Angus Bulletin Spring 2021 by Angus Australia

Angus BULLETIN

Distributed by the Angus Society of Australia

Keeping maternal traits in mind · Booming bull sales obliterate the records · Balanced Breeding with Angus Selection Indexes · Cooking with Verified Black Angus Beef · The Angus Foundation Research Grant Launch

Spring 2021

Strength in Diversity

TEXAS ICEMAN R725

IMAGE: STUDSTOCKSALES.COM

Sire: POSS MAVERICK PV · Dam: TEXAS UNDINE H647 SV

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· Texas Iceman’s EBV’s are unmatched with a combination of +3.2BW, +151 600D and +12.2 EMA. Add to this his excellent calving ease direct +7.8, Scrotal Circ +2.7, carcase Wt +90 and positive for both fat EBV’s it is easy to see why competition to own this young sire pushed him to a record breaking $225,000. · Iceman is backed by one of the most prominent maternal lines in the Australian Angus breed. His dam Texas Undine H647 has been a matron of the Texas Angus program. Texas Undine H647 has now produced 18 sons who have sold for an average of $37,100 at Texas Angus. · Iceman’s unrivalled performance, breed leading index values and eye-catching phenotype combine to make him a sire who will dominate the global beef industry for many years.

DAM OF ICEMAN TEXAS UNDINE H647

Dir

Dtrs

BWT

200

400

600

MCW

Milk

DTC

DOC CWT

EMA

RIB

RBY

IMF

Angle

Claw

+1.02 +1.14

EBV

+7.9

+5.4

-8.0

+3.3

+63

+119 +151 +127

+18

-2.7

+2.7

+90

+12.2

+1.2

+0.8

+1.2

+1.6

(Acc)

46%

35%

70%

73%

71%

69%

64%

38%

72%

45%

67%

64%

68%

65%

64%

75%

Perc

Mid August 2021 TransTasman Angus Cattle Evaluation

ABI

DOM

GRN

$158

$144

$164 $157

GRS

Top 20%

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Est

1998

Stage 2 Dispersal Sale 29th and 30th MARCH 2022 Naracoorte Sales Complex

400 SUPER Elite Females • Q&R PTIC Females • Selected S Heifer Calves • PTIC Registered Recips Peter Colliver Stud Manager 0428 723 640 The Angus Bulletin - Spring 2021

contents

Spring 2021 | Volume 45

2 Contents 5

President’s Report

Report from the Angus Australia Board meeting conducted on 12th August 2021

Life Membership Awarded to Graham White

Angus Australia CEO announces retirement plans

57 39 Enhancements to the BreedObject Selection Index Software 40 Using a selection Index in a breeding program – A tool to genetic selection

42 Update – From the Angus Foundation 43 The Angus Foundation Research Grant – Launch!

10 Booming bull sales obliterate the records

13 Sale Catalogue Frequently Asked Questions

14 Commercial Angus females hit new highs

44 The Campbell Family: EBVs and Post Drought Expansion

47 New Angus Sire Benchmarking Consultative Committee

14 Around the Saleyards 16 Keeping Maternal Traits in Mind

48 Choosing the Right Progesterone Device

18 Spring Bull Night showcases sire potential

50 Angus and Angus Influenced Cattle up to the challenge

19 Angus Australia and Vetoquinol extend partnership in multi-year deal

53 Angus for MSA Performance 54 Paddock to palate carcase quality success

20 New Genetic Evaluation Consultative Committee Announced

56 Angus prove their worth on grass and grain

21 Wrapping up Next Generation Selection with RBVs 22 Balanced Breeding with Angus Selection Indexes

57 Feedback drives consistency in breeding

Publisher: Angus Australia Locked Bag 11 Armidale NSW 2350 P: 02 6773 4600 | F: 02 6772 3095 E: office@angusaustralia.com.au W: www.angusaustralia.com.au Editor: Diana Wood Layout: Ebonie Sadler-Small Printer: printcentre.net.au. TACE Angus.Tech ASBP Breed Development Commerical Supply Chain General Genomics Northern Development Member Services Youth

61 58 Chasing a top Angus performance at Guy Fawkes Station 61 Turnbull’s strict breeding program ensures quality Angus steers

Angus Education Marketing Angus Foundation

76 Where are they now? 77 Micquella giving Angus youth a voice at state level 78 A chance to travel to the land of the long white cloud

62 Cooking with Verified Black Angus Beef 63 Verified Black Angus Beef Boosts Optimism to Communities in COVID Lockdown Crisis 64 NVDs – Accepted Breed Descriptions

65 Mating predictor running ‘red hot’

66 Member Services Matters 68 Understanding Angus Australia’s DNA Services 70 Important Changes to Animal Identification

79 Angus Australia Staff Directory

Advertisers Indexes 4 ABS

67 Pentire Angus

59 Absolute Angus

55 Performance Feeds

BC Achmea

61 Quanden Springs

43 Queensland Machinery Agency

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18 Beef Genetics 5

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20 Farmers Breeding Supplies 6

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71 NH Foods Australia joins the Angus Youth National Roundup as title sponsor

75 Genetic Choice

72 Get to the NH Foods Australia Angus Youth National Roundup

19 Mort & Co

74 Angus Youth awards five scholarships to the Tocal Beef Cattle Assessment Course 75 Georgia and Phoebe awarded SmartBeef Scholarships

IFC Genetics Australia

IBC Reiland Angus 46 Semex Beef 1

Stoney Point Angus

Tooperang Beef Cattle

49 Vetoquinol

38 Neogen Disclaimer: Opinions expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of the Editor or of the Board of Angus Australia. Neither the Editor nor Angus Australia takes any responsibility for the accuracy of the information contained within this publication, nor for the outcome (including consequential loss) of any action taken by readers or others based on information contained therein. The publishers reserve the right to refuse or cancel without notice any advertisement in a publication issued by them.

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President’s Report

Sam White, President and Board Chairperson

COVID-19

COVID-19 continues to put many challenges in front of our members, and their ability to adapt under another set of trying circumstances over which we have little control, such as restrictions on travel, border closures and lockdowns in local government areas around the country. I would like to acknowledge the NSW Minster for Agriculture, Mr Adam Marshall, and NSW Minister for Health, Mr Brad Hazzard for making changes to allow bull sales to continue in lockdown areas in NSW under essential service exemptions. I recognise that many members have had to make changes to their sale formats to comply with COVID health requirements. The list of online auctions continues to grow to help facilitate these requirements. Well done to all and I wish you all the best in these very dynamic times for the bull sales going forward. The market demand for Angus bulls is currently very buoyant.

Market strong

These are unprecedented times in terms of prices for our stud bulls and females, and for commercial cattle. The fundamental drive remains restocking of the national herd after years of drought. It is great to see breeders of good lines of females and steers being well rewarded for their efforts after many tough years. Such buoyancy helps the rebuilding of herds, and necessary cashflow after many expensive years. The saying, “Make hay while the sun shines” springs to mind.

CEO to Retire

On the 18th August, Peter Parnell announced his intention to retire from the CEO role in early 2022. I would like to acknowledge Peter’s substantial contribution to Angus Australia over the last 12 years. He has developed a great team of people at Angus Australia and developed the business into what it is today. The Board would like to acknowledge Peter for allowing us with sufficient time to find a suitable replacement for his role. This process has commenced with the engagement of recruiting firm Rimfire Resources to carry out the search process.

Progress of Selection Indexes

On the 2nd August, Angus Australia released a number of research selection indexes, which can be found under the Research Indexes tab on angus.tech. The process of consultation with members on these Research Selection Indexes will be ongoing for the next few months. I encourage as many members as possible to be part of this consultation process as it rolls out.

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I would like to once again acknowledge the dedicated team of people at Angus Australia adapting once again to lockdown requirements during COVID restrictions in NSW, with some working from home and some at the office providing necessary support for all our members. Congratulations on the recent Spring Bull Night, and all who participated. It is a highlight of my calendar looking for new bulls coming into the market. There is a lot happening at the moment and the restriction on movement with these lockdowns is frustrating for us all. I look forward to the time when we can go wherever, whenever. It will be dependent on vaccinations being received by all.

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The Angus Bulletin - Spring 2021

Report from the Angus Australia Board meeting conducted on 12th August 2021 Peter Parnell, Chief Executive Officer

The Angus Australia Board met by videoconference on the 12th August 2021 and considered numerous items, including the following: · Ongoing plans for the maintenance of services by Angus Australia to members during the extended COVID-19 lockdown conditions, and representation to the NSW government for exemptions to public health orders to enable breeders to conduct COVID-safe bull sales during lockdown periods. · Successful roll-out of research selection indexes for member consultation and review. · Adjustment of fee schedule to provide volume discounts for members transferring over 200 females following a herd dispersal, using a similar discount scale to that applied to female inventory fees. · Angus Australia’s continued engagement in industry discussions led by MLA regarding multi-breed genetic evaluation, with the suggestion that across-breed EBV adjustment tables be published by MLA for those traits and breeds where suitable data exists. · Planned adoption of additional measures to ensure that Angus Australia is adequately compliant with the requirements of the Privacy Act (1988) and associated Australian Privacy Principles, including the implementation of an opt-in policy before contact details are included on the Angus Australia website (i.e. via AngusTech MemberSelect facility), and the non

disclosure of contact details of all Junior Members under 18 years of age on AngusTech (further details to be provided). · Resolved to amend Regulation 14.5 so that it now reads “No individual EBVs will be provided from the TransTasman Angus Cattle Evaluation for unregistered animals, or animals recorded in the MBR that are not either 1% or greater Angus or Red Angus, or 100% Murray Grey”. · Discussions on planned review of the operation of the Base APR facility. Where relevant, further information will be provided to members over coming weeks on specific items resolved by the Board, including the details of any resulting Regulation changes. The Board also noted the intention of Peter Parnell to retire from the role as CEO of Angus Australia, effective from 28th February 2022. Rimfire Resources has been engaged to manage the search for a suitable replacement for the CEO role over coming months. The next Board meeting is scheduled for the 25-26th November 2021 at Armidale, NSW. Peter Parnell, Chief Executive Officer 24th August 2021

Make sure you visit www.angusaustralia.com.au to stay up to date with the latest Angus news

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Life Membership Awarded to Graham White Diana Wood, Marketing & Communications Manager

In recognition of his service to The Angus Society of Australia and the development of the Angus breed, New South Wales Angus breeder, Mr Graham White was recently presented with prestigious honour of a Life Membership of Angus Australia.

Mr Graham H White being presented with Life Membership of Angus Australia, by his nephew and current Angus Australia President, Sam White at the Eastern Plains Angus Bull Sale. Image: Billy Jupp, The Land

The presentation was made by Mr White’s nephew and current Angus Australia President, Mr Sam White, at the recent annual Eastern Plains Angus Bull sale. The White name is synonymous with the Angus breed and its development having been involved since the very beginning, with Bald Blair Pastoral Co, one of the founding studs of the Angus Society of Australia. Mr White has been involved in breeding both registered and commercial Angus cattle for over 60 years and while retired still maintains an avid interest in the breed and its developments. He began his work in the family business, Bald Blair Pastoral Co. from the time he left school in the late 1940’s alongside his father the late Col Harold F White (President 1927 – 1937) and his brother the late Richard White (President 1967-1969). Bald Blair Pastoral Co ran merino sheep and prime lambs, Bald Blair Angus Stud and a commercial Angus herd. In 1971 after the death of their father Mr White and Richard ran Bald Blair Pastoral Co in partnership, until the mid-1980’s when an amicable partnership split of the Bald Blair Angus stud and commercial Angus herd, saw Mr White, wife Mary and sons Frank and Andrew focus on the development of the Eastern Plains Angus Stud and commercial herd. During this time Mr White dedicated a significant amount of his time to the Angus Society of Australia with an impressive record of service over 30 plus years for the betterment of Angus cattle in Australia. With a progressive group of breeders, Mr White was also involved in the early steps to formalise performance recording in beef cattle and Angus in the early 1970’s, helping to lay the foundations for the TransTasman Angus Cattle Evaluation as we know it today.

Mr White’s roles included: · New England Angus Breeders Committee Member in the 1970’s and early 1980’s with a term as Chairman · Founding member of New England Performance Plus (a multi breed benchmarking style group for seedstock producers) in the 1980’s · NSW State Committee member from the mid 1980’s until the late 1990’s, including 2 years as Chaiman · Founding member of Northern Tablelands Angus Inc. and a committee member during the 1990’s, which organised Angus weaner circuit sales in Guyra and Armidale · Federal Council of the Angus Society of Australia, representing NSW from 1990 1999, including the Vice President role in 1994-1995 and President from 1996 – 1997 · Angus Society of Australia ARCBA Representative 1990’s · Member of Official Judges panel of the Angus Society of Australia · Judging in New Zealand and at most Australian Royal Shows While on the Angus Society of Australia’s Federal Council Mr White was an integral part of the team that instigated and oversaw the move of the Society from Sydney to Armidale in 1994. A significant achievement for Mr White during his time as President was when Australia hosted the World Angus Forum in 1997 in Sydney. Mr White also had an impressive record of service within the Guyra Community. Of the Life Membership presentation, Mr White’s daughterin-law Sally White said that, ‘Frank and family, and Andrew and I were especially pleased that Graham’s nephew Sam White, made this presentation as it was very fitting for the occasion’. The Angus Bulletin - Spring 2021

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Angus Australia CEO announces retirement plans Dr Peter Parnell has announced that he will be retiring from the role as Angus Australia CEO in February 2022.

“

It has been a great privilege to have had the opportunity to work in the role of CEO of Angus Australia during a time of massive advancement of the breed and the organisation

“

Dr Parnell commenced in the CEO role in May 2009 and has overseen the introduction of some very significant changes to Angus Australia during his time at the helm of the organisation. Dr Parnell had also previously filled the role of Breed Development Manager with Angus Australia between 1996 and 2001. In announcing his retirement plans Dr Parnell said, “It has been a great privilege to have had the opportunity to work in the role of CEO of Angus Australia during a time of massive advancement of the breed and the organisation.” “I have had the honour of working with some very insightful and supportive Directors during my time as CEO, and I have been surrounded by very talented and passionate staff over this period”. “I can understand why many people in the beef industry are resistant to change. But I firmly believe that one of the key reasons for success of the Angus breed in recent decades has been the willingness of Angus breeders to embrace advances in genetic technology. This has enabled the Angus breed to evolve rapidly over time and maintain its competitive edge in meeting market requirements.” “Any objective analysis of genetic trend statistics for Angus in Australia will show that building on the solid foundation established by pioneers of the breed, Angus breeders have achieved rates of genetic improvement in profitability traits over the past 30 years that are unsurpassed by any other significant beef population globally. It is with a sense of pride to have the knowledge that the services provided by Angus Australia to its members have contributed to this achievement”. “I believe that another important reason for the success of the ‘Angus brand’ has been the ability to base marketing

and promotion claims on a solid foundation of supporting data. This provides incredible persuasive power, whether it be used to support the marketing of an Angus bull, or the marketing of quality Angus beef to a discerning beef importer”. “It has been very rewarding and fulfilling to have spent a large part of my career so closely involved with Angus breeders”, said Dr Parnell. With the assistance of Rimfire Resources, Angus Australia will conduct an exhaustive executive search process over coming months to obtain a replacement for the CEO role.

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The Angus Bulletin - Spring 2021

Booming bull sales obliterate the records Diana Wood, Marketing & Communications Manager

Angus bull sales across the board have been nothing short of marvelous, with 100% clearances achieved across almost all sales and averages north of $10,000 becoming an everyday occurrence, as this phenomenal spring bull selling season continues to rewrite the history books day after day.

Texas angus breaks two australian Angus records in one day At the end of July, Texas Angus were the first to claim both the Australian Angus Record Price for a HBR Bull sold at auction and the record average at auction for an Angus bull sale. On a day described by breeder Ben Mayne as, ‘What dreams are made of’, Texas reached a total clearance of 181 Angus bulls for the record average of $20,967. Mr Mayne said that he had never seen anything like this sale before. ‘It was like firecrackers going off, bids were flying everywhere, and we had to set more spotters up to make sure no bids were missed’. The record top price of $225,000 was achieved on Lot 7, 15-month-old Texas Iceman R725 when he sold to Robert McKenzie, owner of Macka’s Pastoral and Verified Black Angus Beef Brand, Macka’s Australian Black Angus Beef, Gloucester NSW. In their catalogue the Mayne’s described Iceman as, ‘One of the widest, most heavily-built muscular bulls we have bred for a long time, with a huge back-end’. Something buyer Robert McKenzie clearly agreed with when confirming the bull will, ‘Give us something we’re looking for to put some serious power into our 3500-commercial herd operation’. Iceman was sired by Poss Maverick, who had 9 sons in the sale that sold for an average of $50,000. Genetics Australia have been tasked with marketing the semen from Texas Iceman R725. The previous record was set by Millah Murrah Paratrooper P15 at the 2019 Millah Murrah Angus Bull Sale, when he sold to the Cowan Family, Arkle Angus, with ABS Australia securing the semen rights. Millah Murrah also set the previous record average at their 2020 bull sale when a full clearance of 78 Angus bulls averaged $20,384. 10

“

In August Angus bulls held the majority of the market accounting for 74.4% of bull sales, with 3,017 bulls sold for a $14,409 average. While the first week of September saw 621 Angus bulls sold across 11 sales for a $19,801 average. Five bulls sold for six figures during this week, three at the Millah Murrah Angus sale, Bathurst, and two at the Milwillah Angus sale, Young. As at the 8th of September Angus bull sales across Australia for the year have seen 7,957 bulls sold from 145 sales for an average of $12,950. In New South Wales and Queensland where many of the spring bull sales at this point in time have taken place, the average sits at $15,246 for 4,516 Angus bulls sold in NSW and $14,272 for 348 Angus bulls sold in Qld.

The Angus breed is really powering on, a lot of people are restocking with Angus and Angus cross cattle The day following the bull sale saw Texas come close to also breaking the record average for a registered Angus female sale, when they achieved an average of $13,374 for 107 Angus females. This record currently sits at $13,709, set by Millah Murrah Angus at their 2017 female sale, selling 234 Angus Females. Top price of $65,000 at the Texas Female Sale, was for Lot 26, five-year-old Texas Undine M508, with heifer calf at foot, selling to Boambee Angus, East Seaham NSW. Poss Mavrick daughters were also hot property in this sale with heifers sired by him averaging $31,000. According to Wendy Mayne, ‘The beef industry is on a high, there is so much excitement in the beef market and I believe that this confidence will remain for a few years’. ‘There are not enough females in the market at the moment and when you head north there are empty paddocks full of grass’ Mr Mayne added that, ‘The Angus breed is really powering on, a lot of people are restocking with Angus and Angus cross cattle, not the breed they had prior to destocking’. ‘And as such, the demand for quality Angus bulls is going to be huge this season as they want to buy the genetics to breed the next generation of cows.’ ‘One thing we noticed was that commercial breeders were challenging the seedstock producers for bulls at the high end of the market’

A: With the $225,000 top selling bull Texas Iceman R725, Kneeling – Wendy Mayne, Michael Glasser, Ray White GTSM, Ben Mayne, Robert & Jack McKenzie. Standing – Bruce McKenzie, Alexandra Lynch, Rodney McDonald, Bowe & Lidbury and Nigel Semmens, Genetics Australia, B: The $280,000 Australian Angus record top-priced bull with Elders agent Andrew Bickford, Bathurst, auctioneer Paul Dooley, Tamworth and Millah Murrah’s Ross and Dimity Thompson and their daughters Millie, Olivia and Twiggy. Image: Danni MacCue Photography. And while the Mayne’s were excited to break the record average, they believed in the current climate that it was unlikely to last exceptionally long.

Millah Murrah sends records tumbling Almost six weeks later the Mayne’s were correct, as the Millah Murrah Angus Bull Sale reached new heights, that saw those records set earlier, tumble. A new record top price for an Angus bull sold at auction, of $280,000 was reached, while a total clearance of 118 Angus bulls were sold for an Australian all breeds record average of $34,221. This saw the sale become the highest grossing single vendor bull sale ever in Australia, returning $4,038,000. For vendor Ross Thompson, the results are something he, ‘Cannot get my head around. The interest ahead of the sale was insane, so we knew something was on. But I am sure I won’t witness this again in my lifetime.’ Lot 11, Millah Murrah Rocket Man R38 reached the new record high price of $280,000 when Rodger Pryce,

Brooklana Angus, Dorrigo NSW, represented by Ray White agent, Tim Bayliss, outbid the competition to secure rights to his new stud sire. Rocket Man was described by vendor Mr Thompson, ‘As a remarkable bull that should propel the Australian beef industry forward. He is probably the most powerful bodied Angus bull I have seen at that age (19 months).’ Sentiments Mr Pryce clearly agreed with in his intent to purchase the bull, having also purchased Millah Murrah Prue M4 for an Australian Angus female record of $190,000 in 2017. Rocket Man was sired by Millah Murrah Paratrooper P15, whom had 43 sons in the sale that sold to average just under $47,000. Paratrooper himself set a record high price at the 2019 Millah Murrah Angus Bull Sale. With ABS Australia having also secured the semen rights in Rocket Man. Not long after the top selling bull left the ring, Lot 13, Millah Murrah Rembrandt R48 also eclipsed the previous high selling record when a syndicate of ABS, Woonallee

Simmentals, South Australia, JT Angus, Scone New South Wales and Whangara Angus New Zealand purchased the bull for the sales’ second top price of $240,000. The $280,000 paid for Rocket Man claimed the record Australian Angus top price set at the Texas Angus Stud Sale at the end of July. Texas Angus also previously held the record average for Angus bulls sold at auction. The records broken did not end there. It is believed that the sale average is also a world record average $25,322 USD, having beaten the NCC Brahman Sale in 2017 where 76 bulls averaged $26,915 AUD ($20,025USD) and Schaff The Angus Bulletin - Spring 2021

| 11

Strong selling Season Continues

As the spring bull selling season heads towards its close, it is easy for cattle producers and in particular Angus producers to continue with their optimism, given the situation currently within the beef industry. In mid-September the Eastern Young Cattle Indicator (EYCI) has hit record highs, sitting at 1027.45. While the results out of saleyards and AuctionsPlus are seeing record after record in terms of high prices. It is no surprise that the Spring Bull selling season has continued to break records and Angus Bull producers are reaping the rewards as restockers chase high quality Angus bulls to join with their females. The record average for Angus bulls came close to being broken at the mid July Bowen Stud Cattle Bull Sale, when 61 Angus bulls sold for an average of $20,082. The day following the Millah Murrah Sale, Milwillah Angus, Young New South Wales, experienced a total clearance of 106 Angus bulls for an average of $25,726, which would have been the record average 48 hours prior. Including

“

D C: The $240,000 second top-priced bull at Millah Murrah with Paul Dooley, Tamworth, Ross Thompson, Bill Cornell of ABS Australia, Elders agent Andrew Bickford, Jane Thompson, and Josh Clift of JT Angus, Scone, D: 26-monthold Milwillah Slideshow Q102 sold for $130,000 when purchased by Adameluca Angus at the Milwillah Bull Sale. Image: studstocksales.com

the sale of 26-month-old Milwillah Slideshow Q102 for $130,000, purchased by Adameluca Angus, and 25-monthold Milwillah Blackout Q822 for$100,000, purchased by Yallambee Angus. In the middle of August Booroomooka Angus, Bingara NSW laid claim to the largest single vendor sale gross when they achieved a full clearance of 232 bulls for an average of $17,262 to gross over $4 million. The prices being paid for commercial Angus females by restockers have reached phenomenal heights and week in week out, high prices for Angus cattle are recorded at saleyards and on AuctionsPlus, and as Mr Thompson states, records are everywhere. ‘The Australian cattle economy is experiencing warp speed growth.’ ‘It’s akin to the wool boom of the 1950’s. Every star is aligned. The unusual thing is the mid-long term outlook remains bullish across the industry’. ‘What will happen when the world wakes up to the fact that cattle are the key! They convert grass to protein and assist with carbon abatement.’ ‘A drought could pull us all back to earth quick smart, but you have to think it looks a bit optimistic for a while yet.’

