Focus on Auctions

Frans Jordaan, Prof Michiel Scholtz and Dr Ben Greyling from Agricultural Research Council-Animal Production and Martin Ras from the Afric Afrikaners Stud compiled these useful recommendations to assist cattle breeders in making the most of the information contained in the catalogue when they attend auctions. For more detail, email Jordaan at [e-mail], or call him on 012 672 9085.

- Frans Jordaan, Prof Michiel Scholtz, Dr Ben Greyling and Martin Ras

Auction catalogue as a guideline for selection

The importance of breeding objectives for a commercial herd was discussed during the Afrikaner Bushveld Study Group’s ‘School of Beef’, hosted at the recent Thabazimbi Show. Breeding objectives should be tailor-made for each herd, depending on the environment, breed type, market requirements and production system. Selecting specific breeding material to improve your herd can be a challenging process. The lack of specific breeding goals for your herd could result in the aimless selection of a breeding bull, and this can place the genetic potential of your cowherd at a disadvantage. The interpretation of the auction catalogue, especially on traits of economic importance such as fertility and growth, are essential tools for the commercial beef producer. Fertility and growth will enhance the optimum number and weight of weaner calves, in order to improve profitability.

IMPORTANCE OF THE BREEDING BULL

Best Linear Unbiased Prediction (BLUP) information on the catalogue is based on performance data and is an unbiased, objective method to identify superior genetics. The physical appearance of a breeding bull is however just as important to ensure functional efficiency.

Although functional efficiency is a subjective inspection by breed inspectors, it is important to note that the process is based on minimum breed standards, which would also ensure functionality. Traits (good or bad) are heritable and the purpose of selection is to ensure superior genetics and improvement. The heritability of growth traits is fairly high and an inferior bull may influence the performance of a herd negatively. The wrong bull for your herd could end up breeding calves with lower weaning weights.