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no/nr 103

Animal Production InstituteDiereproduksie-instituut

Excellence in Agricultural Research and DevelopmentARC LNR

2014201420142014National Beef Recording and Improvement SchemeNasionale Vleisbeesaantekening en -Verbeteringskema


Private Bag X2 Irene, 0061RSA

Tel:Fax:www.arc.agric.za

+27 (0) 12 672 9111+27 (0) 12 665 1563

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ARC Newsletter - 2014 - LNR Nuusbrief

CONTENTS / INHOUD

PREAMBLE / VOORWOORD

NEWS ITEMS / NUUSBROKKIES ARC Officials honoured

My unforgettable trip to the BIF in the USAFormer ICAR president visits ARC-APIARC-API sets the pace with Real Time Ultrasound technologyFirst black commercial farmer to participate in Phase C testing at IreneBeef Improvement Federation se 2014 kongres

ARTICLES / ARTIKELS Beefing up South Africa’s emerging beef farmers Vooruitsigte vir die Rooivleisbedryf Feed efficiency is key to sustainable beef production ARC National Awards 2014 Profile of our winners: ARC National Emerging Beef Farmer of the Year Awards 2014 Klassifikasie en graderingstelsels van verskillende lande Knap kruisteling vra rasegte bul ARC Farmer’s Days 2014 A Comparison between Central Growth Testing and on-farm testing Hoe werk genomika en wat beteken dit vir die boer? Maak ingeligte bulkeuse vanaf jou veiling katalogus Breeding strategies to support climate smart beef production Netto voerinname (residual feed intake) - wat is die implikasies daarvan? A cost saving strategy to increase genomic data in small beef cattle populations Backgrounding of cattle The effect of weather patterns on beef production in South Africa The effect of environmental factors on stress in cattle Genomic potential of Nguni cattle unpacked Improving traits that are difficult (or costly) to measure Gebruik van teelbulle The benefits of a Contagious Abortus Rapid Kit Test Genomics: Unraveling the secrets of nature Vleisbees Skema kontakbesonderhede

Compilers / Samestellers: Dr Ben Greyling & Frans JordaanFront Cover Photo: Una-Lou JordaanDesign and Printing / Ontwerp en Drukwerk:Asikhulume Pixart cc +27 12 661-9728www.pixart.co.za

Copyright reserved: ARC- Animal Production InstituteNo part of this publication may be duplicated, reproduced or published in any form without the written consent of the General Manager: ARC-Animal Production Institute, Irene

Kopiereg voorbehou: LNR- Diereproduksie-instituutGeen gedeelte van hierdie publikasie mag gedupliseer, gereproduseer of gepubliseer word in enige vorm nie, tensy skriftelike toestemming van die Algemene Bestuurder: LNR-Diereproduksie-instituut verkry is .

ARC-Animal Production InstituteLNR-Diereproduksie-instituutPrivate Bag X2 / Privaatsak X2,Irene, 0062, South AfricaTel: +27 12 672 9087 Faks/ Fax (012) 672 9002Email/E-pos: [email protected]

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3ARC Newsletter - 2014 - LNR Nuusbrief

“Take the bull by the horns" and “work smarter, not harder” is often said when

we are confronted by a challenge. Agriculture faces one of its biggest challenges worldwide, viz. sustaining food security. The big question is how will we keep up with the predicted increased demand for production of red meat over the next few years and even decades. There is no question about it that red meat production is an important component of a sustainable food security strategy. Despite the challenges we face, the prospects for red meat production however looks very promising, including exports, according to the Red Meat Producers Organisation (RPO). This view is supported by the fact that more than R18.5 billion was generated in 2013 from the slaughter of cattle.

One way to work smarter is to make use of available technologies aimed at optimizing production and ultimately increase profits. Performance recording has been used for many decades by the ARC with the aim of improving the biological and economic efficiency of animals and has made a significant contribution towards the genetic improvement of our national herd over the last few decades to the benefit of the entire industry. Buyers also tend to pay a premium for performance-tested animals!

This edition of our newsletter contains a variety of articles highlighting the usefulness of available technologies. You can also read about the importance and benefits when following sound management principles in your herd. We also bring you a few developments and highlights of the year, e.g. obtaining new generation Real Time Ultrasound (RTU) scanners to keep up with the demand from the industry and articles on Genomics, something that is now on everyone's lips lately and which is of particular importance to the ARC, who is a member of the Livestock Genomics Consortium. The latter has a mandate, on behalf of the entire industry, to exploit and apply the technology to the benefit of the livestock industry, an initiative that is now gaining momentum. This issue also contains articles that cover the latest developments regarding feed efficiency and how we should position ourselves in view of global climate change. In addition, we proudly cover one of the highlights on our country's agricultural calendar, viz. our annual National Awards, giving recognition to all our finalists and winners.

I trust that you will find the information in this issue useful and that it will add value to your enterprise. Finally, I would like to wish you a very prosperous 2015 and may you be blessed in every sense of the word.

Dr Ben GreylingResearch Team Manager: Beef Cattle Improvement, ARC-API


“Pak die bul by die horings” en “werk meer vindingryk, nie net harder nie” word daar dikwels gesê as ons voor 'n uitdaging te staan kom. Landbou staan voor een van sy grootste uitdagings, nl. hoe gaan ons voedselsekuriteit verseker te midde van al die uitdagings wat ons in die gesig staar. Om meer spesifiek te wees, hoe gaan ons vanuit 'n produksie-oogpunt voldoen aan die verwagte toename in die vraag na kwaliteit rooivleis oor die volgende paar jare en dekades? Soos ander sektore binne die Landbou speel die rooivleisbedryf dus 'n baie belangrike rol in ons land se vermoë om voedselsekuriteit te verseker. Ten spyte egter van al die uitdagings waarmee produsente moet stoei, lyk die vooruitsigte vir die bedryf, insluitend vir uitvoere, tans baie goed, aldus die Rooivleis Produsente Organisasie (RPO). Dit kan ook beaam word deur die feit dat inkomste vanuit die slag van beeste teen die einde van 2013 meer as R18.5 miljard gegenereer het.

Een van die maniere om meer vindingryk te werk is deur gebruik te maak van beskikbare tegnologie wat kan help om produksie te optimaliseer en uiteindelik profyt te verhoog. So word prestasie-aantekening reeds vir baie dekades deur die LNR ingespan ten einde die biologiese en ekonomiese doeltreffendheid van diere te verbeter. Oor die laaste paar dekades het hierdie tegnologie 'n groot rol gespeel in die genetiese verbetering van die land se nasionale kudde, tot voordeel van die hele bedryf. Kopers is ook geneig om meer te betaal vir prestasie-getoetsde diere!

Hierdie uitgawe van ons nuusbrief bevat 'n verskeidenheid van artikels wat aspekte rondom die gebruik van tegnologie uitlig. Daar is ook natuurlik artikels wat die voordele van gesonde bestuur van jou kudde beklemtoon en bespreek. Ons bring u ook 'n paar ontwikkelinge en hoogtepunte van die jaar, soos bv. die aankoop van nuwe generasie “Real Time UItrasound“ (RTU) skandeerders ten einde tred te hou met die vraag na dienste vanuit die bedryf. Hierdie uitgawe bevat ook artikels oor Genomika, iets wat deesdae op almal se lippe is en wat die LNR na aan die hart lê. Die LNR is lid van die Livestock Genomics Consortium, 'n groep wat namens alle rolspelers in die bedryf planne beraam om die tegnologie maksimaal te benut. En dinge het nou begin spoed vang soos hulle sê. Daar is ook artikels wat die nuutste verwikkelinge rondom voerdoeltreffendheid toelig, hoe ons onsself te midde van klimaatsverandering moet posisioneer en nog vele meer. Oudergewoonte bring ons u ook met trots al die finaliste en wenners tydens ons jaarlikse Nasionale Toekennings, een van die hoogtepunte op ons land se landboukalender. Ek vertrou dat u hierdie uitgawe nuttig sal vind en dat die inligting waarde sal toevoeg tot u onderneming. Ten slotte wil ek u alle seën en voorspoed toewens vir 2015, en mag die reen mildelik op u velde val!

VOORWOORD

PREAMBLE

4 ARC Newsletter - 2014 - LNR Nuusbrief

The livestock sector is one of the best growing parts of the agricultural economy, driven by income growth and supported technological and structural change. This sector contributes 40 percent of global value of agricultural output and supports the livelihoods and food security of almost a billion people. Globally, livestock contri-butes 15 percent of total food energy and 25 percent of dietary protein. In South Africa, stock farming is the only viable agricultural activity in a large part of the country. Approximately 80% of South African agricultural land is suitable for extensive grazing. Cattle production has increased by 37 000 heads from 13.5 million in 2004 to 13.87 million in 2011. Eighty percent of the total cattle heads are for beef cattle and the remaining 20% is for dairy cattle.

Aiming to improve production and participation in this growing sector, Baldwin is working with emerging and small-scale farmers in South Africa through a project, nicknamed the Beef Profit Partnerships (BPP), initially funded by the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR) and currently widely supported by the South African govern-ment. The BPP has seen the development of a scheme that supports emerging beef farmers to increase production through performance recording. Including farmer development as part of guidelines, the scheme currently benefits 7000 emerging farmers, with a combined total of over 50 000 breeding cattle across South Africa. With a mission to provide the emerging southern African beef industry with professional and internationally recognised recording and genetic improvement services, the scheme also empowers beef farmers for economical and sustainable beef production through continuous im-provement and innovation.

“This scheme is about getting farmers to improve their animal and enterprise per formance through training and agriculture extension services,” explains

South Africa's emerging beef farmersCaroline Nenguke

Improving the lives of farmers and contributing to food security in the region is work that Australia Awards Alumnus, dr Baldwin Nengovhela is proud to be associated with.

Baldwin. Without seeing this as an end to a remarkable project, Baldwin's team is currently working on a project that aims at linking these farmers to retail markets. Seeing this added effort as a value addition exercise, Baldwin explains: “The project plans to create this link by piloting with retailers and group of beef farmer cooperatives. The idea is to keep a product on major supermarket shelves from the emerging sector.” Beef from emerging farmers has a very low market-offtake, estimated at about 5% compared to the commercial sector which is at around 22%. Thus, any initiative that leads to higher offtake and income generation for farmers is one that Baldwin and his team are keen to develop and implement.

Linking back to his studies in Australia, Baldwin attributes his ability to recognise, develop and implement interventions that assist in developing rural agriculture to the time he spent in Australia studying towards his PhD in Natural and Rural Systems Management at the University of Queensland. “My studies in Australia have helped me identify systems that can retard or promote growth of the emerging beef sector in South Africa as well as identify and recognise the elements that need to be considered to develop interventions that grow rural agriculture.” The project that formed part of Baldwin's studies has resulted into a country-wide initiative that is not only supported by the government of South Africa but has also received funding for scale-up to other parts of southern Africa. In 2013, South Africa's Agriculture Research Council gave seed funding for Baldwin's team to design similar projects in the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) countries. This initial funding led to the support and implementation of a Dairy project in Zimbabwe and Botswana. Baldwin proudly speaks of his project as one that is based on principles that can be scaled-up to support any agricultural commodity and across Africa, as seen from the Dairy project in the two SADC countries.

BEEFING UP


VIR DIE ROOIVLEISBEDRYFVOORUITSIGTE

Mnr Gerhard M Schutte, Hoofuitvoerende Beampte : Nasionale RPO

Die geleenthede vir uitvoere van rooivleis, rooivleisprodukte en genetiese materiaal was nog nooit so positief soos nou nie. Verder is daar baie ander positiewe verwikkelinge, waarvan die huidige vlak van samewerking tussen die rooivleisbedryf en die Departement van Landbou, Bosbou en Visserye beslis een is. Die mobilisering en kommersialisering van die opkomende sektor is een van die grootste geleenthede binne die rooivleisbedryf. Tans maak dié sektor 40% van rooivleisprodusente uit. Die daarstelling van handels-merke vir gedifferensieerde markte kan ook tot groot voordeel van die bedryf wees. Die RPO het die Universiteit van die Vrystaat versoek om 'n rekenaarmodel te ontwikkel oor os-stelsels versus speenkalf-produksie en ons sien daarna uit om dit binnekort bekend te stel.

Die vraag na rooivleis gaan aanhou styg, met soveel as 20 % tot in 2023. Daar sal meer rooivleis geproduseer moet word en dit kan net gedoen word deur groter intensifisering, beter tegnologie en toepassings soos GRPS-stelsels. Laasgenoemde is iets wat boere beslis moet oorweeg.

Die nutriëntsamestelling van Suid-Afrikaanse rooivleis tel in ons guns, asook die feit dat die plaaslike verbruiker 'n voorkeur vir vars vleis het. Nuwe wetenskaplike bevindings oor die positiewe eienskappe van rooivleis in 'n gebalanseerde dieet is aspekte wat in ons funksie van verbruikersopvoeding uitgelig word. Die Suid-Afrikaanse klassifi-kasiestelsel gaan ook onder die soeklig kom tydens 'n simposium, aangesien dit noodsaaklik is om dit in terme van verbruikersbehoeftes en internasionale norme te toets. Die huidige stelsel werk al vir die afgelope 25 jaar. Tog is dit sekerlik relevant om te bepaal of dit nog steeds inpas by 'n omgewing waar alles verander het.

Ons is in die gelukkige posisie dat die kapasiteit om navorsing te doen, in die laaste paar jaar baie uitgebrei is. Die RPO is baie tevrede met die RMRD-SA se goeie werk. Die rooivleisbedryf het 'n belangrike rol om te speel in terme van voedselsekuriteit in 'n land wat arm is aan proteïene. Die bedryf is ook as 'n belangrike rolspeler in die Nasionale Ontwikkelingstrategie geïdentifiseer. Sover dit voedselsekuriteit in die land betref, kan die vyfde kwart dalk baie belangrik wees.

Die strenger toepassing van die Verbruikersbeskermingswet, die Etiketeringswet en die Wet op Landboustandaarde sal sekerlik in die toekoms 'n rol speel om insidente soos die vorige vleisskandaal te voorkom. Die wette kan ook 'n groot bydrae lewer om verbruikers-vertroue te skep. Die merk van vleis sal ook spesifieke aandag moet kry in terme van die reëls van oorsprong, soos by die invoer van vleis en lewendehawe uit buurlande.

STERK PUNTE

'n Kenmerk van die rooivleisbedryf is die goeie organisatoriese ondersteuning van bedryfstrukture. Die Federasie van Rooivleis-produsente van Suid-Afrika wat uit die RPO en NERPO bestaan, is 'n goeie voorbeeld hiervan. Verder is al die rolspelers in die waardeketting verenig in die Rooivleisbedryfs-forum. Die feit dat daar 'n statutêre heffing vir kritiese funksies in plek is, is tot groot voordeel van die bedryf. Daarom is dit uiters belangrik dat die bedryf se nuwe aansoek om 'n statutêre heffing, goedgekeur word. Die plaaslike rooivleisbedryf is nie van staatsubsidies afhanklik nie. Daarom is dit noodsaaklik dat die speelveld gelyk gemaak word met eerste-wêreld lande wat groot subsidies ontvang. Die 40% ad valorem-invoertarief is dus krities noodsaaklik. 'n Groot voordeel vir die bedryf is die feit dat Suid-Afrika 'n netto-invoerder van rooivleis en lewendehawe is.

UITDAGINGS

Die bedryf moet in gedagte hou dat die OIE weer Suid-Afrika aan die einde van die jaar gaan besoek. Dit is krities noodsaaklik dat die bek-en-klouseer vrye sone status behou sal word. Die volhoubare monitering van beheerde en aanmeldbare dieresiektes sluit hierby aan. Uiteraard kan wesenlike uitvoere na die buiteland ook nie realiseer sonder hoë standaarde in ons nasionale dieregesond-heidstatus nie. Marktoegang en 'n tekort aan infrastruktuur in landelike gebiede bly 'n groot kopseer vir die opkomende sektor. Dan is daar ook na al die jare steeds 'n tekort aan bedryfsinligting oor lewendehawe. Hoewel die 2011-sensus baie goeie inligting oor huishoudings en die besit van vee vervat het, is daar nog 'n kritiese gebrek aan 'n vee-sensus in die land.

BEDREIGINGS

Veediefstal sal altyd een van die bedryf se grootste bedreigings wees. Die Nasionale Veediefstalvoorkomings-forum speel 'n groot rol om dit te bekamp. Daar is nou ook nege provinsiale veediefstalvoor-komingsforums in plek, waarvan elkeen funksioneel is. Predasie is net so 'n groot probleem vir die rooivleisbedryf. Dié saak word deur die Predasiebestuurs-forum gedryf. Natuurlike rampe, onder meer periodieke droogtes, veldbrande en oorstromings is iets waarmee die rooivleisprodusent moet saamleef. Die geweldige droogte van 2013, met gepaardgaande vernietigende veldbrande bewys opnuut dat ons tans in 'n droër siklus is. Boere sal meer konserwatief moet dink as dit by draekrag kom.

Rampbestuur en voervloeibestuur is ook die boer se eie verantwoordelikheid. Indringerplante bly ook 'n groot probleem. Boere moet self verantwoordelikheid aanvaar vir die beperking daarvan. Die kwessie van oorregulering van die bedryf, hou vir die boer 'n bedreiging in. Tans word Landbou deur 88 wette gereguleer. Sover dit aardverwarming betref, sal die bedryf moet aanvaar dat hy deel is van die probleem. Ons wil egter ook graag deel wees van die oplossing. In hierdie opsig doen SASAS baie goeie werk om die proses te bestuur.

'n Ander kopseer vir die bedryf is die risikos wat die wildbedryf vir ons inhou. Snotsiekte is 'n spesifieke voorbeeld, maar daar is optimisme dat 'n entstof teen snotsiekte binne die volgende twee jaar kan realiseer. Die impak van mynbou en besoedeling gaan in die toekoms sekerlik net groter raak. Die RPO aanvaar die uitdaging om die natuurlike hulpbron te bewaar. Ons aanvaar ook die uitdaging om die hantering van ons diere op 'n hoë welsynsvlak te hou en goed na plaaswerkers om te sien.

Elke boer voel die bedreiging van stygende insetkoste aan sy eie sak. Dit sluit verhoogde kostes vir elektrisiteit, brandstof, arbeid en grondpryse in. In 2013 was daar 'n aanduiding dat insetkoste met 18% gestyg het en dit plaas groot druk op die boer se winsgewendheid.


FEED EFFICIENCY

1ARC-Animal Production Institute, Animal Breeding and Genetics,

Private Bag X2, Irene 0062, South Africa; 2University of the Free State, P.O. Box 339,

Bloemfontein 9300, South Africa

[email protected]

Definition of efficiency in the context of beef production

Important concepts such as feed efficiency and efficiency of beef production are often confused in practice. Efficiency of production is an encompassing concept and entails efficiency of usage of all resources needed to produce a unit product. Dickerson (1970) succinctly defines overall efficiency as the ratio of total costs to total animal product. The resources referred to earlier include labour, capital, biological (e.g. animals) and natural resources (e.g. natural pastures or veld, soils etc.). These could simply be considered as inputs in a production system. Profitability is ensured when minimal resources are utilised per unit of product produced.

Feed efficiency only focuses on the efficiency of feed required per unit product. It is important to note that feed efficiency does not necessarily translate to total production efficiency but it is an important component of overall efficiency since feed costs accounts for a major percentage of variable costs in a cow-calf enterprise.

Other concepts of importance in beef production are biological versus economic efficiency. Biological efficiency pertains to efficiency with which biological processes are optimised (i.e. feed consumed per beef produced) while economic efficiency relates to beef enterprise monetary performance (i.e. costs versus revenue). The achievement of one does not necessarily mean achievement of the other. For the purpose of this discussion we concern ourselves with feed efficiency.

Measures of feed efficiency

Different measures of feed efficiency have been developed and applied in beef breeding programmes. The most commonly known measure of feed efficiency is feed conversion ratio (FCR). Feed conversion ratio refers to the amount of feed required to produce a kg of beef. Thus, FCR is an index of two traits i.e. feed intake and weight gain. To the extent that feed requirements depends on the size of an animal and production level (e.g. growth rate), FCR is not independent of size and growth.

is key to sustainable beef production

This poses a challenge for selection since FCR does not provide an opportunity for comparing efficiency of feed utilisation among animals of the same size and growth rate. In other words, it is difficult to select for reduced feed intake without reducing the level of production when FCR is used as a selection criterion.

An alternative measure of feed efficiency is residual feed intake (RFI) and was first proposed by Koch et al. (1963). This measure of feed efficiency overcomes the challenge associated with FCR. It is independent of size and growth provided that it is calculated from genetic regression coefficients. Residual feed intake refers to the difference between actual feed consumed and expected feed intake based on size and growth rate. This measure of feed efficiency has received attention lately and is recommended for use in breeding programmes to improve feed efficiency. Research conducted using feed efficiency data collected on South African Bonsmara and Angus cattle reported a moderate

2heritability (h = 0.31 and 0.33, respectively) for RFI (van der Westhuizen et al., 2004; Hendriks et al., 2014). Similar estimates of heritability for RFI were reported internationally (e.g. Arthur et al., 2001). This magnitude of heritability indicates that RFI will respond to selection.

Is feed efficiency really important?

Early research on feed efficiency commenced as far back as the late 1950s. However, it is only recently that feed efficiency is considered in breeding programmes internationally. Archer et al. (2004) conducted an economic study to evaluate profitability of beef production system when feed efficiency was included in a beef breeding programmes. They modelled the Australian beef production system and reported an increase in profit of about 9 to 33% when a proportion of bulls are measured for post-weaning feed intake. This results confirm that feed efficiency is a profit driver.

It is interesting that most countries with the exception of South Africa, Australia and Canada did not include feed efficiency in their respective breeding programmes. The current trend is that feed efficiency tests are being considered in countries such as the United States and other major beef cattle producing countries. For example, the United States is currently running a large national research programme on genetic improvement of feed efficiency funded to the tune of millions of US$ (http://www.beefefficiency.org/). The aim of the project is to reduce feed resources required to produce beef through development and deployment of novel nutritional, genomic, and genetic improvement technologies. The first step in the implementation of this project is large scale collection of thousands of feed efficiency data on major beef cattle breeds in the United States. The current impetus towards intensive collection of feed efficiency data is the opportunity for use of genomics which could circumvent the challenge of the need for routine collection of feed intake data - an expensive trait to measure.

It is important to note that the scaling up of the collection of feed efficiency data is also necessary for South Africa since sizeable data has only been collected on primarily the Bonsmara cattle. There is a need to step-up the collection of feed efficiency data if the usefulness of genomic selection is to be realised. It is encouraging that most of the breed societies are heeding this call. There is no doubt that the investment in collection of feed efficiency data would yield handsome returns in the near future.

1,2 Prof Norman Maiwashe


Additional benefits from selection for feed efficiency

Research conducted in Canada indicates that selection for feed efficiency though selection for RFI has positive environmental benefits (Nkrumah et al., 2006). The benefits include reduction in: (1) maintenance costs for the cow herd by 9 to 10%, (2) feed intake by 10 to 12%, (3) methane emissions by 25 to 30%, (4) manure production without affecting ADG or mature cow size by 5 to 20% Thus, selection for feed efficiency would lead to more sustainable beef production and hopefully minimal concerns from society regarding environmental footprint of beef production.

Summary

Feed efficiency is major component of total efficiency of beef production. Selection for improved feed efficiency would alleviate negative environmental impact associated with beef production. In addition, selection for feed efficiency is a viable mitigation strategy for climate change. Residual feed intake is an appropriate measure of feed efficiency that should be considered in breeding programmes.

Literature Cited

Archer, J.A., Barwick, S.A. and H-U Graser. 2004. Economic evaluation of beef cattle breeding schemes incorporating performance testing of young bulls for feed intake. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 44: 393-404.

Arthur, P.F., Renand, G. and D. Krauss. 2001. Genetic parameters for growth and feed efficiency in weaner versus yearling Charolais bulls. Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 52: 471-476.

Dickerson, G.E. 1970. Efficiency of animal production - molding the Biological

components. Journal of Animal Science 30:849-859.

Hendriks, J., Scholtz, M.M., Neser, F.C.W. and J. B. Van Wyk. 2014. Preliminary investigation into genetic parameters for feedlot traits of Angus cattle in South Africa. Proceedings, 10th World Congress of Genetics Applied to Livestock Production, Vancouver, Canada.

Koch, R.M., Swiger, L.A., Chambers, D., and K.E. Gregory. 1963. Efficiency of feed use in beef cattle. Journal of Animal Science 22: 486-494.

Nkrumah, J.D., Okine, E.K., Mathison, G.W., Schmid, K., Li, C., Basarab, J.A., Price, M.A., Wang, Z. and S. S. Moore. 2006. Relationship of residual feed intake with metabolic rate, methane production and energy partitioning in beef cattle. Journal of Animal Science 84: 145–153.

van der Westhuizen, R.R., van der Westhuizen, J. and S.J. Schoeman. 2004. Genetic variance components for residual feed intake and feed conversion ratio and their correlations with other production traits in beef bulls. South African Journal of Animal Science 34 (4): 257-264.