It’s akin to the wool boom of the 1950’s. Every star is aligned.

“

Angus Valley in 2015 where 487 Angus bulls averaged $20,025 AUD ($18,440 USD). Mr Thompson noted that the market is red hot across all sectors. ‘It is significant for the Australian Angus breed in that context - right at the point where the US is looking to Australia for some genetic input. With orders for semen received it shows how the Australian herd is now perceived on the world stage.’ Millah Murrah Rolls Royce R275 fetched $110,000 setting a record price at auction for a true yearling (15 months and under) bull of any breed. The bull was purchased by Heart Angus in partnership with Hallmark Angus NZ and an undisclosed WA buyer. Millah Murrah also eclipsed their own previous record for the top price paid for an APR bull, when $55,000 was paid for Millah Murrah Paratrooper R250 by Grant & Lisa Norman, Spring Ridge New South Wales. The previous record was set by Millah Murrah Kingdon M192 when he was purchased by Peter and Terry Hanigan of Coonamble NSW in partnership with the Deans family for $27,000 at the 2018 sale.

Sale Catalogue Frequently Asked Questions The list below is a quick reference source for members.

1. I want a catalogue with Angus Australia, what do I need to do? Before any catalogue can be processed by Angus Australia you must first make sure you read and understand the Catalogue Service Agreement and then complete the Catalogue and Advertising Request Form and return it to Angus Australia. You will also need to put your sale lot information (Lot number, animal ident as recorded with Angus Australia and any comments, are all that is required) into the Excel Spreadsheet for Entering Lots and return it to Angus Australia. If the Excel Spreadsheet for Entering Lots is not filled out correctly or extra or alternative information is submitted, members will be asked to resubmit the information in its correct format. Most importantly members should ensure that their animals are fully registered with the correct information with Angus Australia, that all DNA and genomic requests have been made well advance of a sale and that all data relating to the TransTasman Angus Cattle Evaluation have been submitted within a timeframe applicable for a sale. The Catalogue Service Agreement, Catalogue and Advertising request form and Excel Spreadsheet for Entering Lots, are all available form the Marketing Menu on the Angus Australia website.

2. What is a standard catalogue? A standard catalogue (including private treaty sales), is any catalogue whereby the member only requires (for both lots and reference sires) either a csv extract in order to do their own data merge, added to the AngusSELECT and Catalogue section on the website only, choice of one of the Standard Templates available for sale catalogues, or a combination of these options. It also includes the, display animal photo and YouTube links on angus.tech, online catalogue promoted on Angus Australia social media and a standard Quick Summary EBV Table (including reference sires).

3. What is a customised catalogue? A customised catalogue is any catalogue whereby the member wishes to use a catalogue template that is not part of the standard template range, which may include EBV removal, change to 2 or 3 gen pedigree, shading of EBVs, specific colour, custom reference sire list or any other request. It also includes, lots added to the AngusSELECT and Catalogue section on the website, display animal photo and YouTube links on angus.tech, online catalogue promoted on Angus Australia social media and a standard Quick Summary EBV Table (including reference sires).

4. I want to add my pdf online with Angus Australia, what do I need to do? If you have not already requested a catalogue service with Angus Australia, then you must refer to Question 1 and 2. Only catalogues that meet the requirements as set out in the Catalogue Service Agreement will be loaded online. Catalogues containing unregistered Angus animals or other breeds will not be loaded online.

5. I only want to put a catalogue online with Angus Australia, what do I need to do? Refer to Question 1 and 2.

6. What is the turnaround time for catalogues? The turnaround time for standard sale catalogues submitted to Angus Australia is generally between three and seven working days from receipt of all catalogue information, that includes, the completed Catalogue and Advertising Request Form and the completed Excel Spreadsheet for Entering Lots. The turnaround time for customised and full catalogue design is ten working days from receipt of all all catalogue information, that includes, the completed Catalogue and Advertising Request Form and the completed Excel Spreadsheet for Entering Lots. During peak catalogue periods, particularly July and August, the turn around time can be longer. These turn around times are also dependant on whether or not the member has ensured that their animals are fully registered with the correct information Angus Australia, that all DNA and genomic requests have been made well advance of a sale and that all data relating to the TransTasman Angus Cattle Evaluation have been submitted within a timeframe applicable for a sale.

7. How long does it take for my catalogue to be put online? Refer to question 6.

8. What do I need to do to put images and videos on my sale animals? In order to load photos of animals to angus.tech, the photos must be provided to Angus Australia with the file name of the photo to be the animal’s full ident as recorded on the database, eg. ABCP23. If photos are provided with alternative file names, eg. Lot 1 or P23, members will be asked to resubmit the images with the full ident. In order to load videos of animals to angus.tech videos must first be loaded to YouTube. It is recommended that the animals’ full ident is included in the video name eg. ABC123 and the playlist or individual video links are emailed through. Alternatively the information can be submitted in an excel spreadsheet with the animals’ full ident in one column and the corresponding video link in the next column. If videos are provided without this information, members will be asked to resubmit the videos.

9. What does it cost to produce a sale catalogue with Angus Australia?

Standard catalogue: $6.60 per lot Customised Catalogue: $6.60 per lot, plus $99 per hour or part thereof for customisation Full Catalogue Design: $6.60 per lot, plus $99 per hour or part thereof for design. Miscellaneous Catalogue Charges: $2.20 per lot (additional to $6.60) - For manual entry of sale lots and lot comments into Excel Spreadsheet or for re-extraction of CSV data extract (inc. reference sires).

Questions? Email sam@angusaustralia.com.au The Angus Bulletin - Spring 2021

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Commercial Angus females hit new highs Diana Wood, Marketing & Communications Manager

As Angus bull sales across the country run red hot, the demand for quality commercial Angus females is mirroring these results as restockers across the country chase the females to breed their next generation of breeders.

A Some of the first Angus Verified heifers sold since the inception of the Angus Verified program, set what is believed to be a record for unjoined commercial Angus heifers, when Knowla Livestock sold 90 unjoined Angus Verified heifers to a top of $4,200 per head for a pen of 15 438kg average heifers and average price of $3,283 across the lot at the Knowla Livestock Annual Sale at the end of July. The second top price for another pen of 15, 404kg average Angus Verified heifers was $4,000 per head. While at the Kenny’s Creek Angus Spring Bull sale in early September, where commercial Angus females were sold for the first time, a new record of $5,250 per head was set for commercial Angus cows and calves. A pen of nine cows three years old with heifer calves at foot hit the new high. PH and HJ Williams of Rubyvale, Alectown NSW bought close to half of the females on offer, purchasing 20 cows and calves for a $4,750 per head average.

Overall, 49 Angus cow and calf units were sold for an average of $4,800 which in itself equals the current record for commercial Angus cows and calves, jointly held by Reiland Angus (10 Angus cows and calves sold for $4,800 at the Reiland Premier Angus Breeder Sale at Gundagai in March) and the Denyer family, Denell Partnership, Belbora, NSW, who sold 24 Angus cows and calves for $4,800 at the Gloucester Female Sale in February.) Keeping their reputation of supplying top quality Angus females to the market each year, Jeremy and Julie Shaw of JS Grazing, Injune Queensland continued their recordbreaking ways, when they offered 180 replacement Angus heifers for sale at the Roma Store Sale on August 3rd. A top of 894c/kg was reached on the heifers with an average weight of 299.4kg. Equating to a top of $2,644 a head to average $2,557. This incredible price broke the Roma Saleyards top price record.

Around the Saleyards

A B 14

A: 200 Angus unjoined heifers, 11 to 12 months old, sold to Boambolo Pastoral, Euberta for $2850 at the Ardrossan Sale. Image: The Land, B: Julie and Jeremy Show, JS Grazing, Injune created a new record selling a line of 180 Angus heifers to a top of 894c/kg at the Roma Saleyards. Photo: Maranoa Regional Council, C: Knowla Livestock sold 90 unjoined Angus Verified heifers to a top of $4,200 (pen of 15) and average of $3,283. Image: AuctonsPlus

B The heifers were purchased by Campbell and Kerry Ann Tonkin, Barraba, NSW in partnership with Bill and Amelia Servin, Wandoan as well as Bassett Cattle Co, Roma, and Gary Johnson of Dulacca Transport. In early August, Glenavon Angus, Guyra NSW offered 94 Angus heifers at their on-property sale. With the four lots of heifers selling to a top of $3,500 per head for a pen of 24 head averaging 338kg, and to an overall average of $3,131. PTIC commercial Angus heifers hit a high of $4,300 per head, for a draft of 10 at the Sugarloaf Angus sale, Dungog NSW, in mid-August. Overall, 29 Angus heifers were offered, with Steve Little, Brookstead Qld, buying most of the female offering including four two-year-old PTIC Angus heifers for $4,000 per head and 19 Angus heifers, nine to 10 months, for a $3,705 per head average.

C Ardrossan Angus Talmalmo NSW, offered 200 unjoined Angus heifers, 11 to 12 months old, at their on-property sale at the end of August, with a single purchaser, Boambolo Pastoral, Euberta taking the option of buying them all after purchasing the first pen of 25 for $2,850 a head. At their inaugural on-property sale in early September, Fig Tree Park Angus Guyra NSW offered a pen of 15 unjoined, European Union-accredited heifers 321kg, which sold for $2,220 a head, or 685c/kg, to Alex and Ross, Glen Innes NSW. Glengowan Angus also enjoyed success with commercial Angus females, offering 50 unjoined heifers during their bull sale in early September. The heifers averaged $1,815 per head and made a top of $2000 to BSC Grazing, Bathurst NSW. While the cows with calves averaged $3,938 and reached a top of $4,350 when purchased by Rosedale Livestock Partnership, Browns Creek.

A: Frank Bartorilla, sold Angus steers 199kg for 892c/kg or $1775/head, CTLX Carcoar NSW 13/8/21. Pictured - Ray White Emms Mooney agent James Rich. Image: The Land, B: Rene Logan, Gudamain, Laang, sold 16 Angus steers, 644kg, for 498c/kg or $3207. Mortlake VIC 19/08/21. Image: Stock & Land, C: Shore Pastoral, The Elms Tmutu sold Angus weaner steers for $1975 or 732c/kg and Angus weaner heifers for $1710 or 688c/kg, at the Elders Tumut/Adelong Feature Sale, NSW 13/08/21. Elders Tumut agent Harrison Daley with vendor Ryan Shore. Image: The Land

C The Angus Bulletin - Spring 2021

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Keeping Maternal Traits in Mind Jen Peart, Northern Development Officer

With most Australian beef cattle breeders retaining replacement females, considering maternal traits in bull selection decisions is important to keep in mind. The Australian Beef Breeder Insights report revealed that 83% of the producers surveyed breed their own replacement heifers, representing approximately 10.8 million females or 93% of the Australian breeding herd. The high proportion of producers managing self-replacing female herds in the Australian beef production system illustrates the importance of monitoring and selecting for maternal performance – calving ease, fertility, milk, cow maintenance and stayability – all while considering their progeny’s terminal trait performance to suit the intended target market. The feeder cattle market a great example of the need to consider maternal traits, as it is the intended destination for progeny bred by 34% of Australian beef cattle producers. While it is easy to see the benefit of selecting for terminal traits like growth and carcase quality when breeding for these markets, these producers manage 26% of Australia’s breeding females, some 3 million head, and the vast majority (89%) retain replacement females. Balancing selection for both terminal and maternal traits is consequently important in these breeding programs. Survey results indicate producers breeding and supplying the feeder market rate the importance of Estimated Breeding Values (EBVs) in sire selection above survey average, including those breeding for other market endpoint destinations (e.g. weaner sales). Usually, growth and carcase related EBVs are key criteria for bull selection, sought after with the terminal target markets such as the feeder market, in mind. Selection for growth and carcase traits has seen significant genetic gains made in these traits in the Australian Angus population, however this has inadvertently seen changes in maternal traits, such as an increase in mature cow weight (MCW). MCW EBVs estimate the genetic differences between the live weight of cows at 5 years of age. Higher MCW EBVs indicate the animal is expected to produce daughters with heavier mature weights. Heavier mature cow weights are associated with higher feed and maintenance costs, but conversely, higher returns for cull cows. Mature cow weight is estimated to be 40% heritable, meaning that bull selection, through genetics, will influence the weight of mature cows though the replacement daughter. MCW is positively correlated with all weight traits on the genetic level, particularly 600 day weight at 0.75, however they are not the same trait genetically (i.e. genetic correlation <1.0), meaning that bulls can be identified that have high growth genetics, but moderate cow weight, if this is the desired breeding objective. Research breeding values for Mature Cow Height (MCH) and Mature Cow Body Condition (MBC) have also been developed, further informing producers’ selection decisions around maternal related traits, in this case for body composition. Higher Mature Cow Height and Mature Body Condition RBVs and indicate an animal is expected 16

to produce taller daughters and daughters with more body condition as mature females, respectively. Maternal contribution of the dam to a calf’s growth has a genetic component (10% heritable) and is quantified through the Milk EBV. Higher Milk EBVs indicate the animal is expected to produce daughters that have heavier calves at 200 days of age, due to superior maternal attributes – more milk. EBVs such as Days-to-Calving and Scrotal Size inform a producer’s ability to select for fertility, one of the greatest profit drivers in both northern and southern production systems alike. Days to Calving EBVs estimate the genetic differences between animals in the time from the start of the joining period to the birth of a calf. Lower Days to Calving EBVs indicate an animal is expected to produce progeny that conceive earlier in the joining period. Females with lower Days to Calving EBVs also tend to show earlier puberty as heifers and earlier return to oestrous after calving. Scrotal size also is associated with puberty in females – males with larger scrotal circumferences produce daughters that reach puberty earlier. Higher Scrotal Size EBVs also indicate the animal is expected to produce sons with larger scrotal circumference as yearlings as it is moderately heritable (40%). It goes without saying that the consideration of calving ease related EBVs in self replacing female herds should not be overlooked, considering the impact birth weight, gestation length and calving ease have on the performance of replacement heifers and their progeny. This is of particularly importance given the standard practice of joining Angus or Angus influenced replacement heifers as yearlings, particularly in southern Australia. Calving ease is a trait with lower heritability (14%) therefore genetic progress is slower, however selection for higher calving ease direct EBVs is positively correlated with calving ease in daughters, illustrating how the lack of attention to this trait can have inter-generational ramifications. Despite the positive correlation between birthweight and the growth traits (including carcase weight and mature cow weight) the ability to select bulls to maintain or decrease birth weight and shorten gestation length allows for the delivery of improved calving ease without compromising growth.

Maternal Trait EBVs

Heritability

Survey respondents who run a self-replacing breeding herd

Calving Ease · Calving Ease Direct

14%

83%

· Calving Ease Daughters · Gestation length

65%

· Birth weight

32%

84%

Fertility · Days to calving

· Scrotal Size

39%

83%

Growth · Milk

10%

83%

Cow Maintenance · Mature cow weight

40%

· Mature cow height*

44%

· Mature body condition*

16%

* Research Breeding Values

National:

83%

Also of benefit is the magnitude of data collected by Angus Australia members and the associated selection decisions – some 818,000 birth weights records and a total of 1.9 million 200 day, 400 day, 600 day and mature cow weight records, recorded on calves born since 2007. This data enables ‘curve benders’ – those animals that exhibit genetic variation in contrast the expected genetic correlations between traits – to be identified. Using EBVs, producers can exploit the genetic differences between animals and make genetic progress in a specific direction for each trait, producing replacement females that meet desired performance objectives related to maternal traits, whose siblings and progeny meet target market specifications. In practice, a good way of balancing maternal and terminal traits is through the use of a selection index. Selection indexes play a vital role identifying suitable bulls to a self-replacing breeding herd. By applying an economic weighting to a range of traits, selection indexes are a tool to identify suitable bulls based on their economic contribution to a herd, on a ‘net profit per cows joined’ basis. Angus Australia’s new research selection indexes are

80% 81%

74%

formulated to cater for a range of production scenarios and market endpoints - considering both the influence of each individual trait on profitability and the genetic relationships that exist between traits, both antagonistic and favourable, to place the appropriate emphasis on each EBV. Broadly, the new research selection indexes fall broadly into three categories; Maternal, Maternal Plus and Terminal. The Maternal and Maternal Plus indexes are devised for several market endpoints and similar production systems of selfreplacing breeding herds but differ in their approach to mature cow weight. The Maternal Plus indexes aim to maintain mature cow weight, while the Maternal Plus indexes place minimal restriction on an increase in mature cow weight. The Terminal index category on the other hand is designed for scenarios where Angus bulls are used as terminal sires over mature breeding females, and all progeny (male and female) are slaughtered, and consequently places no emphasis on maternal traits other than calving ease. Further information on the EBVs available to producers for selection, how to interpret and utilise them can be found on the online Angus Education Centre, along with resources explaining the new research selection indexes, research breeding values, genomics and guidelines for selecting bulls. Given the proportion of females being managed in self replacing breeding herd, striking the right balance between achieving market specifications and maintaining genetic progress in fertility and maternal traits is paramount. Fortunately, Angus breeders are uniquely positioned to make informed breeding decisions, based on the data available that underpins the TACE EBVs, to benefit both their replacement heifers, and their intended target market. The Angus Bulletin - Spring 2021

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Spring Bull Night showcases sire potential Cheyne Twist, Communications Officer

The annual Spring Bull Night returned to screens in August, showcasing the sire line-ups from seven organisations listing semen catalogues with Angus Australia.

Watch online here

“We are pleased that our recent Spring Bull Night was well received by our members and producers looking to utilise Angus genetics this spring joining period.” “Through our service to our members, Angus Australia works to provide educational resources that assist Angus breeders and producers utilising Angus in their operations in making informed selection decisions, by making more information accessible to them.” “Considering the circumstances that Australia is in due to restrictions posed by COVID-19, we hope that the Spring Bull Night and it’s online availability has assisted producers in having the opportunity to gain a wider understanding regarding some of the options available to them in Angus AI sires, which will allow them to make selection decisions best suited to their individual breeding operations.”

“

Taking place August 18th, representatives from ABS Global Beef Australia, Semex Beef Australia, Genetics Australia, World Wide Sires Australia, Breeder Genetics, Texas Angus and Agri-Gene all gave insight into their Angus sire options for the 2021 spring joining period during the evenings event. Angus Australia Breed Development Officer Matt Reynolds noted the success of the event, which was running for it’s fourth year in a row.

It offers all semen suppliers a great opportunity to showcase their latest genetics

Once again taking part in 2021, Jack Laurie of Breeder Genetics said the following of the Spring Bull Night “We took part once again in the Spring Bull Night for 2021 to engage Angus breeders with what we have to offer. The response after the event was incredible, and we look forward to the Spring Bull Night for 2022.” Annie Pumpa from ABS Global Beef Australia also weighed in on why the team at ABS took part in the Spring Bull Night once again in 2021. “The Angus Australia Spring Bull Night is a tremendous initiative, particularly given the current travel restrictions and the challenges imposed by COVID-19,” said Miss Pumpa. “It offers all semen suppliers a great opportunity to showcase their latest genetics and enables us to connect with our valued angus breeders through modern technology, showcasing our leading edge genetics of the industry and the programs such as HCR that ABS offers globally.” If you missed it, you can watch the Angus Australia Spring Bull Night via the Angus Australia YouTube Channel.

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Angus Australia and Vetoquinol extend partnership in multi-year deal Cheyne Twist, Communications Officer

In a continuation of a successful six-year collaboration between Angus Australia and independent global health company Vetoquinol, both organisations are pleased to announce the extension of their partnership in a multi-year agreement. This partnership extension will see Vetoquinol provide support to the Angus Sire Benchmarking Program (ASBP) for the upcoming five cohorts, Cohorts 12 to 16, by providing products and support for the joining of over 9000 Angus females. Vetoquinol has a strong history of providing support to the ASBP by assisting with the fixed time artificial insemination program through the supply of necessary products such as the Cue-Mate® devices. Throughout the six-year partnership to date, and covering Cohorts 5 to 11, Vetoquinol has assisted in approximately 15,000 heifers and cows being synchronized and inseminated, with approximately 7,500 calves born and comprehensively phenotyped and genotyped and 243 Angus sires now with high accuracy EBVs, particularly on hard to measure traits. “Angus Australia is pleased to announce the extension of our ongoing relationship with Vetoquinol,” said Angus Australia Strategic Projects Manager Christian Duff. “It goes without saying that without a successful fixed time AI program, the ASBP reference population program would not be possible.” “The products provided by Vetoquinol’s Repro360 arm are essential to the ongoing success of the ASBP. As important is the valued support and advice from the Repro360 team on all matters relating to assisted reproductive technology including fixed-time AI program.” “Importantly this partnership also provides Angus Australia members with dedicated access to experts in the field of assisted reproduction,” added Mr Duff. Vetoquinol’s Marketing and Technical Manager, Dr Sophia Edwards believes the ASBP is well aligned with Repro360’s

mission of facilitating the rate of genetic improvement across the Australian beef industry. “Repro360 is all about facilitating the acceleration of genetic improvement across the Australian beef industry, or put simply, helping stakeholders ‘Making Better Bovine Babies.” “The ASBP enables breeders to access more reliable genetic tools to help achieve their breeding objectives and production targets.” Dr Edwards says “Vetoquinol is proud to continue providing the Repro360 portfolio of quality products including the Cue-Mate® device, technical advice and in-field support to help achieve the best possible outcomes for the ASBP.” Vetoquinol is one of the largest animal-only health companies in the world, with reproduction in livestock being a strategic domain. The objective of the ASBP is to grow the comprehensive phenotype and genotype reference population on contemporary Australian Angus animals, particularly for hard-to-measure traits, for enhanced genetic evaluation, collaborative research and innovative development. For further information regarding the Angus Sire Benchmarking Program please contact Angus Australia Strategic Projects Manager Christian Duff at christian@ angusaustralia.com.au.

The Angus Bulletin - Spring 2021

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TACE

New Genetic Evaluation Consultative Committee Announced Angus Australia is pleased to announce the composition of the Genetic Evaluation Consultative Committee for the next two years.

A: Sinclair Munro – Chair, Booroomooka Angus, B: Frank Archer – Landfall Angus, C: Julian Carroll – Black Star Angus, D: Ruth Corrigan – Rennylea Angus, E: Jodie Foster – Boonaroo Angus, F: Wendy Mayne – Texas Angus, G: Ross Thompson – Millah Murrah Angus, H: Mandy Wales, I: Andrew Byrne - Breed Development & Extension Manager, H: Jock Hughes – Cluden Newry Angus

“

The committee has vast experience and knowledge in the breeding of Angus cattle and their feedback will be of great value

“

Existing committee members, Sinclair Munro, Booroomooka Angus, Frank Archer, Landfall Angus, and Mandy Wales, Alloura Angus, will be joined by new committee members, Julian Carroll, Black Star Angus, Ruth Corrigan, Rennylea Angus, Jodie Foster, Boonaroo Angus, Wendy Mayne, Texas Angus, and Ross Thompson, Millah Murrah Angus. James Laurie, Knowla Angus, Bryan Corrigan, Rennylea Angus, and Bea Bradley Litchfield, Hazeldean Angus have retired from the committee, while Sinclair Munro will take the reins as the chair of the committee. The Genetic Evaluation Consultative Committee provides a forum for consultation between users of Angus Australia’s genetic evaluation services and the Angus Australia Board of Directors and management team. Importantly, the committee communicates and represents the views and requirements of leading users of the TransTasman Angus Cattle Evaluation in relation to the operation, implementation of improvements, and future development needs of Angus Australia’s genetic evaluation services. Andrew Byrne, Breed Development and Extension Manager looks forward to working with the committee over the next two years and explained how pleased Angus Australia was with the number and calibre of members who expressed an interest in being of the committee. “The committee has vast experience and knowledge in the breeding of Angus cattle, and their feedback will be of great value in improving the genetic evaluation services that are available to both seedstock and commercial Angus breeders in Australia”. Mr Byrne said.

