The risks of single-trait selection are frequently discussed in the beef industry. Most producers know that focusing on one trait in isolation rarely delivers balanced outcomes, however there is aContinue reading “Trends to be aware of in commercial cattle breeding”
Category Archives: Bull Buying
Weekly genetics review: Approach your bull buying activity like you are recruiting staff
Selecting new bulls is a process most breeders undertake each year. However, the process is not always a comfortable one, and in some cases, producers find it to be aContinue reading “Weekly genetics review: Approach your bull buying activity like you are recruiting staff”
Unlocking Genetic Potential for Feed Efficiency and Reproductive Success
The introduction of the Mature Body Condition EBV represents one of the most significant advancements in Angus genetic evaluation in recent years. This powerful tool allows producers to select forContinue reading “Unlocking Genetic Potential for Feed Efficiency and Reproductive Success”
2025 Spring Bull Series
The 2025 Spring Bull Series is returning to screens once again, just in time for the Spring joining season. An event that connects the entire breeding community, it is perfectlyContinue reading “2025 Spring Bull Series”
Register for the Beefing It Up Youth Workshop
Are you a young person passionate about agriculture and ready to dive into the heart of New Zealand’s beef industry? Beefing It Up is an immersive workshop tailored for aspiringContinue reading “Register for the Beefing It Up Youth Workshop”
Hard Work and Genetics Paying their Way
Ngāputahi Station is now owned and run by Forbes and his son Angus, and there are three generations living on the property. Forbes’ granddaughter lives on the finishing farm and helps out with cattle work in her spare time — she has a young family. Forbes lives across the river from the main farm and still works at Ngāputahi every day.
Mature Cow Traits for AngusPRO
Recently, during the 2024 TACE Enhancements, the mature cow height and mature body condition traits transitioned from RBVs to EBVs. These traits are only available on animals recorded with Angus Australia – AngusPRO.
Profit drivers for beef producers are commonly linked to growth and carcass traits. However, to continue to make more informed selection decisions for overall herd profitability, consideration of mature cow traits that impact the performance of the cow herd will be essential. Mature Body Condition score (MBC), Mature Cow Height (MCH), and Mature Cow Weight (MCW) should be considered for their impact on the efficiency of the cow herd and tailored to your environmental conditions and market demands.
CUP Scanning Finding Outliers
Mat Bailey from Bailey Scanning has been on a quest to bring better technology to the scanning world. In 2024 he travelled to America where he was certified under the Ultrasounds Guidelines Council (UGC) at Texas A&M University, as well as completing a Centralised Ultrasound Processing (CUP) Lab training programme at Iowa State University.
Weekly genetics review: Factoring the cost of feed into selection decisions
Feed cost is often cited among producers during the bull selling season. However the attention on feed costs in most discussions centres around the preparation costs of bulls presented forContinue reading “Weekly genetics review: Factoring the cost of feed into selection decisions”
Making better bull selection decisions with heifer matings
There are numerous factors which need to be considered when selecting a bull to mate over heifers. In many cases, the primary aim is to produce a live calf whichContinue reading “Making better bull selection decisions with heifer matings”