Download ADHIS Genetic Progress Report July 2013

Newsletter Grab from ADHIS
(the Australian Dairy Herd Improvement Scheme)
Cool tool tracks genetic progress (250 words)
A new tool enables dairy farmers to track the impact of breeding decisions and changes in their
herd’s genetic merit over time.
Developed by the Australian Dairy Herd Improvement Scheme (ADHIS), the Genetic Progress
Report also allows dairy farmers to compare their herd’s genetic merit with the average and top
10% of their breed in the country.
The report includes a summary of 10-year trends, including traits that have improved, remained
stable and reduced in the herd. It also includes indicators of the herd’s genetic merit for
profitability and its rank out of all Australian herd recorded herds for the breed.
Seven graphs track changes in the herd’s genetic changes since 2001 for profit, type, longevity,
mastitis resistance, fertility, protein and fat.
Mrs Axford, ADHIS extension manager, said farmers were using the report to identify breeding
areas that have performed well and those they wish to improve.
Once they have identified the traits they want to improve through breeding, The Good Bulls Guide
can be used to identify suitable sires.
“This is the first time Australian dairy farmers have had an independent, science-based assessment
of genetic progress, drawing upon the herd’s own data.
“The report is generated from herd test data, so it is available to all farmers who herd record.
There’s no need to supply extra information. Just request a Genetic Progress Report from your
herd test centre,” she said.
If you’d like to learn more about what your herd’s Genetic Progress Report means, ADHIS is
running workshops and attending many field days in dairying areas. For details on the next event
near you, visit www.adhis.com.au or, to request an event for your group, contact Michelle Axford
at ADHIS ph (03) 8621-4240 or email [email protected].
NOTE: See over the page for perspectives from dairy farmers in different regions.
ADHIS is an initiative of Australian Dairy Farmers’, that receives the
majority of its funding from Dairy Australia through the Dairy Services
Levy.
Image: Example Genetic Progress Report – comes with each of the photos
below
Caption: The Genetic Progress Report enables dairy farmers to track the impact of breeding decisions
and changes in their herd’s genetic merit over time.
Dairy farmers’ perspectives
Elaine Haddon, Busselton, WA, large Holstein Herd
With 1200 cows to keep track of Elaine Haddon found the Genetic Progress
Report a useful tool for guiding selection decisions and tracking changes in the
herd’s genetic merit over the years.
Photo: click here to receive a high res file by automatic email:
[email protected]
Full case study available (600 words)
http:\\www.adhis.com.au\v2\sitev2.nsf\(Permalink)\ExtensionGeneticProgressReportmakesbestuseofherddata:Elaine
andNevilleHaddon?OpenDocument
Paul Mumford, Yarram (Gippsland), Jerseys
Paul Mumford from Gippsland was pleasantly surprised that the Jersey
herd’s Genetic Progress Report showed rapid improvements in genetic
merit for profit, type, fat and protein.
Photo: click here to receive a high res file by automatic email:
[email protected]
Full case study available (700 words) http://www.adhis.com.au/v2/sitev2.nsf/0/9fc881476054523cca257bba00122bf7?open
Paul Sherar, Loch (Gippsland), variety of breeds including crossbreds
The Genetic Progress Report for Paul Sherar’s herd showed that since
2001, the genetic merit of Jerseys in the herd had improved by 20 kg
profit, 8% longer survival and $220 more profit per cow per year.
Click here to receive a high res photo file by automatic email: [email protected]
Full case study available (880 words):
http:\\www.adhis.com.au\v2\sitev2.nsf\(Permalink)\ExtensionPaulLouiseSherar:Trackinggeneticprogress?OpenDocument
Chris Moscript, Leongatha (Gippsland), Jerseys and crossbreds
The Genetic Progress Report for the Moscript’s herd showed all traits
have steadily improved since 20014, except fertility. “Fertility was a
bit of a surprise. Overall we were reasonably happy with the herd’s
fertility but I’ll be looking at it more closely now, mostly through
management but also through breeding.”
Photo: click here to receive a high res file by automatic email:
[email protected]
Full case study available (1300 words)
http://www.adhis.com.au/v2/sitev2.nsf/(ContentByKey)/7BD179E2AF22C2A1CA257B6C000F886E?OpenDocument
John Lillico, Smithton Tasmania Holsteins
Despite his heard ranking in the top 10% of the country for profit, John
Lillico’s first response to his herd’s Genetic Progress Report was to
identify traits for improvement: mastitis and daughter fertility. “The
report shows how mating decisions from year to year can quite
dramatically affect the herd’s overall genetic trends and therefore profitability.
Photo: click here to receive a high res file by automatic email:
[email protected]
Full case study available
http:\\www.adhis.com.au\v2\sitev2.nsf\(Permalink)\ExtensionJohnLillicosaysnewtoolshineslightonhardtomeasuretraits?OpenDocument
Sophie Hester, Larpent, Western Victoria, Holsteins
“It is interesting to see the impact of bull decisions on the herd’s
genetic merit for specific traits. Although we focus on type, I’ll be more
wary of high type bulls that are negative for fat and protein.
Photo: click here to receive a high res file by automatic email:
[email protected]
Full case study available
http://www.adhis.com.au/v2/sitev2.nsf/0/c10164a7426335a9ca257bb0000370ad?open
Media contact: This media release has been issued by Monks Communication on behalf of ADHIS. Contact
Monks Communication for inquiries about photos and interviews or to have your contact details removed
or updated on our distribution list:
Lee-Ann Monks ph (07) 5450 0946 mob 0419 349 244 email: [email protected]
About ADHIS (background information for media)
The Australian Dairy Herd Improvement Scheme (ADHIS) is an initiative of the Australian Dairy Farmers (ADF) to assist genetic
improvement in the dairy industry. ADHIS maintains a national database of performance and pedigree details for individual dairy
animals. The data base is used to generate Australian Breeding Values (ABVs) which indicate a cow or bull’s potential genetic merit
(ie it’s breeding value to a dairy herd).
Genetic gain has increased significantly since 1983 when farmers began utilising ABVs. Each year the genetic merit of artificially
bred cows is increasing, worth about $9.40/cow/yr in extra profit. The value of these gains to the industry is approximately $20
million per year. ADHIS is partly funded by farmer levies through Dairy Australia.
ABVs and ABV(g)s are produced for a variety of traits including milk yield and composition, workability and survival as well as
profitability. Updated ABVs are released twice a year (April and August) for use by dairy farmers and artificial breeding companies.
ADHIS also releases ABV(i)s for foreign bulls three times per year (April, August and December).
ADHIS is an initiative of Australian Dairy Farmers’, that receives the majority of its funding from Dairy Australia through the Dairy
Services levy.