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Wrapping up Next Generation Selection with RBVs Cheyne Twist, Communications Officer

Angus Australia has compiled several resources to support members in taking Research Breeding Values into the paddock for next generation selection. Angus Australia members are encouraged to contact Angus Australia regarding any questions they have about Research Breeding Values.

Introduction to Research Breeding Values & Research Angus Australia currently publishes four Research Breeding Values. As part of Angus Australia’s involvement in these projects, members can submit additional performance recording information which can either directly feed into current research activities or build the reference data for future research and development activities.

Mature cow hip height and how to collect it Angus Australia currently publishes Research Breeding Values on Mature Cow Hip Height. Mature Cow Height (MCH) RBVs provide estimates of genetic differences between animals in the height of mature females. Mature Cow Height RBVs are calculated from height measurements taken at the hip. Higher Mature Cow Height RBVs indicate an animal is expected to produce daughters that are taller as mature females.

Mature Cow Body Condition and how to collect it Mature Cow Body Condition (MBC) RBVs provide estimates of genetic differences between animals in the body condition of mature females. Mature cow body condition assesses the body condition of mature females and are measured as visual scores. Members can contribute performance information on this research breeding value. Mature cow body condition scores are collected using a 0-5 scoring scale based on the visual appearance of the animal.

Coat Type and how to collect it Coat Type (CT) RBVs provide estimates of genetic differences between animals in coat type. Coat Type RBVs are calculated from a subjective assessment of an animal’s hair length, fibre diameter and handle, and are expressed in score units. Coat scores assess the coat of young animals examining hair length, fibre diameter and handle, and are measured as a visual score. Lower Coat Type RBVs indicate an animal is expected to produce progeny with a shorter, slicker coat.

Learn about the ImmuneDEX Research Breeding Values

The ImmuneDEX research breeding value provides an estimate of genetic differences between animals for overall immune competence, a key component of resilience, and is calculated by antibody-mediated immune response and cell-mediated immune response phenotypes. The ImmuneDEX research breeding value provides an estimate of genetic differences between animals for overall immune competence with higher ImmuneDEX values indicating an animal is expected to produce a higher proportion of progeny with an enhanced ability to resist disease challenges and therefore have lower disease incidence. The Angus Bulletin - Spring 2021

| 21

TACE

Balanced Breeding with Angus Selection Indexes Andrew Byrne, Breed Development & Extension Manager

Selection indexes have been published within the TransTasman Angus Cattle Evaluation for several decades, and have made an important contribution to the genetic improvement that have been achieved within the Angus breed during this time. So what are selection indexes? What role do they play in selection decisions? This article, and the accompanying articles on pages 22 – 37, provide comprehensive background to the selection indexes that are calculated for Angus animals.

What is a selection index?

Selection indexes are utilised by livestock breeders of many species around the world and are considered an essential part of any modern livestock breeding program. Selection indexes aid in the selection of animals for use within a breeding program where there are several traits of economic or functional importance by providing an overall “score” of an animal’s genetic value. Selection indexes are calculated for a specific breeding purpose and are calculated based on weightings placed on individual traits that are deemed to be important for that purpose. The selection indexes assist in making “balanced” selection decisions, taking into account the relevant attributes of each animal to identify animals with genetics that are most aligned with the breeding objective for the given selection scenario.

Example Selection Index Calculation Selection Index = b1T1 + b2T2 + b3T3 + …….. + bnTn Where b = weighting placed on the trait T = trait

How are the selection indexes within the TransTasman Angus Cattle Evaluation calculated?

The selection indexes published within TransTasman Angus Cattle Evaluation are economic selection indexes and are derived using BreedObject software, as developed by the Animal Genetics & Breeding Unit (AGBU) in Armidale, NSW. A range of different selection indexes are published, with each individual selection index reflecting differences in profitability in a defined production system and market endpoint. For the production system and market scenario relevant to the respective selection index, the BreedObject software firstly calculates the net economic value of changing each trait in the breeding objective by one unit, independent of any change in other traits. The BreedObject software then links the economic value of the traits in the breeding objective with the Estimated Breeding Value (EBV) traits published in the TransTasman Angus Cattle Evaluation, and places appropriate emphasis on each EBV based on its relative economic importance in the defined production system and market scenario. 22

Importantly, the trait emphasis that is placed on each EBV is determined by science, not the breeding preferences of either individual breeders, researchers, or staff at Angus Australia.

Understanding economic selection indexes

The economic selection indexes published in the TransTasman Angus Cattle Evaluation are reported as genetic differences in units of net profit per cow joined ($) for the given selection scenario. The selection indexes are developed to reflect the economics in commercial beef production systems, rather than in seedstock breeding enterprises, and consider both the short term profit generated by an animal through the sale of their progeny, and where applicable, the longer term profit generated through the retention of their daughters in a self replacing breeding herd. The selection indexes are “whole-chain” selection indexes, and consider traits influencing profitability across the entire commercial supply chain from conception to slaughter.

Why use an economic selection index?

Economic selection indexes assist in making balanced selection decisions across the suite of traits that influence profitability in a commercial beef enterprise. Economic selection indexes not only consider the influence of each individual trait on profitability in the scenario defined by the index, but also balance the genetic relationships that exist between traits, both antagonistic and favourable, to place the appropriate emphasis on each EBV. By comparison to selection based on consideration of individual EBVs alone where each trait is considered sequentially, economic selection indexes consider all traits simultaneously, resulting in a balanced selection outcome across all the available EBVs.

Questions To further discuss the research selection indexes, contact Andrew Byrne, Breed Development & Extension Manager, on (02) 6773 4618 or andrew@angusaustralia.com.au Economic selection indexes form an important decision support tool to assist breeders in the selection of breeding animal. Selection indexes do not take the selection decision out of the hands of the breeder, but rather should be used in association with consideration of individual EBVs and any other available information to identify animals that possess genetics that are most aligned with the breeding objective of the individual breeding program for which they are being selected.

Introducing Angus Research Selection Indexes

Four economic selection indexes are currently published on Angus animals being the Angus Breeding Index, Domestic Index, Heavy Grain Index and Heavy Grass Index. These selection indexes have been published for the past six years and will shortly be discontinued as an updated version of BreedObject software is now available, and they are modelled on economic and production parameters that no longer reflect current beef production systems. As part of the review and updating of the selection indexes that are published, Angus Australia, in association with the Animal Genetics & Breeding Unit (AGBU) and Agricultural Business Research Institute (ABRI), have developed a series of research selection indexes for industry review and feedback.

What research selection indexes have been developed?

The research selection indexes that have been developed are grouped into three main categories, being Maternal, Maternal Plus and Terminal, with each category reflecting a different breeding system and objective, as outlined in Table 1. The Maternal and Maternal Plus selection index categories are designed for use in a self replacing breeding program where a portion of female progeny are retained as replacements. The Maternal and Maternal Plus categories

are similar, with the difference being that the Maternal Plus selection indexes have an additional objective aiming to maintain mature weight, whereas the Maternal selection indexes do not include this component. The inclusion of the additional mature weight objective in the Maternal Plus selection index category is a result of this category being modelled on a production system where the available pasture is fully utilised for the majority of the year. In this scenario, any increase in the maintenance requirements of the female breeding herd results in additional costs being incurred, and consequently an increase in mature weight is considered undesirable. By comparison, the Maternal selection index category is modelled on a production system where the available pasture is not fully utilised for the majority of the year. In this scenario, any increase in the maintenance requirements of the female breeding herd results in minimal additional costs being incurred, and consequently an increase in mature weight is not considered undesirable. The Terminal selection index category is designed for use in situations where Angus bulls are being used as a terminal sire over mature breeding females and all progeny, both male and female, are slaughtered. A description of each selection index, along with a decision support tree to assist with the identification of the selection index (or indexes) of relevance to a particular breeding program is included on the pages following. Research selection index values for each individual Angus seedstock animals can be viewed from the Angus Database Search facility on the Angus Australia website.

Important features of the research selection indexes

When reviewing the research selection indexes that have been developed, there are a number of important considerations to make.

Table 1 - Angus Research Selection Index Categories Category

Maternal

Maternal Plus

Terminal

Breeding System

Self-replacing

Terminal

Pasture utilisation

Pasture is not fully utilised for the majority of the year. An increase in the maintenance requirements of the mature female breeding herd results in minimal additional costs being incurred.

Pasture is fully utilised for the majority of the year. An increase in the maintenance requirements of the mature female breeding herd results in additional costs being incurred

Not applicable

Mature Weight Objective

Do not maintain mature weight

Maintain mature weight

Not applicable

Maternal Angus Breeder Plus Index (AMB+)

Angus Terminal Sire Index (ATS)

Maternal Angus Breeder Index (AMB) Index Names & Maternal Domestic Steer Index (MDS) Abbreviations Maternal Heavy Grain Steer Index (MGN) Maternal Heavy Grass Steer Index (MGS)

Maternal Domestic Steer Plus Index (MDS+) Maternal Heavy Grain Steer Plus Index (MGN+) Maternal Heavy Grass Steer Plus Index (MGS+) AngusPRO Index (PRO)

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TACE

1. Increase in the magnitude and range of index values A notable feature of the research selection indexes is an increase in the magnitude and range of the selection index values that are published for animals. There are several main reasons for this. · While it is more sophisticated in practice, for the purposes of explanation, an economic index is calculated by multiplying each EBV by an economic value, and adding all the components together. This is illustrated in the formula below: Index = (EBV1 x EV1) + (EBV2 x EV2) + (EBV3 x EV3) + ………. + (EBVn x EVn) While the EBVs used when calculating the research selection indexes are the same, the considerable increase in beef prices, coupled with relatively stable costs, means the economic value of each trait is now considerably higher than what they were when the selection indexes published in the TransTasman Angus Cattle Evaluation were last updated in 2014. The multiplication of the same EBVs by a higher economic value results in the selection index value having a higher value. Similarly, the same difference in EBVs between two animals now results in a larger difference in their selection index values. · The selection index values published in the TransTasman Angus Cattle Evaluation include an adjustment that sets the breed average for each individual index to a similar level. These adjustments have not been made to the research selection indexes, meaning that the breed average values will be higher than those published in the TransTasman Angus Cattle Evaluation, and differ more between each individual index. 2. Animals with extremely favourable EBVs for traits of high economic importance will still rank highly, irrespective of their EBVs for other traits The nature of an economic selection index means that animals with extremely favourable EBVs for traits of high economic importance will still rank highly on the index, even if they have EBVs for several other traits that many breeders would consider unfavourable. For example, an animal with an extremely high 400 or 600 Day Weight EBV may still rank highly even if its Calving Ease EBVs is below average. This scenario does not reduce the value of the index as a selection tool, but highlights the importance of considering the index value in association with the individual EBVs when making selection decisions. 3. Trait contributions do not indicate the response to selection that will occur A common misconception is that the relative emphasis given to each trait in the calculation of the selection index equates to the relative change that will occur in 24

that trait if selection decisions are based on the selection index. In practice, the relative change that will occur in traits is influenced by not only the trait contribution, but also factors such as the animals that are available for selection and the genetic correlation that exists between traits. A better representation of the response to selection is the selection advantage. The selection advantage is indicative of the long term direction and relativity of response that will occur in individual traits if selection is based on the selection index.

The process for industry review and feedback

The research selection indexes have been developed for industry review and feedback prior to potential implementation into the TransTasman Angus Cattle Evaluation, with a comprehensive industry consultation process being facilitated during September and October to gather feedback and fine tune the research selection indexes. The initial stages of the consultation have involved the conduct of an online survey, supplemented by several focus group sessions with Angus Australia members during September. This will be followed in October with the collection of feedback from Angus Australia’s Genetic Evaluation Consultative Committee, and the Angus Australia Board of Directors. Subject to the feedback received during the consultation, the research selection indexes, or a version thereof, will be implemented into the TransTasman Angus Cattle Evaluation in late November in association with the December 2021 analysis.

Additional changes – modifications to the display of selection indexes

In association with the development of the research selection indexes, a number of changes are also being progressed with regards to the manner in which selection indexes are published and displayed on Angus animals. These changes include: · less prominent display of selection indexes via removal of the selection indexes from the default display of EBV information on the Angus Database Search and within the catalogues that are available within Angus SELECT. · implementation of decision support systems to guide breeders who wish to access selection indexes to the selection index/es most aligned with their breeding objective, rather than the default display of all selection indexes · implementation of functionality to enable seedstock breeders to select whether selection indexes are displayed in any Angus Australia generated marketing materials, and if so, which selection indexes, rather than the default display of all selection indexes

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Choosing the research selection index (or indexes) of relevance to your breeding program

TACE

Angus Maternal Breeder Indexes (AMB & AMB+) The Angus Maternal Breeder (AMB) and Angus Maternal Breeder Plus (AMB+) indexes estimate the genetic differences between animals in net profitability per cow joined in a typical commercial self replacing herd using Angus bulls. These selection indexes are not specific to a particular production system or market end-point, but identify animals that will improve overall profitability in the majority of commercial, self replacing, grass and grain finishing beef production systems. Daughters are retained for breeding and therefore female traits are of importance. The AMB+ index is similar to the AMB index, but includes an additional objective of maintaining mature cow weight, whereas the AMB index does not aim to limit the increase in mature cow weight.

Trait Contributions

Figure 1 shows the traits that are considered in the AMB & AMB+ indexes, and how much they contribute to the overall balance of each selection index. The larger the segment, the greater the impact on the selection index. In both the AMB & AMB+ indexes, there is a focus on improving growth, carcase, calving ease and fertility traits. The main difference is the increased emphasis on mature cow weight in the AMB+ index, whereas this emphasis is given to calving ease and fertility in the AMB index.

Selection Advantage

Figures 2 & 3 show the selection advantage if animals are selected using the AMB & AMB+ indexes. The selection advantage is calculated by ranking well used sires within the Angus breed on each respective selection index, and comparing the average EBVs of the sires in the highest 10% with the average EBVs of all sires from which they were selected. For example, the sires ranked in the

Selection Index Summary · Self replacing herd · Daughters are retained for breeding · Identifies animals that will improve overall performance in the majority of commercial, self replacing, grass and grain finishing beef production systems · AMB+ includes an additional objective of maintaining mature cow weight highest 10% based on the AMB index had 18 kg higher 400 Day Weight EBVs and 0.6 kg lower Birth Weight EBVs than the average EBVs of the sires from which they were selected. The selection advantage is indicative of the long term direction and relativity of response that will occur in individual traits if selection is based on each respective selection index. The actual response that is observed will vary depending on the features of the individual breeding program. The main difference in the selection advantage between the AMB & AMB+ indexes is in the growth traits and mature cow weight. Animals ranking highly on the AMB index have higher growth EBVs relative to the AMB+ index, meaning selection on the AMB index will result in a higher increase in growth to 200, 400 and 600 days of age than selection on the AMB+ index, however this is also associated with higher mature cow weight EBVs, meaning an increase in mature weight will also be observed. By comparison, the selection advantage of the AMB+ index for mature cow weight is close to 0, meaning that selection on this index will maintain mature cow weight, while still increasing growth to 200, 400 & 600 days of age.

Figure 1: Trait Contribution to the Angus Maternal Breeder and Angus Maternal Breeder Plus Indexes Calving Ease Mature Cow Weight Fertility Carcase Quality Carcase Yi Calving Ease Mature Cow Weight Fertility Carcase Quality Carcase Yield

Calving Ease 22%

Growth 27%

AMB

Carcase Quality 9%

Growth 27%

Mature Cow Weight 5%

Fertility 19%

Carcase Yield 18%

Calving Ease 12%

AMB+

Mature Cow Weight 17%

Fertility 15%

Carcase Yield 19% Carcase Quality 10%

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TACE

Maternal Domestic Steer Indexes (MDS & MDS+) The Maternal Domestic Steer (MDS) and Maternal Domestic Steer Plus (MDS+) indexes estimate the genetic differences between animals in net profitability per cow joined in a commercial self replacing herd targeting the domestic supermarket trade. Daughters are retained for breeding and therefore female traits are of importance. Steers are either finished using pasture, pasture supplemented by grain or grain (eg. 50 – 70 days) with steers assumed to be slaughtered at 510 kg live weight (280 kg carcase weight with 12 mm P8 fat depth) at 16 months of age. Emphasis has been placed on eating quality and tenderness to favour animals that are suited to MSA requirements. The MDS+ index is similar to the MDS index, but includes an additional objective of maintaining mature cow weight, whereas the MDS index does not aim to limit the increase in mature cow weight.

Trait Contributions

Figure 1 shows the traits that are considered in the MDS & MDS+ indexes, and how much they contribute to the overall balance of each selection index. The larger the segment, the greater the impact on the selection index. In both the MDS & MDS+ indexes, there is a focus on improving growth, carcase, calving ease and fertility traits. The main difference is the increased emphasis on mature cow weight in the MDS+ index, whereas this emphasis is given to calving ease and fertility in the MDS index.

Selection Advantage

Figures 2 & 3 show the selection advantage if animals are selected using the MDS & MDS+ indexes. The selection advantage is calculated by ranking well used sires within the Angus breed on the respective selection index, and comparing the average EBVs of the sires in the highest 10% with the average EBVs of all sires from which

Selection Index Summary · Self replacing herd · Daughters are retained for breeding · Steer progeny are either finished using pasture, pasture supplemented by grain or grain (eg. 50 70 days) · Steer progeny slaughtered at a carcase weight of 280kg at 16 months of age · Eating quality traits important to suit MSA program · MDS+ includes an additional objective of maintaining mature cow weight they were selected. For example, the sires ranked in the highest 10% based on the MDS index had 19 kg higher 400 Day Weight EBVs and 0.5 kg lower Birth Weight EBVs than the average EBVs of the sires from which they were selected. The selection advantage is indicative of the long term direction and relativity of response that will occur in individual traits if selection is based on each respective selection index. The actual response that is observed will vary depending on the features of the individual breeding program. The main difference in the selection advantage between the MDS & MDS+ indexes is in the growth traits and mature cow weight. Animals ranking highly on the MDS index have higher growth EBVs relative to the MDS+ index, meaning selection on the MDS index will result in a higher increase in growth to 200, 400 and 600 days of age than selection on the MDS+ index, however this is also associated with higher mature cow weight EBVs, meaning an increase in mature weight will also be observed. By comparison, the selection advantage of the MDS+ index for mature cow weight is close to 0, meaning that selection on this index will maintain mature cow weight, while still increasing growth to 200, 400 & 600 days of age.

Figure 1: Trait Contribution to the Maternal Domestic Steer and Maternal Domestic Steer Plus Indexes Calving Ease Mature Cow Weight Fertility Carcase Quality Carcase Yield Calving Ease Mature Cow Weight Fertility Carcase Quality Carcase Yiel

Calving Ease 23%

Growth 29%

MDS

Carcase Quality 5% 28

Growth 30%

Mature Cow Weight 3%

Fertility 21%

Carcase Yield 19%

Calving Ease 13%

MDS+

Carcase Yield 20%

Mature Cow Weight 15%

Fertility 18% Carcase Quality 5%

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TACE

Maternal Heavy Grain Steer Indexes (MGN & MGN+) The Maternal Heavy Grain Steer (MGN) and Maternal Heavy Grain Steer Plus (MGN+) indexes estimate the genetic differences between animals in net profitability per cow joined in a commercial self replacing herd targeting pasture grown steers with a 250 day feedlot finishing period for the grain fed high quality, highly marbled markets. Daughters are retained for breeding and therefore female traits are of importance. Steers are assumed to be slaughtered at 800 kg live weight (455 kg carcase weight with 30 mm P8 fat depth) at 24 months of age, with a significant premium for steers that exhibit superior marbling. The MGN+ index is similar to the MGN index, but includes an additional objective of maintaining mature cow weight, whereas the MGN index does not aim to limit the increase in mature cow weight.

Trait Contributions

Figure 1 shows the traits that are considered in the MGN & MGN+ indexes, and how much they contribute to the overall balance of each selection index. The larger the segment, the greater the impact on the selection index. In both the MGN & MGN+ indexes, there is a focus on improving growth, carcase, calving ease and fertility traits. The main difference is the increased emphasis on mature cow weight in the MGN+ index, whereas this emphasis is given to calving ease and fertility in the MGN index.

Selection Advantage

Figures 2 & 3 show the selection advantage if animals are selected using the MGN & MGN+ indexes. The selection advantage is calculated by ranking well used sires within the Angus breed on the respective selection index, and comparing the average EBVs of the sires in the highest 10% with the average EBVs of all sires from which they were selected. For example, the sires ranked in the highest 10% based on the MGN index had 16 kg higher

Selection Index Summary · Self replacing herd · Daughters are retained for breeding · Steer progeny are pasture grown with a 250 day feedlot finishing period · Steer progeny slaughtered at a carcase weight of 455kg at 24 months of age · Targeting high quality, highly marbled markets with a significant premium for superior marketing · MGN+ includes an additional objective of maintaining mature cow weight 400 Day Weight EBVs and 0.7 kg lower Birth Weight EBVs than the average EBVs of the sires from which they were selected. The selection advantage is indicative of the long term direction and relativity of response that will occur in individual traits if selection is based on each respective selection index. The actual response that is observed will vary depending on the features of the individual breeding program. The main difference in the selection advantage between the MGN & MGN+ indexes is in the growth traits and mature cow weight. Animals ranking highly on the MGN index have higher growth EBVs relative to the MGN+ index, meaning selection on the MGN index will result in a higher increase in growth to 200, 400 and 600 days of age than selection on the MGN+ index, however this is also associated with higher mature cow weight EBVs, meaning an increase in mature weight will also be observed. By comparison, the selection advantage of the MGN+ index for mature cow weight is close to 0, meaning that selection on this index will maintain mature cow weight, while still increasing growth to 200, 400 & 600 days of age.

Figure 1: Trait Contribution to the Maternal Heavy Grain Steer and Maternal Heavy Grain Steer Plus Indexes Calving Ease Mature Cow Weight Fertility Carcase Quality Carcase Yield Calving Ease Mature Cow Weight Fertility Carcase Quality Carcase

Calving Ease 23%

Growth 27%

MGN Carcase Yield 18%

Growth 26%

Mature Cow Weight 5%

Fertility 17% Carcase Quality 11%

Calving Ease 12%

MGN+

Mature Cow Weight 16%

Fertility 14%

Carcase Yield 20% Carcase Quality 12%

e Yield

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TACE

Maternal Heavy Grass Steer Indexes (MGS & MGS+) The Maternal Heavy Grass Steer (MGS) and Maternal Heavy Grass Steer Plus (MGS+) indexes estimate the genetic differences between animals in net profitability per cow joined in a commercial self replacing herd targeting pasture finished steers. Daughters are retained for breeding and therefore female traits are of importance. Steers are assumed to be slaughtered at 650 kg live weight (350 kg carcase weight with 12 mm P8 fat depth) at 22 months of age. Emphasis has been placed on eating quality and tenderness to favour animals that are suited to MSA requirements. The MGS+ index is similar to the MGS index, but includes an additional objective of maintaining mature cow weight, whereas the MGS index does not aim to limit the increase in mature cow weight

Trait Contributions

Figure 1 shows the traits that are considered in the MGS & MGS+ indexes, and how much they contribute to the overall balance of each selection index. The larger the segment, the greater the impact on the selection index. In both the MGS & MGS+ indexes, there is a focus on improving growth, carcase, calving ease and fertility traits. The main difference is the increased emphasis on mature cow weight in the MGS+ index, whereas this emphasis is given to calving ease and fertility in the MGS index.

