Supplied by Angus Australia — AngusPRO Magazine 2025
Angus Australia has added to its services for the beef industry with the launch of Angus SteerSELECT in October 2024. This new genomic based product provides beef producers a tool to determine the genetic potential of Angus steers, allowing for more informed decisions across the beef supply chain.
Angus Australia CEO, Scott Wright explained that the launch of Angus SteerSELECT adds to Angus Australia’s portfolio of genetic focused tools for Australian and New Zealand Angus breeders and Angus beef supply chains. This product builds on Angus Australia’s long history of providing world leading genetic evaluation solutions.
“Angus SteerSELECT is the culmination of five years of collaboration between Angus Australia and the CSIRO, Australia’s National Science Agency. Importantly, it leverages the genotype and phenotype reference population data curated by Angus Australia, including the rich dataset from the Angus Sire Benchmarking Program,” says Mr Wright.
Angus Australia’s General Manager of Genetic Improvement, Christian Duff, explained that Angus SteerSELECT complements the genetic selection tools already available, particularly Angus HeiferSELECT, which has been in use since 2017.
“Angus SteerSELECT provides genetic predictions across nine key traits important for Angus steer production. This is coupled with an overall Angus Steer Value (ASV), which encapsulates the overall genetic worth of each steer,” says Christian.
He added that the tool also offers sire verification (where possible) and genomic breed composition to further enhance its value for producers.
“Angus SteerSELECT can be accessed directly from Angus Australia or via our collaborating partners Zoetis Animal Genetics and Neogen Australasia.”
Angus SteerSELECT was developed and validated in the commercial environment, enabling greater precision in sorting and marketing Angus steers into lines suitable for the different paths within the beef supply chain.
Rangers Valley’s Livestock Procurement Manager William Schmidt says, “We are excited about the possibility of being able to individually select commercial progeny for specific feeding programs.
“By identifying individual animal’s genetic potential, we hope to reduce our production cost of feeding cattle that are not suited to our long-fed programs,” added William.
What is Angus SteerSELECT?
Angus SteerSELECT is a genomic selection tool that identifies the genetic merit of Angus steers (87.5% Angus content or greater). It provides greater precision in sorting and/or marketing steers into lines suitable for the different paths in the beef supply chain.
Angus SteerSELECT provides:
• Genetic predictions for nine growth, feedlot, carcase and resilience traits.
• An overall selection Index, the Angus Steer Value (ASV), with simplified star rating.
• Angus BreedCHECK – a genomic breed composition prediction.
• Sire verification – verification of potential sires who are registered with Angus Australia and have genomic profiles available.
Angus SteerSELECT complements other sources of information that may be used in sorting and marketing of Angus steers, such as age, weight and background information like past feedlot and carcase grading performance. Angus SteerSELECT provides valuable insight into the genetic potential of steers, particularly for traits that are difficult to assess visually (i.e. marbling potential).
Angus SteerSELECT is suitable for both Angus steers and heifers entering the beef supply chain. For breeding heifers, the companion product Angus HeiferSELECT is more suitable.
Benefits of Angus SteerSELECT
Angus SteerSELECT facilitates more precise decision making when breeding and/or managing Angus steers entering the beef supply chain.
• Identify genetic suitability. Identify steers that have the genetic profile suitable for specific Angus beef supply chains (i.e. feedlots or beef brands).
• Understand breed composition. Utilise Angus BreedCHECK information to understand the breed composition of steers, particularly their Angus content.
• Exploit marketing opportunities. Provide objective data on Angus content and genetic potential for marketing Angus steers into the beef supply chain.
• Inform bull purchasing decisions. Better understand the genetic traits in commercial herds and identify the priorities for bull purchasing decision.
Developed Specifically for Australian and New Zealand Angus Cattle and Production Systems
Through utilisation of Angus Australia’s genomic and phenotypic database, Angus SteerSELECT provides the most accurate genetic predictions possible for Angus steers in Australian and New Zealand production systems.
Angus SteerSELECT genetic predictions are calculated based on analysis of Angus Australia’s extensive genomic and phenotypic database. Collated over many years, this database combines the DNA profiles of Australian and New Zealand Angus animals with comprehensive performance measurements collected in respective beef production systems.
Modern scientific knowledge, developed by CSIRO, enables the association between the DNA profiles and performance measurements to be analysed, and genetic predictions to be calculated from the DNA profiles of the steers tested with Angus SteerSELECT.
Understanding Angus SteerSELECT Results
Angus SteerSELECT provides genetic predictions for nine growth, feed intake, carcase and resilience traits, along with an overall selection Index, Angus Steer Value (with star rating).
The genetic predictions are reported using an intuitive 0 – 100 scoring system, with a score of 50 representing the average genetic merit of current-day commercial Angus animals.
Higher values identify steers carrying genetics that will produce ‘more’ of a trait, which may or may not be preferred, subject to the production system. For example, a steer with an Average Daily Gain (ADG) prediction of 80 would be expected to have a higher daily gain (kg/day) than a steer, particularly from the same cohort, with an ADG genetic prediction of 30, all other things being equal. Similarly, higher MSA Marbling genetic predictions indicate the animal is expected to produce a carcase that is more likely to have a higher marbling score.
A description of each of the traits by group is listed in the table below…
Angus Steer Value – Balanced Selection
Angus SteerSELECT provides an overall selection index being Angus Steer Value (ASV). It balances six traits that have an impact on efficiency, production, and profitability in most beef supply chains, particularly those that include lot feeding.
The ASV assists in making ‘balanced’ selection decisions to identify animals that have the genetic potential to suit specific beef supply chains. Higher ASVs identify steers have a balanced genetic profile with a focus on beef quantity and quality.
Angus SteerSELECT genetic predictions are provided on all animals that are greater than 50% Angus content. Caution should be applied when using the genetic predictions for animals less than 87.5% Angus as the associated reference population is based on straight bred Angus animals.
Embrace the future of genetic selection and optimise your Angus beef production with Angus SteerSELECT.
