Newsletter Grab from ADHIS
(the Australian Dairy Herd Improvement Scheme)
For immediate release: 18 August 2013
Two newsletter grabs:
 Genomics tops dairy talent (350 words)
 Latest update to your herd’s genetic trends (160 words)
Genomics tops dairy talent
Genomic bulls dominate the top bulls in the latest list of Australian Breeding Values (ABVs)
released by the Australian Dairy Herd Improvement Scheme (ADHIS) this week (August 19).
Michelle Axford from ADHIS said that more than half the Holstein bulls in the latest Good Bulls
Guide (which lists the top dairy bulls) were young genomic bulls.
“Genomic – or DNA – testing is having a major impact on dairy artificial breeding in the two years
since the technology was introduced in Australia.”
“Three years ago, there were no genomic bulls in the Good Bulls Guide. Two years ago less than
25% of the Holstein bulls in the Guide were young genomic bulls. That represents a rapid uptake of
the technology,” Mrs Axford said.
She said the rapid uptake was because genomic testing could be done when an animal was any
age, so breeding values could be estimated for young cows and bulls, long before performance
data was available (or daughter performance data in the case of bulls).
“This means bulls can be used with confidence from a much younger age, and that will contribute
to a faster rate of genetic gain in Australia’s dairy herds.”
The Good Bulls Guide includes 22 proven bulls that have returned to service having previously
been available on the market as young genomic bulls.
“The farmers who used these bulls as young genomic bulls will now be joining their heifers. That’s
a full two years earlier than before this technology was available,” she said.
Genomic testing is also useful for older animals, even proven bulls with daughter performance
data.
“Bulls proven overseas without any Australian daughters have more reliable breeding values with
the addition of genomics. The reliability of Australian proven bulls improves, particularly for hard
to measure traits such as fertility,” she said.
“Seventy one per cent of the Holstein bulls listed in the guide have been
genotyped, which illustrates how valuable the information is to the
artificial breeding industry.”
The Good Bulls Guide is posted to dairy farmers or can be downloaded from www.adhis.com.au
from 19 August.
For more information contact Michelle Axford at ADHIS ph (03) 8621-4240 or email
maxford@adhis.com.au.
ENDS
Image: Front cover of latest Good Bulls Guide Click here to receive a high resolution image by automatic
email: adhis-herd-genetics@monkscom.com.au
Latest update to your herd’s genetic trends
Dairy farmers can track their herds’ latest genetic trends twice a year, with updated Genetic
Progress Reports available with the April and August releases of Australian Breeding Values (ABVs).
Michelle Axford from the Australian Dairy Herd Improvement Scheme (ADHIS) said many dairy
farmers had received Genetic Progress Reports since they were first released earlier this year and
they would be keen to see any changes in their latest reports.
“Anyone who herd records can get a Genetic Progress Report through their herd test centre. It is a
simple way to see the impact of breeding decisions and benchmark your herd against the national
herd.”
“Use your herd’s Genetic Progress Report to identify breeding priorities and the Good Bulls Guide
to make bull choices. Both are updated twice a year with the ABV release,” she said.
Sophie Hester from Larpent in Western Victoria said “it is interesting to see the impact of bull
decisions on the herd’s genetic merit for specific traits.”
For more information contact Michelle Axford at ADHIS ph (03) 8621-4240 or email
maxford@adhis.com.au.
ENDS
Image: Click here to receive a high
res image by automatic email adhisAug13-GoodBullsGuide@monkscom.com.au
Caption: Many dairy farmers will be
eagerly awaiting their herd’s latest
Genetic Progress Report to monitor
the impact of their breeding
decisions.
Media contact: This media release has been
issued by Monks Communication on behalf of
ADHIS. Lee-Ann Monks ph (07) 5450 0946 mob 0419 349 244 email: media_releases@monkscom.com.au