Selection Advantage

Figures 2 & 3 show the selection advantage if animals are selected using the MGS & MGS+ indexes. The selection advantage is calculated by ranking well used sires within the Angus breed on the respective selection index, and comparing the average EBVs of the sires in the highest 10% with the average EBVs of all sires from which they were selected. For example, the sires ranked in the

Selection Index Summary · Self replacing herd · Daughters are retained for breeding · Steer progeny are finished on pasture · Steer progeny slaughtered at a carcase weight of 350kg at 22 months of age · Eating quality traits important to suit MSA program · MGS+ includes an additional objective of maintaining mature cow weight highest 10% based on the MGS index had 18 kg higher 400 Day Weight EBVs and 0.4 kg lower Birth Weight EBVs than the average EBVs of the sires from which they were selected. The selection advantage is indicative of the long term direction and relativity of response that will occur in individual traits if selection is based on each respective selection index. The actual response that is observed will vary depending on the features of the individual breeding program. The main difference in the selection advantage between the MGS & MGS+ indexes is in the growth traits and mature cow weight. Animals ranking highly on the MGS index have higher growth EBVs relative to the MGS+ index, meaning selection on the MGS index will result in a higher increase in growth to 200, 400 and 600 days of age than selection on the MGS+ index, however this is also associated with higher mature cow weight EBVs, meaning an increase in mature weight will also be observed. By comparison, the selection advantage of the MGS+ index for mature cow weight is close to 0, meaning that selection on this index will maintain mature cow weight, while still increasing growth to 200, 400 & 600 days of age.

Figure 1: Trait Contribution to the Maternal Heavy Grass Steer and Maternal Heavy Grass Steer Plus Indexes

Calving Ease Mature Cow Weight Fertility

Calving Ease 20%

Growth 28%

MGS

Carcase Quality 5%

Carcase Quality Carcase

Calving Ease 13%

Growth 27%

Mature Cow Weight 4%

Fertility 24%

Carcase Yield 18%

Carcase Quality Carcase Yield Calving Ease Mature Cow Weight Fertility

MGS+ Carcase Yield 21%

Mature Cow Weight 17%

Fertility 17% Carcase Quality 6%

e Yield

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TACE

Angus Terminal Sire Index (ATS) The Angus Terminal Sire index (ATS) is designed for situations where Angus bulls are being used as a terminal sire over mature breeding females and all progeny, both male and female, are slaughtered. The Angus Terminal Sire Index focusses on increasing growth, carcase yield and eating quality. Daughters are not retained for breeding and therefore no emphasis is given to female fertility or maternal traits.

Trait Contributions

Figure 1 shows the traits that are considered in the ATS index, and how much they contribute to the overall balance of the selection index. The larger the segment, the greater the impact on the selection index.

Selection Advantage

Figure 2 shows the selection advantage if animals are selected using the ATS index. The selection advantage is calculated by ranking well used sires within the Angus breed on the ATS index, and comparing the average EBVs of the sires in the highest 10% with the average EBVs of all sires from which they were selected. For example, the sires ranked in the highest 10% based on the ATS index had 20 kg higher 400 Day Weight EBVs and 0.4 kg lower Birth Weight EBVs than the average EBVs of the sires from which they were selected. The selection advantage is indicative of the relativity of response that will occur in individual traits if selection is based on the ATS index. The actual response that is observed will vary depending on the features of the individual breeding program.

Selection Index Summary · Terminal breeding program where Angus bulls are being used as a terminal sire over mature females · All progeny, both male and female, are slaughtered · Focus on increasing growth, carcase yield and eating quality · No emphasis is given to female fertility or maternal traits

Mature Cow Weight Fertility Carcase Carcase Y FigureCalving 1: Trait Ease Contribution to the Angus Terminal SireQuality Index

Calving Ease 22% Growth 34%

ATS Carcase Quality 21% Carcase Yield 23%

AngusPRO Index (PRO) The AngusPRO index (PRO) estimates the genetic differences between animals in net profitability per cow joined in a commercial self replacing herd based in New Zealand that targets the production of grass finished steers for the AngusPure programme. Daughters are retained for breeding and therefore female traits are of importance. Steers are assumed marketed at approximately 530 kg live weight (290 kg carcase weight with 10 mm P8 fat depth) at 20 months of age, with a significant premium for steers that exhibit superior marbling.

Trait Contributions

Figure 1 shows the traits that are considered in the PRO index, and how much they contribute to the overall balance of the selection index. The larger the segment, the greater the impact on the selection index.

Selection Advantage

Figure 2 shows the selection advantage if animals are selected using the PRO index. The selection advantage is calculated by ranking well used sires within the Angus breed on the PRO index, and comparing the average EBVs of the sires in the highest 10% with the average EBVs of all sires from which they were selected. For example, the sires ranked in the highest 10% based on the PRO index had 9 kg higher 400 Day Weight EBVs and 1.2 kg lower Birth Weight EBVs than the average EBVs of the sires from which they were selected. The selection advantage is indicative of the long term direction and relativity of response that will occur in individual traits if selection is based on the PRO index. The actual response that is observed will vary depending on the features of the individual breeding program.

Selection Index Summary · New Zealand production system · Self replacing herd · Daughters are retained for breeding · Steer progeny are finished on pasture for the AngusPure programme. · Steer progeny slaughtered at a carcase weight of 290 kg at 20 months of age · Significant premium for steers that exhibit superior marbling Figure 1: Trait Contribution to the AngusPRO Index Calving Ease Mature Cow Weight Fertility

Carcase Quality Carcase Yield

Calving Ease 14%

Growth 28%

PRO Carcase Yield 21%

Mature Cow Weight 11%

Fertility 18% Carcase Quality 8%

A feature of the PRO index is a selection advantage of close to 0 for mature cow weight, meaning that selection on this index will maintain mature cow weight, while still increasing growth to 200, 400 & 600 days of age.

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MDS & MDS+

· Self replacing herd · Daughters are retained for breeding · Steer progeny are either finished using pasture, pasture supplemented by grain or grain (eg. 50 – 70 days) · Steer progeny slaughtered at a carcase weight of 280 kg at 16 months of age · Eating quality traits important to suit MSA program · MDS+ includes an additional objective of maintaining mature cow weight

AMB & AMB+

· Self replacing herd · Daughters are retained for breeding · Identifies animals that will improve overall profitability in the majority of commercial, self replacing, grass and grain finishing beef production systems. · AMB+ includes an additional objective of maintaining mature cow weight

ATS · Terminal breeding program where Angus bulls are being used as a terminal sire over mature females · All progeny, both male and female, are slaughtered · Focus on increasing growth, carcase yield and eating quality. · No emphasis is given to female fertility or maternal traits

MGS & MGS+ · Self replacing herd · Daughters are retained for breeding · Steer progeny are finished on pasture · Steer progeny slaughtered at a carcase weight of 350 kg at 22 months of age · Eating quality traits important to suit MSA program · MGS+ includes an additional objective of maintaining mature cow weight

· Self replacing herd · Daughters are retained for breeding · Steer progeny are pasture grown with a 250 day feedlot finishing period · Steer progeny slaughtered at a carcase weight of 455 kg at 24 months of age · Targeting high quality, highly marbled markets with a significant premium for superior marbling · MGN+ includes an additional objective of maintaining mature cow weight

Selection Index Description MGN & MGN+

Angus Research Selection Index Comparison · New Zealand production system · Self replacing herd · Daughters are retained for breeding · Steer progeny are finished on pasture for the AngusPure programme. · Steer progeny slaughtered at a carcase weight of 290 kg at 20 months of age · Significant premium for steers that exhibit superior marbling

PRO

TACE

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+0.0 %

+0.9 %

Retail Beef Yield

Intramuscular Fat

Docility

+1.0 %

+0.1 %

-0.2 mm

+2.3 cm2

+9 kg

+0.2 cm

-1.9 days

+5 kg

-1 kg

+14 kg

+13 kg

+8 kg

-0.9 kg

-0.5 days

+2.9 %

+3.9 %

AMB+

+0.6 %

+0.3 %

-0.5 mm

-0.2 mm

+1.4 cm2

+14 kg

+0.4 cm

-1.8 days

+3 kg

+17 kg

+23 kg

+19 kg

+11 kg

-0.5 kg

-1.2 days

+3.9 %

+4.2 %

MDS

+0.5 %

-0.3 mm

-0.2 mm

+2.3 cm2

+8 kg

+0.2 cm

-1.6 days

+5 kg

-2 kg

+13 kg

+14 kg

+8 kg

-1.0 kg

-0.6 days

+3.3 %

+4.1 %

MDS+

+1.2 %

-0.1 %

-0.4 mm

-0.3 mm

+1.5 cm2

+13 kg

+0.2 cm

-2.0 days

+4 kg

+11 kg

+19 kg

+16 kg

+9 kg

-0.7 kg

-1.0 days

+3.9 %

+4.4 %

MGN

Selection Advantage

+1.3 %

-0.1 %

-0.2 mm

+1.9 cm2

+9 kg

+0.0 cm

-1.5 days

+5 kg

-1 kg

+13 kg

+8 kg

-0.9 kg

-0.2 days

+2.6 %

+3.7 %

MGN+

+0.9 %

-0.0 %

-0.3 mm

-0.2 mm

+1.3 cm2

+14 kg

+0.5 cm

-2.3 days

+3 kg

+18 kg

+23 kg

+18 kg

+10 kg

-0.4 kg

-1.5 days

+3.9 %

+4.1 %

MGS

+1.0 %

+0.1 %

-0.2 mm

-0.1 mm

+2.4 cm2

+9 kg

+0.3 cm

-1.9 days

+5 kg

-2 kg

+13 kg

+12 kg

+8 kg

-0.9 kg

-0.4 days

+3.0 %

+3.9 %

MGS+

+1.0 %

+0.2 %

-1.0 mm

-0.6 mm

+1.6 cm2

+15 kg

+0.3 cm

-0.9 days

+4 kg

+19 kg

+25 kg

+20 kg

+11 kg

-0.4 kg

-0.8 days

+2.6 %

+3.0 %

ATS

+1.2 %

-0.2 %

+0.1 mm

+0.3 mm

+1.6 cm2

+8 kg

+0.2 cm

-2.6 days

+1 kg

-0 kg

+9 kg

+6 kg

-1.2 kg

-1.2 days

+4.5 %

+5.8 %

PRO

-1 %

-0 %

-1 %

-0 %

-1 %

-0 %

-2 %

+0.16 kg/day +0.21 kg/day +0.12 kg/day +0.18 kg/day +0.18 kg/day +0.24 kg/day +0.17 kg/day +0.22 kg/day +0.11 kg/day +0.27 kg/day

-0.4 mm

Rump Fat

NFI (Feedlot)

-0.2 mm

Rib Fat

+3 kg

Milk

+1.3 cm2

+17 kg

Mature Cow Weight

Eye Muscle Area

+22 kg

600 Day Weight

+14 kg

+18 kg

400 Day Weight

Carcase Weight

+10 kg

200 Day Growth

+0.4 cm

-0.5 kg

Birth Weight

Scrotal Size

-1.2 days

Gestation Length

-2.1 days

+3.8 %

Calving Ease Dtrs

Days to Calving

+4.3 %

Calving Ease Direct

AMB

Angus Research Selection Index Comparison

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Enhancements to the BreedObject Selection Index Software Brad Walmsley

Like breeding values (EBVs), selection index technology is a well-established, science-based methodology that is used in many livestock species around the world.

The selection indexes calculated within the TransTasman Angus Cattle Evaluation are generated using a software package called BreedObject. The same software is utilised in the genetic evaluations conducted for many other beef breeds across Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, South America and South Africa. Selection indexes generated by BreedObject are as equally concerned with production costs as they are with market returns. Thus, they reflect both sides of the profit equation for a beef production system.

Recent Developments in the BreedObject Software

Like the science behind EBVs, research into improving the methodology behind selection indexes is ongoing and recently a new version of the BreedObject software has been made available to industry. This new version of software has been utilised in the research selection indexes that have been released by Angus Australia. New developments in this version of the BreedObject software include: · Improved modelling of young animal growth. This includes: · Separate modelling for each sex rather than assuming there is a fixed difference between them. This gives the potential for each sex to have different market end points. · Revised modelling of growth during backgrounding and in the feedlot. · Revised modelling of feed requirements including net feed intake (breeding objective) for young animals and the impacts on production costs. · Improved modelling of cow weight and condition score throughout the year. This includes: · More advanced modelling of cow weight, and subsequently feed requirements, at times of the year when feed is in short supply and/or expensive. · Inclusion of cow condition score and production penalties for cows outside of optimum condition (too lean or too fat). · Revised methodology for valuing cows when culled. This allows for variation in sale weight and value between cows culled for various reasons (e.g. cast for age, reproductive failure, poor condition, etc.).

· Enhanced modelling of carcase market specifications and values. · This includes the ability to handle non-linear price structures like carcase grids that penalise both too lean and too fat carcases, and/or those that penalise under- and overweight carcases. These developments have changed how EBVs are valued in selection indexes. In particular, the enhanced modelling of cow weight increases the impact that total cow feed costs (i.e. length of feeding + feed price + feed quality) have on the profitability of the represented commercial production systems. For example, recent research showed that altering the cost and/or length of time of supplementary feeding has a larger effect on the selection indexes produced in the new BreedObject software than in past versions. This result demonstrates that the new software can construct selection indexes that can be tailored to the different production environments found across Australia where variation in cow feed costs exist. The new BreedObject software also contains developments to allow for the future inclusion of new traits in the selection indexes. These components are not yet available for implementation but give an indication of some of the data which may be valuable for breeders to collect for the future. The data includes: · Methane (carbon) valuing (where desired). · The incidence of and possible penalties within the herd (e.g. loss of production, lower sale value) for animals with undesirable: · Leg structure. · Docility. · Udder conformation.

Where to find more information on BreedObject and Selection Indexes More detail on BreedObject can be found at http://www. breedobject.com/page/About_BreedObject.html . Acknowledgement: This article is a modified version of an article that first appeared in Summer 2018 SBTS & TBTS Update Magazine and was written by SBTS staff and Dr Bradley Walmsley from the Animal Breeding and Genetics Unit (AGBU).

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TACE

Using a selection Index in a breeding program – A tool to genetic selection Jake Phillips, Breed Development Officer

Across the world, animal breeding selection indexes have been a crucial tool utilised to make genetic gains in multiple traits of importance at one time. Selection index usage has been well adopted in a multitude of plant and animal species across the world. Examples of the successful implementation of using selection indexes include in plant breeding for broad acre crops where multiple factors impact the economic benefit such as yield, flowering time and disease resistance. In other animal industries such as the sheep industry, has used selection indexes for selecting on wool quality and a clear breach to prevent fly strike and in the pork industry for the number of piglets successfully farrowed and the days it will then take them to reach the market specification. It should come as no surprise that the tools available to Angus Australia members to make genetic selection and breeding decisions also include selection indexes for consideration. The availability of these industry and market relevant selection indexes for use by Angus cattle breeders is part of Angus Australia’s continual quest to provide the very best and latest tools to utilise when making breeding decisions.

A step-by-step guide to using a selection index when making breeding decisions 1. Define your breeding objective. Before considering decisions regarding bull selection, it is important to develop a clearly defined plan of what you are attempting to achieve from your breeding program. This may be described as setting a breeding objective or breeding goals, and should consider aspects such as the relative economic importance of different traits, future customer requirements, future herd production targets, current herd performance, and the environment in which your breeding enterprise is run. 3. Identify the selection index which is most aligned with your breeding objective. Background information regarding all the selection indexes published in the TransTasman Angus Cattle Evaluation can be found on the Angus Australia website under the TACE menu and then Understanding Angus Selection Indexes. 4. Rank animals on the selection index of relevance Use the ‘Database Search’ function of the Angus Australia website to rank the animals available for selection on the selection index of most relevance to

your breeding objective. For example, animals available in a sale or semen catalogue. 5. Consider individual EBVs Modify your search by adding minimum or maximum acceptable EBV values for your four or five key traits of importance in the additional criteria EBV Tab. A suggestion could be placing these limits to avoid the extremes by using breed average to ensure you then only search animals with breed average or more desirable in those traits important to you. The revised list will now show animals that meet your minimum criteria and show them in ranking order to the economic index you have decided to use. 6. Consider additional selection criteria Modify your search to include any additional selection criteria or other information not captured in the selection index such as unique property management differences, pedigree, docility, research EBVs and importantly a robust structural and physical examination which may include fertility checks in crush side semen testing as well as morphology .

Why is it important to follow a step by step approach to genetic selection?

The nature of how a selection index works means that it is possible that the combination of traits can lead to animals having the same selection index value (Fig3). This means that without adding additional criteria to your selection such as nominating an acceptable range for some traits you could consequentially be considering using genetics that will not be best placed to give you genetic gains in the traits important to your operation. Consequentially, there could be other options that suit your breeding objective better (Fig 4.). This is because traits have a variation of heritabilities and correlations including some which mean if you select on individual traits you may in fact be causing unintended negative responses in traits which lead to an undesirable response, hence why the utilisation of a selection index helps to reduce the risk this complex conundrum poses for cattle breeders.

Figure 4. An example of two sires with the same selection index value but significantly different growth and mature cow weight EBV values

Key points: · Selection indexes have been used across animal and plant breeding for decades · Define a breeding objective and identify a selection index that best suits your situation. · Use the selection index to rank the potential sires or sale animals you are looking at Figure 3. Two different animals with the same Economic Index value and different individual EBV values

Essentially selection Indexes allow genetic gains to be made across multiple traits at once, however it is important to ensure the animal you are considering using has individual EBVs that suit your requirements and meet your breeding objective.

Getting help

Assistance in the use of selection indexes is available from Angus Australia’s nationwide team of Breed Development Officers. Contact details are available from the Angus Australia website.

· Consider EBVs for key traits, along with other information important to you to filter potential options being looked at. · Always incorporate a robust physical examination and consider measurements and traits not included in the calculation of the selection index such as structural soundness, fertility (bull semen testing), docility (both of the individual itself and his EBV), and any other items important to your operation. · Review the decisions you have made on genetic improvement of your herd to ensure you are proactive in planning your next breeding season.

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Angus Foundation

Update – From the Angus Foundation Jake Phillips, Breed Development Officer

The Angus Foundation provides a mechanism for members and other beef industry stakeholders to support youth development, education and research programs conducted by Angus Australia.

These programs are designed to encourage and assist the involvement of young people in the Australian beef industry, to provide professional development opportunities for young beef breeders, and to assist in conducting research, development and educational programs for the benefit of Angus breeders and the wider Australian beef industry. The Foundation is governed by a committee of the Angus Australia Board, with advice from the current Angus Australian Consultative Committees including members and other industry participants with an interest in assisting with the Foundation’s activities. The Angus Foundation is primarily funded through the voluntary levy paid by Angus Australia members when paying their annual membership. To date, the Angus Foundation has provided funds to support Angus Australia’s Scholarships, Awards and Bursaries program and is very proud to announce the launch of the inaugural Angus Foundation Research Grant for 2022. The Angus Australia Research Grant is awarded to undergraduate and post-graduate students enrolled in a higher degree at a university or other recognised educational institutions. During 2021 the Angus Foundation has been active in funding assistance to provide scholarships, awards and bursaries to the Beef Australia 2021 scholarship (Georgia Laurie, Jock Mcgregor and Damian Thomson), the Tocal Beef Cattle Assessment Course (Candina Crowden, Charlotte Nugent, Hamish Smith, Kristen Fredericksen and Liam Mowbray) and the ALFA SmartBeef conference (Georgia Laurie and Phoebe Christie). Successful applicants will soon be notified to attend the LivEXCHANGE 21 conference in Darwin in November. In addition to these scholarships, the Achmea GenAngus Future Leaders program is fast becoming a flagship program for younger members of Angus Australia and the Angus Foundation once again has contributed significantly to the capacity of the event. The workshop is a three-day intensive program designed to give members insights and business skills presented by some of Australia’s most high-profile speakers. The Achmea 42

GenAngus Future Leaders program is planned to take place between 2nd and 4th of November with successful applicants to be announced through September. Unfortunately, with current COVID -19 related cancellations and postponements of several industry courses and conferences the recipients of the Tocal Beef Cattle Assessment Course scholarship and the ALFA Smartbeef conference have been provided their award in lieu and will be able to take up their opportunity in 2022. Angus Australia is constantly monitoring the evolving events and face to face activities traditionally undertaken with considerations towards offering industry leading and relevant scholarships and educational opportunities. Covid-19 has proved difficult to deliver our normal array of scholarships, awards and bursaries that the Angus Foundation support, however we are working on options for the near future that reduce the risk of COVID-19 related cancellations and importantly new initiatives to be implemented when travel and event restrictions become more predictable and safer to manage. If you would like more information about the Angus Foundation or to become a partner of the Angus Foundation to assist in delivering the scholarships, awards and bursaries program, please contact Angus Australia Breed Development Officer Jake Phillips or visit the Angus Foundation tab on the Angus Australia Website.

The Angus Foundation Research Grant – Launch! Jake Phillips, Breed Development Officer

Angus Australia with support of the Angus foundation is excited to announce applications are now open to the inaugural Angus Foundation Research Grant. industry and more specifically Angus and Angus influenced genetics and their influence on the broader industry”. The value of the Research Grant is up to a maximum of $AUD20,000. Jake Phillips, Angus Australia’s Breed Development Officer overseeing the implementation of the inaugural research grant says, “The offering of a substantial research grant is a great example of what we are able to do with the generous funding of many Angus Australia members and supporters to the Angus Foundation.’

JUST D ASE RELE

“

It is exciting to see the Angus Foundation Research Grant come to fruition after a couple of years in the making

“

The Angus Australia Research Grant is awarded to undergraduate and post-graduate students enrolled in a higher degree at a university or other recognised educational institutions. The Grant will allow them to undertake research towards higher degrees in disciplines able to be applied to the Australian beef industry, with the purpose to enhance and promote the value of Angus genetics and beef. The Angus Foundation Grant may be used to extract additional findings from an existing project the individual or institution has already commenced or a completely new project. Angus Australia board member and Angus Foundation committee member, Perry Gunner, South Australia, said, “It is exciting to see the Angus Foundation Research Grant come to fruition after a couple of years in the making.’ ‘We are delighted that we are now offering a substantial financial grant that is aimed at students with an appetite and passion to undertake research related to the beef

‘We have so many wonderful universities and research institutes in Australia attracting high class students from a variety of backgrounds it is exciting to imagine the possible projects and outcomes this kind of grant is going to help fund over the next twelve months”. Angus Australia invites interested parties to submit applications by Friday 29th October 2021 to Angus Australia. Angus Australia will undertake a comprehensive selection process and advise the applicants by Friday the 26th of November 2021 of the successful candidate. For more information contact Jake Phillips, Breed Development Officer at Angus Australia or visit the Angus Foundation tab on the Angus Australia website for more information.