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Ben Greyling

2014 ARC

The ARC's annual National Beef Performers Awards were pre-sented on Thursday 28 August at the Jacaranda Agricultural Show in Pretoria on behalf of the National Beef Recording and Improvement Scheme of ARC-API. This gala event, one of the highlights on our

country's agricultural calendar, attracted some of South Africa's top achievers in industry. The presence of key stakeholders in industry and high ranking officials from DAFF also emphasized the importance and status of the event. The aim of the awards is to acknowledge South Africa's most outstanding achievers in breeding genetically superior animals, using performance recording and performance testing as tools. This year's awards encompassed the following five categories:

The ARC National Special Performance Test Class sponsored by DAFF

The ARC National Best Elite Cow Awards sponsored by Farmer's Weekly

The ARC National Platinum Bull Awards sponsored by GMPBasic

The ARC National Emerging Beef Farmer of the Year Awards sponsored by DAFF

The ARC National Beef Cattle Improvement Herd of the Year Awards sponsored by DAFF

The awards function, which was attended by close to 230 guests, was opened by the keynote speaker, the acting deputy director General, Mr Moeketsa Ramasodi. He stressed the importance of a healthy and growing beef industry and elaborated on the roles of the respective sectors in industry when it comes to ensuring food security in South Africa. During the

NATIONAL BEEF PERFORMERS AWARDS

function the respective overall winners of the ARC National Herd of the Year and the ARC Emerging Beef Farmer of the Year were also crowned from amongst the provincial winners countrywide, and the winners were rewarded with, amongst others, a trip to the Beef Improvement Federation's congress in the USA in 2015. The final category, the ARC National Special Performance Test Class, took place in the main arena where South Africa’s top bull was selected by three acclaimed interbreed judges. The proceedings were rounded off with the ARC President's Lunch in the Baobab hall during which the acting Group Executive: Animal Sciences, Dr Andrew Magadlela, gave the vote of thanks, in particular to our valued sponsors and facilitators of the event.

Mr Ramasodi, acting deputy Director General, giving the opening address at the ARC National Beef Performers Awards 2014

NATIONAL SPECIAL PERFORMANCE TEST CLASS2014 ARC

BACKGROUND AND HISTORY

The Special Performance Test Class for Phase C thtested bulls was presented for the 36 year and is one

of the flagship awards presented annually to breeders of animals with outstanding performance and qualities. This award:

Puts performance testing in the correct perspective and promotes it among the leading breeders in all breeds;

Promoted the appropriate use of performance data in the show ring; and

Brings together all parties interested in beef cattle production.

QUALIFYING BULLS

Bulls that completed the standardised growth test (Phase C) of the ARC's National Beef Recording and

Sponsored by DAFF


Improvement Scheme during 2013 and received a Gold or Silver Merit award are considered for the class, provided that the bull had had at least 10 contemporaries in the Phase C test, the bull's scrotum circumference complied to the minimum breed standard and the relevant breeders' society had inspected and approved the bull. The details of the bulls and their owners that qualified and participated in this category are outlined in and below.Table 1 Table 2.

TABLE 1 The 2014 ARC National Special Performance Test Class bulls

AfriSim JJ 12 0114 03/09/2012 1760 108 6.24 101 Irene 1244 1400 336Angus FG 12 0140 24/08/2012 2070 109 5.29 111 Western Cape 1289 1429 357Beef Shorthorn NMS 12 0035 06/10/2012 2060 115 5.40 126 Sernick 1252 1423 330Braunvieh N 12 0066 11/12/2012 1063 98 4.84 114 Sernick 1212 1413 344Dexter SZJ 12 0007 31/07/2012 978 110 5.58 102 Glen 1097 1382 294Limousin DL 12 0066 11/09/2012 1719 108 5.01 118 Sernick 1264 1445 317Pinzgauer KD 12 0010 02/11/2012 1230 97 5.72 100 Irene 1138 1343 340

2PinZ yl SAJ 12 0011 21/11/2012 1098 102 6.24 106 Irene 1188 1363 317Simmentaler LH 12 0080 01/12/2012 1000 100 4.45 123 Irene 1286 1388 389Sussex GA 12 0054 31/07/2012 1884 108 4.88 115 Sernick 1189 1437 340

Breed Bull ID No Born ADG FCR

(g) Ind. Kg/Kg Ind. Centre tested

AdjustedShoulder/Hip*Height (mm)

AdjustedBody Length

(mm)

AdjustedScrotum

Circum. (mm)

TABLE 2 The owners of the 2014 ARC National Special Performance Test Class bulls

Breed Bull ID No Owner

AfriSim JJ 12 0114 Janes Wasserman Carletonville [email protected] 082 789 3400Angus FG 12 0140 Fredericksburg Angus Stoet Franschoek [email protected] 082 550 3375Beef Shorthorn NMS 12 0035 Neil Dry Magaliesburg [email protected] 083 778 8000Braunvieh N 12 0066 Gawie Naude Barkly-East [email protected] 082 897 9555Dexter SZJ 12 0007 HJ Strydom Petrusburg [email protected] 073 289 5111Limousin DL 12 0066 John & Tracey Devonport Houghton [email protected] 083 454 3095Pinzgauer KD 12 0010 Dale Wheeler Devon [email protected] 082 322 5026

2PinZ yl SAJ 12 0011 Fanie Potgieter Mooketsi [email protected] 083 627 6899 Simmentaler LH 12 0080 Hans Franck Lynnwood Ridge [email protected] 082 899 6677Sussex GA 12 0054 FW Anderson Marquard [email protected] 083 400 1083

Town Cell NoE-mail

The winner of ARC National Special Performance Test class, Mr Gawie Naude from Barkly-East with is Braunvieh bull, N 12 0066. To his right is Mr Joel Mamabolo, Director of Animal Improvement of DAFF, Dr. Andrew Magadlela, acting Group Executive: Animal Sciences (ARC) and Prof. Norman Maiwashe, acting General Manager of ARC-API. The proud handler of the bull is Mr. Thulang Letsika

JUDGING PROCEDURE

The final placement of the bulls is based only on the judges' placing in terms of functional efficiency and appearance, since their performance has already been taken into account when they qualified for this class. Qualifying bulls also had to be approved by the respective breeders' societies. Three acclaimed and well-known interbreed judges, Mr Martin Seyfferdt, Mr Jan de Jongh and Mr Marius Barkhuizen, were tasked to identify the best bull among all the contenders. The Braunvieh bull (N 12 0066) of Mr Gawie Naude walked away with top honours. Congratulations to Mr Naude and all the other recipients of awards in this class!

Table 1 lists the bulls and their respec-tive performance figures, while Table 2lists the owners of the bulls.


AFRISIMJanes Wassermann

ANGUSRenier Theron

BEEF SHORTHORNNeil Dry

BRAUNVIEHGawie Naude

DEXTERHJ Strydom

LIMOUSINJohn & Tracey Devonport

PINZGAUERDr Dale Wheeler

2PINZ YLFanie Potgieter

SIMMENTALERHans Franck

SUSSEXWillie Anderson

Participants of the ARC National Special

Performance Test Class Awards

NATIONAL BEST ELITE COW AWARDS2014 ARC

The aim of the ARC National Best Elite Cow Awards is to identify cows which, on the basis of reproduction, performance test records and breeding values, have proven themselves as genetically superior in all economically important traits such as reproduction, maternal ability and pre-weaning growth rate (weaning weight). The ARC-Animal Production Institute this year decided to consider cows of all beef breeds for the ARC National Best Elite Cow Awards, irrespective of which service provider (ARC, SA Stud Book or Breedplan) the relevant breeders' society uses for registration, performance testing and breeding value estimation. This year is the 36th anniversary of the Best Elite Cow award. Farmer's Weekly has been the sponsor of this award since 1979, joining the ARC to give recognition to outstanding performing cows.

To qualify for an ARC National Best Elite Cow award, a cow must comply with the following requirements:

A. Registered breeds:

1. The cow must be alive on the evaluation date.

2. The cow's age at first calving must not exceed 39 months.

3. The cow's average inter-calving period must not exceed 425 days.

4. The cow must have calved normally during the 18 months before the evaluation date.

5. The cow must not have more than one calf without a valid weaning weight after the first calf with a valid weaning weight.

6. Breeding value requirements:

6.1 Wean direct breeding value must be within the best 50% of the active females in the breed.

6.2 Wean maternal breeding value must be within the best 50% of the active females in the breed.

6.3 Birth direct breeding value must be within the lowest 99% of the active females in the breed.

6.4 Birth maternal breeding value (where available) must be within the lowest 99% of the active females in the breed.

7. The cow must have a minimum of seven calves with reliable weaning weights.

8. The cow may not have previously received an ARC National Best Elite Cow award.


B. Commercial herds (where no BLUP breeding values are available):

The breeding value requirements (above-mentioned item 6) are replaced with the following:

1. No calf may have a weaning index below 90.

2. Average weaning index of calves must be at least 100.

3. No more than two calves with a weaning index below 100.

The following aspects of the qualifying cows (see above) were evaluated to identify the Best Elite Cow per breed:

1. Birth and weaning breeding values of the cow.

2. Average efficiency index (if available).

3. Approval ratio (percentage of her progeny approved for registration by the breeders' society concerned), considering the sex and herd book status of each calf.

4. Average inter-calving period and reproduction index.

5. Percentage of performance tested calves (with valid birth and weaning weights).

6. Number of calves with valid weaning weights in relation to the cow's age.

The Best Elite Cows are selected purely on performance, based on the above criteria, and the physical appearance of the cow plays no role in the selection process. In fact, the first time the ARC sees what the selected cows look like is when their photos cows are published.

This year these awards were presented to the owners of 25 cows. Including this year's 25 awards, Farmer's Weekly has presented a total of 438 trophies since 1979. Its commitment to sponsor the awards since 1979 should be saluted! The 2014 ARC National Best Elite Cow Awards are listed in 3 and the Table owners of the cows in . Congratulations to each of these Table 4proud owners for an outstanding achievement!

Prof Michiel Scholtz, specialist researcher at ARC-API, explains to the audience the stringent criteria used as qualification for this category.

AFRIKANER COWMC 00 0391Pierre-André Cronjé

BORAN COWCFH 06 0351

Zippo Lamprecht

BRAFORD COWTH 00122Kurt Thiele

BEEFMASTER COWHU 02 0109

Piet & Marika Human

AFRISM COWUG 04 0003Jan Hattingh

BONSMARA COWGZV 98 0008Gerrit van Zyl

ANGUS COWZDW 01 0292 Dr Jan de Wet

BRAHMAN COWNM 99 0225 (Reserve)Louis Meyer

BRAUNVIEH COWFJNH 05 0004

Cois Harman

CAROLAIS COWESC 03 0112Dewald van der Merwe

DRAKENSBERGER COWSS 03 0032

Edwin Schroeder

GELBVIEH COWGG 03 0168

Jan en Paul Grey

HEREFORD COWTW 02 0038

Wessel Wessels

Winners inthe ARC

National BestElite CowAwards


HUGENOOT COWSFF 01 0007

Mary Lochner

LIMOUSIN COWDK 02 0076John & Tracey Devonport

NGUNI COWFF 02 0045DF Fyfer

PINZGAUER COWPGJ 04 0143Paul Bester

2PINZ YL COWPZ 03 0057Johan Toerien

SANTA GERTRUDIS COWDJW 02 0004Amy Williams

SIMBRA COWJJF 002BDr JJ Fourie

SIMMENTALER COWPHN 00 0016Hein Visser

SOUTH DEVON COWBL 03 0072Dan Kriek

SUSSEX COWTZ 04 0087

Theo van Zyl

TULI COWAM 03 0007Alwyn Marx

WAGYU COWBA 04 0044Brian Angus

This year a record number of breeders qualified for the category: ARC National Best Elite Cows Awards.

Here they proudly display their award-certificates.


TABLE 3 The 2014 ARC National Best Elite Cow Awards sponsored by Farmer's Weekly

Breed Cow ID NoNumberCalves

Birth Weight EBV5(kg)Age

(years)

Agest1

calving(months)

Ave.1ACP

(days)

Repro-ductive

2Index

AverageWeaning

3Index

Weaning Weight EBV6(kg)

7Dir Acc

8 Mat Acc

7Dir Acc

8 Mat Acc

Neville Landsdell

Afrikaner MC 00 0391 14 10 35 368 111 113 0.89 0.50 11.6 11.056 46 85 61

AfriSim UG 04 0003 10 7 - 368 115 104 0.71 0.50 8.2 4.274 54 65 29

Angus ZDW 01 0292 13 11 24 357 119 110 1.32 -0.16 17.1 12.589 75 63 45

Beefmaster HU 02 0109 12 10 28 360 117 114 1.66 1.07 14.9 10.887 66 82 49

Bonsmara GZV 98 0008 16 14 25 365 117 108 1.14 0.99 12.4 12.290 79 88 81

Boran CFH 06 0351 8 7 - 336 123 106 0.84 0.31 7.1 4.439 23 62 50

Braford TH 00 0122 14 11 37 362 - - 1.80 - 11.0 2.084 69 63

Brahman NM 99 0225 15 12 33 366 - - 0.90 - 18.0 9.082 80 76

Braunvieh FJNH 05 0004 9 7 26 338 122 104 0.99 0.67 5.8 8.781 63 53 19

Charolais ESC 03 0112 11 8 31 371 112 105 1.27 0.81 14.4 3.087 72 80 50

Drakensberger SS 03 0032 11 9 25 371 117 107 0.51 0.06 9.6 11.787 70 83 73

Gelbvieh GG 03 0168 11 8 30 388 110 109 2.11 -0.02 15.3 2.486 71 82 55

Hereford TW 02 0038 12 9 37 365 110 121 0.17 1.19 9.2 21.187 70 81 52

Hugenoot SFF 01 0007 13 7 - 383 112 112 -0.32 0.10 8.1 5.574 52 65 27

Limousin DK 02 0076 12 10 24 366 - - 1.70 - 15.0 11.086 85 80

Nguni FF 02 0045 12 10 25 366 117 112 0.62 0.53 11.8 2.762 53 85 61

Pinzgauer PGJ 04 0143 10 7 36 373 - - 1.01 0.20 14.5 3.085 68 78 482PinZ yl PZ 03 0057 11 9 - 360 - - - - - -

Santa Gertrudis DJW 02 0004 12 10 32 363 - - 0.00 - 17.0 7.077 72 62

Simbra JJF 002B 14 12 30 358 - - 1.10 - 18.0 6.075 69 63

Simmentaler PHN 00 0016 14 12 23 359 - - 1.50 - 15.0 6.079 69 65

South Devon BL 03 0072 11 8 35 364 111 102 -1.83 1.95 20.7 2.586 69 82 53

Sussex TZ 04 0087 10 8 25 361 118 103 1.19 0.66 15.7 9.688 74 83 56

Tuli AM 03 0007 11 8 31 353 115 99 1.53 1.00 5.9 8.482 68 75 45

Wagyu BA 04 0044 10 7 32 368 - - - - - -

1 Av. ICP - Average Inter Calving Period 5 Weaning Weight EBV - Estimated Breeding Value for weaning weight 2 Reprod Index - Reproduction Index (based on age at first calving and average ICP) 6 Dir - Direct EBV(ac

3 Average Weaning Index - Average weaning weight index of calves 7 Mat - Maternal EBV(accuracy)

4 Birth Weight EBV - Estimated Breeding Value for birth weightcuracy)

Breed Cow ID No Owner Town Cell NoE-mail

Afrikaner MC 00 0391 Mr. JM Cronje Winburg [email protected] 083 677 6859AfriSim UG 04 0003 Mr. JDH Hattingh Delareyville [email protected] 083 578 5744Angus ZDW 01 0292 Mr. JAL de Wet Danhof [email protected] 084 586 2117Beefmaster HU 02 0109 Mr. PMB Human Steynsrus [email protected] 082 417 8981Bonsmara GZV 98 0008 Hanzyl Bonsmaras Brandhof [email protected] 083 325 3047Boran CFH 06 0351 Bloodline Borane Dewetsdorp [email protected] 082 492 4786Braford TH 00 0122 Thiele Estates Paul Pietersburg [email protected] 082 944 0480Brahman NM 99 0225 Tommiesrus Edms Bpk Lichtenburg [email protected] 082 925 3829Braunvieh FJNH 05 0004 Mr. FJN Harman Zeerust [email protected] 083 265 6210Charolais ESC 03 0112 Biesiesvlei Boerdery Bk Lichtenburg [email protected] 079 898 0785Drakensberger SS 03 0032 Mr. EM Schroeder Dundee [email protected] 082 457 6710Gelbvieh GG 03 0168 Grey & Grey Landgoed Ermelo [email protected] 083 629 4175Hereford TW 02 0038 Mr. WJ Wessels Ventersburg [email protected] 082 902 8646Hugenoot SFF 01 0007 Pan Lochner Boerdery Wierda Park [email protected] 082 553 4135Limousin DK 02 0076 John & Tracey Devonport Houghton [email protected] 083 454 3095Nguni FF 02 0045 Mrs. M Fyfer Vryburg [email protected] 082 935 0216Pinzgauer PGJ 04 0143 Cappuccino Pinzgauer Stud Mooketsi [email protected] 083 627 6899

2 2PinZ yl PZ 03 0057 Bakari PinZ yl Stoet Menlyn [email protected] 082 373 9100Santa Gertrudis DJW 02 0004 Me. A Williams Barberton [email protected] 083 627 0978Simbra JJF 002B Dr. JJ Fourie Bultfontein [email protected] 082 578 2373Simmentaler PHN 00 0016 HFD Landgoed Sannieshof [email protected] 083 782 0152South Devon BL 03 0072 Mr. DJ & JA Kriek Tweeling [email protected] 082 944 0566Sussex TZ 04 0087 Mr. JTP van Zyl Ladybrand [email protected] 082 564 4921Tuli AM 03 0007 Mr. AJ Marx Burgersdorp [email protected] 083 448 7870Wagyu BA 04 0044 Mr. B Angus Arlington [email protected] 082 573 9687

TABLE 4 The owners of the 2014 ARC NationalBest Elite Cow Awards sponsored by Farmer's Weekly


2014 ARC NATIONAL PLATINUM AWARDSSponsored by GMPBasic

Breeders participating in Phase C (central standardised perfor-mance tests) of the ARC's National Beef Recording and Improvement Scheme are encouraged to test bulls bred from top performing proven dams. In 1996 the Platinum awards were introduced to acknowledge excellent performing bulls from excellent performing cows. For a bull to qualify for an ARC National Platinum Award, it had to receive a gold merit award in Phase C and its dam had to be an Elite Cow award winner before or during the

thyear in which the bull received a gold merit award. This is the 18 year that the Platinum awards were presented and the third year that GMPBasic was the sponsor of this class. Bulls considered for the 2014 ARC National Platinum awards must have completed the Phase C test from 1 January 2013 to 31 December 2013. Including this year's 13 awards, a total of 126 Platinum awards have been made since 1997. The twelve Platinum Award bulls are listed in Table 5 and the owners in . Congratulations to each of these Table 6owners for an outstanding achievement.

Mr Dirk Badenhorst, one of the competitors in this category, receives his awards from Mr Ramasodi (acting deputy Director General) and Mrs Rachelle Cloete, CEO: GMPBasic).

BADEVEEN TRUST BONSMARADirk Badenhorst

BRAUNVIEHCois Harman

DRAKENSBERGERGawie & Frik Roux

BONSMARAPE Roux

SERNICK BONSMARANick Serfontein

SIMBRAJohan Dippenaar

SIMMENTALERJan Hattingh

SKATKIS BONSMARAChris Visser

Owners of bulls of theARC National Platinum Awards

GMPBasic has been the proud sponsor of the Platinum Bulls category for the third year in a row and participation in this category has grown significantly in recent years. Here recipients of awards proudly display their accolades.


Bull ID No

BULL DAM*

DirAcc MatAcc

* The information of the dam is the newest available. This could have changed since the cow received the last Elite award.

TABLE 6 The owners of the ARC National Platinum award bulls sponsored by GMPBasic

DirAcc MatAcc

Birth Weight Weaning Weight

EBV (kg)

BreedADGIndex

FCRIndex

AdjustedScrotumcircum.

Dam ID NoAge(yrs)

Calv-ings

stAge 1calving(mnths)

Aver.ICP

(days)

Cell NumberE-mailTownOwner/Contact PersonBull ID No Breed

TABLE 5 The 2014 ARC National Platinum award bulls sponsored by GMPBasic

HOT 12 0065 119 108 363 DB 03 0002 11 9 31 399 0.83 0.00 15.5 5.987 72 82 74

HOT 12 0129 130 119 343 HOT 00 0207 14 11 28 388 2.60 0.37 9.8 15.090 78 86 79

CRV 12 0207 107 107 334 EI 05 0141 9 7 21 369 1.02 0.52 11.6 4.687 73 82 75

Bonsmara CRV 12 0311 114 111 354 WAT 02 0103 12 9 38 360 0.45 0.21 11.9 7.488 74 84 76

PER 12 0054 114 129 318 PER 02 0095 12 9 35 389 1.31 1.08 18.3 8.288 75 85 78

PER 12 0017 122 126 344 PER 00 0051 14 11 34 392 2.06 -0.07 17.9 4.290 79 85 79

NFS 12 0129 128 130 345 NFS 03 0263 11 8 33 364 1.96 1.29 22.3 11.9 88 75 84 76

Braunvieh FJNH 12 0001 100 107 353 FJNH 05 0004 9 7 26 338 0.99 0.67 5.8 8.781 63 53 19

Drakensberger GR 12 0018 109 114 - GR 01 0137 13 11 24 359 -0.93 0.03 4.6 5.989 76 86 78

Simbra DIP 1246C 111 107 369 JM 9912B 15 11 - 430 2.90 - 19.0 7.074 75 68

Simmentaler UG 12 0092 113 109 353 SDJ 05 0084 9 6 - 430 1.00 - 19.0 9.077 70 62

UG 12 0187 125 116 351 UG 05 0112 9 7 - 365 3.00 - 27.0 8.080 75 68

HOT 12 0065 Badeveen Trust Delareyville [email protected] 082 901 1700

HOT 12 0129 Badeveen Trust Delareyville [email protected] 082 901 1700

CRV 12 0207 Skatkis Bonsmaras Northmed [email protected] 082 410 6146

Bonsmara CRV 12 0311 Skatkis Bonsmaras Northmed [email protected] 082 410 6146

PER 12 0054 Mr. PE Roux Viljoenskroon [email protected] 082 332 6030

PER 12 0017 Mr. PE Roux Viljoenskroon [email protected] 082 332 6030

NFS 12 0129 Sernick Bonsmara Stud Edenville [email protected] 082 384 0020

Braunvieh FJNH 12 0001 Mr. FJN Harman Zeerust [email protected] 083 265 6210

Drakensberger GR 12 0018 Mr. GW Roux Ventersburg [email protected] 083 264 5487

Simbra DIP 1246C Desert Star Trading 348 Centurion [email protected] 082 806 3876

Simmentaler UG 12 0092 Mr. JDH Hattingh Delareyville [email protected] 083 274 4493

UG 12 0187 Mr. JDH Hattingh Delareyville [email protected] 083 274 4493

WES KAAP BULTOETSSENTRUM TOETSDATUMS 2015

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12-01-15

23-02-15

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12-02-15/ 07-05-15

26-03-15/ 18-06-15

23-04-15/ 16-07-15

30-07-15/ 22-10-15

03-09-15/ 26-11-15

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29-10-15


2014 ARC NATIONAL EMERGING BEEF FARMER OF THE YEAR AWARDHISTORY & BACKGROUND

The ARC National Emerging Beef Farmer of the thYear Award marks its 12 anniversary since

inception in 2003. Having started modestly in Limpopo and North West, the ARC Flagship Project, Kaonofatso ya Dikgomo (KyD) Scheme has developed into a national brand and performs a capacity building function for both farmers and the youth. DAFF declared the Kaonafatso ya Dikgomo Scheme as a national animal recording and improvement scheme in 2007. The aim of the Kaonofatso ya Dikgomo Scheme is to assist emerging beef cattle farmers to adopt and apply the available beef recording and improvement technology to increase the productivity and profitability of their herds. They will achieve this

Mr Dan Motiang, acting Senior Manager ARC-API and Manager of Kaonafatso ya Dikgomo, introduced this category and highlighted the strides that this Scheme has made over the last few years.

through improved management practices and accurate selection for economically important traits.

To date KyD provides internship to at least 38 graduates annually, affording them an opportunity to acquire new skills and contribute towards farmer development. The Scheme currently operates in all nine provinces and serves more than 6 600 farmers. The Scheme has already registered 2 461 of its participants on INTERGIS with a view to ensuring full participation in animal recording and improvement activities. Plans are in place for 20 KyD farmers to implement phase D tests.

This year the awards were presented for the twelfth time at the ARC National Beef Performers Awards event to recognize a total of nine finalists from all provinces of the Republic.

Sandile Bonga Lawrence Maduna David Mahlangu Mojale Moseu David Mothoagae David & Cynthia Nxumalo

Craig Schoeman Alson Shabangu Lesetja Frans Tlolane

PURPOSE

The aim of the awards is:

To acknowledge members of the Kaonafatso ya Dikgomo Scheme that perform well on specific criteria related to recording, manage-ment and performance of their herds;

To encourage emerging beef cattle farmers to improve their standard of living through better returns from animal production and job creation;

Mr Moseu receiving the winners trophy from Dr Langa Simela (CEO: NERPO) and Mr Joel Mamabolo (Director: Animal Improvement at DAFF)

To promote participation in the Kaonafatso ya Dikgomo Scheme;

To promote sound breeding and management principles in the beef cattle industry; and

To demonstrate the benefit of performance testing, practically by means of identifying outstanding herds.

Mr. Mojale Moseu of Heilbron in the Free State province took top honours in this category with his Bonsmara herd. We would like to congratulate Mr Moseu with this remarkable achievement and wish him all the best for the future.


