Breeding better: WA producers get hands-on
The strong turnout of young beef producers was a highlight of Angus Australia’s recent ‘Driving Better Breeding Decisions’ workshop at Rhodes Pastoral, Boyup Brook, where around 25 producers gathered for a practical look at genetics, genomics and the tools available to support breeding decisions.
Hosted by Angus Australia in conjunction with the WA Angus Affiliated Group and Rhodes Pastoral Pty Ltd, the workshop attracted a mix of commercial and seedstock producers from across Western Australia.
Angus Australia Extension Officer Dr Brad Hine said the enthusiasm of the younger producers attending was particularly encouraging.
“To me, the highlight of the day was seeing so many young beef producers come along and their willingness to share insights into their operations,” Brad said.
“There was a real sense of optimism about the future of the beef industry and a willingness to explore the opportunities that new technologies, including genomic tools, can offer.”
Dr Hine opened the workshop with a session exploring genetics, genomics and navigating angus.tech, before Southwest WA Regional Soil Coordinator Bridget Watkins turned the focus to soil health and pasture management.
The group then headed into the paddock with Rhodes Pastoral Beef Operations Manager John Curtin, who provided an insight into the Rhodes Pastoral beef enterprise and some of the breeding and management decisions being made within the operation.
The practical focus continued with Mark Muir and Andrew Kuss from the WA Angus Affiliated Group leading a structural assessment session using Rhodes Pastoral commercial females.
Participants were then put to the test, visually ranking the females on genetic merit before comparing their assessment with genomic prediction information provided through Angus HeiferSELECT used by Rhodes Pastoral in the selection of replacement heifers.
For participant Annabel Dewar, the workshop provided a valuable introduction to both the Angus community and the tools available to producers.
“It was a really great introduction to WA Angus and Angus Australia,” Annabel said.
“It was great to hear Brad talk about EBVs and go into more detail on genomics, but also to see there are so many contacts and resources available for people wanting to get started in farming.
“It’s good to know there are people out there and tools available through Angus Australia that can help you understand what you’re looking for and work towards your breeding objectives.”
An interactive panel discussion and Q&A provided a further opportunity for participants to share experiences, ask questions and discuss how the information presented throughout the day could be applied within their own enterprises.
Angus Australia and the WA Angus Affiliated Group thank everyone who participated in the workshop, and particularly Michael, John, Tom and the Rhodes Pastoral team for opening their operation and hosting the day.
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