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Northern Focus

The Campbell Family: EBVs and Post Drought Expansion Jen Peart, Northern Development Officer

Guy Campbell, in partnership with his wife Nichole and parents John and Barbara run a multi-generational, mixed farming and grazing enterprise in the Condamine district. Their vision is to stock a pure Angus herd of 1,000 to 1,200 head and breed progeny with high marbling and weight gain for the feeder market. Managing 26,750 acres over six properties, including a lease property of 3,700 acres, the Campbell family currently run 1,000 breeders and farm 4,500 acres, producing both grain and fodder crops. Originally running a Bos taurus cow herd joined to European breed bulls, the transition to Angus started nine years ago. Although the hybrid vigour from their crossbred calves is something that John and Guy felt that they really benefited from, calving difficulty and the growing premium for Angus saw John purchase a couple of hundred head of straight bred Angus heifers. From there, the marketability, premiums and level of data underpinning accurate breeding values drove the decision to progress to a 100% pure bred Angus herd. The recent drought hastened the process, with the last of the original Bos taurus cross breeders sold during that period. The Campbells made the decision to feed their Angus breeders at the onset of the drought and have now recovered breeder numbers reasonably quickly, selling down to 800 head and retaining 200 replacement heifers who are due to calve this year (2021). “We had 1,200 breeders before the drought and we are aiming to get back to that number and potentially a few more now we’ve taken on a bit more country, so we’re rapidly trying to retain heifers” says Guy. “We’re also at the stage now where we can tidy up the herd a bit with white bellies and things like that to better meet feedlot requirements” adds John. The breeders are run on a number of the properties in herds of 80-100 head. John explains that they prefer smaller mob sizes as it suits their paddock sizes and the fewer bulls in each paddock reduces injury from fighting. The Campbells opt to join year-round, replacing the bulls in each herd with fresh bulls every three to four months and are achieving calving rates (percentage of calves weaned from breeder run, annually) of 89% and higher more

recently in their younger heifer herds. The birth of progeny year-round gives the business consistent cash flow and the continuity of supply to market cattle during periods of the year when cattle supply is generally tight. “The saleability of Angus year-round suits our production cycle. Because we are breeding year-round, we have turn off all the time and we can put animals on the market any time of year and sell them. Particularly when there are a lot of animals coming on the market, such as when they come off the oats, there is always buyer demand for black cattle” explains Guy. From a bull management perspective, the exchange of bulls mitigates the risk of breakdowns and bulls are spelled for a number of months before being re-introduced to another herd. The changeover of bulls is tied in with other husbandry requirements such as 7-in-1 booster shots and backlining for the breeders. Branding and weaning are also done during these quarterly windows. Weaners are weaned onto fodder crops such as oats on Barramournie and Ashby – predominantly cropping country, typically planted down to 50% grain crop and 50% fodder crop. Replacement heifers are usually picked

Campbell Family Location Barramournie: 3,000 acres Ashby: 6,000 acres Glenvale: 6,000 acres Bendalla: 3,000 acres East Creek: 8,000 acres Greenlea (lease block): 3,700 acres Annual Rainfall 24 inches p.a. Target Market Feeder market

on type, size, temperament and Angus content – any with white on them are culled – and grown out to 300-350kg. Once they have reach desired weight they are joined as yearlings to high calving ease, low –birth weight bulls, join the breeder herd and must calve unassisted. As a result of the planned expansion in breeder numbers, and the current cattle market, the Campbells are joining all heifers and selling any culls as preg-tested in calf. Typically, their weaner steers and cull heifers are fed on fodder and turned off by two years of age as milk toothed animals, weighing a maximum of 420kg and ideally having gained 1.2kg/day. “We are central to many of the big feedlots here and they have all expanded their capacity in recent years. We are really well placed as there is going to be larger requirement for grain and cattle for those feedlots. We normally list our cattle on Auctions Plus and they usually sell locally” says John. Their cattle’s performance in the feedlot is a prime objective for the Campbells. “We’re trying to aim for high marbling and good performance in the 400-600 day weight range. We’re finding feedlots have so much data on your cattle that if you keep producing an article that they make money on at their end, they’re going to be coming back to you with a premium because they know your cattle can perform and that’s the relationship we want” says Guy. To achieve these objectives, Guy identifies suitable bulls using the ‘search catalogues’ function on the angus.tech platform.

“By using the angus.tech platform, we put our parameters on key estimated breeding values (EBVs) in and cull each catalogue down to 20 or so bulls that hit our specs” explains Guy. “We’re aiming to buy bulls with IMF over +2.5, EMA over +5.0 and try to get 400-day weight over +100kg. Then we play with calving ease according to what we need him for, cows or heifers, but we’re finding that by using the Angus breed, we can get those numbers and good growth rates as well as a low birth weight, you can find the curve bending bulls. We really like the data that Angus has compared to other breeds and the accuracy of EBVs. We like buying bulls on figures and having the confidence in the genetics that bull delivers” says Guy. From there the bulls are inspected physically and dropped from consideration based on temperament, muscling and structure. The Campbells prefer buying bulls that are aren’t in too forward of a condition and purchase 18-month-old bulls or older, as they don’t require the care younger bulls do. Being repeat clients is also of value to John and Guy, as they see the potential of a bull’s genetics realised at home in the paddock and have that knowledge going into a sale. More recently, mature cow weight has also become a focus for the Campbells operation. Given their experience during the drought, they value productive cows that aren’t consuming as much to fulfil maintenance requirements and as such, they are keen to moderate their mature cow weight. “Given that we are chasing growth, we are conscious of the need to keep our mature cow weights down. When you’re feeding animal in drought conditions, you don’t want a

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Northern Focus bigger cow that’s consuming so much to meet her needs, they are the ones that die or don’t cycle in a drought” says Guy. In terms of acclimatisation, Guy and John agree that managing mustering in times of heat is important. “Moving the cattle during hot temperatures is something we work to avoid. We tend to get up at the crack of dawn and get them into the yard by 10am to manage their heat” say John. Buffalo fly and pink eye are also issues the Campbells have from time to time which they treat for using backliners and eye patches, respectively. Going forward, it is Guy’s goal to continue to develop the fodder available to support the production system they have in place, with the next development being the establishment of 160ha of Leucaena. “A part of my dream is to have green feed year-round, so trying to get Leucaena going, in conjunction with our oats and forage, will fill a bit of that gap. Some of the paddocks we have selected for Leucaena have had badly affected by erosion and this will provide full-time soil cover and a bit more soil structure and stability” says Guy. The Campbell’s selection emphasis on traits vital to their target market is bound to be a major factor in their success. However, it is the consideration of calving ease and maternal traits, such as birth weight and mature cow weight – and the identification of suitable curve bending bulls – that will ensure that their breeding herd continues to produce the article so sought after by buyers, all while suiting the production environment.

New Angus Sire Benchmarking Consultative Committee Cheyne Twist, Communications Officer

Angus Australia is pleased to announce the composition of the Angus Sire Benchmarking Program (ASBP) Consultative Committee for the next two years. Existing committee members, Stephen Chase - Waitara Angus, Rodger Pryce - Brooklana Angus, Richard Puddicombe – ‘Burindi’ Paraway Pastoral, Keith Howe – Rangers Valley and Hamish Chandler – Meat and Livestock Australia (MLA), will be joined by new committee members, Peta Bradley – MLA, Will Schmidt - Rangers Valley, Lindsay Wolrige – Esslemont Angus and Gary Wilkinson - Kyah Park Angus. Stephen Chase will remain as chairperson of the committee. David Murray (Kilburnie Angus) and Brad Cavanagh (Hardhat Angus) have retired from the committee and are thanked for their valued contributions to this important R&D initiative undertaken by Angus Australia. The purpose of the ASBP Consultative Committee is to provide guidance to Angus Australia in developing policies, strategies and plans relating to the Angus Sire Benchmarking Program. This includes reviewing the overall operations and progression of the ASBP and considering related project proposals. Christian Duff, Strategic Projects Manager looks forward to engaging with the committee over the next two years to monitor the progress of the ASBP and to develop related strategies and policies for Board consideration. “The committee has broad ranging experience related to livestock research and development programs, and importantly deep knowledge of Angus genetics within the beef supply chain,” Mr Duff said. A: Stephen Chase – Cow Herd Representative, Waitara Angus – Chair, B: Richard Puddicombe – Cow Herd Representative, Parwaway Pastoral Company, C: Lachie Wilson – Bull Owner Representative- Murdeduke Angus, D: Rodger Pryce – Bull Owner Representative- Brooklana Angus, E: Lindsay Wolrige – Bull Owner RepresentativeEsslemont Angus, F: Gary Wilkinson – Bull Owner Representative- Kyah Park Angus, G: Keith Howe – Feedlot Representative, Rangers Valley, H: Will Schmidt – Feedlot Representative, Rangers Valley, I: Hamish Chandler – Meat and Livestock Australia, J: Peta Bradley – Meat and Livestock Australia, K: James Laurie - Strategic Projects Committee Chairman, L: Sam White – Angus Australia President and Board Chair, M: Dr Peter Parnell – Angus Australia CEO, N: Christian Duff – Angus Australia Strategic Projects Manager

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Advertorial

Choosing the Right Progesterone Device Vetoquinol Australia

With spring breeding just around the corner and producers all across the country securing this years’ sires, planning for spring joining is already well underway. One thing that may not be on your radar yet, or at all, is choosing the right progesterone device for your AI program.

Most producers simply use the device they are provided without realising there is a choice out there and there may be an alternate device that better suits their needs and requirements. Some questions you may not have asked or considered include: · are all devices created equal? · is there a “right dose” when it comes to progesterone? · when do you use a “low dose” device? · can you reuse a device? · are some devices too big for heifers?; and · which device is the most environmentally friendly? If we take a step back, let’s look firstly at what a progesterone device is and what role does it play in a synchronisation program.

What is a progesterone device?

An intravaginal progesterone device is used to elevate the blood progesterone levels to mimic the normal rise in progesterone during the oestrous cycle of a cow. A drop in progesterone, coupled with a rise in other hormones is what signals ovulation. By artificially increasing the level of progesterone with a device, we can start to synchronise a mob of cows regardless of where they are in their normal cycle or we can induce a cow to cycle if she is currently not cycling at all. A progesterone device can be used on its own or combined with other hormone injections to control either oestrus or ovulation.

Choosing the right device

There are multiple devices on the market and they all contain progesterone – so do they all work in the same way? Mostly yes; they all deliver progesterone through extraction via mucous flow around and through the device with the progesterone being absorbed through the mucosal lining of the vaginal walls into the blood stream. So the first step in choosing the right device starts with considering the females in your selected AI group and how much progesterone they are likely to need to maintain sufficient progesterone for the full synchronisation program. Larger animals may require more progesterone, 48

and smaller or young animals less, so it may be advisable to contact an expert to discuss the specific requirements for your herd. There may even be different recommendations within your herd. If you are looking to maximise the results from your program or improve your previous result by a few percent, then it may not be a one size fits all approach. There can be just as large an impact on results by having too little progesterone as too much, so it’s important to get this right.

Low dose devices

Using low dose devices in cows means they sometimes run out of progesterone a day or two before the device is scheduled to be removed. It is therefore important to keep an eye out for any early signs of oestrus (or use an Estrotect® patch) and advise your vet or technician immediately. This can be a costly mistake as you may not only incur the AI costs but also skip a whole cycle meaning their progeny will be born later and will be lighter as yearlings or replacement heifers. On the flip side heifers may benefit from a lower dose. If there is too much progesterone in the blood stream, there may not be a sufficient drop in progesterone levels to enable the rise of other key hormones necessary to initiate ovulation. If this is the case, heifers could ovulate well after the insemination date or fail to respond completely, thereby producing poor and costly results. It is therefore worthwhile ensuring you use the optimal dose for the animals you are synchronising.

Can I reuse a device?

This is one of the most commonly asked questions around devices and the easy answer is that the Cue-Mate® is the only device with a registered re-use claim (which applies only to the wishbone). There are a number of risks and disadvantages when reusing a device but the biggest one is that there is no way of telling how much progesterone is left in a device after it has been used. If you do reuse a devise (off-label or against the manufacture’s recommendation); you run the same risk as using a device with insufficient progesterone.

Cue-Mate® devices have a reusable wishbone requiring only the pods to be replaced. This may be with either two active reload pods (for cows) or an active pod and a blank for heifers. If you are simply provided with devices from a vet or technician, it is worth ensuring they haven’t already been used (possibly in someone else’s herd). Whilst most operators wouldn’t do this, it is worth being aware of the potential risk of disease as well as insufficient progesterone should this occur.

Which device is best for heifers?

There is often a lot of talk about some devices (i.e. CueMate® being too big for heifers). To dispel this myth a picture says a thousand words. Cue-Mate®s are the smallest device on the market and have soft pods on each end for proven comfort. They have been used in thousands of heifers around Australia as many leading Repro vets will attest.

Which device is best for the environment?

That’s an easy one given Cue-Mate® is the only device with a registered re-use claim.

Wishbones can be used for many years provided they are washed and stored correctly (i.e. clean, dry and out of direct sunlight).

Conclusion

Not all devices are created equal and if optimal results is what you are striving for, then fine-turning your AI program to increase your pregnancy rate by a few extra percentage points can reap handsome dividends. Cutting corners can be very costly as while it might seem cheaper to wash and reuse a device off-label, or choose the cheapest product available, the perceived cost saving is soon lost if you get even one less pregnancy.

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Angus and Angus Influenced Cattle up to the challenge Diana Wood, Marketing & Communications Manager

Angus and Angus influenced cattle have continued their stellar run of dominance in commercially focused competitions, with outstanding results in the RAS of NSW 2021 Sydney Royal Beef Challenge, taking home almost all major awards. Mike MacCue, the Co-chair of the Royal Agricultural Society of NSW Cattle Committee and host of the RAS Beef Challenge said that the competition is, ‘A feedlot based competition where exhibitors present teams of six animals to compete against the states’ best’. The competition assesses all aspects of production from arrival though to slaughter, including: · Feedlot performance – assessing both Average Daily Gain, Feed Intake and Dressing Percentage · Market Grid Compliance – with each team assessed to meet a defined optimum target for domestic and export categories · Profitability · Carcass Assessment – Fat specifications, Meat Yield, and Eating Quality · Eating Quality – MSA Index This Challenge also normally includes a live assessment component, but due to COVID-19, this was not included for the 2021 competition and like most events these days, the awards presentation was conducted via Zoom. Taking out three of the four Championships on offer, Texas Angus put on a dominant display with purebred Angus cattle to win Champion and Reserve Champion Team with Angus heifers, and individuals from each of the teams winning Champion and Reserve Champion Individual in the 70 Day Domestic Class. A team of Texas purebred Angus steers was also awarded the Champion team in the 100 Day Export Class. While a Santa Gertrudis cross Angus Steer, exhibited by Yugilbar Pastoral Co was awarded the Champion Individual.

70 DAY DOMESTIC CLASS RESULTS CHAMPION TEAM Angus Heifers, Texas Angus Reserve Champion Team Angus Heifers, Texas Angus CHAMPION INDIVIDUAL Angus Heifer, Texas Angus RESERVE CHAMPION INDIVIDUAL Angus Heifer, Texas Angus DAILY WEIGHT GAIN – INDIVIDUAL 1st: Angus Heifer, Texas Angus - 2.739kg/per day 2nd: Angus Heifer, Texas Angus – 2.592kg/day 3rd : Angus Heifer, Texas Angus – 2.521kg/day DRESSING % - INDIVIDUAL 1st: Santa Gertrudis x Angus Steer, Yugilbar Pastoral Co 3rd : Charolais x Angus Steer, Millner Ag FEEDLOT TOTAL – TEAM 1st: Charolais x Angus Steers, Millner Ag 2nd: Charolais x Angus Steers, Millner Ag CARCASE GRID – TEAM 2nd: Angus Heifers, Texas Angus CARCASE GRID – INDIVIDUAL 1st : Angus Heifer, Texas Angus CARCASE JUDGE – TEAM 2nd: Angus Heifers, Texas Angus CARCASE JUDGE - INDIVIDUAL =2nd : Santa Gertrudis x Angus Steer, Yugilbar Pastoral Co PROFITABILITY – TEAM 1st: Angus Heifers, Texas Angus 2nd: Angus Heifers, Texas Angus PROFITABILITY – INDIVIDUAL 1st: Angus Heifer, Texas Angus 2nd: Angus Heifer, Texas Angus 3rd: Angus Heifer, Texas Angus

EATING QUALITY – TEAM 2nd : Charolais x Angus Steers, Millner Ag EATING QUALITY – INDIVIDUAL 2nd : Santa Gertrudis x Angus Steer, Yugilbar Pastoral Co 3rd : Charolais x Angus Steer, Millner Ag TASTE TEST AWARDS – GOLD MEDAL Charolais x Angus Steers, Millner Ag TASTE TEST AWARDS – SILVER MEDAL Charolais x Angus Steers, Millner Ag

B 50

TASTE TEST AWARDS – BRONZE MEDAL Angus Heifers, Texas Angus

A: Angus Heifer from the Champion Domestic Pen, B: Steer from the Champion Export Team, C: Mike MacCue, Wilga Feedlot and Co-chair of the Royal Agricultural Society of NSW Cattle Committee, Ben Mayne, Gill Leeds & Wendy Mayne looking at the RAS Beef Challenge steers and heifers at Wilga Feedlot.

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by Angus Australia

100 DAY EXPORT CLASS RESULTS CHAMPION TEAM Angus Steer, Texas Angus CHAMPION INDIVIDUAL Santa Gertrudis x Angus Steer, Yugilbar Pastoral Co DAILY WEIGHT GAIN – INDIVIDUAL 1st: Santa Gertrudis x Angus Steer, Yugilbar Pastoral Co - 2.866kg/day 2nd: Angus Steer, Texas Angus – 2.832kg per/day FEEDLOT TOTAL – TEAM 3rd: Angus Steers, AV & LM Doolan FEEDLOT TOTAL – INDIVIDUAL 1st: Santa Gertrudis x Angus Steer, Yugilbar Pastoral Co

The Angus Australia website and AngusSELECT is online 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year, meaning that your bulls, females, semen and embryos for sale, can be searched for and seen at any time. Angus Australia provides a range of catalogue options to suit your individual needs. These catalogues contain the latest registration and performance data downloaded directly from our database.

2nd: Angus Steer, Texas Angus CARCASE GRID – INDIVIDUAL 1st: Santa Gertrudis x Angus Steer, Yugilbar Pastoral Co 2nd : Santa Gertrudis x Angus Steer, Yugilbar Pastoral Co CARCASE JUDGE – TEAM 3rd: Angus Steers, AV & LM Doolan PROFITABILITY – TEAM 1st: Angus Steers, Texas Angus 2nd : Santa Gertrudis x Angus Steers, Yugilbar Pastoral Co PROFITABILITY – INDIVIDUAL 1st : Santa Gertrudis x Angus Steer, Yugilbar Pastoral Co EATING QUALITY – TEAM 1st: Santa Gertrudis x Angus Steers, Yugilbar Pastoral Co 2nd : Angus Steers, AV & LM Doolan 3rd: Angus Steers, Texas Angus EATING QUALITY – INDIVIDUAL 1st: Angus Steer, Texas Angus 3rd: Angus Steer, AV & LM Doolan TASTE TEST AWARDS – BRONZE MEDAL Angus Steers, AV & LM Doolan Santa Gertrudis x Angus Steers, Yugilbar Pastoral Co

For more information contact: Samantha Hamilton, Marketing Officer & Sale Catalogues 02 6773 4613 · Sam@angusaustralia.com.au The Angus Bulletin - Spring 2021

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Angus Verified

Angus Verified stops Angus imposters from eroding your profits and your breed Angus Australia’s latest integrity program, Angus Verified, supports commercial Angus producers to build better supply chain relationships by adding credibility to a producer’s business and their reputation in the marketplace.

AV Benefits

Builds integrity, confidence, and trust Leverages a competitive advantage Secures market premiums Rewards the use of registered Angus sires Adds credibility to your business reputation All Angus Verified RFIDs are recorded in the Angus Australia database Identify your cattle with exclusive Angus Verified tags

$ Cost? Angus Verified Subscription - $110/year Verify Animals - $1/head

123456 Questions? Contact Angus Australia about becoming an Angus Verified member and how this program can benefit you and your business. Liz Pearson 0488 758 360 Liz.pearson@angusaustralia.com.au

www.angusaustralia.com.au

Angus for MSA Performance Diana Wood, Marketing & Communications Manager

The 2021 Gate 2 Plate Competition in Western Australia has again proved fruitful for producers of Angus and Angus influenced cattle at an awards dinner held in June.

A: Harvey Beef Gate 2 Plate Challenge committee member Robert Smith (left), and Coles Albany duty manager Aaron Simpson (right) congratulated Bruce Campbell, AS & M Campbell & Son on winning the award for the team with the best MSA Performance with three Angus calves. Image: Farm Weekly, B: Koojan Hills Angus stud’s Lauren Waller and Chris Metcalfe (centre), were congratulated by Harvey Beef Gate 2 Plate Challenge president Jarrod Carroll (left) and Harvey Beef senior livestock buyer Campbell Nettleton on taking out the overall second place in the competition with a team of pure Angus. Image: Farm Weekly 62 entries were received for the 2021 competition from producers right across Western Australia, and while the prize money was an added bonus, the competition gave producers feedback to help improve their beef operations. Now in its seventh year, the competition is based on factors that are measurable and influence profitability at each stage of the supply chain, as well as eating quality. Teams of three (two steers and one heifer) owner bred cattle are entered and individually scored for feedlot performance (50 points), processing performance (50 points) and MSA grading (25 points) with points combined to give a team score out of 375. Teams are fed in the Willyung Farms feedlot, Albany, with the heifers on feed for 70 days and the steers 85 days, before being processed at Harvey Beef. A purebred Angus team entered by Richard, Christine, Chris and Tim Metcalfe, Koojan Hills Angus stud placed second overall. The same the team also finished third in the feedlot section and second for processing performance. Angus cattle claimed all top three placings in the MSA performance competition.