TABLE 7

Cell Number BreedFarm/Project NameProvince Name/Contact Person

The 2014 ARC National Emerging Beef Farmer of the Year Award: Provincial Winners

Number ofCows

Town

Eastern Cape Mr. Lawrence Maduna & Sons Aliwal North Elsieskraal 073 460 3926 / 0824948322 Bonsmara 165

Free State Mr. Mojale Moseu Heilbron Tothiertoe 072 475 7143 Bonsmara 46

Gauteng Mr. David Mahlangu Nigel Diamela Agricultural Co-op 084 039 1119 Bonsmara 55

Kwa-Zulu Natal Mr. Alson Shabangu Vryheid Liberty Co-op 082 878 9232 Drakensberger 203

Limpopo Mr. Lesetja Frans Tlolane Mokopane Rooibok Vlakte 079 885 0134 Nguni 82

Mpumalanga Mr. David Nxumalo Volksrust Tweefontein Farm 073 614 4840 Drakensberger 88

North West Mr. David Mothoagae Zeerust Baboonrantjies 083 439 4123

Nguni 40

Northern Cape Mr. Sandile Freddie Bonga Kimberley Nooitgedacht 079 850 9639

Western Cape Mr. Craig Schoeman Cape Town (Mamre) Hartebeeskop 084 511 1758 Angus-cross 20

146

Bonsmara 90

Bonsmara

Nguni

NATIONAL BEEF CATTLE IMPROVEMENT HERD OF THE YEAR AWARD2014 ARC

HISTORYthThis award was presented for the 17 year, based on a provincial as

well as national level, and is probably the most prestigious award in the South African beef cattle industry. The national winner's main prize is a visit to the annual conference of the Beef Improvement Federation (BIF) in the USA. Herds from all breeds, irrespective of which service provider (ARC, SA Stud Book or Breedplan) the relevant breeders' society use for registration, performance testing and breeding value estimation, qualify for this award. The ARC has also decided to extend the finalists to include herds in other Southern African countries. These last mentioned herds will be considered with the nine provincial winners for the national (overall) winner.

PURPOSE

The aim of the awards is:

To acknowledge breeders that perform well on several criteria related to performance testing, genetic improvement, breeding and management;

To encourage cattlemen to improve the efficiency of their enterprises;

To promote participation in performance testing;

To promote sound breeding and management principles in the beef cattle industry; and

To demonstrate the benefit of performance testing practically by means of identifying outstanding herds.

IDENTIFYING THE PROVINCIAL WINNERS AND NATIONAL WINNER

The criteria used to select the finalists in each province are as follows:

The herd must participate in performance testing with one of the service provider (ARC, SA Stud Book or Breedplan) that the relevant breeders' society uses for registration, performance testing and breeding value estimation.

At least birth, weaning and cow weight (at calving and/or at weaning of calves) must be recorded in the herd;

At least 12 and/or 18 months weight must be recorded;

At least 20% of the weaned bull calves must be tested in Phases C or D (not applicable to breeds using Breedplan as service provider);

The promptness of submitting all data and the accuracy of all performance test data must be within acceptable norms;

The herd must consist of at least 50 cows;

The average ICP for all the cows in the herd may not exceed 415 days;

The average age at first calving for all the cows in the herd may not exceed 36 months;

The average elapsed time since last calving for all the cows in the herd may not exceed 415 days; and

At least 96% calves must have been born alive.

To select the provincial and national winner from the list of finalists, the following aspects are considered:

Level of participation of the herd in performance testing regarding the various phases and traits concerned

Level of reproductive performance of the herd

Breeding objectives for the herd

Genetic progress and genetic level of the herd

Application of performance test data and BLUP breeding values in the selection, breeding and management of the herd

Application of modern scientific breeding techniques in the herd

Involvement of the owner in performance testing activities and promoting performance testing

Mentoring and training of new and/or emerging farmers by the owner of the herd

Herd size

The national winner is selected from the nine provincial winners and the non-SA winner. The performance of the herd, especially relating to reproduction, is the most important consideration in the selection of the winner. The provincial winners and the non-SA winner for the 2014 ARC National Beef Cattle Improvement Herd of the Year Award are presented in . Mr Louis Meyer from Zeerust in the North West Table 8province with his Loriza Brahmane herd walked with this year's top herd in South Africa. Congratulations to him and all the other finalists.


Mr Louis Meyer and his son Louis jnr proudly receive the winner's trophy for the category: ARC National Beef Cattle Herd of the Year Award from Mr Joel Mamabolo (left) and Prof Norman Maiwashe (right).

Participants of the ARC National Beef Cattle Improvement Herd of the Year Awards

Eastern CapeBEEFMATE ANGUSNeville Lansdell

Free StateWOUMAN BRANGUS

André van der Merwe

GautengD’HOFSTEE DRAKENSBERGER

Jan & Elna DHooge

Kwa-Zulu NatalSTEY BRAES BRAHMAN

Bryce Jooste

LimpopoCULMPINE BONSMARAS

Nick Farrant

MpumalangaSYFERFONTEIN BONSMARAS

Nico Pieterse

Northern CapePAALDAM SIMMENTALERS

Andries Roelofse

North WestLORIZA BRAHMAN

Louis Meyer

North-NamibiaOKABRA BRAHMANS

S & B Schneider

South-NamibiaHARTEBEESTLOOP

BONSMARASJoggie Briedenham

Western CapeFREDERICKSBURG

ANGUS STOETRenier Theron

(L’Ormarins Edms Bpk)

TABLE 8

Cell NumberAveragest 1 calving

(months)E-mailProvince

Owner/Contact Person

Herd Name& Breed

The 2014 ARC National Beef Cattle Improvement Herd of the Year Award Provincial Winners

*NA = Not Available for these breeds

TownNumberof Cows

AverageICP

(days)

Eastern Cape Neville Lansdell Beefmate (Angus) Alexandria 046 654 0102 [email protected] 59 24 355

Gauteng Jan & Elna Dhooge D'Hofstee (Drakensberger) Heidelberg 082 892 5762 [email protected] 73 38 454

Kwa-Zulu Natal Bryce Jooste Stey Braes (Brahman) Nottingham Road 072 347 4850 [email protected] 105 30 400

Limpopo Nick Farrant Culmpine Bonsmaras Vaalwater 82 822 8935 [email protected] 106 32 386

Mpumalanga Nico Pieterse Syferfontein Bonsmaras Standerton 082 853 1525 [email protected] 249 29 386

Northern Cape Andries Roelofse Paaldam Simmentalers Olifantshoek 082 415 7358 [email protected] 200 31 406

North-Namibia S & B Schneider Okabra Brahmans Grootfontein 00264811292623 [email protected] 430 37 452

South-Namibia Joggie Briedenhann Hartebeestloop Bonsmaras Stampriet 00264812316169 [email protected] 477 25 385

North West Louis Meyer Loriza Brahmane Zeerust 082 925 3829 [email protected] 426 26 375

Free State André van der Merwe Wouman Brangus Reitz 082 427 1488 [email protected] 71 30 378

Western Cape L'Ormarins Edms Bpk Fredericksburg Angus Stoet Franschoek 082 550 3375 [email protected] 41 25 396


ARC National Emerging Beef Farmer of the Year Awards 2014PROFILE OF OUR WINNERS

The awards for South Africa's top emerging farmers were presented at the prestigious ARC National Beef Performers Awards event at the Jacaranda Agricultural Show. A total of nine finalists from all provinces of the Republic were given recognition for their outstanding performances, and an overall national winner was announced at the event. The purpose of the awards is:

To acknowledge members of the Kaonafatso ya Dikgomo Scheme that perform well on specific criteria related to recording, management and performance of their herds;

To encourage emerging beef cattle farmers to improve their standard of living through better returns from animal production and job creation;

To promote participation in the Kaonafatso ya Dikgomo Scheme;

To promote sound breeding and manage-ment principles in the beef cattle industry; and

To demonstrate the benefit of performance testing, practically by means of identifying outstanding herds.

Mr. Mojale Moseu of Heilbron in the Free State province took top honours in this category with his Bonsmara herd. We would like to congratulate Mr. Moseu and the other provincial winners with their remarkable achievements and wish them all the best for the future.

Mojale Moseu – Free StateThe 640ha state-owned farm Tothiertoe near Heilbron is home to Mojale Moseu, the ARC National Emerging Beef Farmer of the Year finalist for the Free State, and winner of the national title. Having been involved in Kaonafatso ya Dikgomo since 2011, he praises the ARC technicians for their advice. “The re-capitalisation and development programme has helped me a great deal,' says Mojale. A full-time farmer, he stresses the value of hands-on farming. At present, he has 126 Bonsmara breeding cows and sells his weaners to the local feedlot. Agricultural magazines such as Farmer's Weekly and television programmes help him stay abreast of the latest farming practices and news. Times are tough for beef producers, Mojale admits. “The market is not stable and prices are not good,” he says. He has plans to start his own feedlot and is determined to expand his operation. He sees an opportunity in selling bulls to the emerging beef sector, as cattlemen need quality genetic material.

Lesetja Frans Tlolane – LimpopoLesetja Frans Tlolane runs 94 Nguni cows on communal land in the Capricorn District in Limpopo. He explains that in the five years he has been involved in Kaonafatso ya Dikgomo, he has learnt valuable farming techniques that he wants to pass on to other small-scale farmers. “I want to help other farmers by telling them to join Kaonafatso ya Dikgomo. There's real benefit here.” Lesetja belongs to the Northern Nguni Club, which assists him in marketing his cattle at club auctions. He farms full-time, which is necessary to farm on communal land successfully. “The community members and I have a good understanding,” he explains. “They know that my bulls are not there to service their cows, and their bulls must stay away from my cows.”

Alson Shabangu – KwaZulu-NatalAlson Shabangu runs a herd of 217 Drakensberger cows on the 1 480ha Liberty Co-op farm in KwaZulu-Natal. This state-owned farm is leased for five years from the Department of Rural Development and Land Reform. Alson joined the Kaonafatso ya Dikgomo programme four years ago, after the ARC visited his farm and said it could assist him. Since then, the ARC's guidance has been invaluable. Alson markets his cattle at the age of two years through BKB and at auctions. At this stage, he does not participate in carcass competitions. His long-term goal is to increase his herd to 3 000.

Sandile Bonga – Northern Cape Northern Cape finalist Sandile Freddie Bonga farms in the Kimberley district. He runs 106 Bonsmara breeding cows and 40 Nguni breeding cows on the 2 650ha state-owned farm Nooitgedacht. The Kaonafatso ya Dikgomo programme has taught him the value of animal recording. “Now I can measure the performance of my cattle,” he explains. “I know which cows give me strong calves and which cows I should sell.” He markets his cattle at the local auction pens. Farmer's days, reading agricultural magazines such as Farmer's Weekly and attending auctions are valuable sources of information for Sandile. “I need to learn new skills,” he says. “A farmer never stops learning.” Sandile is keen to see young people become involved in farming. “Parents need to bring their children in,” he says. “I'm farming for the next generation.”


PROFILE OF OUR WINNERS David Mothoagae – North WestDavid Mothoagae, an emerging farmer from Zeerust, North West, farms full-time on 1 500ha of leased government land. Despite being 70, he is optimistic about becoming a commercial farmer and envisages having his Nguni herd registered within five years. With 130 cows (90 Bonsmara commercial beef and 40 Nguni cows), David is intent on growing his herd in a quest to become a supplier of choice, despite erratic rainfall and a lack of adequate grazing for his cattle. In 2013, his cows achieved an 80% calving rate. Calves are weaned at six months and marketed at a local auction at nine months and an average weight of between 240kg and 250kg. Stock theft is a major problem in his area. He has reported each incident to the police, but without success. He has appreciated the ARC livestock improvement and management support, and finds initiatives such as the Kaonafatso ya Dikgomo programme invaluable. The ARC programme assists him in acquiring “skills in marketing, calf prices, and the importance of knowing weight of calves”. He has also found much support from the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development's extension service and neighbouring farmers. “When I call them for information, they help me willingly,” he says.

Craig Schoeman – Western CapeA fire and rescue officer with the City of Cape Town, Craig Schoeman started farming cattle part-time 17 years ago. He and his father-in-law Conrad Liedeman farm on 10ha of communal land in Mamre, Cape Town. Craig and Conrad joined Kaonafatso ya Dikgomo two years ago after ARC officers visited the Mamre Cattle co-op. The pair saw this as a great opportunity to improve their enterprise. The ARC assisted in weighing their cattle, explained the different phases to them and provided guidance on improving their management skills. One of the main challenges in their area is stock theft. They mark all calves about 100 days after birth, with either a hot brand or an ear tag. Cattle are marketed at 18 months at the Klipheuwel auction. The herd currently consists of 28 Angus and Sussex cows. Craig hopes to grow this number and dreams of becoming one of South Africa's top commercial cattlemen.

David Mahlangu – GautengDavid Mahlangu, the 2014 ARC National Emerging Beef Farmer of the Year Gauteng finalist, farms on a 138ha Proactive Land Acquisition Strategy (PLAS) farm, Rietpoort, near Nigel. He says that he never dreamt he would win an award. He runs 95 cattle, mainly Bonsmara, with some Santa Gertrudis cows. Bonsmara females go to the bull from October to December in four single-sire herds, and in 2013 his herd achieved a 98% calving rate. Calves are weaned at six months and marketed to local feedlotters at nine months at an average weight of between 240kg and 250kg. David explains that enhancing grass production is crucial, and he applies a high-density grazing system with 21 fenced camps, each with its own watering point. Like all South African beef farmers everywhere, he faces sustained low beef prices, escalating production costs, intermittent drought, livestock disease and ever-more stringent food safety legislation. But despite these challenges he is determined to become a registered Bonsmara breeder. David says that the ARC's livestock improvement and management initiatives such as Kaonafatso ya Dikgomo, the Gauteng Department of Agriculture and Rural Development's extension service and the Masithuthukeni study group have all made a huge difference for him.

David & Cynthia Nxumalo – Mpumalanga Mpumalanga's Emerging Farmer of the Year award went to husband and wife team, David and Cynthia Nxumalo. Their 650ha farm Tweefontein near Volksrust is home to 88 Drakensberger and Bovelder breeding cows. The pair have been involved in Kaonafatso ya Dikgomo since 2012 and have found the skills they have learned of enormous benefit. “The ARC technicians come and visit us on our farm and their advice is very specific to our conditions,” David says. The couple obtained their land from the state, which also sponsored their first breeding animals. They sell their weaners to the local abattoir but also put some animals up for auction and sell several to members of the local community. Cynthia, who was DAFF's Mpumalanga Female Farmer of the Year 2014, plans to start a feedlot where they will round off their own weaners and those of other emerging farmers.

Lawrence Maduna – Eastern CapeLawrence Maduna, a full-time farmer for the past eight years, is the 2014 ARC National Emerging Beef Farmer of the Year for the Eastern Cape. He received assistance from the Department of Land Reform and Rural Development (DLRARD) to acquire the 1 480ha farm Elsieskraal. He began with indigenous crossbred cattle but then changed to Bonsmara. DLRARD donated 25 Bonsmara cows, while the Department of Agriculture Forestry and Fisheries donated 56 Bonsmara cows and a stud bull. He now has a herd of 156 breeding cows. Lawrence has been a member of Kaonafatso ya Dikgomo for the past three years after a DAFF official introduced him to it. The programme has assisted him with calving and weaning, weighing and marking cattle. Lawrence has encountered many challenges, but despite these, has every intention to move into the commercial sector and compete with the country's top commercial farmers.

This article was previously published by Farmer’s Weekly


van verskillende lande- verskille en ooreenkomste Dr Phillip Strydom

Klassifikasie en graderingstelsels

Navorsingsspanbestuurder: VleiskundeLNR-Diereproduksie-Instituut, Irene

E-pos: [email protected]

Karkasgradering of klassifikasie is in prominente rooivleis-produserende lande gedurende die vroeë tot middel 1900's ontwikkel en het sederdien verskeie aanpassings ondergaan soos wat produksiestelsels en behoeftes verander het.

Verskeie redes kan aangevoer word wat aanleiding gegee het tot die ontstaan van sulke stelsels, maar die belangrikste faktore is waarskynlik die volgende:

Swak aanwysers vir prysvorming

‘n Gebrek aan 'n gemeenskaplike beskrywende taal vir 'n hoogs variërende produk

‘n Produksie gedrewe industrie met gebrek aan riglyne vir produksie doelwitte om aan handel en verbruikerbehoeftes te voldoen

Gebrek aan verbruikersvertroue a.g.v. 'n gebrek aan akkurate beskrywing van die produk, en gebrekkige inligting op produk-etikette

Die doel van 'n goeie klassifikasie of graderingstelsel is derhalwe om bogenoemde faktore behoorlik aan te spreek. 'n Goeie klassifikasie of graderingstelsel moet akkuraat en terselfdertyd eenvoudig wees om te interpreteer, maar ook om toe te pas binne die perke van die slagpale. Dit moet bekostigbaar wees en korrektheid en eerlikheid moet maklik verifieerbaar wees.

Gradering word gedefinieer as die toekenning van verskillende waardes aan verskeie karkaseienskappe waarna verskillende kombinasies van hierdie eienskappe se waardes gebruik word in prysvorming. Dit behels 'n proses van rangering van karkasse volgens spesifieke eienskappe van belang vir die bedryf en verbruiker – soos bv. vetheid, geskatte eetkwaliteit, ens. Klassifikasie beskryf slegs verskillende belangrike waarde-eienskappe volgens waardes of metings ten einde sulke eienskappe in 'n gemeenskaplike beskrywende terminologie weer te gee, soos byvoorbeeld om vetklas visueel in kodes in te deel, of vetdikte te meet. Geen prys of voorkeur word aan 'n klas toegeken nie, maar prysvorming vind noodwendig plaas op grond van vraag na en voorkeur van sekere eienskappe.

Vir die produksie, bemarking en verbruik van vleis is dit logies dat 'n gradering of klassifikasiestelsel ontwikkel sal word wat opbrengs en kwaliteit van die produk so noukeurig moontlik sal beskryf aangesien hierdie 2 faktore die ekonomie (opbrengs) en voorkeur (verbruikersatisfaksie) sal beïnvloed. Met hierdie vereistes, definisies en doelwitte in gedagte sal klassifikasie en graderingstelsels van 'n paar lande vervolgens bespreek en vergelyk word. Dit is uit die aard van die saak moeilik om alle stelsels te noem maar daar moet ook onthou word dat sekere prominente stelsels, soos die USDA Grading System, volledig of ten dele deur verskeie lande gebruik word.

Onderskeid tussen stelsels kan op grond van 'n paar faktore gemaak word wat ook tot 'n groot mate bepaal watter eienskappe en meet metodes gebruik word en hoe dit geinterpreteer word:

Gradering vs. klassifikasie

Meting van opbrengs en kwaliteit of slegs kwaliteit of slegs opbrengs

Gerief of eenvoudigheid: Waar die metings in die proses plaasvind, nl. voor slagting (data insameling van produksie en

voorslagprosedure), tydens slagting (op die slaglyn), die dag na slagting (in koelkamer of daarna) of by verskeie van hierdie punte

Metings wat gebruik word om onderskeidelik kwaliteit en opbrengs te voorspel of te bereken

Of metings elektronies (foto's, klankskandering), visueel of met liniêre metings gedoen word.

'n Opsomming van die komponente soos bo gedefinieer van die Suid-Afrikaanse, Europese en Australiaanse klassifikasie stelsels (AUSMEAT) en die graderingstelsels van die VSA, Kanada, Australië (MSA), Japan en Suid-Korea word saamgevat in Tabel 1 na aanleiding van 'n publikasie deur Polkinghorne & Thompson (2010). Behalwe vir die MSA - snitgebaseerde kwaliteitgradering en die EUROPE klassi-fikasiestelsel het alle ander stelsels aparte opbrengs en kwaliteits-klasse of grade. Met verwysing na die gerief of eenvoudigheid van toepassing gebruik die Australiaanse stelsels voorslagkriteria, terwyl alle stelsels metings op die dag van slagting doen. Slegs die Europese en SA stelsels doen geen metings die dag na slagting nie en die MSA stelsel neem selfs faktore na opsny van die karkas in ag.

Bouvorm, vorm of oppervlakte van die lendespier, een of ander vetmeting, karkasgewig en geslag is algemene metings wat deur al die stelsels op die slagvloer of in die koelkamer gemeet word en vir die berekening of skatting van opbrengs gebruik word (behalwe geslag). Vetbedekking word deur visuele skatting (SA klassifikasie), deur videobeeldanalise (EUROPE), liniêre vetdiktemetings (USDA, Japan, Suid Korea, Kanada, AUSMEAT) bepaal. Liniêre vetmetings vind algemeen op die rug plaas, maar AUSMEAT neem vetdiktes oor die kruis (P8). Bouvorm word deur visuele waarneming (SA) of videobeeldanalise gedoen (EUROPE) van die hele karkas of die boud (AUSMEAT), terwyl die lendespier se oppervlakte ook met spieropbrengs in verband gebring word.

Ouderdom of volwassenheid (maturity) en spiervet (marmering) word oor die algemeen met kwaliteitsklasse of grade verbind in al die stelsels. Die SA and AUSMEAT stelsels gebruik permanente snytande om ouderdom in verband te bring met verwagte eetkwaliteit terwyl die USDA, Kanadese en MSA stelsels ossifikasie (verkalking van been) as maatstaf gebruik. Visuele waarneming van vleistekstuur, vleis en vetkleur asook fermheid, tekstuur en glans van vet word in verskeie stelsels ook as kwaliteitskriteria gebruik. Alle spier en vet (marmering) metings word visueel deur gradeerders/klassifiseerders met of sonder die hulp van fotostandaarde of kleurkaarte uitgevoer. Geslag word as kwaliteitsfaktor in alles stelsels gebruik.

Brasilië wat saam met Australië, Indië en die VSA een van die grootste beesvleis uitvoerlande is se graderingstelsel is op geslag, ouderdom en vetheid gebaseer, die sogenaamde B-R-A-Z-I-L sisteem met B die beste graad en L die swakste. Vetheid word visueel in 5 klasse verdeel, geen vet, 1-3 mm, 3-6 mm, 6-10 mm en >10 mm rugvet. Ouderdom word volgens permanente snytande, 0, 2, 4, 6 en 8, soos die Suid-Afrikaanse stelsel, geklas en 3 geslagsklasse word onderskei. Argentinië gebruik 'n soortgelyke stelsel vir hul hoofsaaklik veldgeproduseerde beesvleis.


Alle stelsels wat gebruik word in verskillende lande het sterk punte, maar ook beperkings. In 'n volgende artikel sal meer besonderhede oor sekere stelsels bespreek word en ook die akkuraatheid en beperkings van hierdie stelsels.

Bronnelys:

Polkinghorne, R. & Thompson J.M., 2010. Meat standards and grading – A world view. Meat Science. 86, 227-235.

Land Kanada Europa Japan

Suid Korea

Suid Afrika VSA

Australië

Skema Kanadees EUROP JMGA

Koreaans

Suid Afrikaans

USDA

AUS-MEAT

Meat Standards Australia

Graderingseenheid Karkas Karkas Karkas --

Karkas

Karkas

Karkas

Karkas

Snit

Tipe Gradering Klassifikasie Gradering

Gradering

Klassifikasie

Gradering

Klassifikasie

Gradering

Kwaliteitsgradering Ja (4) + (5) -- Ja (5)

Ja (5)

--

Ja (8)

--

Ja (3)

Opbrensgradering Ja (3) -- Ja (3) Ja (3) -- Ja (5) -- --

Voorslag -- -- --

--

--

--

Tipe voeding

Bos inducus

%

Hormonale

groeistimulante

Slagvloer Karkasgewig Karkasgewig Karkasgewig

Karkasgewig

Karkasgewig

Karkasgewig

Karkasgewig

Karkasgewig

GeslagBouvorm

GeslagBouvormVetbedekking

Geslag

Geslag

Bouvorm

Tande

Visuele

vetbedekking

Geslag

Geslag

Boud

bouvorm

P8 vetdikte

Geslag

Elektriese

stimulering

Hangmetode

Koelkamer Marmering VleiskleurVleistekstuurVetkleurVetdikteSkeletontwikkeling

Marmering

VleiskleurHelderheid van vleiskleurVetkleurGlans van vetTekstuur van vetFermheid van vetRugspieroppervlakteDikte van ribbebeenVetdikte

Marmering

VleiskleurVetkleur

Fermheid van vetVleistekstuurVolwassenheid van vleisRugspieroppervlakte Vetdikte

Marmering

OssifikasieVleiskleur

VleistekstuurRibvetdikteRugspieroppervlakteHoeveelheid nier en niervet

Marmering

VleiskleurVetkleur

Marmering

OssifikasieVleiskleur

SkofhoogteFinale pH

Na verkoeling VerouderingstydGaarmaakmetode per snit

TABEL 1

Elemente van agt verskillende gradering en klassifikasiestelsels van die sewe verskillende lande (Volgens Polkinghorne & Thompson, 2010).

GLEN BULLTESTING CENTRE TEST DATES 2015

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

Test Nr. Arrival Adaptation Test Period Departure Born after

11 -12 -14

08 -01 -15

05 -02 -15

05 -03 -15 02 -04 -15

30 -04 -15

28 -05 -15

25 -06 -15

23 -07 -15

20 -08 -15

17 -09 -15

15 -10 -15

18 -12 -14

15 -01 -15

12 -02 -15

12 -03 -15 09 -04 -15

07 -05 -15

04 -06 -15

02 -07 -15

30 -07 -15

27 -08 -15

24 -09 -15

22 -10 -15

15 -01 -15/09 -04 -15

12 -02 -15/07 -05 -15

12 -03 -15/04 -06 -15

09 -04 -15/02 -07 -15 07 -05 -15/30 -07 -15

04 -06 -15/27 -08 -15

02 -07 -15/24 -09 -15

30 -07 -15/22 -10 -15

27 -08 -15/19 -11 -15

24 -09 -15/17 -12 -15

22 -10 -15/14 -01 -16

19 -11 -15/11 -02 -16

16 -04 -15

14 -05 -15

11 -06 -15

09 -07 -15 06 -08 -15

03 -09 -15

01 -10 -15

29 -10 -15

26 -11 -15

24 -12 -15

21-01 -16

18 -02 -16

12 -04 -14

10 -05 -14

07 -06 -14

05 -07 -14 02 -08 -14

30 -08 -14

27 -09 -14

25 -10 -14

22 -11 -14

20 -12 -14

17 -01 -15

14 -02 -15


Santa Gertrudis

Sussex

Brangus

Afrisim

Simmentaler

nd2 Edition

Beef Breeding in Beef Breeding in South AfricaSouth Africa

Beef Breeding in South Africa

Angus

Braunvieh

Gelbvieh

2PinZ yl

SA Hereford

Shorthorn

Wagyu

SA Braford

Afrikaner

Bonsmara

Dexter

Nguni

Romagnola

Afrigus

Ankole

Charolais

Hugenoot

Red Poll

Sanganer

South Devon

Brahman

Simbra

SenepolTuliLimousin BoranDrakensberger

PinzgauerSA Beefmaster

CONTENTS

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EDITOR

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Una-Lou LecuonaFax: 012 672-9113; Tel: 012 672-9391E-mail: [email protected]


VRA RASEGTE BULArthur de Villiers, Arcadia Bonsmaras

KNAP KRUISTELING

'n Swak bul is die duurste artikel wat 'n beesboer kan koop. Só 'n bul kan op die langduur 'n duur fout wees omdat sy dogters tien jaar en langer nadat die bul nie meer gebruik word nie, in die kudde bly.

