FOR PRE-GAME DISCUSSION AND PLANNING

Words by Jake Phillips, Angus Australia extension manager

The Stock Agent’s Toolkit has been designed for stock agents across Australia and New Zealand as a clear, simple, and effective place to learn to interpret and understand the evolving amount of information available when considering purchasing registered Angus bulls.

Although the module is designed for stock agents, the messages and content also relate to many seedstock and commercial Angus breeders and the benefits of using the content as a discussion point in planning for the upcoming breeding season will be long lasting for the supply chain.

Stock agents play a critical role in the transaction of information and decision making between the seedstock producer and the commercial breeder, so with this in mind a series of eight short videos and summarised written content have been developed. The video content supplements the traditional written content by allowing a variety of learning styles to take advantage of the content.

The Stock Agent’s Toolkit includes key components such as:

• The role genetics plays in my client’s herd?

• Interpreting and understanding the information in Angus sale catalogues

• What tools are available to identify the right genetics for my client?

• DNA – parent verification, genomics and genetic conditions

• What do you need to do before starting to look at bulls?

• How do I find bulls to suit my client’s needs?

• Why is focusing on genetics a worthwhile exercise?

• Selecting your next Angus bull

Each of the eight modules were born out of discussion with leading stock agents in the industry, helping to identify the key areas where agents and clients could conduct some pre-purchase discussions and planning to ensure the sires being evaluated met the client’s breeding objective and were going to contribute the most amount of genetic gain in the traits of importance first.

What role do genetics play in your client’s herd?

The performance of a bull is largely influenced by the genetics and the environment. The way a bull presents on sale day is often a reflection of the environment it has been raised in up until that point. Utilising breeding decision tools will give a more accurate indication of the animals true breeding value - tools such as EBVs should be considered, to assist in making informed decisions regarding sire selection.

Angus sale catalogues

With more and more information on animals and their breeding values becoming available, it is important to be able to understand and interpret the information that is presented in a sale catalogue.

Tools available for making genetics decisions

Estimated breeding values (EBVs) are a tool to predict an animal’s true breeding value which is defined as its genetic merit for each trait.

DNA – Parent verification, genomic and genetic conditions

DNA technology is being routinely used to provide a quality assurance step in verifying recorded pedigrees, for genomic evaluation and inclusion into the TACE analysis to provide more information on the genes it’s carrying earlier in the animal’s life and with greater comparison, and for testing of the nine genetic conditions monitored by Angus Australia.

What do you need to do before starting to look at bulls?

There are a few simple steps to help find the right bull for clients; define the target market, review the available selection indexes and define the breeding objective. You can then identify a suitable seedstock producer who produces bulls that meet your client’s breeding objective and have been raised in a way that will work in your client’s environment.

How do I find bulls to suit my client’s needs?

Angus Australia has searching capabilities through Angus SELECT on the Angus Australia website. Angus SELECT helps find animals for sale or who have genetics for sale, which can be searched across catalogues listed with Angus Australia. By registering (no cost involved) to use Angus SELECT you will get access to the full amount of information available on each animal.

Why is focusing on genetics a worthwhile exercise?

The Angus Sire Benchmarking Program (ASBP) has demonstrated that there is great potential to achieve genetic improvement in Angus breeding programs by utilising selection tools, such as estimated breeding values (EBVs) and selection indexes.

Selecting your next Angus bull

Choosing your bull is an important task, with many things to think about before you make your selections. Whether you are selecting bulls from an auction, a private sale, or from within your own breeding program, there are a number of things to consider. A single bull’s genetic influence has the potential to significantly impact the future direction of your herd, so it is important to choose wisely.