WHAT
IS SENEPOL BREEDPLAN?
The Australian Senepol Cattle Breeders’
Association (ASCBA) and the National Beef Recording Scheme (NBRS)
have developed the integrated pedigree and performance recording
system - SENEPOL BREEDPLAN.
Senepol breeders can record the performance
of animals in their herd for important growth, fertility and carcase
traits. This information is recorded with the animals' pedigree
details. BREEDPLAN then combines the pedigree and performance
information to estimate the breeding potential or genetic merit
of each animal in the herd for these performance traits. The breeding
potential of each animal is reported as an Estimated Breeding
Value (or EBV) for each trait.
BREEDPLAN is designed to be used as a management
aid to help cattle breeders improve the genetic merit and profitability
of their herds. It concentrates on those traits of real commercial
importance that can be improved by selection.
THE SENEPOL BREEDPLAN ANALYSIS
At the time when SENEPOL GROUP BREEDPLAN is
available, it is envisaged that once a year all of the pedigree
& performance data that has been recorded on the ASCBA database
will be analysed and updated EBVs calculated for all animals.
The traits that can be potentially analysed
in SENEPOL BREEDPLAN include:
Milking Ability Calving Ease
Birth Weight Carcase Weight
200 Day Growth Eye Muscle Area
400 Day Weight Rib and Rump Fat Depth
600 Day Weight Retail Beef Yield %
Mature Cow Weight Intra-muscular Fat %
Scrotal Size Docility
Days to Calving Net Feed Efficiency
Gestation Length
SENEPOL BREEDPLAN
HERD REPORTS
GROUP Herd Reports
Following the running of each annual Senepol
GROUP BREEDPLAN analysis (once available), a herd report will
be sent to all members of Senepol BREEDPLAN who have submitted
weights during the previous year. This report will include EBVs
for all calves (born in recent years) that have been performance
recorded in your herd and their sires and dams.
The report will also provide genetic trend
tables for the breed and for the individual herd. The trend
tables enable the breeder to compare the current genetic level
of his herd with the breed average for each trait. A percentile
band table will also be provided. This report allows the breeder
to identify the relative ranking of animals within the breed.
Interim Herd Reports
Each time that weights are submitted to Senepol
GROUP BREEDPLAN throughout the year (except birth weights),
an INTERIM HERD REPORT will be sent to the breeder. This report
includes updated EBVs for all recent calves in that herd.
The report will also include a calving spread
report. The calving spread report includes information on all
calves in the herd whether they have been performance recorded
or not.
THE RECORDING SYSTEM
SENEPOL BREEDPLAN is a two stage recording
system:
Stage 1 Pedigree and birth details of the
calves are submitted to the ASCBA, either on the ASCBA calf
recording and registration form or electronically by diskette
or email. All queries regarding pedigrees and recording should
be directed to the ASCBA.
Stage 2 Post-birth weights and performance
measures for calves recorded with the ASCBA in Step 1 are then
submitted to Senepol BREEDPLAN staff at ABRI. This data is submitted
either on preprinted Performance Recording forms, that are automatically
sent to you once you have submitted calf records to the ASCBA,
or electronically from a BREEDPLAN-compatible software package.
HOW TO PERFORMANCE RECORD WITH SENEPOL BREEDPLAN
Simply complete the enclosed enrolment form
and return it to SENEPOL BREEDPLAN. Upon receival of your enrolment
form, a BREEDPLAN enrolment package will be forwarded to you.
This package contains detailed information to assist you with
your performance recording. Once enrolled, you will be sent Performance
Recording Forms automatically as calves are recorded with the
ASCBA. The Performance Recording forms list all the animals in
your herd that have been recorded on your registration forms for
a particular year and season. You simply record the performance
information of the animals on these forms, then send the completed
forms to ABRI for analysis and provision of an updated report
for your herd.
At the top of the Performance Recording forms
the suggested weighing dates for the calves at 200 days, 400 days
and 600 days are shown. The dates are related to the average age
for each group of calves for that trait. While it is suggested
that you try to weigh close to these dates, you may vary these
dates to suit your management. BREEDPLAN can analyse post-birth
weights taken on animals aged from 80 to 900 days.
Once 200-day weights have been submitted, you
will be sent a further set of Performance Recording input forms
to enable you to submit later weights on these animals.
BACKDATA
"Backdata" is the term we use for
past performance records. If you have been recording weights for
your animals in the past, you may wish to submit this data for
processing in SENEPOL BREEDPLAN. To submit backdata on calves
that have been previously pedigree recorded with the ASCBA, simply
request Performance Recording forms for the calving years and
seasons required.
If you wish to submit backdata on commercial
calves that have not been recorded with the ASCBA then you must
first record the animals with the ASCBA before submitting the
performance information to ABRI.
HERD SIZE
There is no minimum herd size for performance
recording with SENEPOL BREEDPLAN. However, as a rough guide, the
herd would need to have 20 or more calves born within a three-month
period to obtain effective results.
Herds with relatively small numbers should request
the leaflet titled “SENEPOL BREEDPLAN -
Small Herds - Obtaining effective results from BREEDPLAN”.
This document provides extra information about effective performance
recording for small herds.
HOW MUCH WORK IS INVOLVED
FOR SENEPOL BREEDPLAN?
At a minimum, all calves need to be weighed
at around weaning (this is usually around 200 days of age although
any age from 80 to 300 days is acceptable) and the weights submitted
on the Performance Recording forms.
It is desirable to reweigh as many calves as
possible at 400 and 600 days. You will find that there is little
extra work involved in Performance Recording over and above that
which you already do for the registration of your calves. The
rewards for this small effort will far outweigh the cost involved.
THE COSTS INVOLVED
The costs to participate in SENEPOL BREEDPLAN
are detailed on the “Senepol
BREEDPLAN - Fee Schedule”. Please note that there may
be extra costs billed by the Australian Senepol Cattle Breeders’
Association for participation in Senepol BREEDPLAN.
ASSOCIATED HERDS
Where there is a link between two or more members
herds, they can be run as one herd in the BREEDPLAN analysis.
The general type of association between herds is where two or
more members’ herds, each with its own herd identifier,
are managed and run as one herd. These members’ herds are
mated together and performance recorded together. This situation
usually occurs where members of a family have a number of animals
registered in their own name but they are bred from and raised
with a primary herd.
If you feel you fall into this category, please
contact one of the SENEPOL BREEDPLAN staff who can discuss the
options available with you.
Senepol
Breedplan Enrolment Form
WHO DO I CONTACT FOR ADVICE?
On calf registration/recording details:
Australian Senepol Cattle Breeders' Association
Beverley Hutchinson
“Wirrabilla”
PEAK CROSSING QLD 4306
Ph: (07) 5467 2136
Fax: (07) 5467 2034
On performance records and Senepol
BREEDPLAN in general:
Senepol BREEDPLAN
ABRI
University of New England
ARMIDALE NSW 2351
Andrew Byrne
Ph: (02) 6773 3357
Fax: (02) 6772 5376
Email: senepol@breedplan.une.edu.au
Web: http://breedplan.une.edu.au/
