1. EBLEX Better Returns Programme Material produced for EBLEX Beef BRP by Signet Breeding Services Genetic Improvement of Beef Cattle in the UK

2. Presentation Outline  Background  Importance of Performance Recording  Using EBVs and Indexes  Results of using EBVs and Indexes  Summary

3. Genetic Improvement - Historical Perspective Natural selection + deliberate animal breeding = great variety of breeds in the UK ‘Master breeders’ e.g. Robert Bakewell (1725 - 95) Shire horses, Longhorn cattle and Leicester sheep “Prize Livestock at Dishley Grange” Thomas Weaver 1802

4. Assessing performance ?

5. Selection of the best animals within a pure breed Only a small proportion of the beef cattle population of Britain are purebred but they are pivotal in the success of any breed substitution or cross-breeding programmes (the methods just explained) and therefore vital for the genetic improvement of beef cattle in the UK Within-Breed Selection

6. Performance Recording  The analysis of physical performance records of individual animals  Results then used to assist decisions when selecting breeding stock

7. The major difficulty to overcome: How much of an animal’s performance is due to it’s genes and how much is because of the environment in which it is reared, managed etc? Performance recording

8. Birth & Rearing Type Age of Animal Age of Dam Inherited Genetic Potential Health Year / Season Farm factors eg mineral status Nutrition Performance recording

9. Which is the best bull? ….it is the same animal but on a very different amount of feeding!

10. Why is this important?  Selection ‘by eye’ can lead to the wrong breeding decisions.  Environment can mask poor performance  Not all traits are visible e.g. gestation length etc  Selecting for one trait can be to the detriment of another e.g. increased muscling and calving ease. A method of monitoring change is therefore required.  The effects of breeding decisions can last in the herd for a very long time Performance recording

11. BLUP: Best Linear Unbiased Predictor  statistical procedure used in the UK dairy industry since early 1970s  disentangles genetic and non-genetic effects on performance  genetic links between herds required for across herd analysis (AI)  compares related animals with their contemporaries across many different herds using related animals as a benchmark Performance recording – BLUP

12. HERD 2 HERD 3 HERD 1 Within Across

13.  ‘ individual animal model’ used: for each animal its own performance records are used as well those of its relatives  data on all performance traits analysed simultaneously taking into account correlations between traits and the heritability of the traits  Estimated Breeding Values (EBVs) produced for each animal for each trait – these are the estimates of the genetic worth of the animal Performance recording – BLUP

14. How do we assess performance?

15. Service Providers  ‘Beefbreeder’ delivered by Signet  ‘Breedplan’ delivered by Pedigree Cattle Services Ltd  Breeds use one service or the other  Although the information provided by the two systems may differ in some respects, the approach and methods they use are similar. Beef Performance Recording

16. Estimated Breeding Values (EBVs) Terminal Sire EBVs Easier calving Efficient growth Saleable meat Lean meat yield

17. Maternal EBVs Estimated Breeding Values (EBVs)

18. Indexes  Combines EBVs to a single figure for selection on a number of traits simultaneously  Weighted according to the economic value of the traits relative to each other  ‘Beefbreeder’ provides Beef Value, Calving Value and various new Maternal Breeding Indexes  ‘Beefplan’ provides Terminal Sire Index Index = provides an overview EBVs = provide the detail

19. Beef Value Ranks animals on the expected financial merit of the offspring’s carcases Signet (Beefbreeder) Index

20. Terminal Sire Index The economic value of an animal to produce prime steers and heifers for beef production. ABRI (Breedplan) Index

21. Calving Value To improve financial returns by reducing costs associated with extended gestation lengths and difficult calvings Signet (Beefbreeder) Index

22. Analysis Date: 29/11/2006 Calving Value 200 Day Milk (kg) 200 Day Growth (kg) 400 Day Growth (kg) Muscle Depth (mm) Fat Depth (mm) Beef Value EBV 2C+ 1+ 20+ 32+ 4.8- 0.226 Accuracy % 85458285787581 EBLEX FRED Born: 25/06/05 Sire WINTERHILL BOB Dam BRADWELL LIZ 100 Day Wt.200 Day Wt.300 Day Wt.400 Day Wt.500 Day Wt.Scanned 172308486672812Yes

23. Accuracy…  Indicates the amount of data used to calculate the EBV / Index  Expressed as a %  Influence by the following…  Whether the animal has been measured for the trait  Whether relatives have been measured for the trait  How heritable the trait is (since all are different)  The amount of information on correlated traits both from the animal itself and its relatives  The number of contemporaries recorded  Is a measure of RISK Accuracy Values

25. Analysis Date: 29/11/2006 Calving Value 200 Day Milk (kg) 200 Day Growth (kg) 400 Day Growth (kg) Muscle Depth (mm) Fat Depth (mm) Beef Value EBV 2C+ 1+ 20+ 32+ 4.8- 0.226 Accuracy % 85458285787581 EBLEX FRED Born: 25/06/05 Sire WINTERHILL BOB Dam BRADWELL LIZ 100 Day Wt.200 Day Wt.300 Day Wt.400 Day Wt.500 Day Wt.Scanned 172308486672812Yes So, how good is 32kg for 400 Day Growth? And is a +ve or a -ve EBV a good or a bad thing?

26. How to Use EBVs & Indexes

27. Why use EBVs?  Real Farm Example: –Marmaduke Beef Value Top 10% –Neptune Beef Value Below Average  Result: –The Marmaduke advantage: Bull calves 15kg heavier and finished 17 days earlier Heifer calves 9kg heavier and finished 30 days earlier Plus improved conformation in both cases Worth on average extra £50/calf

28. Why use EBVs?  Real Farm Example: –Marmaduke Calving Value Bottom 5% –Neptune Calving Value Top 10%  Result: –The Marmaduke disadvantage: 17% more difficult calvings 2.25% more caesareans 4% more calf deaths Cost an extra £10/cow mated (on average) Conclusions: 1). EBVs are a good predictor of performance 2). Remember to check all the traits when selecting a bull

29. Industry evidence – (Perth Sales February 08) TOP 1% bulls on Beef Value 9 sold to average £8120 TOP 10% bulls on Beef Value 26 sold to average £4248 TOP 25% bulls on Beef Value 22 sold to average £3107 AVERAGE bulls Beef Value 14 sold to average £3000 Producers are using EBVs to select stock bulls

30.  Selection conventionally based on effects of genes rather than on genes themselves  New molecular techniques allow genes and ‘markers’ to be identified on the chromosome Useful for traits that…  Have low heritability  Are difficult / expensive to measure e.g. disease resistance  Can not be measured until the next generation  Are not routinely measured e.g. meat tenderness  Are phenotypically but not genetically correlated with a trait  you do not want to increase e.g. marbling and back fat New Breeding Technologies

31.  Three main methods of genetic improvement of beef cattle in UK  Breed substitution  Cross breeding (exploiting hybrid vigour)  Within-breed selection (perf. recording)  Performance cannot be judged by eye alone  EBVs and Indexes are the best indicators of breeding potential  EBVs and Indexes are easy to use and their commercial value is well proven Breeding Summary

32. Further information www.eblex.org.uk

33. Material produced for EBLEX Better Returns Programme by Signet © Signet 2009 For further information contact: www.signetfbc.co.uk