'n Doeltreffende kruisteeltprogram is nie 'n eenvoudige praktyk nie. Dit vereis spesifieke

bestuursvernuf, infrastruktuur en die deurlopende voorsiening van rasegte ouermateriaal.

Kruisteling is in baie lande standaardpraktyk en van groot belang. In Amerika vorm dit 80 %, in Kanada 90 %, Australië 65 % en Suid-Afrika sowat 60 % van beesvleisproduksie. Opnames het egter getoon dat kruisteeltstelsels meestal swak beplan en betreklik ondoeltreffend is. Die persentasie doeltreffende kruisteeltstelsels wissel van 15 in Amerika tot sowat 45 in Nieu-Seeland.

Die bulkomponent in 'n teelkudde is net 3 % tot 4 % van die aantal diere, maar dit dra geneties 50 % van elke kalweroes by. Daarteenoor dra 'n koei net 50 % van een kalf per jaar by. Altesame 87 % van die genetiese samestelling van 'n kalf word bepaal deur die bulle wat die laaste drie geslagte in die kudde gebruik is. Tot 90 % van die genetiese vordering in 'n kudde word dus deur bulseleksie bewerkstellig.

Kruisras-bulle is diere uit kruisras-moeders gekruis met suiwer vaars of bulle uit kruisras-moeders, gekruis met kruisras-vaders. Suiwergeteelde rasse het met verloop van tyd ontwikkel deur eerstens natuurlike seleksie weens omgewingseise en tweedens op grond van seleksie deur mense of gemeenskappe om te voldoen aan spesifieke behoeftes vir melk, vleis, vesel, aanpasbaarheid, ens.

Weens inteling en erfdwang by suiwer rasse kan sekere eienskappe deur oorerwing van een geslag tot die volgende meer konstant oorgedra word. Suiwer rasse kan deur kruisteling ontstaan nadat hulle vier tot vyf geslagte doelgerig geteel is vir sekere ras- en produksie-eienskappe. Boere gebruik kruisrasbulle om prestasie te verhoog en omdat kruisrasbulle goedkoper kan wees as rasegte diere. Die vraag is of kruisrasbulle werklik prestasie verhoog.

In 'n proef was die gemiddelde speengewigte op 205 dae in kruisings tussen Angus, Brahman en Charolais by die suiwer rasse 186 kg, by die F1-kalwers van suiwer koeie 200 kg, by rasegte bulle op F1-koeie 208 kg en by kruisrasbulle op F1-koeie 199 kg. Uit hierdie proewe is dit duidelik dat die gebruik van kruisrasbulle geen verhoging in speengewig bo dié van rasegte bulle tot gevolg gehad het nie en dat kruisraskoeie gemiddeld 13 % swaarder kalwers gespeen het.

'n Boer moet die volgende in gedagte hou:

Die grootste voordeel in kruisteling word bewerkstellig deur die gebruik van halfkruis-koeie (F1).

Weens die sukses van kruisras-moeders word aanvaar dat kruisras-vaders net so suksesvol is, maar die praktyk en wetenskaplike proewe het bewys dat dit nie die geval is nie.

Kruisras-bulle verhoog of verbeter nie individuele eienskappe meer as rasegte bulle nie, in teenstelling met wat die geval by kruisras-koeie is.

Akkurate teelwaardes en prestasiedata van kruisras-bulle is gewoonlik onbekend.

Die beskikbaarheid van uitstekende kruisras-bulle is 'n probleem.

Kruisras-bulle lyk en meet soms goed weens heterose (die basterkrag van hul kruisras-moeders).

Hierdie meerderwaardigheid kan nie na die nageslag oorgedra word nie. Basterkrag is nie oorerflik nie.

In die algemeen is daar dus geen getuienis in die teorie en praktyk dat

die gebruik van kruisras-vaders geboortegewig, speengewig, voor-speense en naspeense groei hoegenaamd meer verbeter nie. Uit hierdie oogpunt hou die gebruik van kruisras-bulle geen voordele in nie. Dit kan trouens eerder kruisteeltstelsels baie ingewikkelder en ondoeltreffend maak.

Die vraag ontstaan of kruisras-bulle op die duur goedkoper is. Die boer weet nie werklik wat hy kry as hy sommer enige bul koop of gebruik nie. Met geen geboortegewig, geen prestasie-inligting, geen "pa of ma" met prestasie- of produksierekords nie, of geen tweede mening oor erflike gebreke, raseienskappe en geslagsgeskiktheid nie, waag hy 'n groot kans. Gesonde kalwers in dieselfde boerdery en van dieselfde seisoen se speengewigte verskil omdat hulle en hul ouers geneties van mekaar verskil. Diere se inherente of genetiese vermoë rakende die ekonomies belangrike eienskappe, soos die groei tot speentyd, word by bevrugting vasgelê.

Die meeste van hierdie verskille is egter eers waarneembaar nadat hulle gemeet is. As dit gemeet word, kan die eienskap van verskillende diere in dieselfde toestande vergelyk en 'n rangorde verkry word nadat sekere voorwaardes nagekom is. Vleisbeesboere is gelukkig dat die meeste van die eienskappe wat gemeet kan word, medium- tot hoog oorerfbaar is. Dit kan dus na die volgende geslag oorgedra word. As 'n boer egter nie meet nie, sal hy nie weet watter diere beter as die ander is nie.

Om teelwaardes te bepaal, is dit nodig om prestasiesyfers met akkurate stamboominligting te integreer. Hoe meer verwantskappe en metings bestaan, hoe akkurater is die voorspelde waardes. Net telers van geregistreerde diere hou stamboomaantekeninge. Geregistreerde diere is dus die enigstes met dié objektiewe seleksie-hulpmiddel. Die tyd is lank-al verby dat diere bloot op grond van 'n stamboom geregistreer is of "stoetstatus" gekry het. Die vereiste is nou dat 'n dier bewese meerderwaardigheid moet hê ten opsigte van afkoms en sy eie produksievermoë.

Dit is egter net so belangrik dat 'n stoetdier, saam met die meetbare evaluasie van sy genetiese produksiepotensiaal, visueel geëvalueer word om te verseker dat hy aan erkende funksionele doeltreffendheidstandaarde en aan die ras se minimum standaard voldoen.

Hoewel kommersiële boere wat vordering maak, hoofsaaklik vir reproduksie en speengewig selekteer, is hulle afhanklik van stoettelers vir uitstekende kuddevaars om hul kudde geneties vir verskeie produksie- en ekonomies belangrike eienskappe te verbeter of om minstens die vlak van produksie te handhaaf.

'n Doeltreffende kruisteeltprogram wat die nageslag werklik verbeter, is nie 'n eenvoudige praktyk nie. Daarvoor is spesifieke bestuursvernuf, die regte infrastruktuur en 'n konstante voorsiening van rasegte ouermateriaal nodig. Wanneer 'n boer 'n bul koop, moet hy aan wins of verlies dink - aan sy nageslag. Die bul wat hy koop, bly 4 tot 5 jaar in die kudde en sy dogters het 'n dekade of langer 'n invloed op sy wins- en verliesrekening. 'n Goeie riglynprys is dat die bul se prys minstens dieselfde moet wees as vier tot vyf van die boer se uitskotkoeie.

'n Swak bul is die duurste artikel wat 'n beesboer kan koop. Die boer moet vir homself die som maak of dit die moeite werd is om R6 000 op 'n bul te bespaar teenoor 'n bul van R12 000 as hy hom vir vier jaar gaan gebruik, 120 kalwers gaan aankry en verseker is van 'n sterk onderbou - prestasie, registrasie en funksionele doeltreffendheid - van só 'n bul. Die verskil in koste per kalf is R50 - 'n billike versekering. Beesboere wat 'n bul kies, moet besef die oënskynlike voordele van 'n kruisrasbul kan op die duur nie gehandhaaf word nie.

As 'n boer nie kan of wil weeg, meet en aantekeninge hou nie, is die maklikste manier om die beste vordering met sy kudde te maak deur bulle uit kuddes te kry waar wel gemeet word. Hy hoef dus nie self te meet nie, maar moet gemete bulle koop.

Professor Michiel Scholtz explain to farmers at the Cedara farmers day what climate change is all about and the challenges climate change poses to the future of beef breeders around the world.

CEDARA 2014IRENE 2014

Mr Arthur De Villiers, ARC winner of the National Herd of the Year for 2013 and renowned Bonsmara stud breeder busy explaining the importance of functional efficiency to farmers at the Irene bull testing centre during the practical session.

ARC Farmer’s Days - 2014

Frans Jordaan, ARC-API, IreneInformation dissemination forms an integral part of the mandate of the Beef Scheme of the Agricultural Research Council. One element of information dissemination is farmer's days, and this year once again a number of these days were hosted and presented by the Beef Scheme. Farmer's days were held at Cedara bull testing centre near Petermaritzburg, at ARC-API's Irene campus, at Armoedsvlakte bull test centre next to Vryburg and also at Vredenheim Estate near Stellen-bosch in the scenic Western Cape. The days were well attended as always and supported by our valuable sponsors such as Landbank, BKB, PathCare, Afgri Feeds/Veevoere, Zoetis, Molatek, Meadow Feeds/Voere, Putter Veevoere, MSD Animal Health and Suidwes Landbou LTD.

The Agricultural Research Council has the ability to bring farmers and key role players of all sectors in the beef industry together and judged by the both the attendance and feedback received, these information days succeeded in their aim. The willingness of a selection of high profile speakers to share their valuable knowledge and insights of beef cattle and the beef industry was a highlight during 2014!

Young scientists and emerging farmers listen to Mr Jan Hattingh, a respected Simmentaler breeder from the Vryburg region, sharing his knowledge of successful beef breeding. The day was well attended by stud, commercial and emerging farmers.

Personnel and young scientists who contributed to make the Vryburg farmers day a memorable day.


VRYBURG 2014

ARC Farmer’s Days - 2014


WESTERN CAPE 2014

The Western Cape farmers day was well attended with over 130 attendees from all sectors of the beef industry.

The Western Cape farmers day was held on 10 September at Vredenheim Estate.

Professor Louw Hoffman, also an ARC board member, presenting his lecture with the title "At what age should I castrate my bull calves?" Prof Hoffman also emphasized the fact that the ARC is investing heavily in agricultural research and young scientists, and mentioned the increase in the number of scientific papers generated by the ARC over the past couple of years. The contributions of the ARC through research and technology and services development to industry will undoubtedly benefit farmers from all sectors of industry.

Professor Lucky Nedambale of ARC-API, Research Team Manager of Reproductive Technologies and Germplasm Conservation. He gave a very informative presentation on "Current and future assisted reproductive technologies in farm animals".

Mr Coenraad Bezuidenhout, an Angus breeder of the Western Cape, presented the practical session, explaining to farmers the important aspects of a breeding bull.

We want to thank all speakers, sponsors and everybody who attended the farmer's days. Thank you for your loyal support and we all share the same optimism regarding the challenges facing the beef production industry. The aim is to increase beef production with the limited resources available to address the demand for high quality protein from an ever increasing human population. One of the central messages on all information days was to increase fertility, to improve on unacceptable levels of mortalities and to produce red meat more efficiently within a challenging, extensive environment exposed to climate change. Climate smart breeding will become more important for the future.

The challenges are never ending but if we all share our knowledge and learn from each other's successes as well as mistakes we can build a more efficient red meat producing industry to the benefit of all South Africans!


between Central Growth Testing (Phase C) andOn-Farm (Phase D) Performance TestsLeon de Lange, Frans JordaanErick Joosten and Ben GreylingARC-Animal Production Institute

A COMPARISON

Farmers are often confronted with the situation where they have to make a choice between intensive centralized growth testing and on-farm testing of mainly young bullocks or even older animals. A few aspects have to be taken into consideration when weighing up the benefits and drawbacks of the two different types of tests:

In South Africa almost all weaners are produced on natural pasture (veld)

About 75% of all beef produced in South Africa comes from feedlots - most weaners are grown and rounded off for marketing in feed-lots

The weight of calves are approximately doubled during the feeding period in a feedlot

Feedlots are central to the beef production value-chain of quality beef to the South African consumer

Although the market is dominated by a demand for feedlot-produced beef, there is certainly a market for veld-produced beef

In all probability however feedlot-produced beef will dominate the beef production value chain

There is still a huge demand for production (and reproduction) on natural veld, at least until weaning. After weaning calves should be able to perform and adapt under feedlot conditions. There is thus space and opportunities for both intensive and on-veld testing of bullocks post wean

The ARC's National Beef Recording and Improvement Scheme (in short Scheme), accredited under the International Committee for Animal Recording (ICAR), offers a range of options and services regarding Phase C and D testing

PHASE C TESTS From background to benefits

Bullocks can be tested in Phase C (intensive centralized growth testing) immediately following weaning. Phase C1 tests are conducted at either of four ARC Phase C centres (Irene, Vryburg, Glen and Cedara), the Elsenburg test station (a centre cooperatively operated by the ARC, Western Cape Dept. of Agriculture and Wes-Kaap bultoets-

sentrum (pty) or a few privately owned centres. As no minimum number of bulls per breed per test is required in Phase C1 and C2 tests, meaningful evaluations within a particular test is not necessarily possible, especially where there is only one or a few bulls in a particular test. In order to overcome this problem, all Phase C tests are standardised in terms of nutrition, management, test length as well as arrival weight (as per breed standard) and age of the bulls. This makes it possible to evaluate bulls across tests. ADG (Average Daily Gain) and FCR (Feed Conversion Ratio) indices are therefore calculated on the cumulative rolling average of all bulls of that breed which have been tested over the past 10 years at that particular Phase C centre, regardless of how many bulls there was in a particular test.

For all Phase C tests a standard feed mixture, which was specifically formulated for Phase C, is used. The ration consists of 28% roughage and a maximum of 15% crude-protein, which does not render it as “hot” as that used by the feedlots. All bulls should be between 151 and 250 days old at the beginning of the adaptation period which lasts for 28 days. The bulls should also be within certain weight limits as per specific breed standard. The actual testing period during which performance data is captured lasts for 84 days. Each bull's feed intake is individually measured during the test so that each animal's feed efficiency can be measured in terms of its Feed Conversion Ratio. Phase C is the only phase where feed intake is directly measured on individual animals and Feed Conversion Ratio (FCR) subsequently evaluated. Additional measurements recorded during or at the end of the test includes the scrotal circumference (an indicator of fertility), body measurements and real time ultrasound (RTU) scan data which are indictors of certain carcass characteristics of the animal. It is recommended to test at least three bulls per weaning group together in a Phase C1 or C2 test. It is also highly recommended that these bulls be the progeny of at least two sires of which at least one sire is a linking sire, in other words a sire of which one or more progeny has already been tested in a Phase C test.

For a C3 test at least 10 bull calves of the same breed per group, which do not vary more than 100 days in age and which fall within certain weight limits per breed, are required. Because a minimum number of bulls per breed per test are required, meaningful evaluations can be done within a particular test and therefore performance indices are calculated within a Phase C3 test.

The value of Phase C tests

The cost of feed is one of the largest costs drivers of a feedlot. FCR is thus a very important trait determining the profitability of a feedlot. By far the most important value of Phase C tests is that it is the only phase in the Scheme where FCR can be evaluated. Because Phase C tests are carried out under standardised conditions, it is the only stage where a bull's actual performance can be compared to bulls from different herds of the same breed and also between different years. Phase C tests are conducted by ARC technicians accredited under the International Committee for Animal Recording (ICAR) and thus conform to internationally accepted standards and guidelines.

PHASE D TESTS

Different types of Phase D tests

Since different production systems are employed under different environments and according to the needs of the market, the Scheme makes provision to test animals under intensive-(feedlot), semi-intensive (e.g. on planted pasture) or extensive (natural pasture) conditions. For a Phase D test at least 10 bull calves of the same breed which do not vary more than 100 days in age, are required. In order to limit pre-test effects to the minimum, it is preferable to start a Phase D test as soon as possible after the bulls are weaned, i.e. about 7-8 months of age.

Intensive and semi-intensive tests last, depending on the feeding level and subsequent growth rate, 84 to 112 days after an adaptation period of at least 21 days. Semi-intensive tests usually last 112 to 140 days. The main benefit of intensive tests is that the bulls' adaptability, growth potential and, indirectly, efficiency of growth under feedlot conditions are evaluated.


With extensive tests, the tests usually start when the bull calves are about 12 months old. The maximum age at which a bull can start a Phase D test, is 425 days (14 months). Extensive tests can run up to a maximum period of 270 days (nine months). Usually these tests are done during the summer growing season of the veld, when the bulls are in a growth phase. The main advantage of veld tests, except for the fact that this could be cheaper than intensive tests, is that the adaptability (including tick resistance) and growth potential of bulls are evaluated under veld conditions. A main factor to consider during veld testing is that it is affected by the availability of pasture that in turn is a function of rainfall. It should also be kept in mind that a minimum growth rate is required, which may not necessarily be achieved due to poor feeding as a result of low rainfall. Two or more owners of bulls can pool their animals for a test.

The value and benefits of Phase D testing

Although a Phase D is essentially a growth test, it offers the breeder the opportunity to evaluate many more traits. This data is then available to both the breeder and bull buyers.

An ARC technician is available to plan, supervise and even execute a Phase D test on-farm. It must also be noted that an intensive Phase D test can also be done at one of the ARC's Phase C test centres. The ARC technicians are also accredited under the International Committee for Animal Recording (ICAR) and thus is testing in its entirety conducted according to internationally accepted standards and guidelines.

The ARC technician is personally present at the end of the test to weigh the bulls and record other measurements. This ensures inter alia that the test and all relevant traits evaluated meet the scientific principles of performance testing.

A minimum of 10 bulls per test is required to ensure that a meaningful evaluation is possible. Most breeders use breeding seasons and all the bull calves that are weaned (except perhaps the very weakest) are usually tested together. This ensures that contemporary groups are usually much larger than the minimum of 10 bullocks which, of course, ensures a more meaningful comparison of the bulls.

The bulls in a Phase D test are weighed regularly during the test to monitor their growth rate and for early identification of potential problems.

The scrotum circumference of the bulls is measured at the end of the test by the ARC official (technician) present. This ensures that this important fertility trait is evaluated in all Phase D tested bulls. Furthermore, the testicles are also examined for any abnormalities, such as hypoplasia, swellings or other injuries.

Shoulder height (or hip height, depending on the breed) and body length of the bulls are also measured by the technician (optional) at the end of the test. These measurements give information on the frame type of the bull.

Real Time Ultrasound (RTU) scanning of the bulls is also done at the end of the test. Subcutaneous fat thickness, intramuscular fat deposition (marbling) and eye muscle area are the traits that are measured and used to calculate traits such as estimated

slaughter percentage and red meat yield. Only RTU measurements of accredited technicians are accepted.

Pelvic measurements (pelvic opening height and width) of the bulls can also be measured (optional) at the end of the test by a vete-rinarian or other accredited person. These measurements are used to select bulls that will breed heifers with a sufficiently large pelvic opening for easy calving.

In extensive (field) Phase D tests the number of ticks on each bull (counted in certain areas on the animal) can be recorded or scored on a regular basis during the test. These tick counts or scores are processed at the end of the test in an index indicating which of the animals are more tick resistant.

The growth test data, body measurements etc. of bulls tested in Phase C and D tests can be included in breeding value estimations for the respective breed. This means that both breeders and bull buyers have reliable breeding values at their disposal to use for selecting superior performing animals.

CONCLUSION

Depending on an individual breeder or breed's specific circumstances, needs and breeding objectives, Phase C and D growth tests provide several options for the testing of bullocks after weaning. One of the main benefits of Phase C and D tests is that it is carried out under direct supervision and control of an independent body, namely the ARC, and consequently the performance test data from these phases are highly regarded in the industry in terms of accuracy, reliability and credibility. Phase C has the added advantage that FCR, economically speaking a very important trait, is evaluated.


ARC Officials honouredDr. Baldwin Nengovhela and Mr Stephen Rase-botsa were recently honoured by the Live-stock Registering Federation (LRF)/Breedplan for their efforts in supporting the emerging beef farmers in South and Southern Africa. Mr Rasebotsa was the first ARC technician recruited to assist emerging farmers in keeping records and to participate in the Animal Recording and Improvement Scheme. The scheme, now called Kaonofatso ya Dikgomo, was first considered a research project and was funded by the then Red Meat Research Development Trust. The program evolved into a fully-fledged programme in 2012 with 16 fulltime technicians and 36 interns recruited every year. Dr. Nengovhela was instrumental in developing all the administrative support that is needed to support a developmental scheme. He was also instrumental in getting it funded before it became a national programme in 2012. The scheme has grown to reach a membership of 7000 farmers, with almost half of these farmers loading their animal data onto the Intergis, the

National Recording System. The scheme also honours excellence with the ARC National Emerging Beef Farmer of the Year award annually and the prize includes an all paid trip to the annual congress of the Beef Improvement Federation in the USA. Dr. Nengovhela is also an active participant in SADC's dairy farmer development, with a special focus on Zimbabwe and Botswana. The latter two countries being the biggest challenge for the SADC region in this regard. Other efforts include facilitating communal farmers getting access to assisted reproductive technologies, through a TIA funded project. Congratulations to Baldwin and Stephen with your accolades!

The two recipients received their awards during the Awards Dinner that formed part of the Aldam Stockman School that was held from 15 – 17 October 2014. This year the theme of the school was “Growth and Efficiency”. The school was honoured by the presence of five international guest speakers from the USA, Canada and Australia and 15 local speakers, all of which who presented actual topics relating to breeding of more efficient animals. The focus was on all sectors of industry, including the commercial, stud and emerging beef producing sectors. The speakers covered all facets of the value chain of animal production and the feedback received speaks of value adding to farmers at all three levels.

Stephen Rasebotsa and Baldwin Nengovhela

My unforgettable trip to the BIF in the USA

Mr Moses Zengetwa

Most of day 1 of the conference was dedicated to registration of the delegates and an update or review on the previous conference. Day 2 of the conference focused primarily on the improve-ment of the herd as a whole, in particular the heifers. Emphasis was placed on the supply of nutrients that are lacking in the natural environment. The role of DNA technology in herd management and breeding was also highlighted, including its role in disease diagnosis and paternity verification. Day 3 concentrated on the best selection methods aimed at production for feedlots, effective feeding strategies and also ensuring that the prevalence of diseases is reduced amongst the animals. Challenges experienced by feedlots were discussed and the best options to address these challenges put forward.

ARC National Emerging Beef Farmer of the Year 2013

Mr Zengetwa on the right


The delegates also visited the University of Nebraska's Department of Animal Science. Here we were exposed to the research that is done on the Genome of cattle and how Genomics is applied to enhance selection strategies aimed at producing the best quality of cattle while also reducing the Environmental Footprint, e.g. animals that produce less methane, one of the main greenhouse-gasses that contribute to global warming.

On the last day of the conference we went on a tour to feedlots in the area. There are three types of feedlots present in the area, one of which is owned by the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. The university uses it to train its students and also to conduct research in the field of cattle pro-duction and improvement. The second type of feedlot is operated on a smaller scale and owned by the individual farmers, using their own private herds in the feedlot. The last feedlot was a centralized feedlot which operates on a larger scale, accommodating all the surrounding farms.

Former ICAR president visits ARC-APIThe Animal Production Institute hosted the former President of the International

thCommittee for Animal Recording (ICAR), Dr Uffe Lauritsen, at Irene on the 6 of May 2014. ICAR is an international non-governmental and non-profit organisation and a body of authority on animal recording globally. Its overall objective is to facilitate the

From Left to right: Prof Norman Maiwashe, Mr Reinder Groeneveld, Prof Michiel Scholtz, Dr Linky Makgahlela, Dr Uffe Lauritsen, Ms Olivia Mapholi, Mr Joel Mamabolo and Mr Frans Jordaan.

development and standardisation of methods and animal recording services made available to industry. Dr Magadlela and his team gave an overview of the programmes of ARC-API and how they address the mandates of the ARC as directed by government. The ARC is the longest-serving member of ICAR in Africa when it comes to the provision of accredited cattle performance recording services and also holds their Certificate of Quality, in recognition and acknowledgement of the standard of service and products that we provide.

Mr Joel Mamabolo, the Registrar of Animal Improvement from DAFF, also attended the meeting and highlighted the role of government in registration and animal recording. Dr Magadlela re-affirmed the ARC's commitment towards collaboration with ICAR and shared his views on the dynamics associated with new technological developments in the arena of animal identification, recording and the adoption of technologies by industry. In subsequent discussions, Dr Lauritsen outlined the challenges and opportunities associated with fulfilling the vision and mission of ICAR. Dr Lauritsen also paid a visit to central office where he met with the President and CEO of the ARC, Dr Shadrack Moephuli.

A privately owned feedlot

All weaners are placed into the individual farmer's feedlot before they are taken to the centralized feedlot. This is done in order to groom the cattle in order to obtain a better quality of beef sold to the consumer in the end. The feedlot-grooming of cattle before they reach the consumer is a strategy that could benefit the South African beef market in ensuring that they deliver high quality products to their consumers every time.


en wat beteken dit vir die boer?HOE WERK GENOMIKA

Dr Ben Greyling & Frans JordaanResearch Team Manager: Beef Cattle Improvement, ARC-API

InleidingGenomika is vir 'n geruime tyd reeds op almal se lippe en steel ook tans die kollig as dit kom by tegnologie gemik op die verbetering van die lewenskwaliteit van mense, hetsy op mense self toegepas of op die diere waarmee hul boer.

