Raad en personeel 2. Van die Vise-President 4. Die regte stoetbul van die begin af. The correct stud bull from the start 8

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3 ARTIKELS Julie Joernaal/Journal 2016 Raad en personeel 2 Adverteerders a d v e r t i s e r s Arc-en-ciel 3 Bos Blanco IFC Bosveld Klub Brahman Studiegroep 59 Brandwater Brahmane 10 CRE Brahmane 20 Damview Brahmans 25 Eltricha 35 Gernick Brahmans 26 HerdMASTER 44 HJW L2M Brahmans 49 Loriza 77, 81 & OBC Mpumalanga Club Nedibest Brahmane 19 Noord-Wes Klub 72 Osterloh Brahman Stud 13 PRI Brahmane 53 R10 Brahmans 6-7 Ranza Brahmane Serfbred Brahmans 17 SHL Brahmane True Blood s Brahman Stud 33 Vaalrivier Klub Vrystaat Klub Wayside Brahman Stud Welcare Brahmane 9 Wermanso IBC Wilbar Brahmane 29 Van die Vise-President 4 Die regte stoetbul van die begin af The correct stud bull from the start 8 B-Brand reëls en prosedures/rules and procedures 21 Managing inbreeding within a Seedstock Beef Breeding Enterprise/ Die bestuur van inteling in n Stoet- en Beesvleistelingsonderneming 24 #1 SA Brahman Bulls to be sequenced 31 Genomics in the Beef Industry 36 Southern African Brahman sheath scoring method 45 Sires breeding show winners 48 Skoue/Shows Sire summary 73 Production of Journal: Firefly Publications (Pty) Ltd Tel: Fax: PO Box 328 Brandfort caria.vermaak@gmail.com Layout: Caria Vermaak Advert design: Donovan Heunis Published by: Brahman Cattle Breeders Society of SA Tel: / 3452 Fax: info@brahman.co.za Unit 7, Genius Loci Office Park, Nr 6, Hoogenhout street, Langenhovenpark, Bloemfontein Private Bag X12, Brandhof, 9324 The opinions expressed in this journal are not necessarily the views of the Council of this Cattle Breeders Society. This Society accepts no responsibility for claims made in advertisements.

4 PRESIDENT: Wessel Hattingh VISE-PRESIDENT: Sydney Hunt Stephan Coetzee (Noord-Wes) Willem Verhoef (Natal) Jan van Zyl (Noordkaap) Riaan Theron (Vrystaat) Willem Barnard (Limpopo) Wayne Porter Corrie Labuschagne Francois Pienaar Lewenslange Ere Vise-Presidente Honorary Life Vice-Presidents CJJ van der Merwe Dr SJJ van Rensburg JGT Dicke BJ Schlebusch Ds R Lee L Labuschagne Lewenslange ere-lede Honorary life members NJG Meyer M Maritz P Warren T Reyneke M Bentley Sietze Smit Breed Director sytzesm@gmail.com Bernadine Erasmus Office Manager accounts@brahman.co.za Theresa Steenekamp Technical Assistant Breed Improvement info@brahman.co.za Kitty Le Roux Senior Data Capturer A-L kitty@brahman.co.za 4 Karin Botha Tersia van Heerden Sharon Jullies Personal Assistant Data Capturer M-Z Filing Clerk & Cleaner karin@brahman.co.za Brahman tersia@brahman.co.za Julie 2016 July Ruan Schutte Technical Research Assistant schutter@ufs.ac.za

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6 Van die From the Sydney Hunt Vise-President Met ons President by die Wêreld Kongres in Australië is ek getaak om hierdie uit te voer. Ek doen dit graag. Ek het n manier om op Sondae middae as die res van die familie rus deur al die ou joernale te sit en blaai. Die geskiedenis van ons ras, sy mense, hoe ons beeste gelyk het in vergelyking met vandag ens., is vir my baie interessant. So kom ek op die Brahman Nuus van Desember 1976 af en begin hom van n kant af deurblaai. Die voorkoms van ons diere het baie verbeter met n beter tipe, meer been en meer vleis. So met tyd het ons die fenotipe verander, en n baie beter produk op die mark geplaas. Maar as ek kyk wat in die 76 Engelse artikel geskryf was, het ek ook sekere goed begin dink. Aanhaling: The slackening of interest in the interim years, was largely due to the very adverse and unjust criticism which the breed had to endure, with regard to its temperament. So het die skrywer (namens ons) van daardie artikel volstruis gespeel en die blaam op alles en almal geplaas. Die probleem rondom spene, kloue, ens. is op dieselfde manier wanbestuur. Ons Engelse is geneig om te vra what if? Nou vra ek What if? Wat sou gebeur het as ons 40 jaar gelede nie net gepraat het oor ons probleem (oplossings) nie, maar daadwerklik opgetree het. Waar sou ons ras vandag gewees het? Sou dit nodig gewees het om die BGP program so wyd te span? Ek glo nie. Maar uiteindelik is