthermore, always concentrate on the total package. EBV's are a great tool to keep things balanced but they can also be misused to
chase and maximize a trait to the disadvantage of a breed.
31. A team of experts on meat production, consumption and prices in South Africa.
From a comprehensive report "The South African Baseline" by the Bureau for Food and Agricultural Policy (BFAP). Thanks, you are
doing a wonderfull and important job.
Refer figure 1:

The growth in the consumption of chicken meat is projected to outpace the growth for all the other types of meat. With an increase of
42% over the next decade, the total consumption of chicken meat is projected to exceed 2 million tons by 2019. Beef consumption is
expected to grow by 17%. Although the sheep meat market is relatively small, a significant growth of 31% is expected over the next
decade as per capita income increases. Pork consumption is projected to grow by 14% until 2019.
Figure 1: SA meat consumption
Refer figure 2:
The impact of the financial crises is clearly illustrated by the stagnation of growth in the consumption of beef from 2008 to 2010. From
2011 onwards beef consumption will increase at an annual average rate of 1.7%, driven by the gradual economic recovery to reach a
level of more than 700 000 tons in 2019.
Figure 2: SA beef production, consumption and price
Refer figure 3:
Over the outlook period beef prices will move in a typical cyclical pattern with the next increasing trend commencing in 2011. With a
projected annual average rate of increase of 7%, the beef price will reach R46/kg in 2019 compared to a calf price of R28/kg.

Figure 3: SA beef price versus calf price
32. A team of experts on milk production, consumption and prices in South Africa.
From a comprehensive report "The South African Baseline" by the Bureau for Food and Agricultural Policy (BFAP). Thanks, you are
doing a wonderfull and important job.
Figure 1:
The tight balance between demand and supply of milk is projected to continue over the baseline with consumption growing at a
marginally faster rate than production. The small shortage in the market will be supplemented through the imports of dairy products.
Whereas the producer price of milk increased by an annual average of 10.1% over the past decade, an annual average increase of
8.1% is projected for the baseline period. This brings the milk producer price to R6.98 per litre by 2019. The higher prices over the
outlook period are supported by the consistent growth in demand as the economy recovers and continues to grow over the baseline.
Figure 1: SA fluid milk production and utilization
Figure 2:
Over the next decade the growth in the consumption of skimmed milk power (SMP) and whole milk powder (WMP) is projected to
increase rapidly with a respective annual average growth rate of 4.9% and 5.9%. The consumption of cheese is projected to increase
by 2.4% per annum to reach approximately 45 000 tons by 2019. The growth in butter consumption is expected to remain stagnant
around 11 000 tons.

Figure 2: SA consumption of dairy products
33. Kalender
March 29 -30 Tues-Wed HerdMASTER & BREEDPLAN Course Zimbabwe
April 11 Mon HerdMASTER & BREEDPLAN Course Botswana
15 Fri HerdMASTER Course Bloemfontein
May 3-5th Tues-Fri Vryburg skou Vryburg
16-20th Mon-Fri NAMPO Bothaville
30-31 Tues-Fri Royal show Pietermaritzburg
June 1-2nd Wed-Thurs Royal show Pietermaritzburg
9 Thurs LRF Uitvoerende Vergadering Bloemfontein
23rd Thurs Breedplan Course Bloemfontein
24th Fri HerdMASTER Course Bloemfontein
30 - 2 July Thurs-Sat Small Stock Expo of Excellence Grootfontein
August 30-2nd Tues-Fri Pretoria Show Pretoria
September 1st Thurs Breedplan Course Pretoria
2nd Fri HerdMASTER Course Pretoria
6th Tues Breedplan Course Zimbabwe
7th Wed HerdMASTER Course Zimbabwe
13th Tues Breedplan Course Botswana
14th Wed HerdMASTER Course Botswana
26-30th Mon-Thurs Windhoek Show Windhoek
26th Mon Breedplan Course Windhoek
27th Tues HerdMASTER Course Windhoek
Oct 19-21 Wed-Fri STOCKMAN SCHOOL Aldam
21 Fri LRF AGM Aldam
25-26 Tues-Wed STOCKMANSCHOOL Botswana

Nov 16th Wed HerdMASTER Course Bloemfontein
17th Thurs LRF AGM Bloemfontein
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
The views expressed by the compiler and his references are not necessarily those of the members and management of the LRF
(www.lrf.co.za); BREEDPLAN International (http://breedplan.une.edu.au) and Agricultural Business South Africa (Pty) Ltd.
(2002/032134/07) (www.breedplan.co.za).
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