Vraag is wat presies behels Genomika en hoe word dit aangewend tot voordeel van die mens?

Genomika se basis is die DNS volgorde van 'n individu, 'n volgorde wat al vir derduisende jare in ons en ons diere se selle vasgelê is. Wetenskaplikes besef ook reeds baie jare wat die potensiële voordele en toepassings is as die kode ontsyfer kon word. Hierdie toepassings is uiteindelik verwesenlik met die geboorte van die “Human Genome Project” (HGP) bykans drie dekades gelede. Die projek se hoofdoel was juis om die volgorde van al 3 miljard boustene van die mens se DNS molekule te bepaal en uiteindelik vas te stel presies waar die gene lê, hoe dit funksioneer en met watter eienskappe hul geassosieer word, hetsy goed of sleg. Die voordele van hierdie projek het reeds vrugte begin afwerp, beide vanuit 'n ekonomiese sowel as 'n kliniese oogpunt. Vanuit 'n ekonomiese oogpunt seker een van die mees suksesvolle biotegnologie projekte ooit; daar word beraam dat die HGP tussen 1988 and 2010, 'n ekonomiese uitset van amper 800 miljard Amerikaanse dollar genereer het.

Vanuit 'n kliniese oogpunt het verskeie toepassings reeds die lig gesien. So byvoorbeeld is aangetoon dat mense met bepaalde DNS volgordes aan bepaalde siektes ly of 'n verhoogde risiko loop om sekere siektes te ontwikkel soos bv. sekere kankers en suikersiekte. Medici is nou in staat om meer effektiewe behandeling en medisynes te formuleer vir 'n verskeidenheid van siektes wat met die spesifieke individu se DNS volgorde geassosieer word. Wetenskaplikes het ook intussen uit die HGP vasgestel dat die mens en dier en selfs insekte se gene merkwaardig ooreenstem. Hierdie inligting word tans gebruik om diere en selfs insekte as modelle te gebruik vir studies van siektes by die mens en dier asook die behandeling daarvan. 'n Interessante voorbeeld is waar 'n geen van die mens wat verband hou met die vroeë ontwikkeling van Parkinsons se siekte, in vrugtevlieë ingeplant is en die vlieë uiteindelik simptome ontwikkel het wat merkwaardig ooreenstem met die van die mens.

Genomika by beeste

Gedurende Julie vanjaar het 'n wetenskaplike artikel verskyn wat opnuut die kollig geplaas het op die toepassing van Genomika by beeste. Die artikel het o.a. vordering bespreek wat tot dusvêr gemaak is met die “1000 Bulls Genome Project”, 'n internasionale navorsings-projek wat onder andere daarop gemik is om van DNS volgordes van beeste gebruik te maak ten einde meer akkurate genomiese seleksie te bewerkstellig. Laasgenoemde is natuurlik essensieel as die boer vinniger genetiese vordering wil bewerkstellig in sy kudde, ten einde sy vermoë om kompeterend te bly, te handhaaf. Die artikel rapporteer onder andere ook oor nuwe inligting wat vorendag gekom het, soos bv. bepaalde DNS volgordes (SNP's) wat verband hou met bepaalde eienskappe by beeste. Om die volle potensiaal en moontlike toepassings van genomika in die beesbedryf te waardeer en te begryp, is dit egter belangrik om 'n paar basiese beginsels te verstaan wat die basis van die tegnologie vorm:

DNS is die bloudruk van mens en dier se lewens, en tesame met die omgewing, bepaal dit hoe 'n dier sal presteer. Die DNS kode kan

basies vergelyk word met 'n persoon se identiteitsnommer: die kode bestaan uit 4 verskillende letters (A, C, G en T) wat in 'n bepaalde volgorde gerangskik is . Die groot verskil egter tussen ons (Figuur 1)DNS kode en ons 13 syfer identiteitsnommer is dat ons DNS kode uit ongeveer 3 miljard letters bestaan!

Alle individue op aarde (behalwe identiese tweelinge) het 'n unieke DNS profiel of volgorde, maar verbasend genoeg is ons almal 99.9% identies op DNS volgorde vlak. Slegs sowat 3% van ons DNS kode bestaan uit gene (waarvan die mens ongeveer 25 000 van het). Gene is die stukke DNS volgordes wat eienskappe bepaal, bv oogkleur, of 'n dier vatbaar is vir sekere siektes en of die dier bv. dubbelbespierd sal wees of nie.

Mense, diere en plante se DNS is ook netjies deur die natuur verpak in wat ons chromosome noem ). Die gene lê verspreid oor (Figuur 2verskillende chromsome. Belangrik om te onthou is dat sekere eienskappe deur slegs een geen beinvloed of bepaal word, terwyl ander, waarskynlik by verre die meeste, deur die wisselwerking van 'n verskeidenheid gene bepaal word.

Individue kan van mekaar verskil op DNS volgorde-vlak op verskeie maniere . Twee individue kan bv. slegs ten opsigte van 'n (Figuur 1)enkele bousteen verskil (genoem 'n “SNP”). Laasgenoemde word tans gebruik in genomiese studies om verskille te bepaal wat met sekere eienskappe geassosieer word. Groter verskille soos in-voegings en weglatings kom ook voor, wat in baie gevalle katastrofiese nagevolge het. Chondrodisplasie of te wel “bulldog calf syndrome” is 'n afwyking wat die gevolg is van 'n paar letters in die dier se DNS kode wat bloot weggelaat is. In kort kan DNS dus vergelyk word met 'n pêrelhalssnoer wat uit 4 kleure perels bestaan, en hoe die kleure opeenvolgend gerangskik is vorm basies die instruksie handleiding vir elke mens en dier se lewe.

Een van die mees belangrikste beginsels van genetika wat verband hou met teling en seleksie is hoe die DNS kode oorgeërf word. Presies 50% van die DNS van elke ouer word na die nageslag oorgedra. Hierdie beginsel staan sentraal tot die boer se vermoë om oor geslagte heen te selekteer vir bepaalde eienskappe.

Behalwe vir Genomika, word DNS tegnologie in die beesbedryf ook aangewend vir onder andere die identifikasie van individuele diere. Op die plaas is ouerskap-bepalings of verifikasie deel van baie telers se daaglikse take, aangesien dit in baie gevalle 'n

Figuur 1 Die dubbeldraad-struktuur van DNA, verbasend eenvoudig en opgebou uit

slegs 4 soorte boustene. Moontlike mutasies in kleur aangedui - kan wissel van 'n enkele bousteen (punt mutasie) tot groter gedeeltes wat uitgelaat of selfs ingevoeg word.


voorvereiste is vir registrasie van die kalf. Akkurate stamboominligting, soos geverifieer deur DNS-ouerskap toetse, vorm die basis vir die beraming van geloofwaardige en akkurate teelwaardes wat groot-liks as 'n seleksie-hulpmiddel op die plaas gebruik word. Individuele identifikasie word ook al meer belangrik in Suid Afrika in forensiese veediefstalsake. DNS tegnologie word ook ingespan in populasie-genetika studies wat veral daarop gemik is om bv. vlakke van genetiese variasie en inteling te bepaal; in diagnose van geneties-oorerfbare siektes en in

bewarings-genetika-studies waar daar onder andere gekyk word na die struktuur binne en tussen diere-populasies en die faktore wat tot verskille in die genetiese samestelling van die populasies gelei het.

Nuwe moontlikhede met Genomika vir vleisbeestelingOns weet reeds dat konvensionele seleksiemetodes nie baie effektief is as dit kom by sekere eienskappe nie, soos bv. die wat duur is om te meet (bv. voerinname), die wat slegs in 'n gevorderde stadium 'n dier se lewe gemeet kan word (bv. volwasse gewig) of die wat slegs in een geslag gemeet kan word (bv. melkproduksie). Daarbenewens is dit moelik om te selekteer vir laag oorerfbare eienskappe soos vrugbaarheid, en derhalwe is die genetiese vordering met hierdie eienskappe as 'n reel relatief stadig. Dit is juis hier waar genomika baie belofte inhou en boere kan help om meer effektief vir hierdie tradisioneel “moeilik meetbare” eienskappe te selekteer en genetiese vordering te versnel. Die groot mikpunte is nie net om meer akkuraat te kan voorspel hoe 'n dier sal presteer nie maar ook om hierdie voorspelling so vroeg moontlik in die dier se lewe te kan doen. Lg. kan tot groot koste besparings lei, want ons weet dat nageslagtoetsing nie net duur is nie maar ook baie tydrowend is. Een van die groot voordele wat Genomika inhou, en dit word reeds by melkbeeste gesien, is om akkurate genomiese teelwaardes vir jong diere te beraam en sodoende die die tempo van genetiese vordering noemenswaardig te versnel. Dit is egter belangrik om in gedagte te hou dat verhoogde akkuraatheid wat betref teelwaarde-beramings afhang van o.a. die aantal prestasie-rekords waaroor die dier beskik (wat tot 'n mate gepaard gaan met sy ouderdom), die aantal diere wat aan hom verwant is wat ook prestasie getoets is, die oorerfbaarheid van die bepaalde eienskappe ter sprake en dan die tipe eienskap waarvoor geselekteer word.

Navorsing in genomika sal ook natuurlik bydrae tot ons kennis van komplekse eienskappe, hetsy dit die dier negatief of positief beinvloed. Die kuns is om uiteindelik die spesifieke DNS volgordes te identifiseer wat direk verband hou met hierdie eienskappe en uiteindelik die inligting te gebruik om akkurate toetse of modelle te ontwikkel ten einde die eienskappe te kan identifiseer en/of te kwantifiseer. Dit kom daarop neer dat ons uiteindelik vir diere met bepaalde “gunstige” DNS volgordes wil selekteer en dié met slegte volgordes wil elimineer.

Ten spyte van al die voordele en potensiële toepassings wat genomika bied, moet dit tans slegs as 'n aanvullende tegnologie gesien word en geensins dat dit bestaande stelsels soos prestasietoetsing sal vervang nie. Prestasie-toetsdata en stamboominligting vorm steeds die ruggraat van teelwaarde beramings, en genomiese inligting komplementeer dit ten einde die akkuraatheid daarvan te verbeter. Kernbelangrik is wat die teler van Genomika verwag, veral as dit kom by die opbrengs wat hy kan verwag in vergelyking met wat hy beplan om in die tegnologie te belê. Laasgenoemde hang grootliks af van sy bepaalde teeldoelwitte vir sy kudde, sy produksiestelsel en die mark vereistes wat hy bedien.

Hoe sorg ons dat Genomika momentum kry?Die eerste stap is om in te koop in die geloofwaardigheid en voordele wat die tegnologie bied, veral in terme van die moontlike bydrae wat dit kan maak tot vooruitgang in die bedryf. Die eerste praktiese stap om te neem is om 'n verwysingspopulasie vir elke ras saam te stel. Laas-genoemde moet oor so volledig moontlik prestasiedata en stamboom-inligting van die diere in hierdie populasie beskik. Getalgewys is 'n goeie begin sowat 'n duisend diere. Die volgende stap is om hierdie verwysingspopulasie se diere se DNS volgordes te bepaal (SNP's!) en dan te bepaal wat die assosiasie tussen hierdie volgordes en die diere se prestasie eienskappe/data is; m.a.w. modelle/formules word ontwikkel wat hierdie assosiasie beskryf. In eenvoudige terme beteken dit 'n model wat die korrelasie beskryf tussen die volgorde en die eienskap. Die laaste stap is om die modelle en formules wat ontwikkel is te verifieer op 'n toetspopulasie - met ander woorde hoe akkuraat ons diere se prestasie kan voorspel, alles gebasseer op genomiese teelwaardes. As die verifikasie proses bevredigend is, kan die modelle uiteindelik gebruik word om genomiese teelwaardes te voorspel vir diere met, of selfs sonder prestasie data.

Navorsing word ook reeds gedoen om vas te stel wat die moontlikhede is om verskillende rasse te kombineer in die verwysingspopulasie, juis ten einde kruisrasse en klein rasse met lae getalle en min prestasie data te akkommodeer in die toekoms.

Die LNR en GenomikaDie LNR speel 'n leidende rol as dit kom by die ontginning van genomika tot voordeel van die bedryf in sy geheel en om te verseker dat die teler toegang het tot die voordele wat die tegnologie bied. Die LNR is derhalwe lid van die “Livestock Genomics Consortium” wat namens die bedryf hande vat met alle rolspelers op die gebied ten einde ons land se behoeftes en prioriteite aan te spreek. Hierdie konsortium het reeds 'n omvangryke projek ter tafel gelê wat daarop gemik is om die wiele van genomika aan die rol te sit. Die LNR het ook 'n volledig toegeruste biotegnologie platform op Onderstepoort, een van die mees gevorderde biotegnologie laboratoriums in die suidelike halfrond, wat by uitstek geskik is om genomika te ontgin en na te vors. Die platform word bedryf en ondersteun deur 'n groot span kundige navorsers wat onder andere reeds kyk na genomiese studies op 'n verskeidenheid van lewende hawe spesies, insluitend vleisbeeste.

Figuur 2 'n Chromosoom, die fisiese vorm

hoe DNS in selle verpak word


Frans Jordaan, ARC-API, Irene

Agtergrond

Die dae van bul koop deur net na die bul se voorkoms te kyk of slegs 'n foto op 'n veiling brosjure, is getel. Om 'n ingeligte besluit te neem is dit belangrik dat die koper vooraf sy huiswerk doen. Veilingskatalogusse kan 'n uitdaging wees vir kommersiële telers sowel as stoettelers. Van die katalogusse is glad nie gebruikers-vriendelik nie terwyl 'n magdom syfers gepubliseer word wat die vraag laat ontstaan of telers werklik moeite doen om die syfers te verstaan en as 'n seleksie hulpmiddel gebruik om die regte bulkeuse te maak! Die idee is nie om jou te verwar of bang te praat nie, maar indien jy teelwaardes ignoreer kan jy met die eerste kalfseisoen al reeds probleme optel. Die feit dat 'n bul soveel invloed in die toekomstige prestasie van jou kudde het en ook die feit dat gene-tiese vordering 'n tydsame proses is, kan een verkeerde bulkeuse jou baie duur te staan kom. Onthou altyd om genetiese verandering aan te bring maklik is, maar om genetiese verbetering teweeg te bring beteken om 'n gewenste tendens in 'n positiewe rigting te bewerkstellig, soos byvoorbeeld hoër positiewe teelwaardes vir speengewig. Genetiese verbetering is dus glad nie noodwendig eenvoudig of maklik nie.

Telers sal somtyds die houding hê van, “Man ek ken 'n bees!”. Dis in 'n mate baie waar, maar indien jy slegs op visuele voorkoms 'n keuse maak kan jy net ken wat jy kan sien. Onthou goeie genetika kan ook verberg word as gevolg van swak voeding, nes jy swak genetika kan wegsteek met goeie voeding! Natuurlik is funksionele doeltreffendheid belangrik anders gaan die bul nie behoorlik kan werk nie, maar die verkeerde vakman kan jou lang trane besorg!Ook belangrik om te weet is dat 'n fenotipiese speen indeks van bokant 100 niksseggend is. Dit beteken slegs dat die dier bogemiddeld in sy speen groep was, maar hoe goed was die groep waarin hy gespeen was? Bring my by die “uitstekende” losskakel wat vir Garies se derde span speel, maar sal hy steeds goed wees as hy vir die Bulle moet uitdraf?

Die volgende aspekte moet altyd in gedagte gehou word met bulkeuses:

Wat is my teeldoelwitte en monitor ek gereeld my vordering om dit te verwesenlik?

Het ek die tekortkominge in my koei kudde geïdentifiseer?

Is daar 'n ernstige probleem, soos byvoorbeeld moeilike geboortes, wat ek dringend moet aanspreek?

Kan ek steeds groei verbeter sonder om my koeie groter te maak met gevolglik meer onderhouds-behoeftes?

Verstaan ek my genetiese kuddeprofiel wat gereeld gegenereer word na elke genetiese analise?

Belangrik om te onthou is dat teelwaardes van verskillende rasse glad nie met mekaar vergelyk kan word nie, maw woorde 'n +5 kg teelwaarde vir 'n Bonsmara bul kan nie met 'n +5 kg van 'n Afrikaner bul vergelyk word nie. Belangrik is om te weet wat die rasgemiddeld vir speen is en die bul daarvolgens te “skaal” om te bepaal of hy onder-, op- of bo rasgemiddeld is.

Al hierdie vrae kan net beantwoord word as die stoetteler 'n deeglike studie maak van sy kudde en weet waarop hy moet konsentreer om sy kommersiële kliënte, wat weer by hom bulle koop, tevrede te stel. Die kommersiële kliënt het nie die luuksheid van 'n kuddeprofiel met genetiese teelwaardes nie. Afhangend van sy produksie stelsel sal hy gewoonlik raad vra by die stoetteler wanneer hy 'n bul koop.

Die beginsels wat in die artikel aangespreek word is egter ook van toepassing op die kommersiële teler wanneer hy 'n geregistreerde bul koop. Die fokus kan moontlik net effens verskil met meer klem op groei. Die stoeteler kan egter verseker, met behulp van teelwaardes, dat ander eienskappe van belang vasgelê word in sy jong bulle.

Katalogus

Indien die bul koper teelwaardes reg interpreteer kan hy die volgende ingeligte keuses maak:1) Die bul wat hy op sy verse kan gebruik sonder die gevaar van

distokia'n Bul wat vir geboorte direk op ras- of onder rasgemiddeld is.

2) Die bul wat sy vervangings-verse se melkproduksie kan verbeter'n Bul wat vir speen maternal bokant rasgemiddeld is.

3) Die bul wat bestaande kalfprobleme in sy kudde kan oplos'n Bul wat vir geboorte direk op ras- of onder rasgemiddeld is.

4) Die bul wat optimale groei kan verseker, bokant ras gemiddeld vir groei op speen sowel as naspeense groei soos vir jaar en 18 maande, in terminale kruisings en op ouer koeie, dus sal al die nageslag verkieslik voerkraal en slagpale toe moet gaan.'n Bul met teelwaardes bokant rasgemiddeld vir al die groei eienskappe, geboorte, speen, jaar, 18 maande en gemiddelde daaglik-se toename. Natuurlik sal die bul op volwasse koeie met sorg gebruik moet word.

5) Teelwaardes kan ook in balans wees sodat die bul geïdentifiseer word wat nie te groot kalwers by geboorte gee nie, ook nie te klein nie! Omrede 'n sterk korrelasie tussen geboorte gewig en speen gewig bestaan, gaan 'n te klein kalf ook 'n ligte kalf by speen beteken. Die ideale bul vir vervangings-verse sal ook bogemiddeld op speen direk en maternal wees.

Maak 'n ingeligte bulkeuse vanaf jou veiling katalogus


6) Omrede vleisbees telers vleis produsente is sal groei na speen altyd belangrik wees, daarom moet speen, jaar, 18 maande en die GDT (gemiddelde daaglikse toename) teelwaarde op ras gemiddeld of bo rasgemiddeld wees, maar weereens moet gewaak word teen te hoë teelwaardes vir 18 maande gewig. Gewig op 18 maande is 'n aan-duiding van volwasse gewig en indien slegs groei prioriteit geniet sal die gevolg wees dat groter koeie met hoër onderhouds-behoeftes geteel word. Indien die omgewing nie aan groter koeie se energie behoeftes kan voldoen nie kan dit weer kalf persentasie benadeel. Die voeromset teelwaarde is ook belangrik vir die voerkraal, maar die teelwaardes is meer gewens, soortgelyk aan die fenotipiese voer-omset-meting. Hoe minder voer benodig word om een kilogram in liggaamsgewig aan te sit, hoe meer doeltreffend is die dier natuurlik.

7) Verbeter Reproduksie in kudde Die ma van die bul se fenotipiese reproduksie statistiek kan in ag geneem word en die bul se skrotum teelwaarde van bokant rasgemid-deld is gewens.

Teelwaarde Indekse

Soos genoem, is teelwaardes van verskillende rasse nie vergelykbaar met mekaar nie en derhalwe ook nie “teelwaarde ras gemiddeldes” per eienskap nie. Vir die rede is indekse (wat vir die meeste telers maklik verstaanbaar is) ook vir teelwaardes ontwikkel en word geïnterpreteer soos normale indekse waar die gemiddeld gelyk gestel word aan 100. Vir elke eienskap word die ras gemiddelde teelwaarde gelyk gestel aan 'n 100, en die dier se teelwaarde sal dan as 'n afwyking van 100 geïnterpreteer word. Indien 'n teelwaarde gewens is vir 'n spesifieke eienskap sal die indeks met 'n waarde van groter as 100 dan as “goed” beskou word. As voorbeeld sal 'n teelwaarde van -1 kg vir geboorte direk,

Tabel 1 'n Voorbeeld van 'n katalogus

waar die rasgemiddeld moontlik 0.5 kg is, 'n indeks van 105 kan hê. Net so kan 'n dier vir speen direk met 'n teelwaarde van +2 kg en die rasgemiddeld +10 kg is, 'n indeks van 95 hê. Die teelwaarde indekse maak dit vir kommersiële telers, wat moontlik bulle van verskillende rasse koop, ook makliker om 'n ingeligte keuse te maak, sonder om vertroud te wees met die werklike teelwaardes van die dier en ras.

Opsomming

Teelwaardes op die veilingskatalogus moet eerder as 'n hulpmiddel as 'n uitdaging gesien word. Indien u die veilingskatalogus voor die veiling te siene kry kan 'n kortlys van bulle gemaak word wat by u teeldoelwitte inpas en op die dag van die veiling kan u steeds die mooiste bul uit die kortlys kies! Waak altyd teen diere met ekstreme teelwaardes en 'n mooi bul het nie noodwendig gewenste teelwaardes nie, maar 'n bul met gewenste teelwaardes kan egter ook 'n mooi bul wees. Indien die veilings-katalogus steeds moeilik interpreteer-baar is, skakel gerus 'n LNR beampte in u streek vir hulp en bystand.

HERD NAME:

NamePREFIX

Ident. numberHDM 011234

MALE

Reg. number0012345678

SectionSP

Birth date01/01/01

Sire: PREFIX 03

181 – 10/11/03HDM 030181 0012345678

P.G. Sire:

PREFIX FREEMAN – 03/10/920012345678

P.G. Dam:

PREFIX 01 78 - 26/05/01HDM 010078 0012345678

Avg. ICP: 370

AFC: 27 (4)

M.G. Sire:

PREFIX 262 -

31/05/01FU 010262 0012345678

Dam: PREFIX 06 280 – 10/11/06 HDM 060280 0012345678

M.G. Dam: PREFIX 95 269 - 21/11/95

HDM 950269 0012345678

Calvings: 12/08 12/09 11/10 12/11

Avg. ICP: 360 AFC: 25 (4)

Avg. ICP: 370

AFC: 82 (6)

Birth

Wean

(205)

12M

18M

ADG

ADA

F/E

SC L/H Phase

Performance -

246

32.3

-

-

-

-

- - B11Indices -

94

83

-

-

-

-

- -Breeding Value Indices 105

95

90

96

-

-

-

- -Contemporaries

7

7

-

107

-

-

Breeding Values-Dir -1.00

(26)

2.0 (31)

1.4 (30)

2.1 (26)

56 (27)

Breeding Values-Breed Avg 0.50

10.0

4.1

4.5

40

Breeding Values-Mat -0.74 (26)

-4.2 (29)

07/2012

Breeding Values-Breed Avg -0.13

0.3

Breeding Values – 07/2012

FCR -26 (26) -11 Calf Tempo 56.00 (36) 21.7KR 461 (26) -40 Mat weight 10.0 (26) 15.2SC 0.70 (27) 4.7 Feed Prof 17.76 (26) -6.8

Length 5 (27) 11 Height 4 (27) 7

LOT 100

Ras Logo RAS

40



to support climate smart beef productionBREEDING STRATEGIES

M. M. Scholtz, M C Mokolobate and J HendriksARC-Animal Production Institute, Irene, South AfricaUniversity of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa

PERSPECTIVE

Livestock and rice are unique in the sense that climate change represents a feedback-loop within which livestock and rice production both contribute to the problem and suffer from the consequences. The impact of global warming and continued uncontrolled release of greenhouse gas (GHG) has twofold implications for livestock production and climate smart agriculture. Livestock is responsible for 21% of anthropogenic methane and extensive beef cattle farming is a major contributor.

IMPROVED PRODUCTION EFFICIENCY

An effective way to reduce the carbon footprint from beef production and to support climate smart production, is to reduce the cattle numbers and increase the production per animal. Increased productivity generates less greenhouse gas emission per unit of product. There is sufficient genetic variation in Southern Africa's beef cattle genetic resources to facilitate breeding for improved production efficiency.

Any breeding objective must therefore be set up to improve production efficiency and revenue from product sales and not merely to achieve genetic change, e.g. by increasing body weight and size. Unfortunately most beef cattle breeding programmes lack basic definition of breeding objectives. Until now most measurements to improve production are based on single production traits (weaning weight, calving interval, growth rate, etc.). Selection for these traits will increase production, but not necessarily productivity or efficiency of production. Measurements are thus needed that express performance per constant (standardized) unit. Selection for productivity and efficiency will for instance have a permanent mitigating effect on the production of greenhouse gasses, as higher productivity will lead to higher gross efficiency as a result of diluting the maintenance cost of animals.

FERTILITY

The first challenge that should be addressed is the comparatively low fertility in the beef cattle herds of Southern Africa. Unfortunately, traits linked to fertility are all influenced significantly by management or arbitrary decisions taken by breeders or scientists. For example, farmers will decide at what age to mate heifers. The appropriate breeding technology to handle fertility still needs to be developed or refined, although traits such as age at first calving, days to calving and calving interval may be of value. Selection for days to calving, for example, has been proposed some time ago and seems to be an effective way to improve fertility in beef cattle, but its application is still limited in Southern Africa since adequate data is not recorded by farmers.

