Comparison of genetic improvement systems for beef cattle industries internationally

Summary

The Australian beef seedstock industry has had access to Best Linear Unbiased Prediction (BLUP) analysis since the mid 1980's with the first multitrait analysis run for four Hereford herds in 1986.  The first Angus analysis followed soon after.
The BLUP analytical model developed by the Animal Genetics and Breeding Unit (AGBU) at the University of New England was commercialised as BREEDPLAN under the National Beef Recording Scheme by the Agricultural Business Research Institute (ABRI).
Genetic evaluations are now run for 20 breeds in Australia for up to 19 different traits. All of the weight, fertility and carcase traits are run as a multitrait analysis. A single EBV for a standardised 300 kg carcase weight is published for each of rump fat depth, rib fat depth, eye muscle area and intra-muscular fat depth with ultrasound scan EBVs used as correlated traits. Direct and maternal calving ease are calculated from a separate multitrait analysis incorporating gestation length and birth weight. Net Feed Efficiency EBVs are calculated in a separate threshold analysis utilising Insulin like Growth Factor (IGF-1) as a correlated trait. Docility EBVs are calculated by a single trait threshold analysis
This report benchmarks the genetic trends for nine Australian breeds against the same breeds in other countries for a range of traits.