daar lig in die tonnel. Onder ons huidige, bekwame leier is ons diere se probleme geïdentifiseer en gaan ons volstoom voort om dit so wetenskaplik as moontlik op te los. BGP (Beef Genomic Project): Hierdie projek maak die deur oop vir noodsaaklike navorsing wat die Ras in die regte rigting sal stuur. With our President at the World Conference in Australia I was tasked with this, which indeed gives me great pleasure to do. On Sunday afternoons when the rest of the family disappear for a nap I normally sit paging through old journals. I find it very interesting to once again recap on the history of our breed and people, the difference in our animals of yesteryear and today. In the process the Brahman News of December 1976 came to hand and I started paging from front to back. There is much improvement in the appearance of our animals a better type, more bone and more meat. In time we changed the phenotype which rendered a much better product for our market. This English article of 1976 had me thinking however - Quote: The slackening of interest in the interim years was largely due to the very adverse and unjust criticism which the breed had to endure, with regard to its temperament. On behalf of us the author of that article therefore puts the blame on everything and everyone. Problems with regard to teats, claws etc was mismanaged in the same way. We English are prone to asking What if?... I am asking what if 40 years ago we did not only talk about our problems, but had purposefully acted upon it. Where would our breed have been today? Would it have been necessary to extend the BGP program so widely? I do not believe that to be the case. But there is a light shining at the end of the tunnel. With the expert leadership of our present leader the problems within our breed have been identified and we are continuing to solve our problems as scientifically as possible. 6 Brahman Julie 2016 July

7 In die 2015 seisoen is reeds 72 bulle onderwerp aan Voerinname toetse (RFI). Ses en dertig van die groep is geslag; karkas evaluasies word op die groep gedoen en resultate word in September 2016 verwag. Die Sernick proef het onverwagte goeie resultate gelewer. Die karkas evaluasie resultate word ook September verwag, die Vrystaat Universiteit doen die navorsing op die 35 karkasse, almal suiwer Brahman. Vier mees invloedryke teelbulle se volledige genome is bepaal, nl.: WD s 78 (1042 nageslag), Banco Sir Special (664), Tarka BPM , (217) en Masbra 15 (284). Hierdie bulle verteenwoordig die eerste twaalf mees invloedryke teelbulle waarvan DNS monsters verkry kon word. Daar is ongeveer 50 invloedryke bulle waarvan die genomiese data versamel word deur Dr Linky Makgahlela, LNR. Haar projek maak voorsiening om bykans seshonderd genome te bepaal voor Die hoofdoel is om n verwysingspopulasie daar te stel wat alle genetiese variasie in die Brahman Ras kan verklaar. Hierdie inligting sal later in n Internasionale Evaluasie gebruik word om volledige genome van verskeie diere te kan aflei, deur n proses bekend as Imputation, te gebruik. Die beraamde teelwaardes van teelbulle se akkuraatheid word verhoog deur nuwe ontwikkelings op die gebied van genetiese evaluasie, maar daar is verskeie uitdagings, erge droogte asook ander instansies wat die Brahman se bestaansreg wil aantas. Bylaag Twee, Brahman bly die Koning van Aanpasbaarheid bevestig daar is soveel goeie redes om met Brahmane te teel in veranderende klimaatstoestande. Geluk aan Jan van Zyl as redakteur met hierdie puik uitgawe. BGP (Beef Genomic Project): This project opens the door for essential research to point the breed in the right direction. During the 2015 season 72 bulls were subjected to feed intake tests (RFI). 