Genetics based guidelines to buying a bull at an auction

Frans Jordaan and Dr Ben Greyling, researchers at the Agricultural Research Council, write about the importance of choosing bulls based on breeding and performance indices, rather than their visual appearance.

- Frans Jordaan and Dr Ben Greyling

FAST FACTS

Before buying a bull, do your homework on the genetic potential of the animal.

Genetic improvement can only be achieved over several generations. Therefore, buying in the right bull is essential to the long-term sustainability of your herd.

Avoid comparing breeding values across breeds, as these will differ substantially.

The days of buying bulls based purely on their functional appearance are over. While functional efficiency is important, it is also crucial that the buyer does his or her homework regarding the genetic potential and merit of the bulls prior to the auction so as to be able to make an informed decision on the day of the auction.

Auction catalogues are, however, not always easy to interpret and can be challenging for commercial and stud breeders during the auction amidst a lot of activity going on and no time to waste between the lots on auction.

If breeders are knowledgeable regarding the interpretation of best linear unbiased prediction (BLUP) values, which depict an animal’s genetic potential, it can be a huge advantage in helping them meet their breeding objectives much quicker.

It needs to be asked whether breeders really understand these figures and the use of breeding values as a selection tool for choosing the best bull for their herds.

It will always be risky to buy a registered bull without breeding values, especially since a bull can have such a huge genetic impact on a cowherd. In addition to this, genetic improvement is a slow process and can only be achieved over generations. This implies that the wrong choice of bull can be so detrimental to your herd that it can be costly to recover from the damage caused and will be a setback to achieving your breeding goals.