New breeding indexes and seeing what suits my production system
on 12th July 2024
How do I utilise a single EBV to select for a range of traits that suit my production System?
Indexes are designed to simplify the selection process by weighting the different EBV traits to give one figure for each production system. Just a week ago new indexes were released for the Santa Gertrudis Breed that aim to better capture what the commercial breeder is chasing across the diverse range of production environments. These new indexes are:
- Fertility Plus Index. As the name suggests, highly weighted towards fertility, but also encompassing growth and some carcase. Designed for those producers on more marginal country who really have to maintain pressure on the daughters of the bulls they buy to consistently get into calf and produce a reasonable weaner.
- Breeding Production Index. A more ‘middle of the road’ index capturing fertility, growth and carcase but suited to those production systems like central and southern Queensland where fertility remains the key driver of profit but growth through to feeders or bullocks and improved carcase are of increased importance.
- Terminal Index. For those looking for a terminal cross, or producers who are confident that their level of herd fertility is sufficient, this index focuses solely on growth and carcase characteristics. Also of note is the fact that birthweight EBVs are heavily weighted in this index with a view to selecting high growth cattle, but not at the expense of calving ease.
Current Gyranda Sires feature heavily in the breed rankings of top sires for each of these new indexes and while you will have to wait until next year to see the progeny of some dynamic young sires like Gyranda Shamrock S120 (P) and Gyranda Sawyer S256 (P) you will have access to calves with amazing data from sires like these three:
Rosevale Quirindi Q70 (AI)(P)
Purchased at the 2020 Rosevale sale and ranked #1 sire in the breed for Terminal Index, #7 for Breeding index and #11 for Fertility Plus Index.
Ruger R110 (AI)(P)
Purchased by Andrew and Kate Chapman of Rowanlea stud in 2021. We retained a semen share and have used him extensively. The first of his sons sell this year. Ruger is a true all-rounder ranked the #1 sire in the breed for Breeding Production index, #3 for Terminal Index and #4 for Fertility Plus.
Gyranda Rocky
A high growth sire, selected to stay at home in 2021. He is #5 ranked sire for terminal index and #8 for the Breeding Production index.
to learn more about these bulls and the 2024 team, see the full newsletter 12/7/2024