36 Of this group were slaughtered; carcass evaluations are being done, the results of which will be available in September The Sernick experiment delivered unexpectedly good results. The carcass evaluations are also expected in September 2016 research on the 35 purebred Brahman carcasses are being done by the Free State University. The complete genomics of the four most influential breeding sires have been determined: WD s 78 (1042 progeny), Banco Sir Special (664), Tarka BPM , (217) and Masbra 15 (284). These bulls represent the first twelve most influential breeding sires of which DNA samples could be obtained. There are about 50 influential bulls of which the genomic data is being collected by Dr Linky Makgahlela, ARC. Her project facilitates the determination of around six hundred genomics prior to The main purpose is to establish a reference population to explain all genetic variation within the Brahman breed. This information will later be used in an international evaluation to, by virtue of a process known as Imputation, derive the complete genomics of various animals. The accuracy of the estimated breeding values of breeding sires are increased by virtue of new developments in genetic evaluation but we face various challenges ie serious drought conditions and other concerns negatively impacting on the existence of the Brahman. Annexure Two: Brahman still the King of adaptability. It once more confirms that there are so many good reasons still to breed Brahman in changing climatic conditions. Congratulations to Jan van Zyl, editor, on this outstanding publication. Brahman Julie 2016 July 7

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10 Die regte stoetbul van die begin af The CORRECT FROM THE START stud bull Llewellyn Labuschagne Toe die Redakteur van ons Brahman Joernaal, Willem Barnard, my genader het oor die artikel het ek die uitnodiging met graagte aanvaar. Ons wil graag met alle telers (oud en jonk) ons kennis en ervaring van 40 jaar deel. Dit wat ons met u deel sal verseker oor 50 jaar van nou af nog vir nuwe en ou telers van waarde wees. Wees verseker dat dit wat ons met u gaan deel alleenlik sal werk as u dieselfde liefde en passie vir die ras het as ons. Natuurlik moet ons nie die teler se toewyding vergeet nie. U is in n langtermyn industrie. U kan nie n reputasie koop nie. U moet baie jare daaraan werk en dit kan maklik vernietig word. Die keuse van n Stoetbul (Kuddevaar) is werklik die keuse van u toekoms as Stoet- of Kommersiële teler. Die duurste belegging wat u as teler kan maak is om n goedkoop stoetbul te koop. Verder is dit belangrik om te besef dat u nie n bul gaan kry wat op al u koeie gaan werk nie. Dit is egter van belang om n bul te kry wat op die meeste van u koeie werk en hulle komplimenteer. When the editor of our Brahman Journal, Willem Barnard, asked me to write this article I accepted with pleasure. We wish to share our knowledge and experience of 40 years with all breeders, young and old. What we share with you now will still be valuable information 50 years on, for both young and old breeders. This that we share with you now will only work for those that share our love and passion for the breed, but of course, the dedication with which a breeder goes about his business should always be taken into account. We are in a long term industry you cannot buy a good reputation. It requires many years of dedication and can very easily be destroyed. Buying an inferior stud bull might in fact cost you dearly. It is also important to realise that no one bull is going to be equally effective on all your cows. It is however important to get a bull that suits and compliments most of your cows. 10 Brahman Julie 2016 July

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13 Daar is drie pilare wat belangrik is waarop die sukses van u Stoetbul gebaseer is: n Uitstekende stamboom (genotipies) Goeie prestasie syfers (Breedplan); en Fenotipies n struktureel korrek dier wat ook funksioneel is. As enige van hierdie pilare of eienskappe ontbreek, is die vordering wat n teler maak beslis stadiger. Ons verskil soms by van ons telers, deurdat dit vir ons belangrik is om ons gene suiwer te hou. Wanneer ons verskillende tipes gebruik, is die voorspelbaarheid van die diere se nageslag baie laag wat vordering benadeel. Die verkeerde keuse van u Stoetbul kan u oor die langtermyn geweldig benadeel en selfs moedeloos maak. Goeie bulle kom uit goeie koei families. Of ons dit nou wil glo of nie, maar die bul se ma, ouma en moeder van sy pa word nie net waargeneem in sy nageslag nie, maar speel ook n belangrike rol in sy nageslag. Ons vind dat die voorspelbaarheid van dié bul se kalwers altyd beter is; en Dat goeie gene soos