British Limousin Cattle Society

Alison Glasgow

What’s been going on?• Database development ~ Registrations & Perf. Recording• Addition of

Online Census Online Sales Entries Online Genotyping Service Revision of sale catalogues

www.basco.org

• Evaluation Review of genetic parameters Review of weightings in Indexes (BV, CV) International data Presentation of EBVs

What Next?

Breed Improvement Plan for Limousin

A process initiated by ‘roadmapping’ & surveys

Same approach as a herd improvement planStep 1: Identify the herd/breed’s current performance

Step 2: Identify the traits of economic importance

Step 3: Identify the herd/breed’s Goals

Step 4: Measures required to achieve the Goals

Step 5: Action!

Step 6: Review Progress & Adapt the Strategy

Draft

Goal 1To reduce genetic change in Calving Ease to a point at the end of this Strategy period (2024) where it maintains a constant 0 rate of annual change.

Goal 2 To establish and implement solutions to address disease issues as they become available

Goal 3To establish and implement solutions to identify and improve feed efficiency

Goal 4To improve the rate of gain in growth and carcase traits, without compromise to correlated traits

Goal 5To investigate Limousin meat quality and ways in which it can differentiate Limousin beef in the market place

Goal 6 To maintain current levels of genetic progress in Docility

Goal 7To improve current levels of progress being made for Age at 1st Calving and Calving Interval. To investigate wider measures of cow production efficiency.

Goal 8 To maintain current levels of genetic progress in Longevity.

Goal 9To generate positive genetic change and improve 200 Day Milk Weight within the breed.

Draft

What Next?

What Next? Goal 1

To reduce genetic change in Calving Ease to a point at the end of this Strategy period (2024) where it maintains a constant 0 rate of annual change.

Goal 2 To establish and implement solutions to address disease issues as they become available

Goal 3To establish and implement solutions to identify and improve feed efficiency

Goal 4To improve the rate of gain in growth and carcase traits, without compromise to correlated traits

Goal 5To investigate Limousin meat quality and ways in which it can differentiate Limousin beef in the market place

Goal 6 To maintain current levels of genetic progress in Docility

Goal 7To improve current levels of progress being made for Age at 1st Calving and Calving Interval. To investigate wider measures of cow fertility.

Goal 8 To maintain current levels of genetic progress in Longevity.

Goal 9To generate positive genetic change and improve 200 Day Milk Weight within the breed.

Calving Ease•Publication of myostatin genotypes•Better on-farm recording•Use of new VIA infrastructure

Feed Efficiency•Defra funding•Potential via TSB

What Next?

What Next?Improvement in Growth and Carcase Traits

The Carcase Traits Project•£1.5m project funded by Govt Technology Strategy Board•BLCS, ABP and SAC are partners• Aim: to exploit refined carcase measures

for a wider range of muscle groups, producing genomic breeding values for these groups

Carcase Traits Project – Why?

Carcase Traits Project – Why?

Heritability of Carcass Cuts (T. Pabiou ICBF)

Pabiou et al. J. Anim. Sci. (2009)

Round : 0.86

Sirloin : 0.67

Strip-Loin : 0.49

Rib-Roast : 0.14Chuck : 0.83

Shoulder : 0.79

Brisket : 0.25

Ribs & Flank : 0.03

HindquarterForequarter

A main outcome…

A SNP Key for Limousin

Carcase Traits Project – How?

BCMS

Why We Like It!

• Greater integration of supply chainMarket signals more closely aligned to product

• Maintain competitiveness More able to invest in new technology (and research)

• It will provide a platform for future trait analysis

• BLCS differentiated in the pedigree market place as a leading organisation in genomic selection

What Next? Goal 1

To reduce genetic change in Calving Ease to a point at the end of this Strategy period (2024) where it maintains a constant 0 rate of annual change.

Goal 2 To establish and implement solutions to address disease issues as they become available

Goal 3To establish and implement solutions to identify and improve feed efficiency

Goal 4To improve the rate of gain in growth and carcase traits, without compromise to correlated traits

Goal 5To investigate Limousin meat quality and ways in which it can differentiate Limousin beef in the market place

Goal 6 To maintain current levels of genetic progress in Docility

Goal 7To improve current levels of progress being made for Age at 1st Calving and Calving Interval. To investigate wider measures of cow fertility.

Goal 8 To maintain current levels of genetic progress in Longevity.

Goal 9To generate positive genetic change and improve 200 Day Milk Weight within the breed.

Draft