ANGUS for Northern Australia

Bruce and Gaye Campbell, AS & M Campbell & Son topped the MSA category with an Angus team that finished with 60.425 points. Second place went to a team of Angus from Austin Park, which finished on 60.340 points, while third went to SA & SH Smith that scored 60.171 points. TOP TEAMS OVERALL ( 2 STEERS & 1 HEIFER): 2nd: Koojan Hills Angus – Angus 7th: Kangarabbi Farms – Gelbvieh cross Angus 8th: AS & M Campbell & Son – Angus 9th: CA & PE Norton – Angus TOP TEAMS OVERALL ( 2 STEERS & 1 HEIFER): 3rd: Koojan Hills Angus – Angus TOP TEAMS PROCESSOR PERFORMANCE: 2nd: Koojan Hills Angus – Angus TOP TEAMS MSA PERFORMANCE: 1st: AS & M Campbell & Son – Angus 2nd: Austin Park – Angus 3rd: SA & SH Smith – Angus

Are you looking for information about utilising Angus genetics in the Northern parts of Australia? Visit www.angusaustralia.com.au for more information The Angus Bulletin - Spring 2021

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Paddock to palate carcase quality success Diana Wood, Marketing & Communications Manager

Off the back of the first round results in the RNA paddock to Palate Competition, Angus, Angus cross and Angus Influenced cattle achieved solid results across all facets of the competition, in particular in the eating quality section. The competition objectively measures the performance of pens of 100 day export and 70 day trade on weight gain performance in the feedlot, carcase attributes in the chiller, commercial value and meat eating quality judged by a panel of expert chefs. 748 steers from Queensland and New South Wales operations were included in the 2021 competition. Class 37 – 100 Day HGP Export Class saw Russell Pastoral Operations take out the highest individual weight gain with an Angus cross steer putting on an average daily gain (ADG) of 3.310kg. C & J Varidel Trading Pty Ltd, took won the eating quality section with an Angus cross steer and Minnamurra Pastoral Co the Highest individual index with a Speckle Park cross Angus steer, with an MSA Index of 59.3. In Class 38 – 70 Day HGP Trade Class, a pen of 6 Angus cross Ultrablack steers exhibited by C & J Varidel Trading Pty Ltd won the overall prize. Russell Pastoral Operations took out first place with Angus cross steers in Best Weight Gain for Pen of Six Grain Fed Steers with an ADG of 2.843kg. Minnamurra Pastoral Co. Continued their success with Speckle Park cross Angus steers, winning first for eating quality and the highest individual index score of 61.39. In Class 40 – (100 Day HGP Free), Champion Individual Carcase was awarded to the NSW Dept. Primary Industries Wollongbar with an Angus cross steer that finished with a live weight of 622kg, a carcase weight of 349kg (dressing 56.11%), a rib and rump fat of 8mm and 14mm respectively, an EMA of 100sqcm and an MSA Index of 59.72. Backing up their sucess from the first round weight gain awards when they placed second in Class 40 for Best Weight Gain for Pen of Six Grain-Fed Steers, Texas Angus were awarded second and fourth overall in this class. While Eaglehawk Angus took out first place for both Eating Quality and Highest Individual Index Score in Class 40, with a score of 66.32.

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CLASS 37 – 100 DAY HGP EXPORT CLASS: OVERALL 6th – McIntyre Agriculture Pty Ltd – Angus – St George QLD 7th – C & J Varidel Trading Pty Ltd – Angus cross – Yuleeba QLD 8th – Russell Pastoral Operations – Angus Cross – Kenmore Qld 9th – NSW Dept. Primary Industries Wollongbar– Angus Cross – Wollongbar NSW HIGHEST INDIVIDUAL WEIGHT GAIN 1st – Russell Pastoral Operations – Angus cross – ADG 3.310kg – Kenmore QLD EATING QUALITY 1st – C & J Varidel Trading Pty Ltd – Angus cross – Yuleeba QLD 2nd - Minnamurra Pastoral Co – Speckle Park x Angus – Coolah NSW 3rd - Minnamurra Pastoral Co – Speckle Park x Angus - Coolah NSW HIGHEST INDIVIDUAL INDEX SCORE 1st - Minnamurra Pastoral Co – Speckle Park x Angus - Coolah NSW

Class 38 – 70 Day HGP Trade Class: Overall 1st – Aurelian Pastoral Co – Angus Cross Ultrablack – Indooroopilly QLD 8th– NSW Dept. Primary Industries Wollongbar– Angus Cross – Wollongbar NSW 9th – Russell Pastoral Operations – Angus cross – Kenmore QLD 10th - Minnamurra Pastoral Co – Speckle Park x Angus – Coolah NSW BEST WEIGHT GAIN FOR PEN OF SIX GRAIN FED STEERS 1st – Russell Pastoral Operations – Angus cross – ADG 2.843kg – Kenmore QLD 3rd – Russell Pastoral Operations – Angus cross – ADG 2.802kg – Kenmore QLD CARCASE 2nd – NSW Dept. Primary Industries Wollongbar– Angus Cross – Wollongbar NSW 3rd– Aurelian Pastoral Co – Angus Cross Ultrablack – Indooroopilly QLD EATING QUALITY 1st - Minnamurra Pastoral Co – Speckle Park x Angus – Coolah NSW

B A: Texas Angus steers placed 2nd and 4th overall in Class 40 and came 2nd for Best Weight Gain for Pen of Six Grain-Fed Steers, B: Champion Individual Carcase (Class 40) – NSW Dept. Primary Industries Wollongbar

3rd – NSW Dept. Primary Industries Wollongbar– Angus Cross – Wollongbar NSW HIGHEST INDIVIDUAL INDEX SCORE 1st - Minnamurra Pastoral Co – Speckle Park x Angus – Coolah NSW

CLASS 40 – 100 DAY HGP FREE EXPORT CLASS: OVERALL 2nd – Texas Angus – Angus – Warialda NSW 4th – Texas Angus – Angus – Warialda NSW

7th – Eaglehawk Angus – Angus – Glen Innes NSW 10th - Top End Partnership – Angus – Blackwater, Qld BEST WEIGHT GAIN FOR PEN OF SIX GRAIN-FED STEERS 2nd – Texas Angus – Angus – ADG 2.180kg – Warialda NSW

CARCASE Champion Individual – NSW Dept. Primary Industries Wollongbar– Angus Cross – Wollongbar NSW EATING QUALITY 1st – Eaglehawk Angus – Angus – Glen Innes NSW 2nd - Top End Partnership – Angus – Blackwater, Qld 3rd – Eaglehawk Angus – Angus – Glen Innes NSW HIGHEST INDIVIDUAL INDEX SCORE

to Don’t forgetyo ur tag us acrossnels! an ch al ci so

1st – Eaglehawk Angus – Angus – Glen Innes NSW

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Angus prove their worth on grass and grain Diana Wood, Marketing & Communications Manager

Both the Southern Grassfed Carcase Classic and Southern Grainfed Carcase Classic have again proved a happy hunting ground for Angus and Angus influenced producers when the 2020-2021 presentation dinner was held in Naracoorte South Australia in early July with Angus and Angus influenced cattle dominating the awards.

Southern Grassfed Carcase Classic Having run for 13 years, the Southern Grassfed Carcase Classic is considered the largest annual beef carcase competition in the Southern Hemisphere, with 1354 steers and heifers processed at Teys Australia’s Naracoorte abattoir for this years competition. Highlights included a team of 10 Angus entered by The Giles family, Crower Partners, winning the award for best team of 10 animals, with each carcase averaging 90.25 points The Reserve champion carcase was awarded to the Hurst family’s Lake Hawdon Props, with a March 2019 drop, Angus-Shorthorn steer scoring 94.89 points. While an Angus steer exhibited by the Wooding family, scored 67.7 points to have the equal highest Meat Standards Australia eating quality score for the competition.

Southern Grainfed Carcase Classic Running for its’ second year, the Southern Grainfed Carcase Classic, saw Angus steers entered by Hamish Robertson, Gum Park take the crown of overall champion team out of 10 teams of 10 steers from South Australia and Victoria. The 360-500 kilogram steers were all inducted at Teys Charlton feedlot in Victoria on February 2 and fed for about 120 days before processing at Teys. The Robertsons also had the highest feedlot performance with impressive daily weight gains averaging nearly 2kg/day. Their overall score, combining feedlot performance and carcase quality, was 1769.92 points from a possible 2000. A: Teys Australia Naracoorte plant manager Dean Woosnam with the winners of the best team of 10 animals in the grassfed competition, Rohan and Sue Giles and their daughter Mandy Bruhn, Crower Partners, Avenue Range. Image: Stock Journal, B: Winners of the grand champion grainfed team, Lachie and Hamish Robertson, Gum Park, Kingston SE, with sponsor Neale McKay, Performance Feeds. Image: Stock Journal.

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Angus & Angus Influenced Results GRASSFED CARCASE CLASSIC: CLASS 1. – SINGLE STEER OR HEIFER, 0 – 2 TEETH 180 – 260KG

2nd – Boonoonar Partnership - 88.05 Points 3rd – Boonoonar Partnership - 87.83 Points CLASS 2. SINGLE STEER OR HEIFER 0 – 2 TEETH 260.1 – 340KG

1st – HB Schinckel & Sons - 94.01 Points 2nd – V&M PATRICK - 92.09 POINTS CLASS 3. SINGLE STEER OR HEIFER 0 - 4 TEETH 340.1 – 420KG

2nd – Lake Hawdon - 94.89 Points 3rd – Wooding & Co - 94.13 Points CLASS 4. HIGHEST MSA EATING QUALITY INDEX Joint Tie for highest eating quality to Wooding and Co, Lucindale SA, 67.7 MSA index points (Top 1% of cattle in Australia). Vendor bred , Sterita Park Blood, CLASS 5. BEST TEAM OF 3 ANIMALS (AGGREGATE SCORE) 2nd – Crower Partners - 275.10 Points 3rd – HB Schinckel & Sons - 274.88 Points CLASS 6 – BEST TEAM OF 10 ANIMALS (AGGREGATE SCORE) 1st – Crower Partners - 902.59 Points 2nd – Boonoonar Partnership - 889.88 Points Reserve Champion Carcase – Lake Hawdon – 94.89 Points

GRAINFED CARCASE CLASSIC: CLASS 1 – BEST TEAM FOR FEEDLOT PERFORMANCE 1st – HL Robertson - 951 Points 2nd – H & A Cocking Nom Pty Ltd - 949 Points 3rd – H & A Cocking Nom Pty Ltd - 934 Points CLASS 2 – BEST TEAM FOR CARCASE PERFORMANCE 2nd – HL Robertson - 818.92 Points 3rd – Teys Charlton Team - 792.95 Points CLASS 3 – OVERALL CHAMPION TEAM 1st – HL Robertson - 1769.92 Points 2nd – RN&YM Hagger - 1747.81 Points

Feedback drives consistency in breeding Diana Wood, Marketing & Communications Manager

The desire for feedback to drive their genetic selection process and ensure they are using the right article, has seen Rohan Giles and family from Crower Partners enter Angus cattle in to the Southern Grassfed Carcase Classic in 12 out of the 13 years the competition has been running. The Southern Grassfed Carcase Classic is the largest of its kind known in at least the southern hemisphere and possibly even the world. Crower Partners has been located at Lucindale in South Australia for 21 years, where they are producing predominately cross bred ewes and lambs, but also run 350 Angus cows. Prior to running their cattle breeding operation, the Giles family used to run up to 450 predominately Angus weaners. But as they evolved their operation over the years, they moved more down the breeding path. No stranger to success in the Southern Grassfed Carcase Classic, the Giles Family have won the Champion carcase at least once, as well as the highest MSA score for eating quality award at least four times. This year Crower Partners won the coveted Champion pen of ten steers, which is the highest score for ten individual carcases out of the 1354 entered. The result came as a shock to Mr Giles because he may not have won overall Champion, but to have 10 animals perform so consistently in the competition is the aim of his breeding program. ‘Obviously we’re doing something right here,’ said Mr Giles. When asked what he has learnt over the last twelve years of receiving comprehensive feedback, Mr Gileswas very clear that his involvement in the competition has helped drive his breeding program. ‘I like the feedback you get, it gives you a pretty accurate picture of where you’re going against others, if you just look at your own figures, you don’t get any measurement against everyone else’. ‘I’ve learnt that when I first started in Angus cattle I used to be a bit below budget and I’d be buying the type of bulls that no one else would bid on. And I soon learnt that I had really low EMA and zero IMF and a few other things were missing when looking at the kill sheets. So Mandy, my daughter brought in this rule that if they weren’t above breed average on the EBVs, I couldn’t bid on them’. ‘It’s a very slow process to change some of the attributes in your cow herd, but where we have changed our focus, it seems that it is starting to pay off. We have got more even results on those kill sheets.’ ‘The change in breeding direction has meant a more consistent product and we are pretty confident that there will be marbling and eye muscle area without needing to crossbreed’. When selecting his Angus bulls, Mr Giles is looking for attributes to breed into his herd that will continue to prove successful. ‘We started to focus on the traits that we were leaving behind. Originally we were looking at the 600 day growth Rohan Giles, Crower Partnership, Avenue Range

and would buy as much of that as we could without blowing out the birth weight too much, with a bit of focus on some low birth weight bulls for heifers’. ‘But now we have dropped all that and if they are breed average for birth weight that’s good, if above breed average for weight, that’s good and especially above breed average for eye muscle area and IMF, then we are really happy.’ Mr Giles stressed that the eating quality traits are important in selection and that is what he is chasing. He noted that consumers want to eat good quality beef, “It’s what we like to eat and its what the market is looking for’. Mr Giles noted that he enjoys receiving sale catalogues in the mail and looking at the available genetics and appreciates that seedstock producers are working towards the same aims that commercial producers have. ‘They are ensuring they are using the genetics that will produce the ideal beef product at the end of the day. Everyone is on the same page’. Having been in the south east for a significant amount of time Mr Giles recognises that the area is very suited to beef production and has enjoyed seeing how the cattle industry has evolved. ‘It is a great cattle producing area that can produce high quality beef on grass, its has been proven’, he said. Feedback from the competition is really relevant to how Crower Partners operates. ‘The kill sheet really shows if you are on the right track with what you are doing and how well your breeding is working and what your judgement is when preparing the cattle for slaughter.’ And how does he plan to stay on top with consistent results? ‘Make sure I have the right genetics and hope the feed is where it needs to be to get that MSA grading right up near the top.’ The Angus Bulletin - Spring 2021

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Commercial Supply Chain

Chasing a top Angus performance at Guy Fawkes Station Kylie Nicholls, The Land

Accessing high-performing Angus genetics and the latest breeding technologies is enabling New England beef operation, Guy Fawkes Station, to consistently produce a quality steer for the feeder market. Based at Ebor, NSW, owners Fraser and Pam James, with help from assistant manager Gus Watters, will calve down 530 Angus cows this year and 125 Angus heifers, which were artificially inseminated, on their 960-hectare property. After purchasing the farm in 2004, the family spent the first six years fattening bullocks and backgrounder feeder steers, before making the change to an Angus breeding herd, buying a line of pregnancy-tested-in-calf Angus heifers in 2011. “It was always going to be Angus or Wagyu because they’re at the quality end of the market and if you are a small operator like us, you can only ever get so much scale, so you need to be maximising your revenue opportunities,” Mr James said. “I believe the Angus breed is more versatile, it has a broader market base, you get better weight gains, and with the right genetics there are Angus steers that will marble seven plus so they are easily up there with F1 Wagyus.” They are in the process of rebuilding herd numbers after selling 200 older cows in 2019, due to being hit with both drought and bushfires. The James’ plan to get up to 700 Angus breeders next year. Depending on seasonal conditions, they also buy in trade steers and are currently running 300 head, purchased during the past few months. The James family aims to breed sound, fertile and functional cows which will produce steers reaching 480 to 500 kilograms liveweight suitable for the Rangers Valley feedlot long-fed program. Mr James uses visual appraisal, estimated breeding values (EBVs) and specific sire lines to select bulls. Significant emphasis is placed on structural soundness, growth, and carcase traits such as eye muscle area and marbling. “We want the steers to have adequate growth without being elephants, they need to marble and they need to have good legs and feet to stand up in the feedlot for 270 days,” Mr James said. “In bulls I look for balance not extremes, I want +3 for marbling, 600-day growth around 120, mature cow weight around 400 days’ growth to cap cow size and rib and rump fat around zero to one per cent. “In terms of heifer bulls I look at proven sire lines. I like a birth weight under four and a short gestation length, and a nice smooth shoulder and head is important for ease of calving.” The cows are joined for eight weeks from early November to start calving in mid-August, maximising the spring flush of feed. A fixed time artificial insemination program is carried out with the heifers who all calve down in early July over a 12day period. 58

The cows are pregnancy tested after weaning in March or April, with conception rates in the cows averaging 96pc this year while the heifers averaged 52 to 54pc to AI, with back up bulls going in 10 days post AI. “Having at least 80pc of your heifers calve over a one-week period is a fantastic management opportunity. You’ve got most of the calves on the ground in a block in terms of weight and the heifers have got a lot more time to start their recovery. “Having them all calve in July and out on a decent paddock as soon as possible gives them time to freshen up for their second joining.” Typically, about 240 heifers will be AI’d each year, with a joining weight of more than 350kg targeted. Half the heifers will be retained in the herd, while the remainder are marketed as PTIC heifers for future breeders. Selection technology Last year, the James family decided to introduce Angus Australia’s genomic selection tool HeiferSELECT to their breeding operation to help class replacement heifers. The HeiferSELECT tool provides genomic predictions for nine important maternal, growth and carcase traits as well as sire identification and a genetic prediction of a heifer’s breeding value. So far, all the heifers born in 2019, which are due to calve shortly, have been genomically tested and they have taken DNA samples from the 2020-drop heifers. “Because I don’t single sire mate, this allows me to identify heifer performance based on their sire and I can see which of my bulls are working well,” Mr James said. “The genetic data of your females will on average equal the genetic data of your steers given that they are the same cohort, so the information also provides me with genetic predictions for my steers. “Although it’s still early days in terms of accuracy, it’s more data than I have currently and gives me something I can now start tracking and utilise in my business. “You can’t produce good feeder steers without having really good cows to start with, so you have to make sure you don’t chase a trait on the steer side that is going to be detrimental to the cow side.”

Image: Pictured; Fraser James, The James family aims to produce quality steers for the feedlot market and is using Angus Australia’s HeiferSELECT program to help class their heifers.

“

I’ve been really encouraged by the forward pricing agreements that various feedlots are now offering for Angus cattle

“

Hitting the specs

Mr James will look at marketing the heavier portion of the steers from December onwards through until the following March at between 480 to 500kg live weight, direct to Rangers Valley feedlot. Any steers that go over the feedlot entry weight will be sold to the grass-fed market through JBS Australia or Teys. “I’ve been really encouraged by the forward pricing agreements that various feedlots are now offering for Angus cattle,” he said. “I’m using those contracts to lock in my margins on trade cattle I’ve purchased and also my own home-bred steers. “I’ve been really pleased with the market and how my steers are performing.”

Thriving pastures

According to Mr James, careful pasture monitoring and intensive cell grazing plays a key role in maximising steer and heifer growth. The farm comprises a diverse mix of pastures, with half of the property sown down to high performance varieties including soft-leaved cocksfoot, fescue, prairie grass, plantain, and red and white clovers. The remaining pasture includes several older varieties of cocksfoot with a white and sub-clover base. The herd is set stocked during calving and then rotationally grazed from October onwards after calf marking. All the calves are yard-weaned in April and moved into a “high performance” cell grazing rotation until the steer portion is sold and the heifers are ready to be joined. “Typically our paddock size is 8 to 10ha and we run as big mobs as possible, up to 200 weaners in one mob. “Weight gains of more than 1kg/day are achieved in spring and summer, and with the help of ruminant nutritionists, my focus is on better understanding how cattle really work. “Excessive protein is the enemy of weight gain, so I’m now building a system that incorporates regular pasture testing and fibre and starch supplements to optimise rumen function.”

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The Angus Bulletin - Spring 2021

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Beef Australia

? How do you really know it’s angus

ANGUS BRAND VERIFICATION The Angus Society of Australia Limited 60

Turnbull’s strict breeding program ensures quality Angus steers Hayley Warden, Stock & Land

A fine-tuned breeding program at Blairgowrie, Holbrook, NSW, ensures owners/managers Dick and Jenny Turnbull’s Angus steers are sought after from feedlots.

Bulls are selected on EBVs that fit Mr Turnbull’s criteria, supported by a visual inspection on sale day. Structural soundness is paramount to his breeding objectives, and he prefers deep-bodied bulls with plenty of length and muscle. “I normally start by looking for bulls with below breed average EBVs for birth weight and positive calving ease as our bulls always start being used over the heifers,” he said. “Growth EBVs are important and I look for above breed average EBVs for 200, 400 and 600-day weight with emphasis on 400 and 600 days, while trying to maintain mature cow weights as close to breed average as possible. “When it comes to carcase traits I look for average to slightly above average EMA and above breed average for IMF. “I try to keep EBVs for fat cover around breed average to slightly positive, as this is an indicator of easy doing animals whose female progeny are likely to get back in calf more easily.” The Turnbulls run 500 breeding females and have been doing artificial insemination (AI) on heifers for two years using bulls with higher EBVs to improve their genetics. “We back up the AI program by putting bulls back with heifers for the next two cycles, this allows us some latitude in case there is a problem with the AI and pregnancy rates are not as good as we want,” he said. “When scanning the heifers we take off those by AI and then those to the bulls and split them in the two cycles allowing me to keep the first cycle calves by the bull if I need more heifers PTIC.” Cows are joined for 10 weeks, scanned and then split into the first four weeks followed by two groups covering the next two cycles, so those calving on the second cycle can be kept if numbers are down. “Dividing the scanned cows and heifers into cycles also allows me to control feed intake closer to calving and keep the later calving cows and heifers up in the hills off better feed for longer than the earlier calvers,” Mr Turnbull said. “Those cows and heifers calving in the last three-week cycle are sold PTIC in autumn. “Any cow or heifer that does not raise a live calf or requires assistance to calve is sold.”

Blairgowrie heifer calves are grown out on pasture so they reach maturity and can be joined by AI at 12-months, this gives them extra time to start cycling before being joined for a second time. Steer production is aimed at the feedlot market when steers reach a weight of 450 kilograms plus depending on the season and prices. Blairgowrie pastures are mostly improved perennial mixes of phalaris, ryegrass and clover with some lucerne mixed in to provide summer feed where it will persist. “We also have 220ha of hill country - mostly native pasture - that is used for cattle during their last trimester of pregnancy,” Mr Turnbull said. “This is to reduce the growth of the foetus and prevent calving difficulties. “These hills are also utilised following the autumn break to optimise growth on the remainder of the property.” Young cattle are grown out on winter cereal crops and improved pasture over spring. “Some silage supplementation is carried out if the season requires it to get to the required weight and to finish them off,” Mr Turnbull said. “Calves are weaned onto silage that is either produced on-farm from early sown oats and ryegrass crops used for grazing weaner cattle through winter or purchased in if the season is against us.”

BULL SALE February 2022 REDMOND W.A. www.quandensprings.com.au @quandensprings The Angus Bulletin - Spring 2021

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Cooking with Verified Black Angus Beef Rib Eye on the Bone with Salsa Verde Serves

Prep (Mins)

Cook (Mins)

Difficulty

MEDIUM

INGREDIENTS. 5 x 400g rib eye on the bone Sea Salt to season 60mls olive oil ½ bunch rosemary, tied 60mls lemon juice

METHOD.

For the Salsa Verde 500g flat leaf parsley, leaves finely chopped 125g basil, leaves finely chopped 10g garlic cloves, crushed 30g capers, finely chopped 200mls olive oil 100mls lemon juice Sea salt and cracked black pepper to season

3. Pat steaks dry with a paper towel, using rosemary brush, brush both sides with oil and sprinkle with a good pinch of sea salt. Place on pre-heated barbeque and cook for 10 minutes. Turn and cook for a further 10 minutes, brushing with a rosemary brush. Transfer steak to a plate, cover loosely with foil, and rest for 10 minutes.

1. Allow steak to come to room temperature for at least 30 minutes before cooking. Pre-heat barbecue to high. 2. For Salsa Verde: Place parsley, basil, garlic and capers in a food processor. Process until finely chopped. With the motor running, add oil and lemon juice. Process until well combined. Season with salt and pepper. Refrigerate until required.