byvoorbeeld goeie uiers en spene wat hoogs oorerfbaar is vinniger vasgeteel word. Die moderne Brahman kan gedefinieer word as die Brahman wat die kommersiële teler verkies en een wat ekonomies geproduseer kan word. Telers soek nou n vinnig groeiende goed bespierde dier met die minimum vet. Dis nie hoe groot hulle word nie, maar hoe gou hulle grootword Is ons as stoettelers daartoe in staat om die moderne Brahman Bul te teel en nog steeds reproduksie te verbeter? As ons dit kan doen, is ons ras se toekoms rooskleurig! Positiewe eienskappe van die Brahman: Die Brahman is aanpasbaar, vrugbaar en langslewend. (Ja, selfs tot 21 jaar is algemeen). Hulle kan teen baie lae koste van die eienaar oorleef. (Easy care abilities). Die Brahmankoei het minimum kalf probleme, sy is n uitstekende moeder en het baie, asook ryk melk. In enige kruisteelprogram is die kruiskrag (Hybrid Vigor/Heterosis) van die Brahman oordonderend. Die kalf is altyd beter as die ma, ongeag die ras waaruit die moeder kom. The Brahman is fast growing and has minimal fat.. Ons moet al die eienskappe behou, die Brahman kan onder uiterstes en alle klimaatsomstandighede produseer. We have the hottest breed going.. Anders sou 19 Rasse ons nie gebruik het om Composite Breeds te maak nie. The success of a stud sire is based on these three pillars An outstanding pedigree (genotypic) Sound performance figures (EBV s) Phenotypical a structurally correct and functional animal The absence of any one of these traits would most definitely hamper any breeder s progress. Breeders differ in opinion with regard to the purity of the breed but when different types are used the predictability of the progeny becomes rather low. Selecting and using the wrong stud sire may in the long run cause you much damage and even leave you somewhat despondent. Good cow families produce good bulls. Whether we want to believe it or not, the bull s dam, grand dam and the dam of its sire are not only observed in his progeny but also play a significant role in its progeny. We find the predictability of the calves of such bulls to be better; and That good traits, for instance good udders and teats which are highly heritable, are bred in much quicker. The modern Brahman is defined as the Brahman preferred by the commercial breeder which produces economically. Breeders are now looking for a fast growing, well muscled animal with good covering and moderate fat. It s not about how big they grow but rather how quickly they grow to optimum Are we as Stud breeders able to breed the modern Brahman bull and still improve reproduction? If we can do that we indeed have a rosy future ahead! Positive traits of the Brahman: The Brahman is adaptable, fertile and lives for up to 21 years. They possess easy care abilities which make them very economical to farm with. The Brahman cow rarely presents calving problems - she is an outstanding mother with lots of rich milk. The hybrid vigour\heterosis of the Brahman dominates any cross breeding program. The calf is always better than the dam irrespective of the breed of origin of the dam. The Brahman is fast growing and has minimal fat.. We must retain all traits, the Brahman can produce under extreme and all climatic conditions. We have the hottest breed going otherwise the Brahman would not have been used by 19 other breeds to produce composite breeds. Every new breed being bred in this country uses Brahman as basis. 13 Brahman Julie 2016 July

14 Elke nuwe ras wat in die land geteel word gebruik die Brahman vir sy F1 koei. Die F1 Brahman koei is die beste moederlyn in Afrika en in die wêreld. Ons kan voorwaar spog oor al die goeie eienskappe van ons ras. As iemand my sou vra, hoe hulle te werk moet gaan om n bul te kies vir hulle kudde, is my advies soos volg: Gaan huis toe Bestudeer u koeie Kies dan n bul wat u koeie sal komplimenteer Onthou die bul wat u gaan gebruik gaan 50% van die gene bydra in u volgende kalweroes. U volgende drie bulle gaan 85% bydra tot die gene in u kudde. Die nuwe stoetbul wat ons gebruik, moet vir ons verse en koeie teel wat net so goed of verkieslik beter as hulle moeders is. Die bul moet vrugbaar wees en n goeie libido hê. Hy moet n goeie volume in sy testes hê. Hy