COW EFFICIENCY

The estimation of breeding values (EBVs) for cow maintenance requirements has been developed some time ago, but its interpretation and implementation is a challenge. The fact that total weight of lamb weaned per ewe joined, can be genetically improved by either direct or indirect selection in sheep, suggests that in beef cattle, selection for weight of calf weaned per large stock unit (LSU) should be investigated as a means for improving cow efficiency. Research is currently underway which looks at different alternatives to increase the weight of the calf per constant cow unit. The problem with the current measures of cow efficiency (calf/cow weight ratio and calf/metabolic cow weight) is that they both favour smaller cows. The challenge is thus to develop a breeding objective that will improve cow efficiency without changing cow weight.

POST WEANING EFFICIENCY

In respect of post weaning traits the focus is on growth with little emphasis on efficiency traits. Selection for these post weaning traits will increase production, but not necessarily productivity or efficiency of production. If individual feed intake is measured, it is possible to select for a number of efficiency traits. Traditionally feed efficiency traits such as feed conversion ratio (feed intake/growth) and feed efficiency (growth/feed intake) were used as measures of post weaning efficiency. Alternative efficiency traits have now been developed, viz. residual feed intake (RFI), sometimes referred to as net feed intake; and residual daily gain (RDG).

Whereas feed conversion ratio can be improved by either better growth or lower levels of intake or both, RFI is improved by reducing feed intake without changing growth. Selection for (lower) RFI therefore differs from other feed efficiency traits such as feed conversion ratio and feed efficiency, since it is independent of growth and body weight, thus not leading to increased maintenance requirements in mature animals. There is also a positive correlation between RFI and methane production, meaning that low RFI animals produce less methane, thus reducing the carbon footprint of beef. Likewise, selection for RDG will improve growth without affecting feed intake. Selection for both these traits will support climate smart beef production.

Both RFI and RDG hold benefits as “true” efficiency traits. RFI will decrease intake without affecting growth and RDG will improve growth without affecting feed intake. Unfortunately, selection based on RFI and RDG provide different ranking of animals. Thus, the use of a selection index is an efficient approach for breaking this antagonism. However, applying economic weights to the EBV for ADG (Average Daily gain) and DFI (Daily Feed Intake) directly is straightforward and likely to be most

Prof MichielScholtz

MotshabiMokolobate

JurgenHendriks


transparent to farmers when compared to selection indexes using residual measures of efficiency. These alternatives are under investigation.

Growth rate can be measured anywhere. All that is required is the weight at two growth points and this can be done on-farm, e. g. by taking 12 and 18 month weights or 200 and 400 day weights. However, it is important to note that traits such as RFI, RDG and DFI can only be estimated if individual feed intake and the growth rate of the bulls are measured and this can only be done at specialized bull testing facilities. Breeders of beef cattle are therefore encouraged to test their bulls at testing stations where individual feed intake is measured.

ARC-API sets the pace with Real Time Ultrasound technologyThe ARC recently purchased two new generation MyLab™One VET Real Time Ultrasound (RTU) scanners from the Netherlands in order to stay abreast with international standards and recent developments regarding this technology and also to be prepared for the increasing demand for RTU Services from the beef industry. These state of the art machines offer enhanced precision imaging over the older equipment, resulting in improved resolution of images that is essential for increased accuracy and precision.

The National Beef Recording and Improvement Scheme of the ARC-API has been rendering RTU services to industry for a number of years, a service which is available country-wide and offered by skilled and accredited technicians of the Scheme who need to safeguard data quality. Data generated, besides being applied for rendering services, is also used for research purposes. The service is offered at a subsidized fee, making it highly affordable and easily accessible. The ARC offers the technology as a tool to enable breeders to assess certain carcass characteristics (both composition and quality) on live animals. The technology is non-invasive and non-destructive, and traits that are assessed include fat depth, eye muscle area and marbling (intramuscular fat). Eye muscle area is an indication of meat yield while marbling is associated with meat tenderness and juiciness. These measurements can thus be used to estimate muscle growth and to predict carcass composition and even beef yield. Ultrasound

technology has made a significant impact on the animal science industry, both locally and abroad and is used as a valuable tool for genetic selection for carcass merit. The collected scan data can also form part of breeding value estimations, enabling the breeder to predict the genetic potential of breeding stock for these carcass traits, even at a relatively young age.

RTU scanning is included free of charge for animals subjected to Phase C tests (central standardized growth testing) as well as for on-farm Phase D growth testing. These subsidised RTU Scanning services are available to all South African beef farmers, irrespective of which service provider they make use of.

The technicians of the ARC are subjected to an accreditation process every three years to ensure that the services rendered comply with the highest standards. Contact details of accredited, regional technicians are published elsewhere in this newsletter.

Dr Greyling, Stephen Rasebotsa, Cornia Vosloo and Erick Joosten displaying the new RTU machines


CONCLUSION

It will become more important to define breeding objectives and to develop appropriate selection criteria to ensure that breeding is effective and aimed at sustainable production (climate smart production) in changing environments. Generally, animal breeding programmes lack basic definition of breeding objectives. Maximum production may not be the most feasible or appropriate production system for the Southern African situation, which is in contrast to production systems in northern hemisphere temperate zone countries. Optimal production systems that are in harmony with the environment and which utilize appropriate genotypes (including crossbreeding) should thus be developed or implemented. This should include the definition of breeding objectives which accommodate both tangible and intangible factors of climate smart production systems in changing environments.


(Residual Feed Intake):Wat is die implikasies daarvan?

NETTO VOERINNAME

Prof Michiel Scholtz and Jurgen HendriksARC-Animal Production Institute, Irene, South AfricaUniversity of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa Prof Michiel Scholtz Jurgen Hendriks

The common measure of efficiency is feed conversion ratio or feed efficiency. However, efficiency is associated with growth rate that may increase mature size, which in turn increases the maintenance cost of the breeding herd. It has been shown that residual feed intake (RFI) is independent from growth rate and mature weight, leading to the reduction of feed intake without affecting growth performance or mature size. Studies have shown that low RFI cattle produce less methane. The difference in RFI and methane production in high and low RFI animals cannot be explained by the difference in feed intake alone. Possible reasons could be digestion of feed, protein turnover and overall tissue metabolism, activity, thermoregulation and growth. In order to calculate RFI it is necessary to measure individual feed intake of animals. The South African feedlot industry prefers certain minimum growth rates and carcass weights, which may not be achieved through selection for RFI alone. A trait such as residual growth rate should also be investigated and these two may be candidates for use in a simplified selection index by farmers. The cost and difficulty in measuring RFI makes the trait a strong candidate for marker assisted selection.

Doeltreffendheid word tradisioneel gemeet as die verhouding van die hoeveelheid voer gevreet in vergelyking met die gewigstoename van die dier en word uitgedruk as voeromset verhouding (voerinname/gewigstoename) of die invers naamlik doeltreffendheid van voerverbruik (gewigstoename/voerinname). Hierdie maatstaf is egter gekorreleerd met groeitempo. Seleksie vir doeltreffendheid sal dus groeitempo in jong diere verhoog. As seleksie hiervoor dus nie reg aangewend word nie, mag dit tot 'n toename in volwasse koeigewig en 'n verhoogde voerinname van die koeikudde lei, wat 'n negatiewe effek op die totale produksiestelsel kan hê.

Netto voerinname (NVI), ook bekend as residuele voerinname (Engels: residual feed intake or net feed intake) is die verskil tussen 'n dier se werklike inname en die verwagte (voorspelde) inname gebaseer op die dier se gewig en groeitempo oor 'n spesifieke tydperk. In teenstelling met die tradisionele doeltreffendheids-maatstawwe, is NVI feitlik ongekorreleerd met (onafhanklik van) groei- en gewigeienskappe.

'n Lae NVI waarde dui op 'n meer doeltreffende dier en verskeie studies het gevind dat die oorerflikheid daarvan tussen 0.28 en 0.57 varieer. Daar kan dus vir NVI geselekteer word. Sodanige seleksie sal lei tot 'n verlaging in inname sonder dat groeitempo of koeigrootte noemenswaardig beïnvloed word. Totale kuddedoel-treffendheid sal dus verbeter word.

In 'n seleksie eksperiment vir lae NVI, het die metaanvrystelling tussen lae en hoë NVI osse met tot 28% verskil, wat gelykstaande is aan 16 100 liter minder metaan-vrystelling per jaar per os. Die verskille in NVI en metaanproduksie tussen hoë en lae NVI diere kan nie net verklaar word deur die verskille in voerinname nie.

Moontlike addisionele redes mag vertering van die voer, proteïenomset, totale weefselmetabolisme (mitochondriale funksie, liggaamsamestelling, IGF-1 en kortisol vlakke), aktiwiteit, termoregulering en groei insluit.

Lae NVI diere is geneig om voer beter te verteer as hoë NVI diere. Die korrelasie tussen NVI en droëmateriaal vertering is in die omgewing van 0.33. Metaboliese verskille tussen hoë en lae NVI diere kan toegeskryf word aan verskille in

liggaamsamestelling en metaboliese prosesse. Daar is positiewe korrelasies met tussen NVI en metaboliseerbare energie vir onderhoud, sowel as tussen metaboliseerbare energie vir onderhoud en proteïenomset, wat tot 'n indirekte verwantskap tussen NVI en pro-teïenomset lei. Proteïen vorming in lae NVI diere is dieselfde as in hoë NVI diere, maar die afbreek van proteïen in lae NVI diere is minder, wat dus tot 'n “proteïen wins” lei.

Dit bleik dat mitochondriale funksie ook 'n rol speel in NVI. Hierdie funksie word beïnvloed deur beide die dier se genetika en die voer wat hy kry. Ongeveer 90% van sellulêre energie word deur aktiewe selle in die lewer, niere, spiere en brein geproduseer. Die feit dat NVI met mitochondriale funksie geassosieer word dui op 'n verwantskap met metaboliese doel-treffendheid.

Lae NVI beeste het effens minder liggaamsvet en meer liggaamsproteïen as hoë NVI beeste. Daar is verskille van tot 21% in hitteproduksie tussen lae en hoë NVI diere gerapporteer, terwyl tot 10% van die verskille in NVI in groeiende kalwers deur verskille in fisiese aktiwiteit verklaar kan word. Die feit dat lae NVI diere minder hitte produseer mag hulle ook meer aanpasbaar by aardverwarming maak.

Die Suid-Afrikaanse voerkraalbedryf het sekere voorkeure vir minimum groeitempos en karkasgewigte, wat nie noodwendig aange-spreek sal word deur slegs vir NVI te selekteer nie. Net soos NVI bereken kan word, kan Netto Groeitempo (NGT) ook bereken word. NGT word uitgedruk as 'n afwyking van die groeitempo wat verwag word gebaseer op die dier se inname. 'n Hoë NGT dier is dus 'n dier wat vinniger groei op 'n gegewe hoeveelheid voer as wat verwag word.

Die oplossing sal waarskynlik wees om beide NVI en NGT by seleksie in aanmerking te neem en die twee eienskappe kan in 'n vereen-voudigde seleksie-indeks ingesluit word vir toekomstige gebruik deur telers.

Dit is maklik om vir groeitempo te selekteer. Al wat benodig word is die gewig tussen twee ouderdomme en dit kan op die plaas gedoen word, byvoorbeeld deur die gewig tussen 12 en


18 maande of tussen 200 en 400 dae (Breedplan stelsel) te neem. Eienskappe soos NVI en NGT kan egter slegs bereken word as die individuele voerinname van diere gemeet word en dit kan slegs by bultoets sentrums met die nodige fasiliteite gedoen word.

Weens die verwagte klem wat in die toekoms op seleksie vir NVI en NGT geplaas gaan word, maak dit die volle benutting van die bultoets sentrums in Suid-Afrika soveel belangriker. Daar is verskeie LNR- en privaat- bultoets sentrums wat vir hierdie doel gebruik kan word. Telers word dus aangemoedig om hulle bulle by sulke toetsstasies te laat toets as verbeterde doeltreffendheid vir hulle bulkopers belangrik is.

As gevolg van die koste en moeite om NVI en NGT te meet, is dit goeie kandidate

vir merker ondersteunde seleksie. Tot dusvêr kon daar egter nie werklik geskikte merkers gevind word nie.

NOTA:

Hierdie navorsing is finansieël ondersteun deur RMRD SA (Red Meat Research and Development South Africa) en THRIP (Technology and Human Resources for Industry Programme).

VRYBURG BULLTESTING CENTRE TEST DATES 2015

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to increase genomic data in small beef cattle populations

A COST-SAVING STRATEGY

Dr Linky Makgahlela and Prof Norman MaiwasheARC-Animal Production Institute

Animal Breeding and Genetics, Irene

Successful application of genomic selection, which refers to selection decisions based on genomic information, can be influenced by several factors that are beyond the scope of this article, including large numbers of genotyped and phenotyped (i.e., reference) population, as well as the structures of the reference population. In developing countries, large-scale genotyping with medium- to high-density (HD) panels is still not possible due to high genotyping costs (e.g., R1,600/animal for the 50K chip by Illumina (2011)). Beef cattle populations are genetically diverse and in most cases, are numerically smaller in sizes. For such populations, we need to genotype a reasonable number of animals using HD panels. As such, cost-saving strategies that will also use the available low-density (LD) panel with fewer markers for genotyping a larger number of animals, including cows, at a reduced price would be beneficial.

A cost-saving genotyping strategy in beef cattle will include the following activities:

1) Analyse a complete pedigree information of a population to identify key animals. Then, genotype the identified key animals with costly HD panels, and the remaining animals with cheaper LD panels

2) Perform imputation to infer HD genotypes from LD to HD data. The resulting HD data (actual and inferred) can be used for genomic selection. Selective genotyping of most of the informative animals, coupled with imputation, for obtaining genotypes of animals genotyped with LD panel, will accelerate the application of genomic selection in South African beef cattle, and likely improve its accuracy, at a reasonable cost.

Using complete pedigrees to identify key animals

Pedigree data have been used extensively to describe the genetic diversity and structure of most livestock populations and breeds. Measures like inbreeding and probabilities of gene origin are often used for this purpose. Monitoring genetic diversity of populations is crucial in determining the response to environmental changes, as well as genetic selection and improvement. Genetic diversity can be measured at the level of an individual, and also of the population. To find influential/informative animals, pedigree data can be used to describe their uniqueness to the rest of the population. Such animals can be identified based on a parameter called marginal gene contribution (MGC). The estimation of MGC was proposed by Boichard et al. (1997), and is based on the theory of the probabilities of gene origin.

Having a complete pedigree data, we can estimate the marginal gene contributions of all ancestors to the active population. Key animals can be defined as ancestors with the highest MGC i.e., explaining most of the population's genetic diversity. Genotyping such animals with the costly HD

panel, or some of their descendants if unavailable, would capture/maximize the amount of genetic information known in the population. Then, phenotype information such as EBV and their accuracies can be used to prioritise genotyping (with HD or LD) of the remaining animals. It is crucial to emphasise that the depth or com-pleteness of the pedigree plays an important role on the quality of estimating genetic contributions in a population.

Using imputation to increase LD to HD data

The availability of genotyping panels of various marker densities has been widely used to increase the size of reference populations. If hundreds or thousands of animals are genotyped with different panels, low- to medium- to high-density for example, missing markers on the panels with lower densities can be filled using imputation methodology. Here we can use HD genotypes of key animals as the reference population for imputing unobserved HD genotypes. In Figure 1, we illustrate imputation of missing genotypes of the progeny of genotyped individuals (Animals 1 to 6; reference population). Markers, M1, M4 and M7 are used to infer the segregation of haplotypes (i.e., combination of marker alleles) through the family. Missing genotypes for animals 6 to 10 are imputed based on unique family haplotypes (bordered in different colours). For example, given M1, M4 and M7 of animal 10, after imputation we can tell that this animal received one haplotype (blue) from animal 5 and another one (red) from animal 6.


Imputation can also be done for unrelated animals based on informa-tion from population-wide association of nearby markers to replace missing markers.

Finally, HD genotypes of some key animals, as well as the imputed HD genotypes for the other animals can be used as the reference population for genomic selection. Because the LD panel can make genotyping of thousands of animals, including cows affordable, this strategy has the potential to increase genomic data.

Summary

Cost-saving genotyping strategies that aims to accelerate the implementation of genomic selection in SA beef cattle have been addressed. These strategies initially analyse pedigree data to find key animals for genotyping with high-density panels, to maximise the genetic information known in a population. Then, genotype larger number of animals with cheaper low-density panels. Finally, use genotypes of key animals to infer/impute missing genotypes from low- to high-density panel. Thus, increasing the genomic data available for genomic selection.

References

Boichard, D., Maignel, L. and Verrier, E. 1997. The value of using probabilities of gene origin to measure genetic variability in a population, Genetic Selection Evolution. 29: 5–23.

Illumina. 2011. BovineSNP50 Genotyping BeadChip. Accessed 11 April 2014. http://www. illumina.com/Documents/products/datasheets /datasheet_bovine_ snp50.pdf.

Figure 1 Schematic representation of imputation in related animals

Backgrounding of cattle refers to a period where the animal is held on a planted pasture or grazing camps and being fed a supplement in preparation for a more intensive feeding period or reproductive life. Backgrounding aims to utilize grass as a cheap feed with minimal supplement inputs to achieve weight gains and an increase in frame size. Considerations for backgrounding include:

To add weight economically to the animal - grass intake with restricted concentrate feed can lower costs of gain.

To manipulate time of marketing - by feeding lower energy dense feeds for longer or shorter, the rate of gain can be manipulated.

To reduce transport morbidity - weaners weaned directly onto the truck are more prone to diseases in a feedlot, pasture backgrounding (at the feedlot) may alleviate this.

On-farm backgrounding with a preconditioning (health) program results in reduced morbidity of the cattle once at the feedlot.

On-farm backgrounding acclimatizes cattle to feedbunk feeding. Cattle unfamiliar to feed troughs can take up to three weeks before starting to eat in the feedlot.

Developing replacement heifers on the beef cattle farm, well develop heifers can have a longer reproductive live span.

When the decision is made to implement a backgrounding system, it is important to ensure that the approach to that system will result in the most beneficial outcome for the owner. Some cattle are better off to go straight to the feedlot, whilst others need a longer feeding period.

Backgrounding systems to be used will depend on the goal of the owner, is it to pre-condition the cattle for sale to a feedlot at a better price (weight gain is not the aim here), or is it for growing the animals to a higher weight, before entry into a feedlot?

Pre-conditioningCalves are stressed when weaned and are highly susceptible to diseases which may lead to high mortalities. A well worked out healthcare program with the help of a veterinarian can reduce those losses. Creep feeding prior to weaning (starting 4 to 6 weeks prior to weaning) for the calves can be an all-round beneficial practice. The cows can recuperate better as the need for milk by the calf is reduced. The calf is exposed to feed through feeding, and the gains by the calf are more efficient when the calf is younger (less feed per kg gain).

GrowthMost cattle enter a backgrounding feeding program with the sole purpose of adding weight and frame sizes at an economical rate, to be marketed at a chosen time of maximum profit. In the South African market this is done by beef cattle farmers, cattle speculators or the feedlots themselves. The beef cattle farmers use it to add more weight and frame size to the calf for increasing income when marketing


BACKGROUNDING OF CATTLEKlaas-Jan Leeuw, ARC-API, Irene

its weaner calves or cull cows. The speculator buys weaner calves to add some weight and maybe frame size before selling it to a feedlot. The feedlot can use a split approach, where cattle are selected on weight, those below a certain threshold weight will go to pasture for backgrounding, whilst the rest will go into the feedlot. Some feedlots, however, put all the incoming cattle onto the pasture for backgrounding.

FeedingBesides having good quality planted pasture or natural veld grazing and clean, fresh water, the choice of supplement will depend on the marketing strategy required for the cattle which are going to be backgrounded. But one can also vary the amount of concentrate feed offered. When supplement-feeding cattle in a back-grounding system, it is important that all animals can eat at the same time, thus the risk that some cattle will not be eating the concentrate should be limited. This as opposed to feedlot feeding where not all cattle will eat at the same time, as to increase competition for feed.

When choosing a feeding strategy, it is important to know the weight of the incoming cattle, your target date of moving cattle to the next stage (i.e. marketing date, auctioning date or return to pasture for replacement heifers) and the gain in weight that needs to be achieved during that time. This will give a daily gain that needs to be achieved and with this a feeding strategy/ration formulation can be derived that will suit the process.

Table 1 illustrates the various requirements of young, lightweight weaner calves. From the table the producer can plan to achieve its goal. What is also required is knowledge of the nutrient quality and quantity of the pasture that is used for the backgrounding.

Weight of steer

Dry feed intake

(kg/day)

Crude protein content (%)

ME

(MJ/kg DM)

Ca (%) P (%)

140

180

230

4

5

6

15.0

13.5

12.0

10.7

10.8

10.9

0.75

0.60

0.52

0.35

0.28

0.26

Nutrient requirements of Beef Cattle), gaining about 1kg/day.Estimated nutrient requirements of growing medium framed steers (based on NRC,

TABLE 1

When providing supplement feed to the light weight steers, it is important to use mostly high quality plant-based proteins in the diet of these steers and limit the use of urea. As the steers get heavier (above 200kg), more urea can be included in their diets. The amount of feed in Table 1 is the total dry feed intake required by the animal, on backgrounding this means the total of forage browsed and concentrate consumed.

Health careWhen having cattle for a prolonged period in a backgrounding program, a preventative health care program will be advantageous. A hormone implant will also provide a good return on investment, provided a good feeding strategy is followed. Cattle with a gain of below 300gram/day will not benefit from an implant, whilst cattle with a gain of above 500gram/day will benefit from an implant.

Ionophores are used to inhibit the growth of certain micro-organisms in the rumen, and thus altering rumen fermentation. Protein break-down and microbial protein synthesis may be decreased, and while this has minimal effects in cattle on high grain diets, it is an important consideration with growing cattle on high roughage diets. It may also reduce the risk of coccidiosis. It is therefore important to ensure that the right amount of ionophore is being used in backgrounding supplements.

ProfitabilityThe profitability of backgrounding calves is largely determined by the cost of gain and the value of that gain. As backgrounding relies on the cheapest feed source, i.e. veld pasture, for

its success, it can provide a potential opportunity to grow cattle to heavier weight and increase their frame size prior to entering the feedlot for finishing.

The value of gain is expressed as its expected final weight multiplied by its expected value at that weight minus its current value as determined by its current weight and sales price. Or to put it as an example:

A 170kg steer needs to be fed to 240kg before it can enter the feedlot. At 170kg the steer's value is at R 17/kg and 240kg the steer's value is estimated to be at R 16/kg (prices are arbitrary values, do not reflect current prices):

240*16 = R 3 840

170*17 = R 2 890

This is an increase in value of R 950 over 60kg, or R 13.57 per kg gain.

The cost of gain will depend on many factors, including level of nutrition, genetic potential, management style and pasture potential. However, current feedlot diet costs (November 2014) are about R 2.30/kg (diet containing 14.0% CP, 12 MJ ME), and a 170kg to 240kg steer on pasture needs about 4kg per day to achieve 1kg gain. Thus 4*2.3 = R 9.20 (estimated), in this theoretical scenario it pays to add more weight by backgrounding.

When looking at profitability it is important to consider other factors as well, some of which include: cost of capital, infrastructure, feed availability, health care/morbidity and labour.

SummaryBackgrounding can be done profitably with the right systems in place and with dedicated staff. It is however prone to risks, internally (health, labour) and externally (feed availability, market fluctuations).

Sources consultedBerger, A.L., Johnston, B.M., Jenkins, K.H., 2011. Wintering and Backgrounding Calves. Accessed 2014 at: http://www.ianrpubs.unl.edu/epublic/live/g2064/build/ g2064.pdf

Lardy, G., 2013. Systems for backgrounding of beef cattle. Accessed 2014 at: http://www.ag.ndsu.edu/pubs/ansci/beef/as1151.pdf

NRC, Nutrient requirements of beef cattle, 1984, Sixth revised edition. National Academy Press, Washington, D.C.;

PennState extension, accessed 2014 at: http://extension.psu.edu/business/ag-alternatives/livestock/beef-and-dairy-cattle/beef-background-production



Weather Patterns on Beef Production in South Africa

THE EFFECT OF

Lené Pienaar and Michiel ScholtzARC-Animal Production Institute

Irene and University of the Free StateBloemfontein

CHANGING WEATHER PATTERNS IN SOUTHERN AFRICA

The increase in air and ocean temperatures, higher sea levels and the melting of snow and ice are indicative features that global warming is inevitable. Strong evidence revealed that Africa is warming faster than the average globally and this will most likely continue. For South Africa, it is predicted that the rise in temperature by 2050 will be 2°C to 3°C and the grazing capacity in some areas is expected to decline.

Influence on livestock production

When discussing climate change and the effect on agricultural systems one main concern is the uncertainty of the changes that can be expected.

In respect of the direct adverse climate effects that can result in either heat or cold stress, intensive livestock production systems which includes pig, poultry and dairy systems may be of important concern. Along with adapted management practices, environmental factors also play an important role in agricultural production. Therefore, the significance of changing climates needs to be investigated. Current studies have mainly focused on the effect of livestock production as sources of greenhouse gasses on climate change. Here the question is turned around and we ask, what is die effect of climate change on livestock production with the focus on beef production in South Africa. Adaptations will most likely include smaller framed animals which are heat tolerant, have the capability to survive extreme weather periods with limited resources of food and water.

Adaptability with reference to an animal can be defined as the capability of the animal to endure and reproduce within an environment; or the degree to which an animal/population or species can adapt to a range of environments by the means of either genetic or physiological adaptations.

