British Limousin Cattle Society
Alison Glasgow
What’s been going on?
• Database development ~ Registrations & Perf. Recording
• Addition of
www.basco.org
 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
What Next?
Goal 1
Goal 2
Goal 3
Goal 4
Goal 5
Goal 6
Goal 7
Goal 8
Goal 9
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.
To establish and implement solutions to address disease issues as they
become available
To establish and implement solutions to identify and improve feed
efficiency
To improve the rate of gain in growth and carcase traits, without
compromise to correlated traits
To investigate Limousin meat quality and ways in which it can differentiate
Limousin beef in the market place
To maintain current levels of genetic progress in Docility
To improve current levels of progress being made for Age at 1st Calving and
Calving Interval. To investigate wider measures of cow production efficiency.
To maintain current levels of genetic progress in Longevity.
To generate positive genetic change and improve 200 Day Milk Weight
within the breed.
What Next?
Goal 1
Goal 2
Goal 3
Goal 4
Goal 5
Goal 6
Goal 7
Goal 8
Goal 9
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.
To establish and implement solutions to address disease issues as they
become available
To establish and implement solutions to identify and improve feed
efficiency
To improve the rate of gain in growth and carcase traits, without
compromise to correlated traits
To investigate Limousin meat quality and ways in which it can differentiate
Limousin beef in the market place
To maintain current levels of genetic progress in Docility
To improve current levels of progress being made for Age at 1st Calving and
Calving Interval. To investigate wider measures of cow fertility.
To maintain current levels of genetic progress in Longevity.
To generate positive genetic change and improve 200 Day Milk Weight
within the breed.
What Next?
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?
Carcase Traits Project – Why?
Heritability of Carcass Cuts (T. Pabiou ICBF)
Forequarter
Ribs & Flank : 0.03
Brisket : 0.25
Shoulder : 0.79
Chuck : 0.83
Pabiou et al. J. Anim. Sci. (2009)
Hindquarter
Round : 0.86
Sirloin : 0.67
Strip-Loin :
0.49
Rib-Roast :
0.14
Carcase Traits Project – How?
A main outcome…
BCMS
A SNP Key for Limousin
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
Goal 2
Goal 3
Goal 4
Goal 5
Goal 6
Goal 7
Goal 8
Goal 9
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.
To establish and implement solutions to address disease issues as they
become available
To establish and implement solutions to identify and improve feed
efficiency
To improve the rate of gain in growth and carcase traits, without
compromise to correlated traits
To investigate Limousin meat quality and ways in which it can differentiate
Limousin beef in the market place
To maintain current levels of genetic progress in Docility
To improve current levels of progress being made for Age at 1st Calving and
Calving Interval. To investigate wider measures of cow fertility.
To maintain current levels of genetic progress in Longevity.
To generate positive genetic change and improve 200 Day Milk Weight
within the breed.