British Limousin Cattle Society Alison Glasgow

What’s been going on? Database development ~ Registrations & Perf. Recording Addition of Online Census Online Sales Entries Online Genotyping Service Revision of sale catalogues Evaluation Review of genetic parameters Review of weightings in Indexes (BV, CV) International data Presentation of EBVs

What Next? Breed Improvement Plan for Limousin A process initiated by ‘roadmapping’ & surveys Same approach as a herd improvement plan Step 1: Identify the herd/breed’s current performance Step 2: Identify the traits of economic importance Step 3: Identify the herd/breed’s Goals Step 4: Measures required to achieve the Goals Step 5: Action! Step 6: Review Progress & Adapt the Strategy Draft

Goal 1 To reduce genetic change in Calving Ease to a point at the end of this Strategy period (2024) where it maintains a constant 0 rate of annual change. Goal 2 To establish and implement solutions to address disease issues as they become available Goal 3 To establish and implement solutions to identify and improve feed efficiency Goal 4 To improve the rate of gain in growth and carcase traits, without compromise to correlated traits Goal 5 To investigate Limousin meat quality and ways in which it can differentiate Limousin beef in the market place Goal 6To maintain current levels of genetic progress in Docility Goal 7 To improve current levels of progress being made for Age at 1 st Calving and Calving Interval. To investigate wider measures of cow production efficiency. Goal 8To maintain current levels of genetic progress in Longevity. Goal 9 To generate positive genetic change and improve 200 Day Milk Weight within the breed. Draft What Next?

Goal 1 To reduce genetic change in Calving Ease to a point at the end of this Strategy period (2024) where it maintains a constant 0 rate of annual change. Goal 2 To establish and implement solutions to address disease issues as they become available Goal 3 To establish and implement solutions to identify and improve feed efficiency Goal 4 To improve the rate of gain in growth and carcase traits, without compromise to correlated traits Goal 5 To investigate Limousin meat quality and ways in which it can differentiate Limousin beef in the market place Goal 6To maintain current levels of genetic progress in Docility Goal 7 To improve current levels of progress being made for Age at 1 st Calving and Calving Interval. To investigate wider measures of cow fertility. Goal 8To maintain current levels of genetic progress in Longevity. Goal 9 To generate positive genetic change and improve 200 Day Milk Weight within the breed.

Calving Ease Publication of myostatin genotypes Better on-farm recording Use of new VIA infrastructure Feed Efficiency Defra funding Potential via TSB What Next?

Improvement in Growth and Carcase Traits The Carcase Traits Project £1.5m project funded by Govt Technology Strategy Board BLCS, ABP and SAC are partners Aim: to exploit refined carcase measures for a wider range of muscle groups, producing genomic breeding values for these groups

Carcase Traits Project – Why?

Heritability of Carcass Cuts (T. Pabiou ICBF) Pabiou et al. J. Anim. Sci. (2009) Round : 0.86 Sirloin : 0.67 Strip-Loin : 0.49 Rib-Roast : 0.14 Chuck : 0.83 Shoulder : 0.79 Brisket : 0.25 Ribs & Flank : 0.03 Hindquarter Forequarter

A main outcome… A SNP Key for Limousin Carcase Traits Project – How? BCMS

Why We Like It! Greater integration of supply chain Market signals more closely aligned to product Maintain competitiveness More able to invest in new technology (and research) It will provide a platform for future trait analysis BLCS differentiated in the pedigree market place as a leading organisation in genomic selection

What Next? Goal 1 To reduce genetic change in Calving Ease to a point at the end of this Strategy period (2024) where it maintains a constant 0 rate of annual change. Goal 2 To establish and implement solutions to address disease issues as they become available Goal 3 To establish and implement solutions to identify and improve feed efficiency Goal 4 To improve the rate of gain in growth and carcase traits, without compromise to correlated traits Goal 5 To investigate Limousin meat quality and ways in which it can differentiate Limousin beef in the market place Goal 6To maintain current levels of genetic progress in Docility Goal 7 To improve current levels of progress being made for Age at 1 st Calving and Calving Interval. To investigate wider measures of cow fertility. Goal 8To maintain current levels of genetic progress in Longevity. Goal 9 To generate positive genetic change and improve 200 Day Milk Weight within the breed. Draft