Adaptation can occur in two ways; either resistance, where the animal does not get affected by adverse conditions, or tolerance, where the animal is affected along with or without some form of discomfort but endure the unfavourable conditions. Food security including food accessibility, food availability, food systems ability and food utilization has already been largely affected by climate change on a global scale. The development of adaption and mitigation strategies should therefore be implemented on both a local and international scale.

Reproductive abilities of livestock are reduced with heat stress in both sexes. Conception rates (fertility) can decrease with up to 20% to 27% in summer due to heat stress. The response to heat stress of an animal not only depend on environmental factors but also the type of breed, frame size of the body, the production level and the extent of direct exposure to the stresser. Furthermore, the animal's biological response to the stresser may be influenced by factors such as genetics, age, preceding exposure, sex, condition of the animal and the physiological status. Thermal comfort of the animal includes body traits such as shape and size; and the external coat involving the thickness, thermo isolation and absorption potential.

Animals must be within their thermal comfort zone to ensure optimal production. The comfort zone however differs between species, breeds within a species and individuals within a breed. Furthermore, it consists of a lower critical (TCI) and upper critical (TCS) temperature, and in between a homeothermic state is achieved. Consequently, when temperatures exceed TCI or TCS, the animals' response will be physiological and/or behavioural and in extreme cases death may

occur due to hyperthermia or hypothermia. Therefore, knowledge concerning the thermal comfort zone of the animals is of utmost importance. If this is known, producers can attempt to reduce the negative effects of extreme conditions. To maintain homeothermy and reduce heat stress, an animal's reaction will include increased respiration rate, decreased fodder intake, increased water intake, increased blood flow to the skin surface, altered water metabolism and reduced metabolic rate. In beef cattle when the temperature exceeds 30°C and the humidity is below 80%, the dry matter intake is adversely affected. When the humidity is above 80%, this temperature will drop to 27°C. At the Vaalharts bull testing station it was demonstrated that the feed conversion ratio of a European beef breed will increase to above 7.0 when the average maximum temperature was above 30°C for the specific test.

It is suggested that heritable characteristics play a significant role in the heat tolerance of an animal. Within a breed and between different breeds, body temperature maintenance is controlled by genetic characteristics that include the structure and coloration of the tissue, low resistance to heat stress and the aptitude to sweat. Production traits which includes milk production, milk composition, growth rate and reproduction in both males and females are effected by the level of ambient temperature.

Modern technology allows us to pick up animals that are under heat stress through the use of infrared cameras as demonstrated in .Figure 1

Relevance to South African beef production

The feedlot systems in South Africa accounts for more than 70% of all beef cattle in the formal markets, with 67% of the cattle being crossbreds. The latter indicates that crossbreds plays a substantial role in the commercial beef cattle industry. Furthermore, Sanga/adapted cattle are the most frequently used for crossbreeding to either increase the production efficiency of the Sanga/adapted cattle or to improve the adaptive capabilities of exotic breeds in southern Africa.

Due to prevalence of agriculture and the limited financial resources, developing countries are much more vulnerable to climate change than developed countries. In these countries within the warmer


climates and seasonal rains, the deficiency in fodder supplementation during dry seasons are recurrent in extensive production systems. This possibly leads to seasonal weight loss of 20-40 % of body weight, due to a shortage of pastures.

As the environment changes due to global warming the interaction between genotype and environment will become more and more important. It is therefore important to study adaptive capabilities of Sanga/adapted breeds and breeds that are derived from these breeds. .

Climate change parameters such as increased temperatures, changes in precipitation patterns and increase in atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO ) 2

concentrations have either direct or indirect consequences on animal production and performance. Direct effects include increased metabolic stress due to increase temperatures, solar radiation, humidity, wind, and productivity of ruminant livestock; whereas indirect effects include quality, quantity and composition of fodder and grazing and the incidence of disease and pests.

CONCLUDING REMARKS

Heat-stress as a functional trait can possibly be included in breeding programs due to auspicious genetic parameters that has been estimated. Furthermore, the use of bulls with a high genetic merit for heat tolerance components may play a crucial role in the future to respond to the adverse effects of climate change (Gauly et al., 2011). However it is complex and difficult to measure adaptation and an improved understanding thereof for livestock and their production environments is essential.

Note: This article is derived from a review article (funded by RMRD SA) that will be published and followed by research to assess the effects of weather patterns on the growth of suckling beef calves and heifer calves after weaning.

Figure 1 The identification of animals under heat

stress through the use of an infrared camera (Photos supplied by Prof Connie McManus, Brazil)

IRENE BULTOETSSENTRUM TOETSDATUMS 2015

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01-03 -15


ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS ONSTRESS IN CATTLE

THE EFFECT OF

Leon Kruger, ARC-API

What is stress? Stress have been described already in 1929 by Canon, who defined stress as: An external influence on the homeostasis which at any specific moment has the potential to elicit a stress reaction. Homeostasis in turn can be defined as the property of a system in which variables are regulated so that internal conditions remain stable and relatively constant. In the body homeostasis maintains the stability of the body's internal environment in response to changes in external conditions. For example, on a very hot day the body would maintain stability by keeping in the shade, drink more water and eat less. In this instance the thermoregulation attempts of the animal maintain the homeostasis and as a consequence no stress is suffered. It is also easier for the body to thermo regulate during warm spells than during cold spells and this is one reason why stress related diseases are encountered more during seasonal changes from autumn to winter. Recent research on the effect of normal routine animal handling on stress indicated that animals cannot maintain homeostasis when handled and as a result suffer severe stress. This type of stress does not present itself with obvious signs and therefor there is a perception that it does not exist. Such animals are however very susceptible to stress-related diseases such as coccidiosis and pasteurellosis.

Hormonal response to stress

Corticotropin-releasing hormone(CRH)

Corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) is produced in the hypothalamus in response to a stress stimulus. The main function of CRH is the stimulation of pituitary synthesis of Adrenocorti-cotropic hormone (ACTH).

Adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH)

ACTH is a polypeptide tropic hormone produced and secreted from the pituitary gland in response to stimulation from CRH. The primary physiological effect of ACTH, is the stimulation of the adrenal cortex to secrete cortisol, corticosterone and aldosterone.

Glucocorticoid hormone (Cortisol)

Cortisol is a glucocorticoid, a class of steroid hormone. The name is derived from its involvement in the regulation of the metabolism of glucose, its synthesis in the adrenal cortex and its steroidal structure and is produced by the zona fasciculata of the adrenal cortex. Cortisol has the primary function of supplying energy in the form of glucose to those

areas in the body that will benefit from it and enable the animal to escape from the stressor at that moment. It distributes this energy for instance to the heart and the brain and inhibits distribution of energy to the digestive and reproductive organs. The process that involves the secretion of cortisol from the interaction of the hypothalamus (H), the pituitary gland (P) and the adrenal gland (A) constitutes the HPA axis. Cortisol also acts in a negative feedback cycle to suppress any further release of ACTH.

Hypothalamus, Pituitary, Adrenal (HPA) axis

The cortisol released in response to stress is beneficial to the animal to escape from the stressor, but it also has major non-beneficial consequences. It can compromise successful reproduction, production and increases susceptibility to diseases due to compromised immunity. The exact mechanism underlying the immunosuppressive effects of stress is not yet clear, but stressed animals mount a less effective response to pathogen challenges than unstressed animals. It has been demonstrated that large, infrequent increases in circulating cortisol can modify the cell mediated immune response in such a way that the response to a specific antigen challenge is compromised. This has particular relevance to the livestock industry that relies to a large extent on vaccines for disease prevention. People will often say a vaccine is not working efficiently. Vaccines are quality tested. Fact is an animal with high concentration of circulating cortisol will not mount an efficient immune response.

Disease susceptibility

The correlation between stress and immune suppression is a major cause of an animals' susceptibility to disease. Poor performance and mortalities are important causes of economic loss to the South African livestock industry, and although not extensively studied in South Africa, stress is considered as a predisposing factor to poor performance and mortalities for various diseases. Diseases typically associated with stress are pasteurellosis, Mannheimia haemolytica and coccidiosis. Most of the causative organisms are opportunistic organisms and occur under natural circumstances in livestock, but is kept under control by the immune system. Immunity against these organisms develops either through

Suppressfurtherrelease

Immune suppression

Increaseblood sugar

Freeze, flight, fight, fright response

Adrenocorticotropichormone (ACTH)

Corticotrophin releasingfactor (CRF)

Glucocorticoid hormone(cortisol)

stimulates

stimulates

stimulates

stimulates

secretes

secretes

secretes

Stressor

Hypothalamus

Pituitary gland

Adrenal cortex


vaccination or through continuous exposure to non-fatal doses. It is only when this immunity is compromised due to stress (high cortisol levels) that the resistance to infection decreases to such an extent that the animal succumbs to the disease.

Mannheimia haemolytica lung infection

One of the most prevalent and important diseases that develops secondary to stress is Mannheimia haemolytica or Pasteurella multocida (pasteurellosis) lung infection. Pasteurellosis is an important cause of economic loss in the entire ruminant industry. This type of infection is often encountered in feedlots and bull testing centres around the country after seasonal changes from warm temperatures to cold temperatures. It occurs especially in young growing cattle, in particular in calves placed in feedlots after wean. M. haemolytica causes a fulminating fibrinous lobar pneumonia, while P. multocida causes a fibrinopurulent bronchopneumonia.

Symptoms. Symptoms include morbidity and anorexia due to fever and a nasal discharge. Coughing is readily heard and often confused with asphyxiation on food. Abnormal lung sounds can be identified with auscultation, and animals also tend to breathe faster than healthy animals due to compromised lung function.

Diagnosis. An initial diagnosis can be based on the history of the case and on the reaction to treatment. Diagnosis can be confirmed by culturing the causative organism from nasal swabs.

Treatment. Treatment relies on the use of narrow spectrum antibiotics, and the sooner the treatment the better the prognosis.

Preventative control. Management is of utmost importance, and stress should be limited to the minimum. Adverse weather conditions cannot be controlled and therefore it is important that animals are vaccinated well in advance to expected stressor periods. Human-animal interaction on the other hand is entirely under human control and the quality of this interaction should ensure that handling-stress is minimal. To achieve this, stock workers should be trained in animal ethology and proper handling.

Differential diagnosis. Contagious bovine pleuro-pneumonia; Enzootic pneumonia of calves; Haemophilus pleuropneumonia of feedlot cattle; Infectious bovine rhino-tracheitis; Aspiration pneumonia (foreign body pneumonia)

CoccidiosisCoccidiosis in cattle is caused by Eimeria orga-nisms and is characterised by diarrhoea, with or without blood and mucous. Dehydration, emaciation, malaise and anorexia are typical clinical signs observed in affected animals. Affected animals usually present with a high morbidity but low fatality rate. Poor production also often occur in recovering animals. Stress plays without doubt a part in the susceptibility of animals to coccidiosis and it is common in young animals that are moved from pasture to feedlots. It is important to note that factors such as bad weather may precipitate an outbreak of coccidia.

Symptoms. Diarrhoea with or without blood and mucous; abnormal or normal appetite and poor production and weight loss due to diarrhoea.

Diagnosis. To a large extent based on the history of the case. Diagnosis can be confirmed by identification of unsporulated oocysts in the faces.

Treatment. The disease is transmitted by means of the faecal-oral route and therefore all animals in the group need to be treated with coccidiostats (Sulphanomides; Sulphadimi-dines; Diclazurils). This is particularly important under unhygienic conditions. Affected animals must also receive supportive fluid therapy to prevent dehydration and to replace minerals and electrolytes.

Differential diagnosis. Rotavirus and coronavirus diarrhoea; Colibacillosis; rumen disorders due to nutritional imbalances.

The main objective of ICAR, and international non-profit organization, is to promote the development and improvement of the activities that relate to performance recording and evaluation of farm livestock. In order to achieve this objective, ICAR develops definitions and sets standards and guidelines for the purpose of identifying animals, registration of their parentage, recording their performance and their evaluation and also to publish the findings. ICAR recently introduced the Certificate of Quality (that replaced the ICAR Special Stamp) in order to acknowledge its member organizations (such as the ARC) who provides services that comply with their standards and guidelines. The following activities relating to performance testing were acknowledged in the Certificate of Quality awarded to the ARC:

Identification system for dairy cattle, beef cattle

Recording of production of dairy cattle, beef cattle, dairy sheep

Genetic evaluation of dairy cattle

Recording of production of meat sheep and goats

Genetic evaluation of beef cattle

Laboratory analysis and data processing for members


Farmers making use of the services of the ARC's Performance Recording and Improvement Schemes can thus rest assured that the services offered and executed comply with the highest international standards.

ARC a holder of the Certificate of Quality from the International Committee for Animal Recording (ICAR)


of Nguni cattle unpackedGENOMIC POTENTIAL

Figure 1 Nguni cattle

1,3 2 3 1,4 1,4S. O. Makina , F. C. Muchadeyi ,E. van Marle-Köster , M. M Scholtz & A. Maiwashe1Agricultural Research Council-Animal Production Institute, Private Bag X 2, Irene 0062, South Africa

2Agricultural Research Council-Biotechnology Platform, Private Bag X 5, Onderstepoort, 0110, South Africa3Department of Animal and Wildlife Sciences, University of Pretoria, Private Bag X 20, Hatfield 0028, South Africa

4University of the Free State, P.O. Box 339, Bloemfontein 9300, South Africa

The Nguni cattle's ability to produce and reproduce under harsh environmental conditions and to tolerate tick-borne diseases has been well documented [1, 2, 3]. However, little is known about the genetic variation underlying these economically important traits. As the first step towards understanding genetic variation affecting the adaptability of the Nguni cattle, a genome wide scan for selection signatures was undertaken. Selective signatures are regions in the genome that have favourably increased in frequency and get fixed in a population because of their functional importance in biological process [5]. Therefore, detecting for these regions in the genome provides information on how and where natural selection has shaped patterns of variation in the genome. It also provides insight into mechanisms of evolution [6], which is believed to have given rise to the current Nguni cattle.

This study used the data generated from the Illumina Bovine SNP50 BeadChip which features 54 609 SNP probes distributed across the whole bovine genome with an average spacing of 49.9 kb [4]. Regions of the genome which showed elevated levels of population subdivision between the Nguni and Holstein were identified using population-specific F [7]. The theory behind st

this approach was that positive selection tends to reduce the heterozygosity of specific loci in a population by increasing the frequency of an allele in one breed, leading to a higher proportion of the genetic variation to exist between breeds rather than within breeds [7].

This study identified a total of ten genomic selected regions in the Nguni cattle. Figure 2 shows the Manhattan plots of F values st

for the Nguni vs Holstein breed, generating the greatest number of differentiated regions.

A number of genes and families of genes that were previously associated with one or more performance attribute for tropical adaptation [8, 9] were found within the selected regions in the Nguni cattle. For example, a number of keratin genes (KRT222, KRT24, KRT25, KRT26 and KRT27) and one heat shock protein (HSPB9) on chromosome 19 at 41,447,971-41,926,734 bp were found to be under selection in the Nguni cattle. Keratin (heteropolymeric structural protein) form the basis for the structural constituent of epidermis during epidermis development. Epidermis development occurs in response to adaptation to different climatic conditions, including tick resistance [8]. Heat shock proteins have been shown to be differentially expressed between indicine and taurine cattle in tropical environments of Africa and have been associated with tropical adaptation in Zebu cattle [10, 11].

Several candidate genes related to antigen recognition, which is a key process underlying the development of immune response were identified in this study (e.g. CDC6 and TNS4, on chromosome 19 at 41,447,971-41,926,734 bp; CDK10 on chromosome 18 at 13,486,389-13,974,114 bp. The CD immune response genes were described by Meissner et al. (2012) as being closely involved with MHC molecular functions and pathways. TNFAIP8L2 has been recognized as a major player in individual immune homeostasis [13]. These observations are consistent with the tolerance of Nguni cattle to various tick and parasitic diseases. Furthermore, genomic regions harbouring DCC and EBF1, overlap with previously identified QTL underling tick resistance and nematode tolerance in

Figure 2 Smoothed F values for Nguni vs Holstein breeds comparisons across the st

autosomal genome


cattle (http://www.animalgenome.org/cgi-bin/ QTLdb/BT/search).

This study represents the first attempt at locating genomic regions associated with traits of economic importance in the Nguni breed. We identified a number of genomic regions that are directly or indirectly involved in tropical adaptation, immune response activation, ticks and parasite resistance. In addition, selected regions that overlap with QTL reported in the QTL database provide additional evidence of the significance of the detected selected regions.

References

1. Muchenje V, Dzama K, Chimonyo M, Raats JG, Strydom PE: Tick sus-ceptibility and its effects on growth performance and carcass characteristics of Nguni, Bons-mara and Angus steers raised on natural pasture. Animal 2008, 2:298-304.

2. Marufu MC, Qokweni L, Chimonyo M, Dzama K: Relationships between tick counts and coat characteristics in Nguni and Bonsmara cattle reared on semiarid rangelands in South Africa. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2011, 2:172-177.

3. Scholtz MM, Gertenbach, Hallowell G: The Nguni breed of cattle: past, present and future. The Nguni Cattle Breeders' Society 2011. ISBN:978-0-620-51723-2.

4. Matukumalli LK, Lawley CT, Schnabel RD, Taylor JF, Allan MF, Heaton MP, O'Connell J, Moore SS, Smith TPL, Sonstegard TS, Van Tassell CP: Development and charac-terization of a high density SNP genotyping assay for cattle. PLoS One 2009, 4:e5350.

5. Nielsen R: Molecular signatures of natural selection. Annu Rev Genet 2005, 39:197-218.

6. Otto SP: Detecting the form of selection from DNA sequence data. Trends Genet 2000, 16:526-529.

7. Akey JM, Zhang G, Zhang K, Jin L, Shriver MD: Interrogating a high-density SNP map for signatures of natural selection. Genome Res 2002, 12:1805-1814

8. Wang YH, Reverter A, Kemp D, McWilliam SM, Ingham A, Davis CA, Moore RJ, Lehnert SA: Gene expression profiling of Hereford Shorthorn cattle following challenge with Boophilus microplus tick larvae. Aust J Exp Agr 2007, 47:1397-1407

9. Piper EK, Jonsson NN, Gondro C, Lew-Tabor AE, Moolhuijzen P, Vance ME, Jackson LA: Immunological profiles of Bos Taurus and Bos indicus cattle infested with the cattle tick, Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus. Clin Vaccine Immunol 2009, 16:1074-1086.

10. Chan EK, Nagaraj SH, Reverter A: The evolution of tropical adaptation: comparing taurine and zebu cattle. Anim Genet 2010, 41:467-477

11. Gautier M, Flori L, Riebler A, Jaffrezic F, Laloe D, Gut I, Moazami-Goudarzi K, Foulley JL: A whole genome Bayesian scan for adaptive genetic divergence in West African cattle. BMC Genomics 2009, 10:550.

12. Meissner TB, Liu YJ, Lee KH, Li A, Biswas A, van Eggermond MC, van den Elsen PJ, Kobayashi KS: NLRC5 cooperates with the RFX transcription factor complex to induce MHC Class 1 gene expression. J Immunol 2012, 188:4951-4958.

13. Zhang L, Shi Y, Wang Y, Zhu F, Wang Q, Ma C, Chen YH, Zhang L: The unique expression profile of human TIPE2 suggests new functions beyond its role in immune regulation. Mol Immunol 2011, 48:1209-1215.


IMPROVING TRAITSthat are difficult (or costly) to measure, or traits that are measured late in life Michael MacNeil, PhD

ARC-Animal Production Institute, Irene, South Africa

and Delta G, Miles City, Montana, USA

Using selection to improve weaning weight is fairly straight forward. A stud breeder, with a scale, can measure it, report the data to an evaluation center, and have EBV in hand by the time selection decisions need to be taken. Then it is easy to rank candidates based on the EBV and choose among the top individuals. To the degree that weaning weight is heritable, this simple strategy will facilitate genetic improvement in it. All fine and good – but not all traits lend themselves to this simplistic paradigm. Let's look at a couple of examples.

How long a cow will remain productive is certainly economically important. The more calves she produces, the more calves there are to amortize the cost of developing the replacement heifer and fewer replacement heifers need to be developed. But, there is no way to know how long a heifer will remain in the herd without choosing her as a replacement. The trait “longevity” is only measured well after the selection decision concerning that female has been made. Making matters even worse, the trait “female longevity” is sex-limited and the choosing among bull candidates to produce long-lived daughters is even more challenging.

A primary reason to raise cattle is to produce meat. Area of the longissimus muscle has been used as a measure of the meat content of a carcass and the greater the meat content of the carcass the more valuable it is. Unfortunately, the only direct measurement of the muscle area comes from the animal's carcass and harvest of an animal obviously precludes its use for breeding.

To effectively include a high-accuracy EBV for traits that are difficult (or costly) to measure, or traits that are measured late in life in a selection decision requires adding information to the EBV calculation beyond directly measuring the traits of interest. There are many more similar traits than just the two mentioned above; for example, tick resistance, feed intake, disease resistance, etc. How can the needed ancillary information be gathered? Today, there are two prevalent answers to this question: indicator traits and genomic prediction. An obvious example of an indicator trait would be the use of ultrasound to approximate the longissimus muscle area. Genomic prediction combines genotypes, phenotypes and pedigree data, whereas traditional genetic evaluation only used the phenotypes and pedigree data in prediction of EBV.

All indicator traits add accuracy to genetic evaluation of target trait. However, how much accuracy is added to the EBV for a target trait though use of an indicator trait depends on the genetic regression of target trait on indicator trait. Thus, high value indicator traits are characterized by high heritability and large (positive or negative) genetic correlation with target trait. The use of ultrasound scanning to predict EBV for longissimus muscle area is an example of an indicator trait that is currently employed in national cattle evaluation systems. The ultrasound scan has heritability of approximately 0.28 and a genetic correlation with carcass longissimus muscle area of 0.73. Thus, ultrasound scanning provides a useful indicator trait, particularly because it is possible to collect measurements from relatives as well as from the candidates for selection, and from many more animals than could be evaluated at harvest. The primary deficiency of this example indicator trait is that its heritability is only moderate. For many target traits, further research is needed to identify indicator traits that are of truly high value.

Genomic prediction unlocks the “black box” of traditional genetic evaluation systems. Assays that measure particular genetic variants or DNA markers have seen application in all livestock species. Research has led to understanding the underlying basis for several deleterious recessive conditions, and with this understanding has come the ability to manage them in a breeding program. Many economically relevant

traits are not the consequence of a genotype at a single locus. However, for these traits too, the use of genomic prediction has great promise. These efforts are enabled by having a few thousand animals, within a breed, genotyped using technology referred to as a SNP (“snip”) chip and the availability of complementary genome sequence information.

Why is the promise of genomic prediction so great? Let's put genomic prediction in the context of any other indicator trait as an aid in understanding its potential. Because the SNP assay is a direct measure of the genotype its heritability is expected to be exceedingly high, approaching 1.0. Further, if the genomic prediction can be trained on the economically relevant target trait, the genetic correlation between the genomic prediction and the target trait is also expected to also be very high, again approaching 1.0. This leads to the vision that a genomically predicted value could be a nearly perfect indicator trait; one which virtually obviates the need for measuring the target trait directly.

Today, for a variety of reasons, the promise of genomic prediction has yet to be realized. In many breeds, resources have not allowed the training of breed-specific and accurate genomic prediction equations and the implementation across breeds has been disappointingly poor. It is hoped that, in time, either or both of these problems can be addressed. Today's technology provides landmarks throughout the genome. This technology can be very powerful under the right conditions. However, what is truly needed is an assay that incorporates the variants in the DNA that cause differences in phenotype rather than just near-by landmarks. Here too is a plea for additional discovery science that is needed to bring this promise to fruition.

In summary, traits that are difficult (or costly) to measure, or traits that are measured late in life are economically important and should be considered in making selection decisions. Today, including them is challenging because they have EBV with low accuracy but will become easier in time. This ease is likely to result from including better indicators of genetic merit for these traits in a system of national cattle evaluation.


to participate in Phase C testing at IreneFIRST BLACK COMMERCIAL FARMER

Leon de Lange, ARC-API, Irene

The ARC takes pride in the fact that for the first time a black commercial farmer tested his Limousin bull at the Irene bull testing centre. Mr Isaac Mokgatla attended a Beef Cattle Management course at Irene and got so inspired he subsequently decided to join the stud breeding industry. He bought his first animals from John & Tracey Devonport, well-known breeders of Limousin cattle from the Free State, and a bull from Mr Hennie

Viljoen, also a well-known breeder. His first bull calf (Isamo Chief, IS 1301) was sent for central standardized growth testing (Phase C) at the Irene Bull testing Centre during 2014.

Mr Leon de Lange, bull test centre manager, made no secret about the fact that he was very impressed with the quality of the bull. During the test period the bull showed very good growth potential and received a bronze certificate for his performance. Isaac was very happy, but of course would have been even more delighted if the bull had received a gold merit, according to him. The end weight of the bull was 434kg, with an ADG of 1.716 (91 index) and an FCR of 5.77 (101 index).

Isaac farms in the Sebokeng area and buys cattle from local auctions, where after he fattens them. Once in a desired condition, he sells them to local communities for their funerals, weddings and traditional ceremonies. He also often re-sell them at the local auctions. Isaac has already attended a number of

Mr Mokgatla with his Limousin bull at Irene test centre

courses relating to his farming enterprise and is continually learning a lot about farming, to put it in his own words. From 1986 -2007 he was a police officer with the rank of Inspector (warrant officer), but since then he has focused on stud breeding, with the aim of selling good quality bulls in future to the commercial farmers and other stud breeders.

GEBRUIK VAN TEELBULLE Erick Joosten, LNR-DPI, Irene

Elke bul wat as 'n teelbul gebruik gaan word, gaan die prestasie van 'n kudde verander. Maar nie alle verandering is verbetering nie! 'n Struktureel korrekte, funksioneel geskikte, prestasie getoetsde bul is die tipe bul wat sal verseker dat die verandering 'n verbetering sal wees.