4. Serve rib eye with Salsa Verde, charred gem salad, roasted cauliflower and barbequed corn.

For more great recipes visit https://www.australianangusbeef.com.au/cuts-recipes

Verified Black Angus Beef Boosts Optimism to Communities in COVID Lockdown Crisis Liz Pearson, Commercial Supply Chain Manager

As the more virulent Deltra Coronavirus strain has continued to force communities into strict lockdowns across much of Australia over the last couple of months, Western Sydney regions such as the Cumberland Shire have been doing it particularly tough. Verified Black Angus Beef brand Macka’s Australian Black Angus Beef really wanted to give something back to the city community to help those struggling through this hardship. ‘For the Western Sydney communities and broader Sydney, we want them to know that they’ve got the support of the Bush because through the tough times of droughts, fires, and floods the city community has always supported us’ says Verified Black Angus Beef brand owner Robert Mackenzie. 300kg of Macka’s Australia Black Angus Beef mince was packed into 250 beef cartons and shipped off to the Cumberland community in August. The local council joined forces with MLA Corporate Chef, Sam Burke to facilitate the drop, cooking half the halal certified beef in community kitchens and packaging the rest in 1kg portions. ‘Community commercial chefs turned some of this mince into cottage pies and beautiful lasagnes with the remaining

Angus beef being repacked into 1kg portions and then delivered to residents with the help of local police, the Australian Defence Force and community volunteers’ said Mr Burke. Joe Rahme from the Cumberland City Council said in the last few weeks he had received an abundant number of calls from people literally on the verge of letting it all go, but when they had received these care packs, they were now breaking down in tears with gratitude and relief. These deliveries of Verified Black Angus Beef have not only provided vital quality protein supplies to families financially struggling as a direct result of the COVID pandemic, but also a much-needed dose of optimism for the Cumberland community, service personnel and volunteers. ‘What could be better than an Australian Angus beef meal? High in zinc, iron, and protein to bring a smile and energy to people’s faces during this time of adversity’ says Mr Burke. ‘I hope Macka’s Australian Black Angus Beef can remind Western Sydney that the Bush has their back when times get tough, that we care, and that we are all in this together’ says Mr Mackenzie. Macka’s Australian Black Angus Beef as also now partnered with organisation Thankful4Farmers to bring farmers together to help get food on the tables of those facing financial hardship caused by the COVID pandemic. As lockdowns continued to be extended Mr Mackenzie anticipates sending more shipments of their Verified Black Angus Beef into these struggling communities through out September.

B A

A: Robert Mackenzie Mackas Australian Black Angus Beef & Sam Burke MLA Corporate Chef, B: James Mackenzie Mackas Australian Black Angus Beef

The Angus Bulletin - Spring 2021

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Commercial Supply Chain

NVDs – Accepted Breed Descriptions Liz Pearson, Commercial Supply Chain Manager

The National Vendor Declaration (NVD) is a key control point for the verification of any black Angus programs by Angus Australia. For cattle to be eligible and meet market requirements of beef supplied into any Verified Black Angus Beef program, their breed description and physical attributes must comply with all requirements of the Black Angus Cattle Assessment Guidelines.

BLACK ANGUS CATTLE ASSESSMENT GUIDELINES NVD Breed Description options Angus x Angus · AA x AA

Compliance with all below standards required Straight black and representing Angus phenotype Small amount of white underline (underline defined as no white visible from the front of the animal) No white legs and feet · No horns Scurs are acceptable, however they must not be fixed to the skull No bos indicus or dairy characteristics such as loose sheath, bos indicus ears or hump

Angus x Angus AA x AA

Example of ACCEPTABLE Breed Description

These brands are included in the Verified Black Angus Beef program and more information can be found on the Angus Australia website.

Mating predictor running ‘red hot’ Matt Reynolds, Breed Development Officer

With the bull sale season firing on all cylinders, the Angus Mating Predictor is running ‘red hot’ as users use the tool to better understand the impact of their breeding and selection decisions. Since the 1st of June, criteria like birth weight, IMF and 400day weight have been leading the EBV criteria applied to animal searches within Angus.Tech and with the addition of a new feature this focus can now be taken into the Angus Mating Predictor. The Angus Mating Predictor enables users to generate mid-parent EBVs for the potential mating, giving breeders a glimpse into what the average progeny for the pairing may look like. In addition, the Angus Mating Predictor also calculates the inbreeding coefficient of the mating, enable breeders to further understand the impact of the decision. A new feature which enables users to transfer the animals within their results page to the mating predictor, represents a powerful tool to breeders who can now combine tools like Angus SaleSELECT and Angus SemenSELECT, seamlessly with the Mating Predictor within Angus.Tech. Users can begin by using either Angus SaleSELECT or Angus SemenSELECT to identify bulls which meet their breeding objective. Once animals are brought up using either of the Angus SELECT tools, users need to check the box in the far left-hand column of the bulls they want to use in the mating predictor.

Once the bulls have been checked, users can then click the lighting bolt, located in the far right-hand side header column, and select ‘Transfer Animals to Mating Predictor’. Users will then be taken to the Angus Mating Predictor, where they will find the animal IDs of the transferred animals prefilled in the sire identifier box. Users will then need to enter the females they wish to use in the mating prediction. Due to the limit of 200 total search results within the Angus Mating Predictor, users may need to identify a subset of their cow herd to run through the mating predictor, which may represent the top females or a representative group. Tools like the Report centres, Result summary report, Trait distribution and Trait comparison report can assist members looking to identify this representative group. Combining these features of Angus.Tech further enhances the experience breeders have when looking to draw on the power of the Angus Australia Database. By seamlessly integrating these tools Angus.Tech continues to demonstrate what a powerful tool the database is for Angus breeders.

For further information on using the features of Angus.Tech contact staff at Angus Australia on (02) 6773 4600.

For further support in utilising any of the features of the Angus Australia database, visit the Angus Education Centre. Containing step by step tutorials through all the features of the database the Angus Education Centre is a great resource right at your fingertips. The Angus Bulletin - Spring 2021

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Member Services

Member Services Matters Scott Wright, Member Services Manager

The Angus Australia Member Services staff are responsible for enabling Members to conduct all transactions with Angus Australia in a manner that is as streamlined and as efficient as possible. “It doesn’t get any better than this!” I have a very good friend that is a dairy farmer on the Far North Coast of NSW…with that quote Warren was given much airtime on the NORCO advertisements. The raw truth in agriculture is that there are such huge extremes… and thankfully today, this season, over the last few months prices and the season have been amazing for the eastern states. It is good to stop and reflect just how very good beef is now. We sincerely congratulate all our members who have enjoyed seeing excellent prices! It is so heartening to interact with you all when conditions are so very positive!

Working from home during the NSW Lockdown

Thank you to all the members who have been so very supportive and patient while our team “once again” adjusted and began working from home. It’s always an adjustment for staff but to have the technology and ability to work in such a way is very helpful. It was good to see that despite the inconvenience the team managed to have nearly every job done within a day. Our new job tracking system which was implemented at the start of 2021 shows us that the average of our Member Services jobs was completed within 1 day. Several more difficult jobs did take up to several days to complete however they were the exception and overall, I was very pleased with the turnover despite disruptions.

Calf Record Forms

Members will have recently been emailed Calf recording forms for Spring 2021. If you have not received those, please check your inbox or call the Member Services team to have them reproduced. As always, while we email these calf recording forms, if you prefer a paper copy, please just give the team a call and we will be happy to post a hard copy to you.

Calving Books

This year no Calving Books were sent to members due to Inventory Forms being sent by email. If members require Calving Books, please email regos@angusaustralia.com.au

including your Herd ID and number of Calving Books that you require and one of our Member Services Officers will post them out straight away.

Changes to Member Services Staff

You may notice a couple of changes in the Member Services team. We were very sad to lose one of our team Henry Newell-Hutton in June to the opposition. Henry was always a very cheerful member of the team who was liked by many members. We are pleased to report that Henry will be replaced by Jeanice McCosker from Ben Lomond. Jeanice will have started work with Angus Australia by the time this goes to print. Jeanice studied Agriculture at UNE and brings a wealth of experience to the role. We are certainly very fortunate to have her join the team. We have also promoted Tammy McLeod to Senior Member Services Officer in recognition of all her experience, competence, and hard work. Finally, Nicky Wallace will be taking a break in 2022 on maternity leave and she will be greatly missed by the team and members. The good news is that she does intend to return late in 2022.

angus.tech

Internally our team operates largely with a software system ILR2 which is provided by ABRI. One of the very large projects here at Angus Australia has been the development of angus.tech for all our recording and membership purposes. Our team has been very active in testing new modules for release in 2021 with the IT staff. I am very pleased to report that IT developers have made great inroads this year. Christopher has assembled a highly skilled team and the results are excellent. While for members the changes may be less noticed, for our team the changes will be monumental! The new systems will allow for faster and more efficient membership enrolments, registrations, performance recording and parent verifications. The system will be in live time and will not require syncing between software packages and will also allow work to be more easily when conducted remotely. 2022 should be an exciting new chapter for Member Services thanks to the IT team.

Genomic and DNA Services

We include this section each time: Angus Australia provides a range of Genomic products available to both seedstock and commercial producers. In addition, Angus Australia offers a comprehensive range of DNA Parentage and Genetic Condition tests. If any members are seeking any guidance with regards to which test or service is required, please do not hesitate to contact the Member Services team. To make sure the process is as smooth as possible there’s a couple of helpful things to be aware of: · Firstly, before sending DNA samples please make sure the animal is registered – even if it is just pending. If we don’t have an animal ID, we can’t submit a sample for testing; and · Secondly, please use the correct Order Form and complete the form to the best of your ability - if you’re unsure please call. You can find the form on our website or call and ask an MSO to email or post it to you. If there is no Order Form, we can’t process the DNA test;

For supporting the Pentire Angus Program

Contact

If you have an issue regarding anything affecting your Membership, Registrations, Transfers, Performance Recording, DNA or any other Member Services matter please call and speak to one of our Member Service Officers or myself. If you have any particularly difficult matters or grievances, please don’t hesitate to contact me directly, either by email of phone 02 6773 4636. Scott Wright, Member Services Manager Would you like any aspect of Member Services covered in more detail in future bulletins? Please email scott.wright@angustralia.com.au.

2021 Top Priced Bull

2022 Sale Date

Member Services Tip: Allow plenty of time for the processing of Genomic & DNA services

For information, please contact

Justin Richards - 0429 950 766 info@pentirestud.com.au www.pentirestud.com.au Find us on Facebook PENTIRE ANGUS

SCAN to visit WEBSITE The Angus Bulletin - Spring 2021

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Member Services

Understanding Angus Australia’s DNA Services Angus Australia, in collaboration with our partners, Neogen Australasia and Zoetis Animal Genetics, offer members a comprehensive range of DNA services for utilisation within their Angus breeding enterprise. The provision of DNA services is part of Angus Australia’s commitment to ensure members and their commercial customers have access to world leading genetic evaluation technologies, and associated tools for genetic improvement, which will ultimately enhance the value and profitability of Angus genetics throughout the beef supply chain. The DNA services that are available have a wide range of applications, such as the verification of parentage information, the identification of carriers for recessive genetic conditions, improved accuracy of Estimated Breeding Values (EBVs) for Angus seedstock animals, and more accurate

selection of replacement Angus females in commercial breeding programs. Developing a strategy for utilising the DNA services that are available within your breeding program can be daunting, but a number of staff at Angus Australia are available to provide assistance, along with staff at Neogen and Zoetis. Contact staff at Angus Australia today on (02) 6773 4600 to discuss your DNA service requirements. Information is also available by contacting staff at Zoetis on 1300 768 400, or Neogen on (07) 3736 2134.

Angus Australia – DNA Services - Zoetis Animal Genetics

Genomic Tests

Genetic Conditions

Zoetis HD50K for Angus

$51.45

Arthrogryposis Multiplex (AM)

$25.85

Add Parentage Verification

Included

Contractural Arachnodactyly (CA)

$25.85

Add Core Genetic Test Panel

$24.75

Developmental Duplications (DD)

$25.85

Add Full Genetic Test Panel

$41.25

Dwarfism (DW)

$25.85

Add Arthrogryposis Multiplex (AM)

$8.25

Alpha-Mannosidosis (MA)

$25.85

Add Contractural Arachnodactyly (CA)

$8.25

Add Developmental Duplications (DD)

$8.25

Neuropathic Hydrocephalus (NH)

$25.85

Add Neuropathic Hydrocephalus (NH)

$8.25

Oculocutaneous Hypopigmentation (OH)

$25.85

Add Coat Colour (RG)

$8.25

Osteopetrosis (OS)

$25.85

Add BVDV (PI)2

$9.90

¹ Includes AM, CA, DD & NH 2 Includes AM, CA, DD, NH, DW, OH, OS, MA, HH, RG, and Myostatin (NT821) 3 TSU samples only

Angus HeiferSELECTTM

$42.65

Add BVDV (PI)

$9.90

Genetic Traits Coat Colour (RG)

$25.85

Myostatin (NT821)

$25.85

DNA Sample Types

TSU samples only

Hair

No charge

Parentage Verification

Semen

No charge

$29.15

Tissue

No charge

Included

Tissue (TSU)

No charge

Base Panel (280 SNPs) Add Parentage Verification

Use AngusSELECT to find Angus animals and tap into the unlimited potential of Angus genetics 68

All fees and charges are GST inclusive. Transactions for overseas members will be charged in $AU, with GST deducted.

Angus Australia – DNA Services – Neogen Australasia

Genomic Tests

Genetic Conditions

Angus GSTM

$48.15

Arthrogryposis Multiplex (AM)

$25.85

Add Parentage Verification

Included

Contractural Arachnodactyly (CA)

$25.85

Add Core Genetic Test Panel 1

$24.75

Developmental Duplications (DD)

$25.85

Add Full Genetic Test Panel 2

$41.25

Dwarfism (DW)

$25.85

Add Developmental Duplications (DD)

$8.25

Horns (HH)

$25.85

Add Coat Colour (RG)

$11.00

Alpha-Mannosidosis (MA)

$25.85

Add BVDV (PI)

$9.90

Neuropathic Hydrocephalus (NH)

$25.85

Oculocutaneous Hypopigmentation (OH)

$25.85

Osteopetrosis (OS)

$25.85

Includes AM, CA, DD & NH 2 Includes AM, CA, DD, NH, DW, OH, OS, MA, HH, RG, and Myostatin (NT821 only) 1

Angus HeiferSELECTTM

$40.45

Genetic Traits

Add BVDV (PI)

$9.90

Coat Colour (RG) Myostatin (6 variants) 5

Parentage Verification Base Panel (543 SNPs)

$30.25

Add Parentage Verification

Included

Build SNP Profile 4 4

$220.00

Involves building an animal’s SNP profile from the genotypes of their progeny. Requires availability of genotypes for a minimum of 10 progeny, plus genotypes of the progeny’s other parent/s.

$25.85 $25.85

Includes NT821, C313Y, E226X, F94L, NT419 and Q204X variants

DNA Sample Types Hair

$3.30

Semen

$11.00

Tissue

$11.00

Tissue (TSU)

No charge

Angus Australia – DNA Services – Miscellaneous

Miscellaneous Fees Angus Australia DNA Hair Collectors (10 pack)

$12.00

Angus Australia DNA Hair Collectors (100 pack)

$120.00

Transfer DNA profile to another DNA lab

$5.50

Parentage Discovery

$66.00 p/hr

Base Animal Surcharge

Incorrect Hair Collector Kit Surcharge 1 2

$27.50

1 2

$2.20

Surcharge covers access to the Angus Australian genomic reference population in th TransTasman Angus Cattle Evaluation Applied to hair samples not provided in an Angus Australia Zoetis hair collector kit

• View & search individual catalogues • Search across multiple catalogues • View upcoming sales • Find suppliers of Angus genetics • See how Angus Australia can help you To access AngusSELECT visit the Angus Australia website: www.angusaustralia.com.au The Angus Bulletin - Spring 2021

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Member Services

Important Changes to Animal Identification Scott Wright, Member Services Manager

As members begin to register their calves born in spring 2021, it is timely to remind members advised of two important changes that apply to the identification of animals that were born from January 1st, 2021 onwards.

Change to Animal IDs

The unique animal ID assigned to each animal recorded with Angus Australia consists of the breeder’s herd identifier, a breeding year letter and an animal number. e.g. ABCS1. While this animal ID format has served the Angus breed well for many years, it has a major shortcoming being the duplication of animal IDs every 24 years. For example, ABCS1 (birth year 1973), ABCS1 (birth year 1997) and ABCS1 (birth year 2021). This shortcoming requires Angus Australia to add a suffix to the animal ID for animals born greater than 24 years ago (e.g. ABCR1+72, ABCR1+96), which causes considerable problems in circumstances where the original animal ID has previously been recorded in other databases. For example, in herd recording software programs managed by individual members, or when animals have been recorded with overseas Breed Societies. To remove the duplication of animal IDs, the unique animal ID assigned to animals with a birth date of 1/1/2021 onwards will be changed to consist of the breeder’s herd identifier, a two character year of birth, a breeding year letter and an animal number. That is, rather than ABCS1, the animal ID assigned will be ABC21S1. The change will only apply to the ID of animals born from 1/1/2021 onwards. No change will be made retrospectively to the ID of animals already recorded with Angus Australia, or who are recorded in the future but are born prior to 1/1/2021. Further, the change in format only applies to the animal ID assigned by Angus Australia, and does not require any change to the current practice of displaying only the year letter and number (e.g. R1) when tagging, tattooing or branding animals. The change to the animal ID format for animals born from 1/1/2021 onwards will ensure the animal ID assigned to animals is indeed unique, and will remove the current difficulties and inconvenience to Angus Australia, members and other organisations that result from the need to add a suffix to the IDs of historic animals that are born more than 24 years ago.

Requirement for NLIS ID

The manner in which animals recorded on Angus Australia’s Herdbook Register (HBR), Angus Performance Register (APR), or Multibreed Register (MBR) need to be permanently identified are outlined in the Angus Australia Regulations.

Specifically, at least one form of permanent identification must be applied to an animal prior to weaning, being either a tattoo, freeze or fire brand, or a NLIS tag, followed by a requirement to apply a second form of permanent identification before the animal is 18 months of age. With NLIS now entrenched as Australia’s National Livestock Identification System, the Angus Australia Board has resolved to make it a requirement for NLIS to be used as one of the forms of permanent identification, with members able to elect whether they apply either a tattoo or freeze brand as the second form of permanent identification. The revised Regulations will be applied to animals born from 1/1/2021 onwards, and now read:

6.33 Permanent Identification

Every animal in the HBR, APR, or MBR shall have an approved National Livestock Identification Scheme (NLIS) tag applied to the right ear; and either: Be tattooed in the left ear with the registered tattoo mark of the Breeder; and, in either the left or right ear with a breeding year letter and animal number; or Have a freeze or fire brand applied that includes the registered brand symbol, relevant year letter and animal number. 6.34 Every animal recorded in the HBR, APR or MBR shall have a minimum of one form of permanent identification applied by weaning, and two forms of permanent identification applied by 18 months of age. 6.35 Either the visual NLIS number or NLIS RFID of every animal recorded in the HBR, APR or MBR must be recorded with the Society before the animal is 12 months of age. If a NLIS tag is replaced for any reason, the Society must be notified of the new number or RFID within 30 days of application. The availability of NLIS identification for all animals on the Angus Australia database born after 1/1/2021 will make the process for confirming the Angus Australia ID for an animal easier, facilitating a more seamless process for confirming the ownership and registration details of Angus seedstock animals.

Questions and Further Information

To further discuss these two important changes applying to the identification of animals born from January 1st, 2021 onwards, please contact staff at Angus Australia.

NH Foods Australia joins the Angus Youth National Roundup as title sponsor Cheyne Twist, Communications Officer

Angus Youth is pleased to announce that NH Foods Australia has come on board as the naming rights sponsor of the Angus Youth National Roundup, taking place January 13th – 16th, 2022 in Wodonga Victoria.

The NH Foods Australia Angus Youth National Roundup is the leading four-day event for young beef enthusiasts aged 8-25, which sees upwards of 120 plus competitors taking part in the event each year. The event is open to both novice and experienced competitors alike and mixes educational and hands on activities. Angus Australia Breed Development Officer Jake Phillips said that to have the support of a company like NH Foods shows their commitment to the future of the beef industry. “We are very excited to work with NH Foods Australia, their feedlot Whyalla Beef and the largest Verified Black Angus Beef Brand, Angus Reserve to bring the NH Foods Australia Angus Youth National Roundup to the beef industry. It is excellent to have them involved in making this event possible and we look forward to them assisting us in making the NH Foods Australia Angus Youth National Roundup a roaring success when we take it to Wodonga in January.” “We know that without the support of our sponsors, our event would not be possible, so we thank NH Foods Australia and all other sponsors for throwing their support behind the Roundup.” Representatives from Whyalla Beef will be attending the NH Foods Australia Angus Youth National Roundup to talk with producers, as well as present educational opportunities to participants.

While those that attend the Special Dinner Dance on the Saturday night will be treated to the culinary delights of Angus Reserve. Representative of NH Foods Australia, Andrew McDonald, director marketing, sales and corporate affairs said the following. “The 2022 event will be the first time NH Foods Australia is the main sponsor. For us, it’s the right time to be involved and inspire the next generation of cattle enthusiasts. As we continue to expand our Angus Reserve brand, we’re proud to know the future of the industry will be in good hands as attendees learn and network with likeminded people.” Tony Fitzgerald, general manager Whyalla Beef feedlot, added “We’re looking forward to joining next year’s event. It’s the first time Whyalla Beef team members will be participating and it’s important we take the opportunity to do so. We know the program provides the attendees a unique environment in which they can learn all about our industry and we’re looking forward to sharing our passion with them.” For further information regarding NH Foods Australia Angus Youth National Roundup, including sponsorship opportunities, please visit the Youth section of the Angus Australia website.

The Angus Bulletin - Spring 2021

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Angus Youth

Get to the NH Foods Australia Angus Youth National Roundup Cheyne Twist, Communications Officer

The NH Foods Australia Angus Youth National Roundup is making its much anticipated return in 2022, heading to Wodonga, Victoria, January 13th – 16th. Entries are now open, with young beef enthusiasts aged between 8 and 25 encouraged to register and come along to the four-day event. The event is open to all competitors, from novice to experienced. For further information regarding Roundup registrations please visit the Angus Australia website or Angus Youth social media channels for updates. Registrations for Roundup 2022 will close Friday the 22nd of October.

COVID-19

The Roundup Organising Committee is working hard behind the scenes to adhere to the evolving COVID-19 related restrictions and adjusting elements of the event to ensure a safe and fun event can be attended by as many people as possible. However, there are some requirements that need to be considered when entering this year which haven’t previously been enforced. Extra information for completing entries: · Entries are likely to be capped based on the requirements of allowing 1 person per 4sqm into the venue. At this stage, this is 150 entries. After the first 150 entries have been taken, entries will be placed on a waiting list. At the earliest allowance to increase the number of attendees we will advise those on the waiting list as to their ability to attend. · Each entry will be required to enter with an animal. We strongly encourage making contact with stud breeders early to ensure you can source an animal for the Roundup. If you are not in a position to do this please contact Toni Nugent, Roundup Event Manager, to list your interest in having a ballot animal. We will try our best to place you in touch with a suitable breeder who may have an animal available. · The NH Foods Australia Angus Youth National Roundup will be subject to the State Government COVID-19 restrictions at that time and so it is likely to evolve from the time entries open up until the event, however we stay dedicated to delivering the industry leading event it has come to be known as.

Roundup, with a number of these awarded as part of the event. Some of these awards will require an application submitted prior to the event to be eligible for consideration, so make sure you head to www.angusaustralia.com.au for more information.

Trans-Tasman Bursary

Sponsored by the New England Travel Centre and the Angus Australia Foundation, the Trans-Tasman Bursary provides an Angus Australia member aged between 18 and 30 years of age the opportunity to travel around New Zealand and aids in organizing a tour visiting various seedstock and commercial Angus breeders across the country. Applications are open and close in December 2021, with the selection process to be completed in early January and the successful recipient announced in mid-January.

