Expression of Interest – Angus Commercial Cow Herds for Innovative R&D

Angus Australia is seeking expressions of interest from cattle breeders running commercial Angus cow herds for involvement in genetics based research and development initiatives.

To lodge your expression of interest, CLICK HERE.

More specifically, Angus Australia will be expanding the number of commercial Angus herds and cows in the renown Angus Sire Benchmarking Program (ASBP).

The ASBP is the major R&D initiative of Angus Australia with support from Meat & Livestock Australia (MLA), supply chain and research partners. The objectives of the ASBP are:

1. Build a comprehensive phenotype and genotype reference population on Australian Angus for genomic technology validation, research and development.
2. Generate progeny test data on modern Angus bulls, particularly for hard to measure traits such as feed efficiency, meat quality and quantity attributes from the abattoir, female reproduction and immune competence.
3. Generate data for the validation & refinement of Angus genetic evaluation programs such as TACE.

Further information on the ASBP can be viewed HERE.

The benefits

Listed below are several benefits that herds will obtain from being a ASBP co-operator cow herd:

• Access to high performance and industry leading Angus sires – CLICK HERE to see ASBP sires that have entered the program to date.
• All females and their progeny are registered on the Angus Performance Register (APR).
• All progeny are comprehensively performance recorded and genotyped, producing estimated breeding value for selection.
• All heifer progeny bred from the program can be retained as future breeders.
• Collaborate, interact and learn with Angus Australia staff, supply chain partners, technicians and researchers.

Herd Selection Preferences

Listed below are preferences for herds to involved in this initiative.

• A minimum of 300 Angus cows (mixed age classes suitable, including yearling heifers).
• Able to commit to a medium/long term program (e.g. 5 years minimum)
• Yard facilities capable of undertaking fixed time artificial insemination programs.
• Able to manage program bred cattle in contemporary groups and collect basic on-farm data (e.g. weights)
• Able to background program bred steers to feedlot entry weights, join program bred heifers as yearlings and retain to first calving.
• Spring calving (i.e. join females October to December)
• A general interest in Angus genetics and beef industry R&D.

EOIs will be collected to 30th June 2019, however earlier nominations are preferable.

TO LODGE EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST CLICK HERE
 
 
 
If you have any questions please contact:
Christian Duff (Angus Australia’s Strategic Projects Manager) on 0457 457 141 or christian@angusaustralia.com.au, or
Nick Butcher (Angus Australia’s ASBP Project Officer) on 0427 701 236 or nick@angusaustralia.com.au