1. Struktueel korrek

Hier word die bul op 3 vlakke ge-evalueer. Eerstens kyk ons na die bul se bek, bene (en hoewe) en teelballe. Hier moet al 3 eienskappe sonder enige abnormaliteite wees.

Daarna kyk ons na die balans, basislyn (skede en naelvel ontwikkeling) en bespiering. Waar die eerste 3 eienskappe dieselfde vir alle vleisbeesrasse is, sal daar by die tweede stel evaluerings sekere norme van variasie wees tussen verskillende rasse. Soek altyd die mees geskikte voorkoms vir die ras wat u wil gebruik.

Laastens, wat is daai iets besonders aan die bul? As die omgewing waar die bul moet gaan werk baie warm is, het die bul 'n besonderse kwaliteit van haar? Het hy besonderse sprong van rib, lengte van lyf, rugbespiering of donker hoewe? Met ander woorde wat maak die bul meer as net 'n bul?

2. Funksioneel geskik

Elke teelbul wat seisoen na seisoen gebruik word degenereer maar oor tyd. Kyk maar na jouself in die spieël - tyd behandel almal nie ewe goed nie. As die jong bul wat jy die eerste keer gebruik, 'n effens gedraaide skrotum-sak het, weet dit gaan net meer gedraai word oor tyd. As die jong bul se skede-opening vlesig is, gaan dit net meer en meer so raak. En as die jong bul se skede 'n pro-lapse toon, gaan dit 'n bosluisbyt paradys oor tyd word.

As daar 'n effense hoefprobleem is voor die teelseisoen begin, stel dit reg voor die tyd. As Willie die bul eers begin werk, en hy ontwikkel 'n hoefprobleem, gaan hy net Willie die Wil-nie-werk bul word. Die vooraf ondersoek, versorging en gereedmaking van jou teelbulle begin reeds 12 weke voor die teelseisoen begin - teken dit aan op jou bestuurskalender.

Die teelbul moet elke keer voor 'n teelseisoen deeglik ondersoek word vir teelgeskiktheid (Breeding soundness examination). Onthou dat geslagsiektes een van die grootste struikelblokke


is wat die nasionale vleisbeeskudde moet oorkom om die reproduksiepotensiaal te bereik wat moontlik is op ons natuurlike hulpbronne. Maak seker u teelbulle en koeie is vry van geslagsiektes, en pas biosekuriteit en kwarentyn toe op nuwe diere wat aangekoop word.

3. Prestasie toetsing

Prestasiemeting is 'n baie belangrike gedeelte van enige kudde wat wil verseker dat die veranderings in die kudde ook verbetering is. Die jaag na die beste of hoogste prestasiewaarde is die grootste fout wat 'n stoetteler kan maak. Die totale verbetering van elke dier in die kudde deur die korrekte, objektiewe prestasiemeting is die nimmereindigende doel.

Elke dier wat die toepaslike ouderdom vir 'n spesifieke meting bereik, byvoorbeeld speen, jaaroud of 18 maande, moet gemeet word. Hoe groter 'n evalu-eringsgroep, hoeveel te beter die waarde van die meting.

Tydgenoot-groepe moet so korrek moontlik saam-gestel word dat die effek van die omgewing die minimum invloed het op die meting. Poog om die tydgenote so bes moontlik te behou vir elke ander fase van meting. Korrekte prestasiemeting lei to akkurate teelwaardes. Hoe meer diere en hoe meer akkuraat daar gemeet word, hoe betroubaarder is die teelwaardes. Teelwaardes kan slegs in 'n stoetkudde gebruik word as daar 'n deeglike teeldoelstelling en goed gedefinieërde teeldoelwitte is. Moet nooit teelwaardes in seleksie gebruik indien u eie kudde teeldoelwitte nie in plek is nie, en ook nie as jy nie jou eie prestasiewaardes van jou kudde goed ken of verstaan nie.

Moet nie vir te veel doelwitte op 'n slag selekteer nie. By nuwe teelbulle, selekteer altyd eers vir die teelwaardes waarin u kudde sterk is op die bul se syfers, sodat hierdie waardes behoue kan bly, en daarna vir die waardes waar die kudde moet verbeter. Evalueer elke teelbul wat gebruik is weer, soos nageslag se metings bykom, of daardie bul nog voldoen aan die teeldoelwitte waarvoor hy aanvanklik geselekteer is. Dit geld vir beide prestasie van die nageslag, sowel as die strukturele korrektheid van die nageslag.

Dit is baie belangrik om te onthou dat geen prestasie eienskap in isolasie staan nie. Elke eienskap is positief met ander gekorrileerd (verbetering in 1 is ook 'n verbetering in die ander), of negatief. Wees dus deeglik bewus van watter ander eienskappe gekorrileerd is met die eienskap waarvoor in die teeldoelwit geselekteer word.

4. Gebruik van die teelbul

Wanneer die teelbulle uitgesoek is op grond van die voorafgaande kriteria, moet daar besluit word hoe die bul gebruik gaan word. 'n Veilige riglyn is:

2 jaar oud = 20 vroulike diere



Ongeag die getalle is daar egter altyd 'n risiko dat 'n teelbul ongeskik kan raak vir dekking gedurende die dekseisoen. Daarom beveel ek met die grootste vrymoedigheid aan dat u gebruik maak van meerbulparing. Vandag is die koste van DNS toetsing minimaal in vergelyking met die totale insetkoste van die kalf, en daar is genoeg instansies soos die LNR wat dit vinning en akkuraat kan doen, sodat die ouerskap bepaling uiteindelik min moeite is.

Net 'n paar aanbevelings ten opsigte van meerbulparings:

Moet nie die verhoudings soos hierbo genoem oorskry nie

Aantal bulle per teeltrop moet altyd 'n ongelyke getal wees (3, 5, 7)

Daar moet 'n sterk, volwasse bul wees (anker bul) waarvan verwag word om die meeste nageslag te verwek

Die ander 2 bulle moet geneties so na moontlik aan die anker bul wees, veral t.o.v. die teelwaardes van die anker bul

Deeglike monitering van die teeltroppe bly belangrik. As een van die 3 bulle in die teeltrop onbevoeg raak, sal die ander 2 die wa deur die drif kan trek. Maar as 2 van die 3 bulle ongeskik raak, sal die enkel oorblywende bul nie alleen die dragtigheids syfer bereik wat vereis word nie

Neem die DNS monster (sterthare) vir ouerskap bepaling van die kalf so vroeg as moontlik na die kalf se geboorte

Maak seker dat die DNS profiele van u teelbulle reeds voor die dekseisioen gedoen is

Maak doodseker daar is nie besmetting van die DNS monster tydens die neem daarvan of hantering na die tyd nie.

Vleisbeesteling is 'n langtermyn onderneming. Tog verg dit deeglike beplanning. 'n Telingsfout vandag kan so lank as 10 jaar by jou spook. Tydens al u beplanning en besluitneming, maak gebruik van 'n tweede opinie of kundiges se raad. Veral as dit kom by die warboel teelwaardes, kontak gerus 'n konsultant om u te help met die optrek van teeldoelwitte en interpretasies van teelwaardes.

My dank aan elke teler, veekundige en produsent wat hulle kennis en data met my gedeel het en my in staat stel om steeds elke dag meer te leer.

Vir meer inligting of navrae, kontak my gerus by 012 6729111.

TABLE 1 Comparison between Rapid-kit field test and Rose Bengal tests on evaluation

of contagious abortion (CA) in village cows.


of a Contagious Abortus rapid kit testTHE BENEFITS

Prof TL Nedambale, ARC-Animal Production Institute

Brucellosis is a disease that causes serious economic losses to the animal industry and extensive morbidity in humans and thus constitutes an important public health problem that is recognized worldwide. It

is an infectious disease caused by gram-negative facultative intercellular bacterial organisms of the genus Brucella that are pathogenic for a wide variety of animals and human beings. Although brucellosis can attack other animals, its main threat is to cattle, bison and swine. The disease is manifested by repro-ductive failure which includes abortions, birth of unthrifty calves and retained placentae in female animals. The disease has been prevalent in South Africa for a number of years with some of the provinces receiving accreditation for Bovine Brucellosis and a large variation in prevalence was found within the dip tank areas. The Agricultural Research Council-Animal Production Institute (ARC-API), in partnership with Technology Innovation Agency (TIA) and Provincial Departments of Agriculture, are currently rol l ing out the implementation of the Livestock Development Programme. In this initiative the ARC is introducing and expanding on the dissemination of assisted reproductive technologies. Part of this initiative involves detection of Brucella in communal areas. Tests were undertaken to detect Brucella in the blood samples collected from communal cows at three provinces, namely Limpopo, Kwa-Zulu Natal and the Eastern Cape. Two types of serological methods were used; rapid kit test in the field and blood testing in the laboratory for certification. The main focus was on the rapid kit test method which is easy to use and effective. Moreover, no special training or equipment is required and results can be observed within 5-15 minutes.

Blood collection (A), rapid kit test (B) and the rose Bengal tests (C)

A B C

Positive (A) and Negative (B) results following the rapid kit test

A B

Interestingly, no major differences were observed in both the rapid kit and Rose Bengal methods. Although the rapid kit test cannot be used under sunny and extremely hot conditions because it may show invalid results, it is the most reliable and better method for field conditions, especially in remote areas. Communal farmers can benefit from using such tools as they do not have to wait for months to know the health status of their herds. It will further assist in taking management decisions.

ARC official explaining the rapid kit test to communal farmers in Kwa Zulu Natal.

Province Numberof cows

Rapid kit test

Rose Bengal test

Negative

Positive

Invalid Negative Positive

Eastern Cape

34

34 (100%)

0 (0%)

0

34 0 (0%)

Limpopo

204

177 (87%)

6 (3%)

21 (10%) 198 (97%) 6 (3%)

Kwa Zulu Natal 189 169 (89%) 0 (0%) 20 (11%) 189 (100%) 0 (0%)

Total 427 380(89%) 6 (1%) 41 (10%) 421 (99%) 6 (1%)


die Beef Improvement Federation se 2014 kongres in Lincoln Nebraska

Arthur de Villiers, Arcadia Bonsmaras, Vrede

BYWONING VAN

Om mee te begin, dit was voorwaar 'n groot voorreg om hierdie kongres te kon bywoon. Ek het die besoek afgeskop deur toevallig saam met 'n groep Piedmontese telers die U.S. Meat Animal Research Centre ('n Staatsproefstasie van ±32 000 akker) te besoek. Kongresgangers is verwelkom die aand van 18 Junie 2014 deur verskeie sprekers , die onderwerpe : “50 Years of Service to the Beef Industry” en “The Genomics Era”. Die lesings en die persone wat dit aangebied het, was van hoogstaande gehalte. Ek lys graag van die lesings, en gee by elk 'n enkele punt wat as 'n deurdra boodskap geneem kan word:

Ons moet almal in die industrie meer doeltreffend raak – eerder as individue.

Genomics – “..and we are barely scratching the surface”

Ons moet meer dink aan produktiwiteit per hektaar as produktiwiteit per koei.

Op 19 Junie is die Kongres amptelik geopen deur die Goewerneur van Nebraska, Lt. Gov. Heidemann. Wat my getref het van sy openings-toespraak was sy woorde: “Farmers – They deserve our respect and recognition! I want to thank you for what you do!”

Van die lesings oor die volgende paar dae was soos volg:

1 Clay Mathis van die King Ranch Institute: “Economic consideration for profitable cowherds”

“Putting the pieces together” and “Unit cost of production” sal bepaal of 'n boerdery (besigheid) kan oorleef. Hy het afgesluit deur te sê dat vir elke 1% verbetering in speenpersentasie, inkomste met $6/ koei verbeter (m.a.w. ±R66/koei). Optimaliseer dus jou speenpersentasie.

2 Dr. Dan Shrike van die Universiteit van Illinois: “Heifer intake and feed efficiency as indicators of cow intake and efficiency”. “Cowherd efficiency is difficult to measure”.Koeidoeltreffendheid is gedefinieer in terme van: - Vrugbaarheid - Kilogram kalf gespeen

- Langslewendheid

3 Rick Funston van die Univ. van Nebraska: “Decreasing costs through improved heifer development strategies”

Reproduksie is steeds die belangrikste eienskap om voor te selekteer en te bestuur.

Groter teelwaardes op skrotum lei na vroeër puberteit. Waardevolle inligting kan op die volgende webblad gevind word: www.beef.unl.edu

4 Kim Vonnahme van die North Dakota State University: “The long lasting Impact of Nutrition”

Die eerste 9 maande in 'n fetus se lewe het 'n invloed op die res van sy lewe. Voeding van die moeder tydens dragtigheid is dus baie belangrik.

5 Paneelbespreking: ”Merging genetics and management for Improved Profitability” o.l.v. Tom Field

Alles gaan oor wins – NIE produksie NIE. Daar moet op reproduksie gefokus word.

6 Mike MacNeil van Delta G: “Cowherd efficiency and adap-tability”

Seleksie is 'n baie belangrike hulpmiddel – “the response is cumulative and permanent. It requires discipline and consistency in the use of performance records”. The difference between OUTPUTS and INPUTS are COW EFFECIENCY, Reproduction, longevity cow size and milk production play a major role in cow efficiency.

7 Dan Moser van die Kansas State University: “Don't blame the bull: Rethinking Contemporary Groups Starting at or Before Conception”

1ste kalf koeie in aparte kontemporêre groepe – hou dit so tot 18 maande. Nadeel – kontemporêre groepe word kleiner. Die kwessie van kontemporêre groepe is baie kompleks. 'n Klein kontemporêre groep kan dalk oorkom word deur genomiese evaluasie

8 Economic Benefits And Using Genetic Selection To Reduce The Prevalence Of Bovine Respiratory Disease Complex In Beef Feedlot Cattle – Holly Neibergs, Washington State University

9 Is It Possible To Genetically Change The Nutrient Profile Of Beef? – Raluca Mateescu – University Of Florida

10 Changes In Dietary Regime Impact Fatty Acid Profile Of Beef – Susan Duckett – Clemson University

11 Improving Feed Efficiency In The Feedlot: Opportunities And Challenges – Galen Erickson – University Of Nebraska – Lincoln

Nat “distillers grain” is beste voer grondmateriaal vir Amerikaanse voerkrale. Die benadering is: “Wetter is better”. Gewone mielies in die rantsoene doen die swakste in die voerkrale. Die kwaliteit ruvoer wat gebruik word is belangrik. Beter ruvoer = beter resultate. Speenkalwers is meer effektief in voerkrale as ouer koeie (“background” diere)

12 Relationship Between Selection For Feed Efficiency And Methane Production – Harvey Freetly, Us Meat Animal Research Centre

'n Koei wat nie kalf speen nie het 'n groter Metaan “foot print”. Met koeie wat kalwers speen, is 'n hoër Koei/kalf verhouding gelykstaande aan 'n kleiner metaan “footprint”

13 Opportunities And Challenges For A New Approach To Genomic Prediction: Dr Dorian Garrick, Iowa State University

Blup is nog steeds relevant, maar Genomically Enhanced Blup, dit is wat die eindoel is.

Dit was vir my 'n groot voorreg om as wenner van die LNR se Nasionale Kudde van jaar vir 2013, persoonlik te kon ervaar waar die wetenskap en die bedryf mekaar ontmoet.


Unraveling the secrets of natureGENOMICS

Ben Greyling and Frans Jordaan ARC Animal Production Institute; [email protected]; [email protected]

Figure 1 The structure of DNA, a double stranded (almost like a railway track) molecule

that is remarkably simple. The strands (or tracks) are composed of four different building blocks (A,C. G and T) arranged in a specific sequence and which is individual specific.

Introduction

Genomics has been in the limelight a lot lately as a technology aimed at improving the quality of our lives, whether applied directly to humans or the animals they farm with. In order to fully appreciate the potential and

mode of application of this technology to our benefit, we need to understand the basic principles that it is based upon. Being informed will also aid in our adoption of this technology as a valuable tool in beef cattle breeding.

Genomics is based on the DNA sequence of an individual (human or animal), a sequence that has been part of our cells' make-up for thousands of years. Scientists realized many decades ago already the potential benefits and applications of deciphering the code (sequence). A monumental breakthrough in this regard was achieved almost three decades ago with the birth of the "Human Genome Project" (HGP). The project's main goals were to determine the sequence of all 3 billion building blocks of human DNA, to establish exactly where the genes are located, how they function and with which characteristics or traits they are associated with, whether good or bad. Scientists have subsequently started reaping the benefits of this project, both from an economic as well as a clinical point of view. From an economical point of view the project has been labeled as one of the most successful technological advances ever, while from a clinical point of view, several applications have already seen the light. For example, it was shown that people with particular DNA sequences are at higher risk to develop certain diseases like cancers and diabetes. Physicians are now able to design more effective treatment protocols and medicines formulated for a variety of diseases associated with particular DNA sequences of individuals. Research has also shown the resemblance between genes (DNA sequences that contain vital information relating to particular traits/ characteristics) from humans, insects and animals. The latter enables scientists to use animals and even insects as models for studies of diseases in humans and its subsequent treatment. An interesting example here is where a human gene that is associated with the early development of Parkinson's disease was implanted in fruit flies, the flies eventually developing symptoms that were remarkably consistent with those found in humans.

Genomics in cattle

In July 2014 a scientific article reported on the progress made thus far with the “1000 Bulls Genome Project", an international collaborative research project aimed at developing genomic technologies to enable more accurate selection by breeders. The latter is of course essential when it comes to the ability of farmers to stay competitive by fast tracking genetic progress in their herds. The article also reported on, amongst others, new information regarding specific DNA sequences or so called SNP's that are associated with certain traits in cattle. As mentioned earlier, to fully understand and appreciate the potential applications of genomics in the beef breeding industry, it is essential to take note of a few basic principles on which the technology is based:

DNA is the blueprint of human and animal life, and together with the environment, determines how an animal will perform. The DNA code can basically be compared to a person's identity number: The code consists of four different letters (A, C, G and T) in a given sequence . The big difference however (Figure 1)between our DNA code and our 13 digit identification number is that our DNA code consists of approximately 3 billion letters!

All individuals on earth (except for identical twins) has a unique DNA profile or sequence, but surprisingly we are all 99.9% identical at the DNA sequence level. Only about 3% of our DNA code consists of genes (of which we have about 25 000). Genes are the pieces of DNA sequences that determine traits, for example eye color, susceptibility to certain diseases and whether the animal will be double-muscled

The DNA of animals and plants is neatly packaged in the cell by nature in what we call chromosomes , of which cattle (Figure 2)has 30 pairs. The genes are spread over many different chromosomes, and it is important to remember that some features are determined by single genes, while others, probably the majority by far, by the interaction of a variety of different genes

Individuals may differ at the DNA sequence level in several ways . Two individuals can differ by only a single (Figure 1)building block, a difference called a "SNP". Many studies are now underway to determine which SNP's are associated with which traits. Greater differences such as insertions and deletions can also occur, which in many cases have catastrophic consequences. Chondrodysplasia or "bulldog calf syndrome" is a disorder that results from a few letters in the animal's DNA code that are simply omitted. In short, DNA can be compared with a pearl necklace made from four colors of pearls, and how the colors are arranged sequentially basically acts as an instruction manual for the individual

One of the most important principles of genetics, related to breeding and selection, is how the DNA code is inherited. Exactly 50% of the DNA of each parent is passed on to the offspring, a principle that is central to the farmer's ability to select for certain traits over generations and to verify parentage


Figure 2 A Chromosome, the packaging material of DNA in living cells

of offspring. Parentage verification on-farm also forms part of many breeders' daily tasks, since in many cases it is a prerequisite for registration of the birth. Accurate pedigree information, as verified by DNA parentage tests, in turn forms the basis for estimating credible and accurate breeding values, one of the most powerful selection tools to the disposal of the breeder

DNA technology is also used inter alia for the identification of individual animals in the livestock industry, which is also increasingly important in South Africa from a forensic stock theft and poaching point of view.

DNA technology is widely applied in population genetics studies that primarily aim to quantify levels of genetic variation and inbreeding; in the diagnosis of genetically heritable diseases and in conservation genetics studies where, among others, the structure within and between animal populations are assessed

Beef cattle breeding: Genomics opening up new possibilities

We already know that conventional selection methods are not very effective when it comes to certain characteristics, e.g. those that are expensive to measure (e.g. feed intake), those that can only be measured at an advanced stage of an animal's life (e.g. mature weight) or those that can only be measured in one sex (e.g. milk production). Moreover, it is difficult to select for low heritable traits such as fertility, and therefore the genetic improvement of these traits are as a rule relatively slow. This is where genomics is very promising and can help farmers to become more effective in these traditionally "hard to measure" traits. The primary aim is not only to be able to more accurately predict how an animal will perform, it is also very desirable to predict performance as early as possible in an animal's lifetime. The latter will result in substantial cost savings since we know that progeny testing is not only expensive but also very time consuming. One of the great benefits that genomics holds, and this is already experienced with dairy cattle, is accurate genomic breeding values for young animals that enables a significant increase in the rate of genetic progress.

It is important to bear in mind that increased accuracy regarding breeding value estimates depends on a number of factors, including the number of performance records available for the animal (which is to some extent associated with his age), the number of his relatives for which performance data is available, the heritability of the specific traits in question and the type of trait in question. Research in genomics will obviously also contribute to our understanding of complex traits. The trick is to identify the specific DNA sequences that are directly affecting these traits and eventually to use the information to develop models that can quantify the association between the traits and the DNA sequences. In principle it boils down to being able to select for animals with specific "favorable" DNA sequences and to eliminate “bad” or “unfavorable” DNA sequences.

Despite all the advantages and potential applications that is offered by genomics, it only complements existing technologies and by no

means replaces current systems such as performance testing. Performance test data and pedigree information continues to be the backbone of breeding value estimations, and the genomic component add additional and improved accuracy. Of critical importance however are the expectations from breeders regarding this technology, especially when it comes to the returns on investments to be made. The latter largely depends on the specific breeding objectives for the herd, the production system and the needs of the market.

From adoption to implementation

A prerequisite prior to adoption of a technology is to recognise its credibility and value it offers. The first practical step to take is to compile a reference population for each breed. This population should have comprehensive and as complete as possible performance data and pedigree information available. A good start is a reference population that consists of one thousand individuals.

The next step is to determine the DNA sequences or SNP's for the animals in this population and then to determine the association between these sequences and the animal's performance characteristics. In other words, models/formulas are developed that describe this association. In simple terms, this means a model that describes the correlation between the DNA sequence and the trait in question. The last step is to verify the models on a test population and to assess how accurate can we predict an animal's performance, based on genomic breeding values. If the verification process is satisfactory, the models can be used to predict genomic breeding values for animals with or even without performance data.

Research is currently underway to investigate the possibilities regarding the combination of different breeds in the reference population in order to accommodate cross-breds and also small breeds with low numbers and little performance data available.

The ARC and Genomics

The ARC plays a leading role when it comes to exploiting genomics to benefit the industry as a whole and to ensure that the breeder has access to the benefits that the technology offers. The ARC is a member of the "Livestock Genomics Consortium" who, on behalf of the entire industry, joins hands with all the role players to address the needs and priorities of our country. This consortium has since submitted a multi-institutional project aimed at exploiting Genomics to the full. The ARC also has a fully equipped biotechnology platform at Onderstepoort that houses one of the most advanced DNA research laboratories in the southern hemisphere. The platform is hosted and supported by a large team of expert researchers which among others are already looking at genomic studies on a variety of livestock species, including cattle.


LNR-VLEISBEES AANTEKENING- EN VERBETERINGSKEMAKONTAKBESONDERHEDE

Ben Greyling (Dr.) [email protected] 012 672 9052 079 874 6875 Frans Jordaan [email protected] 012 672 9085 079 889 4091

* RVI - Residuele Voerinname Toetse* Ultrasoniese Skandering (Geakkrediteerde tegnici) * Fase A,B,C en D; Wegings, Konsultasies, Keurings, Plaas sagteware ondersteuning* Blup en veilingskatalogus navrae

Leon De Lange [email protected] 012 672 9326 082 292 2273

Erick Joosten [email protected] 012 672 9092 082 204 2379

Stephen Rasebotsa [email protected] 012 672 9120 082 701 9636

Johan Binedell [email protected] 033 355 9441 083 799 6600

Freek Botes

[email protected]

033 355 9441

083 232 4234

Jurgen Hendriks [email protected] 051 861 1175 084 304 3904

Lerato Maboa [email protected] 051 861 1175

Melville Ferreira [email protected] 053 927 4335 084 506 0068

Tebogo Serapelwane [email protected] 053 927 4335 083 711 2224

Benedict Sekwadi [email protected] 053 927 4335 079 090 7881

Tinus Viljoen [email protected] 021 809 3327 072 470 8386

Dienste sluit in:

IRENE Faks: 012 672 9202

Naam E-pos adres Kontaknommer Selnommer

KZN Faks: 033 355 9423

OOS-KAAP Faks: 041 404 7211

Sakkie van der Merwe [email protected] 041 404 7210 082 537 1487

VRYSTAAT Faks: 051 447 6179

VRYBURG Faks: 053 927 4333

WES-KAAP Faks: 021 809 3583

Erick JoostenErick JoostenErick Joosten

Frans Jordaan,Frans Jordaan,Frans Jordaan,

Dr Ben GreylingDr Ben GreylingDr Ben Greyling

Leon de Lange Leon de Lange Leon de Lange

Sakkie vd MerweSakkie vd MerweSakkie vd MerweFreek BotesFreek BotesFreek BotesJohan BinedellJohan BinedellJohan Binedell

Melville FerreiraMelville FerreiraMelville Ferreira

Lerato MaboaLerato MaboaLerato MaboaJurgen HendriksJurgen HendriksJurgen Hendriks

Benedict SekwadiBenedict SekwadiBenedict Sekwadi

Tinus ViljoenTinus ViljoenTinus Viljoen

Stephen RasebotsaStephen RasebotsaStephen Rasebotsa

Tebogo SerapelwaneTebogo SerapelwaneTebogo Serapelwane