Merridale Angus Aspiring Breeder Award

The Merridale Angus Aspiring Breeder Award is awarded in recognition of an Angus Youth member who does not already have an Angus stud or the financial backing to start their own immediately but has a strong desire to breed their own Angus cattle. The Collins family believe it is important to support the youth in the industry and give them as many opportunities as possible to start their own cattle breeding operation. The recipient of this award will receive a registered Angus heifer. All Roundup participants are considered for this award.

Senior Bursaries

Senior Roundup competitors are given the opportunity to apply for a bursary to attend the Young Beef Producers Forum (YBPF), which takes place in Roma, Queensland, annually. These bursaries provide the recipients with $200 which covers the YBPF registration fee. Applications for this bursary are now open.

Accommodation

Attendees are also advised that they can receive a 10% discount off of their accommodation booking at the Quest in Wodonga if they use the promo code AngusYouthRoundup2022. This code is valid for guests staying at the Quest from Wednesday 12th January to Monday 17th January 2022 and can be applied when booking via the Quest website www.questwodonga. com.au.

Awards and bursaries

There are also a number of scholarships and awards available at the NH Foods Australia Angus Youth National 72

Roundup Registrations

Trans-Tasman Bursary

Sponsorship Opportunities

Senior Bursaries

Intermediate Bursaries

Business Branding Award

Intermediate Bursaries

Intermediate Roundup competitors aged over 16 are given the opportunity to apply for a bursary to attend the Tocal Beef Cattle Assessment Course. This award provides the recipient with $600 to cover the entry fee for the course. Applications for this bursary are now open.

The Angus Australia Business Branding Award

This award is designed to help an Angus Youth Member either with a business or in the process of starting their own business to create a visual identity for their brand. The recipient of this award will receive a branding package comprised of a custom logo design, five (5) professionally designed images for digital marketing, business card design, one half page advertisement which will be published in the Angus Bulletin and a case study of the creative process and recipient promoted by the Angus Society. Applications are now open for this award.

EJ Angus Encouragement Award

The EJ Angus Encouragement Award is awarded to a Roundup participant who displays a willingness to participate, show potential in the areas of clipping and fitting, competes in a fair and equitable manner and is interested in contributing to the Angus Youth movement. All Roundup participants are considered for this award.

Matthew George Citizenship Award

This award is presented each year in honour of the late Matthew George, a keen cattleman. This award is to be presented to someone who displays good cooperation and goes out of their way to help others at the Roundup. The winner receives a $500 educational subsidy to put towards an activity of their choice. This award is proudly sponsored by Victoria Angus with all Roundup participants considered for this award.

Sponsorship Opportunities

There are still a number of opportunities available to support the future of the beef industry by becoming a sponsor of the NH Foods Australia Angus Youth National Roundup. Visit www.angusaustralia.com.au for more information. For further information regarding the NH Foods Australia Angus Youth National Roundup registrations, please contact Event Manager Toni Nugent, toninugent20@gmail. com or 0418 974 775 or for the awards and bursaries, please contact Angus Australia Breed Development Officer Jake Phillips at youth@angusaustralia.com.au

The Angus Bulletin - Spring 2021

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Angus Youth

Angus Youth awards five scholarships to the Tocal Beef Cattle Assessment Course Cheyne Twist, Communications Officer

The Angus Foundation is excited to announce that they have awarded scholarships to five Angus Youth members to attend the Tocal Beef Cattle Assessment Course. Unfortunately, due to restrictions posed by COVID-19, the Tocal Beef Cattle Assessment Course, which was due to take place in September 2021 has been cancelled, so each of the five recipients will be offered their place in 2022. Candina Crowden, Charlotte Nugent, Hamish Smith, Kristen Fredericksen and Liam Mowbray have each been selected for the Tocal Beef Cattle Assessment Course scholarships, which will see them take part in the course organised by Angus NSW in 2022. The Tocal Beef Cattle Assessment Course is widely recognised as the most practical and hands on beef cattle selection course of its kind. The course covers a wide range of topics ranging from using EBV’s, structural conformation and selection of market utilising Bos Taurus and Bos Indicus breeds and their crosses and will help participants through developing practical skills and information, presenting networking opportunities. “Our recipients all come from both varied experience levels and backgrounds in the industry but are all enthusiastic for the opportunity to expand on their skills within cattle assessment and judging through this scholarship opportunity,” said Angus Australia Breed Development Officer Jake Phillips. “The Tocal Beef Cattle Assessment Course gives affirming, practical skills that the recipients can take from the course and apply directly on farm.” For further information regarding the Angus Youth Scholarships and Bursaries Program please contact Angus Australia Breed Development Officer Jake Phillips at youth@angusaustralia.com.au.

Candina Crowden:

Candina Crowden resides on the Tasman Peninsula, Tasmania. She began showing cattle in 2018 with Tasman District School. She first became involved in the Angus breed in 2020 when she won the Grand Champion Herdsman Award at the Tasmanian Junior Beef Expo – with the prize being a registered Quarterway Angus heifer, from which she developed her Angus stud OSLO Angus. Candina looks forward to attending the Tocal Beef Cattle Assessment Course and growing her junior judging knowledge and making new connections that will help with the development and progression of OSLO Angus in the future.

Kristen Frederickson:

Kristen Fredericksen comes from Orange, NSW where her family own and run Dalwhinnie Angus. She graduated with a Bachelor of Veterinary Science from Charles Sturt University in Wagga Wagga in 2017 before working as a mixed practice Veterinarian in Cowra NSW then Dalby Qld. Kristen is now back on the family farm in a managerial role as well as running her own business offering bovine reproduction services. Kristen has had an involvement with the Angus Youth program for several years and looks forward to the opportunity to further advance her skills at the Tocal Beef Cattle Assessment Course.

Liam Mowbray

Liam Mowbray is a young beef cattle producer on the Mid North Coast. He has been building an Angus cow-calf operation over the past 6 years with both registered and commercial branches. Liam is a Veterinarian working in the farming community of Gloucester with a passion for cattle medicine, nutrition and reproduction.

Charlotte Nugent

Charlotte Nugent grew up on her family farm and has a had an affiliation with agriculture from a young age. She was involved in the show team whilst at school and has continued her growth in the field, currently studying a Bachelor of Agriculture Business Management at Charles Sturt in Wagga. With her siblings, Charlotte has recently started her own small Red Angus stud. Charlotte is excited to be the recipient of the Tocal Beef Cattle Assessment Course scholarship and cannot wait for the opportunities that this course will present for her future in the industry.

Hamish Smith:

Hamish Smith hails from Northern Victoria. Along with his brother, Alex, and grandfather, Frank Sorraghan, Hamish is a partner in “Rockwood” Angus and is in charge of artificial insemination programs, registrations, performance information collection, vaccinations and other practical aspects. He also does this for “Andes” Angus - his parents’ Charles and Carolyn Smith’s stud. Hamish participated at the 2018 Angus Youth Roundup in Wodonga, the 2019 Angus Youth Roundup in Armidale, the 2019 SA Junior Heifer Expo in Adelaide and the 2019 Angus Centenary Royal Melbourne Show and regularly attends Beef Week and seedstock Angus sales.

Left to right: Candina Crowden, Kristen Fredericksen, Liam Mowbray, Charlotte Nugent, Hamish Smith

Georgia and Phoebe awarded SmartBeef Scholarships Cheyne Twist, Communications Officer

Angus Youth is pleased to announce that Georgia Laurie and Phoebe Christie have been selected for the Angus Foundation SmartBeef Conference Scholarships. Unfortunately, the Australian Lot Feeder’s Association (ALFA) SmartBeef Conference, which was set to take place 19th to 21st of October in Dalby, Queensland, has been moved online due to ongoing difficulties faced by COVID-19 restrictions. Due to this, the scholarship recipients will be offered their scholarships in 2022 in order to take part in the ALFA BeefEX Conference. The SmartBeef and BeefEX conferences service the grain fed beef industry and draw together feedlot operators and their staff, nutritionists, veterinarians, regulators, service providers and others involved in the grain fed beef supply chain. Angus Australia Breed Development Officer Jake Phillips said the following regarding the announcement of the scholarship recipients. “I am very pleased with the selection of Georgia and Phoebe for the Angus Foundation SmartBeef Scholarships,” said Mr Phillips. “Both of the recipients are passionate about developing their knowledge of the grain-fed beef industry and I look forward to Georgia and Phoebe representing Angus Youth at the ALFA event in 2022.”

About the Recipients Georgia Laurie

Georgia Laurie is a sixth-generation beef farmer, with a love and passion for cattle and agriculture. She is currently studying a Bachelor of Rural Science Degree at the University of New England. When time permits Georgia works on her family’s Angus stud - Knowla Livestock along with being the co-principal of her own stud, JRGV Angus. Georgia has attended 10 Angus National Youth Roundups as both a competitor and on the organising committee. Georgia believes the agricultural industry is becoming a highly technical and specialised field where producers

must be innovative and abreast with technologies to compete. Animal nutrition is an area that is of high interest to her where nutrition of animals can influence and maximise reproductive capabilities. Meat science and maximising meat quality is also of keen interest, where the goal of the beef industry is to produce a product which satisfies the standards and demands of consumers. As an industry, she believes we must adapt our ways to produce a product that is both environmentally and economically sustainable.

Phoebe Christie

Phoebe Christie hails from Burrandowan, Queensland and has been involved in the agricultural industry for her entire life. Phoebe has been a part of her family’s multigenerational commercial beef operation, where they breed and background Angus cross cattle on irrigated and dryland pastures, for feedlot entry. Phoebe has participated in six Angus Youth Roundups, and has been showing Angus cattle since 2013. Throughout this time, she has been mentored and inspired by many very generous cattlemen and women. Along with her sister Ella, Phoebe runs her own small Angus herd on agistment and family properties. Phoebe is currently studying a Bachelor of Veterinary Science at the University of Queensland. Her goal, once graduated, is to work as a rural veterinarian, ideally focusing on ruminant production and genetics.

“A small but outstanding range of sires available in Australia” Semen available from leading studs including Musgrave Angus - WMR Angus - Matauri Angus & more.... Genetic Choice Australia A: Georgia Laurie, B: Phoebe Christie

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www.geneticchoice.com.au The Angus Bulletin - Spring 2021

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Angus Youth

Where are they now? Cheyne Twist, Communications Officer

Featured in this edition of “Where are they Now” is Ellen Simpson.

Ellen Simpson at the University of Ilinois in 2016

Ellen Simpson What is your earliest memory participating in Angus Youth activities? I attended Angus Youth Roundups in Bendigo, Canberra and Glen Innes, from memory. It feels like a hundred years ago! What activity/event stands out to you the most and in terms of opportunities that you received for being part of Angus Youth, how did your involvement positively influence your development in the beef cattle industry? The National Judging Competition is a standout for me, as it afforded me the opportunity to travel to the US for the University of Illinois Scholarship. I spent six glorious months in the states, both studying and travelling. I was part of the University of Illinois livestock and meat judging teams and travelled to competitions most weekends. The learning opportunities, connections and exposure I received was second to none. In terms of opportunities that you received for being part of Angus Youth, how did your involvement positively influence your development in the beef cattle industry? Absolutely Angus Youth has had an enormous role in my career. Michigan State University (MSU) has been a huge part of my life. It was here I was introduced to Dr Harlan Ritchie who had a very strong influence on my direction. I worked with Harlan on projects both here and in the USA post my time at MSU. Harlan has been one of my biggest influencers. What were the key learnings you developed through these experiences? I gained an enormous appreciation for and perspective of the Australian Beef Industry on a global scale. We have a great reputation as beef producers, and I was so proud to represent us. 76

The way the US grades beef is different to here, but the intensity in which we trained for competitions (20+hours/ week in chillers, 10+ hours a week on farm physically appraising animals) was inspiring. A significant learning which I must mention is the value of connections – I am still good friends with girls I lived with and members of the judging teams I was part of, as well as lecturers and coaches from uni. I don’t think we can ever place enough emphasis on the value of relationships. The Australian Beef Industry is so small, and Angus Youth does such a wonderful job at encouraging and fostering relationships from a young age. How are you involved in the beef cattle industry now/ where are you now? I have worked for Australia’s largest saleyard, AuctionsPlus for the last 4.5 years. I am the Customer Experience & Integrity Manager where I work with the team to roll out new developments to customers, user onboarding and best practice, Assessor training and dispute resolution. It’s exciting to be able to combine my love of the beef cattle industry (and agriculture as a whole) with a fast-paced environment, travel, diversity which comes with a national platform, technology and a wonderful team. Why would you encourage others to become involved in the Angus Youth Program through the scholarships and bursaries program opportunities? We are so lucky to have opportunities presented to us, from financial bursaries, through to scholarships which allow you to travel the world, meet wonderful people and experience the best industry in the world, somewhere new. Why wouldn’t I encourage others to become involved? I don’t have a single reason. It can open doors which would have otherwise never have been opened. Opportunity awaits.

At the 19th Norman Lethbridge Award presentation is Caroline Chisholm College principal Greg Elliott, Angus NSW vice chairman Matthew Macri, winner Micquella Grima, award committee secretary Richard Buck, and agriculture teacher Geoffrey Clerke. Photo Nicky Alsemgeest

Micquella giving Angus youth a voice at state level Outcross Media

Encouraging youth to step up and be involved at a breed society level is the aim of Angus NSW’s new youth representative Micquella Grima. The 18-year-old from Orchard Hills, NSW, is studying a Bachelor of Agriculture and Bachelor of Business (Agribusiness) at the University of New England. Micquella has been cutting a swath through the youth competitions in the showring this year by taking out champion junior judge 18 years and over at Dubbo Show, the champion beef parader 18 years and over at Mendooran Show, and champion young judge 18 years and over at 2021 Beef Australia from 308 entries. Micquella grew up on a peri-urban property where her family run commercial cattle. “Both mum and dad came from strong farming backgrounds and I have spent a lot of my life with family and friends in the agricultural industry,” she said. “I had the opportunity at age nine to start showing cattle for a number of producers and that has taken me throughout NSW and up to Queensland this year.” Micquella said her agricultural teacher Geoffrey Clerke had been a great mentor. “He got me involved with the schools’ cattle team and nominated me for the Norman Lethbridge Award. “He has always pushed me to be my best, and to follow my dreams to achieve my goals.” Micquella was recently presented with the prestigious 2020 Norman Lethbridge Award from Angus NSW. She has also received the Royal Agricultural Society Rural Foundation Scholarship and the University of New England Growing Regional and Agricultural Students in Science 2020/2021 industry placement scholarship.

She was vice-captain of Caroline Chisholm College and recipient of the 2019/2020 Australian Defence Force Long Tan Youth Leadership and Teamwork Award, along with the 2020 Rotary International Youth Award. Micquella has been a member of Angus Australia for the past three years but never had the opportunity to attend the Angus Youth National Roundup. She lists competing at 2021 Beef Australia at Rockhampton in May as one of the most valuable experiences. “It was a 15 hour drive to get there – coming from the south I had never judged Bos indicus cattle so I was about to pull out as we had to judge Droughtmasters and Brahmans. “Someone I was working for encouraged me to have a go and luckily I did. “I definitely want to get into stud cattle later on and my plan is to obtain a graduate position in either the agronomy field or livestock genetics so I can support producers in those industries while having a place of my own to run cattle on.” Micquella aims to encourage more youth to be involved at society level, particularly those who may not necessarily have an agricultural background. She felt it was important to expose school students to potential leadership roles within breed societies. “We need more education on having those links and connections with the cattle breed societies. “I extend my thanks to those who have given me so much support and will do my best to give back to help other youth get those connections and experiences I’ve had.”

The Angus Bulletin - Spring 2021

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Angus Youth

A chance to travel to the land of the long white cloud Cheyne Twist, Communications Officer

The Angus Foundation and New England Travel Centre have once again joined forces to bring the Trans-Tasman Travel Bursary to Angus Youth members.

“As a previous winner of this award and now overseeing this unique opportunity as an employee of Angus Australia, I can testify firsthand of the amazing experiences instore for the successful recipient,” said Mr Phillips. “When we look at previous winners of this bursary, it has played a pivotal part in their career and life journey and all have gone on to have successful careers across the industry.” “We would encourage applicants with an appetite for learning and an interest in learning about beef production in another country to apply.” Preference will be provided to applicants that can provide research on what they would like to do and see in New Zealand and provide a draft overview of the objective of their trip, with the successful candidate considered an ambassador for Angus Youth and should be able to demonstrate these qualities. “The scholarship recipient will be someone who has a demonstrated commitment to the Angus breed and the

wider beef industry, and the ability to be proactive in networking and time management,” said Mr Phillips. “This bursary is an excellent way for a young person in the beef industry to experience the operations of Angus producers in an environment and production system differing from that in Australia, and with a network of Angus Australia staff, members and affiliated groups they will also be provided assistance and insight to develop a tour best suited to their interests.”

“

We would encourage applicants with an appetite for learning and an interest in learning about beef production in another country to apply

“

The Trans-Tasman Travel Bursary provides an annual opportunity for an Angus Australia member to travel to New Zealand and visit various seedstock and commercial Angus breeders across the country. The bursary recipient is encouraged to spend at least four weeks in New Zealand to make the most of the opportunity. Angus Australia Breed Development Officer Jake Phillips encourages young people with an interest in expanding their knowledge of Angus cattle on an international level to apply for the bursary opportunity.

Applications are now open and close in December 2021, with the selection process to be completed in early January and the successful recipient announced in mid-January. The recipient of the Trans-Tasman Travel Bursary should attend an official awards presentation where possible and within 3 weeks of returning from New Zealand must present a full written trip report to be given to the Angus Australia Foundation. The bursary is valid for one year and cannot be deferred (COVID-19 travel restrictions dependant). For further information please contact Breed Development Officer Jake Phillips at youth@angusaustralia.com.au or visit the Angus Australia website.

Angus Australia Breed Development Officer, Jake Phillips travelled to New Zealand in 2011 as a recipient of this award

Staff Directory Chief Executive Officer

Human Resources

Peter Parnell, Chief Executive Officer M: 0428 918 632 · P: 02 6773 4600 E: peter@angusaustralia.com.au

Ron Bower, Human Resource Manager P: 02 6773 4607 · E: ron@angusaustralia.com.au

Strategic Projects Christian Duff, Strategic Projects Manager P: 02 6773 4620 · M: 0457 457 141 E: christian@angusaustralia.com.au

Nick Butcher, Project Officer, ASBP P: 02 6773 4638 · M: 0427 701 236 E: nick@angusaustralia.com.au

Jen Peart, Northern Development Officer P: 02 6773 4644 · M: 0417 219 405 E: jen.peart@angusaustralia.com.au

Marketing, Communications and Youth Diana Wood, Marketing & Communications Manager P: 02 6773 4601 · M: 0411 242 001 E: diana@angusaustralia.com.au

Robyn Brazier, Marketing Assistant P: 02 6773 4609 · E: marketing@angusaustralia.com.au

Samantha Hamilton, Marketing Officer – Sale Catalogues P: 02 6773 4613 · E: sam@angusaustralia.com.au

Ebonie Jones, Graphics & Multimedia Officer P: 02 6773 4610 · E: ebonie@angusaustralia.com.au

Kate Reynolds, Graphics & Multimedia Officer P: 02 6773 4645 · E: design@angusaustralia.com.au

Cheyne Twist, Communications Officer P: 02 6773 4635 · E: communications@angusaustralia.com.au

Commercial Supply Chain Liz Pearson, Commercial Supply Chain Manager P: 02 6773 4608 · M: 0488 758 360 E: liz.pearson@angusaustralia.com.au The Angus Bulletin - Spring 2021

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Staff Directory Breed Development and Extension Andrew Byrne, Breed Development & Extension Manager P: 02 6773 4618 · M: 0418 412 042 E: andrew@angusaustralia.com.au

Jake Phillips, Breed Development Officer P: 02 6773 4625 · M: 0401 261 217 E: jake.phillips@angusaustralia.com.au

Matt Reynolds, Breed Development Officer P: 02 6773 4626 · M: 0433 532 453 E: matthew.reynolds@angusaustralia.com.au

Member Services Scott Wright, Member Services Manager P: 02 6773 4636 · E: scott.wright@angusaustralia.com.au

Tammy McLeod, Senior Member Services Officer P: 02 6773 4604 · E: tammy.mcleod@angusaustralia.com.au

Adam Allingham, Member Services Officer P: 02 6773 4602 · E: adam.allingham@angusaustralia.com.au

Jeanice McCosker, Member Services Officer P: 02 6773 6314 · E: jeanice.mccosker@angusaustralia.com.au

Robyn Kelly, Member Services Officer P: 02 6773 4615 · E: robyn@angusaustralia.com.au

Heather Rocks, Member Services Officer P: 02 6773 4621 · E: heather.rocks@angusaustralia.com.au

Sarah Scott, Member Services Officer P: 02 6773 4611 · E: sarah.scott@angusaustralia.com.au

Nicky Wallace, Senior Member Services Officer P: 02 6773 4616 · E: nicky.carey@angusaustralia.com.au

Lou Wood, Member Services Officer P: 02 6773 4617 · E: office@angusuaustralia.com.au

Software Development Christopher de Crespigny, Information Systems Manager P: 02 6773 4619 · E: christopher@angusaustralia.com.au

Dale Curtis, Computer Programmer E: dale.curtis@angusaustralia.com.au

David Edgar, Computer Programmer E: david.edgar@angusaustralia.com.au

Gerard Hammond, Computer Programmer E: gerard.hammond@angusaustralia.com.au

Lei Qian, Computer Programmer E: lei.qian@angusaustralia.com.au

Finance & Administration David Cameron Administration Manager/ Financial Controller P: 02 6773 4624 · E: david.cameron@angusaustralia.com.au

Joy Howe, Accounts Officer P: 02 6773 4612 · E: joy.howe@angusaustralia.com.au

Carole Johns, Accounts Officer P: 02 6773 4628 · E: carole.johns@angusaustralia.com.au

Sue Webeck, Accounts Officer P: 02 6773 4606 · E: sue@angusaustralia.com.a

Amanda Wolfe, Administration Officer P: 02 6773 4650 · E: amanda@angusaustralia.com.au

Angus Australia Locked Bag 11, Armidale NSW 2350 P: 02806773 4600 | F: 02 6772 3095 | E: office@angusaustralia.com.au www.angusaustralia.com.au

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Angus Bulletin Spring 2021

Articles inside

A chance to travel to the land of the long white cloud

Micquella giving Angus youth a voice at state level

Where are they now?

Angus Youth awards five scholarships to the Tocal Beef Cattle Assessment Course

Get to the NH Foods Australia Angus Youth National Roundup

NH Foods Australia joins the Angus Youth National Roundup as title sponsor

Important Changes to Animal Identification

Pentire Angus

Member Services Matters

Mating predictor running ‘red hot’

Verified Black Angus Beef Boosts Optimism to Communities in COVID Lockdown Crisis

NVDs – Accepted Breed Descriptions

Cooking with Verified Black Angus Beef

Angus for MSA Performance

Chasing a top Angus performance at Guy Fawkes Station

Vetoquinol

Choosing the Right Progesterone Device

New Angus Sire Benchmarking Consultative Committee

Feedback drives consistency in breeding

Paddock to palate carcase quality success

Semex Beef

Using a selection Index in a breeding program A tool to genetic selection

Booming bull sales obliterate the records

Enhancements to the BreedObject Selection Index Software

The Campbell Family: EBVs and Post Drought Expansion

Update – From the Angus Foundation

Life Membership Awarded to Graham White

Sale Catalogue Frequently Asked Questions

Wrapping up Next Generation Selection with RBVs