Pathfinder

“We've got 1200 existing records, from Angus animals from the first pilot project. Over the next four years we're going to do 650 to 750 steers per year from the Multibreed Project here in the feedlot, and doing their sisters out in the paddock,” said Dr Granleese. “We are then we're doing around 400 Angus steers per year from the ASBP, collecting data on traits to measure the methane, hydrogen, carbon dioxide and daily feed intake.” “There's been some modelling done which shows, in 2019, if we we put a price on carbon, include it into an economic selection index, and used it in selection we can reduce methane output by 1% per year. Over 20 years, potentially we can reduce it down by 20%, which is pretty exciting.” “If we just continue as we're going what we're doing is actually increasing methane output per beef livestock unit. If we start measuring and then selecting for methane, we're not just maintaining, we're able to reduce methane emissions. So, over the next 20 years we're hoping to reduce carbon dioxide equivalents by about twelve megatons over that time period, remembering that genetic change is permanent, accumulative and long lasting.” Updates on Angus Sire Benchmarking

A draw card for the Efficient Beef Field Day was the opportunity to view steers currently in the feedlot from Cohort 11 of the Angus Sire Benchmarking Program (ABSP). Furthermore, Angus Australia General Manager – Genetic Improvement Christian Duff gave an update on the program and current work being undertaken through collaboration within the industry, including the Low Methane Beef Project. 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. The collaborative research undertaken within the program is largely focused on using Angus Australia's comprehensive phenotype, pedigree and genotype database, harnessing additional benefit from the collective investment of Angus Australia members. Mr Duff shared the latest of the program, which has recently seen the selection of its Cohort 13 sires. Cohort 13 will see 27 new bulls enter the program, who be joined to approximately 1,800 Angus cows across collaborator herds using fixed time artificial insemination. Historically the program has inducted 550 bulls over 13 years. Progeny will be phenotyped and genotyped and with the data attributed to the reference population feeding into the TransTasman Cattle Evaluation and continuing to enhance the genetic evaluation available to Angus producers. Circling back to the topic of the event, Mr Duff also highlighted the work being done in the ASBP on feed efficiency. “Efficiency is achieving maximum productivity with minimum wasted resource, effort or expense. So how has the ASBP contributed to beef efficiency and to our efficiency of our members?” said Mr Duff. “I would argue the ASBP is positively contributing to Beef Efficiency in several ways. Some are more apparent and applicable now and some probably more for the future. The first one is just around productivity. Through the accuracy of selection, our producers have been able to be more productive through their genetic selection. More calves, more weight, more yield, more quality.” “Product intensity is probably another thing. An Angus today has more genetic potential and value compared to an Angus 30 years ago. If you just look at an animal or bull of a similar age for example, we expect more productivity out of today’s Angus through genetic selection and the ASBP has contributed to part of that. As it stands at the moment, we have over 10,000 animals with feed intake recorded, with half of those with genotypes as well, which feeds into our genetic evaluation.”