moet n skoon skede met klein skede-opening hê. Hy moet geen prolaps hê nie. He must be an aggressive breeder and breed a herd of cows in a short period of time.. Hy moet sy kondisie behou. Hy moet struktureel korrek wees. Hy moet kan loop en produseer. Hy moet tussen kg weeg. For selection to be effective, you must select for traits that are heritable. You must have a wide genetic base and genetic variation. You can not create new inheritance. If you are selecting for a trait and it is not present, you must go to another source.. Seleksie Hulpmiddels: 1. Grootte (Raam-tipe); 2. Bespiering; 3. Strukturele korrektheid; 4. Vet/Spier verhouding; 5. Rasegtheid; 6. Manlikheid. Opmerking: Grootte, bespiering en vet/vleis verhouding is hoogs oorerfbaar en kan voor geselekteer word. Hiermee kan u baie vinniger vorder. Kom ons bespreek u Hulpmiddels: 1. Grootte en grootte per ouderdom: Hierdie eienskap is 60% oorerfbaar. Ons eerste verantwoordelikheid is om bulle te teel kg volwasse. Grootte plaas u altyd na strukturele korrektheid. The F1 Brahman cow is the best mother line in Africa and indeed in the world. We may be justifiably proud of all the outstanding traits of our breed. My advice to any person wanting to know how to select a stud sire would be as follows: Go home Observe your cows Then select a bull to compliment your cows Remember your selected bull will contribute 50% of the genes too your next calf. The next 3 bulls will contribute 85% of the genes in your herd. The new stud sire to be used must breed heifers and cows that are as similar or preferably better than their dams. The bull must be fertile with a good libido. He must have good volume in his testicles. He must have a clean sheath with small sheath opening. He must not have a prolapse. He must be an aggressive breeder and breed a herd of cows in a short period of time.. He must maintain his condition. He must be structurally sound. He must walk with comfort and be able to produce. He must weigh between kg. For selection to be effective, you must select for traits that are heritable. You must have a wide genetic base and genetic variation. You cannot create new inheritance. If you are selecting for a trait and it is not present, you must go to another source.. Selection tools: 1. Frame size; 2. Muscling; 3. Structural soundness; 4. Ratio of fat to lean; 5. Breed character; 6. Sex character. Remark: Size, muscling and meat/fat ratio are highly heritable and can be selected for. This could significantly excel your progress. Let s discuss your Aids: 1. Size and size for age: This trait is 60% heritable. Firstly we must breed bulls that weigh from kg when mature. Size comes after structural soundness. We rather use a large bull which is structurally sound than a medium bull not structurally sound. 14 Brahman Julie 2016 July

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17 Ons gebruik eerder n groot bul (wat struktureel korrek is), as n medium bul vol strukturele foute. Frame size will be the hardest trait to achieve and to maintain.. Die wet van gemiddelde sal u altyd aftrek na die middel toe. Dis n erkende feit, dat n bul net 50% van die gene van sy nageslag verskaf en dat frame size naastenby 60% oorerfbaar is. Gevolglik sal u n bul wat ongeveer 100mm groter is as u huidige bul moet gebruik as u, u koeie 25mm hoër wil maak. Ons het gevind dat n groter bul nog altyd by ons gewerk het, veral as ons die regte koeie vir hom selekteer. Daar is ook n direkte verwantskap tussen hoogte en lengte wat met die regte parings u teelprogram n hupstoot kan gee. 2. Bespiering: Hierdie eienskap is 48% oorerfbaar. As ons selekteer vir swaarder bespiering, sal u ook u kalwing probleme verhoog. Gemaklike kalwing is een van die sterk punte in ons ras en u moet dit beslis nie benadeel met u seleksie vir swaarder bespiering nie. Muscle is a carcass tissue that is early maturing and present at birth.. Wanneer u egter teen bespiering selekteer, selekteer u direk teen vleis. Persoonlik teel ons graag met groter koeie, met n groter pelvis (Pelvic Size) wat aan n groot kalf geboorte kan skenk, eerder as om bulle te gebruik wat kalwers te klein teel, wat n direkte gevolg van klein volwasse grootte en gewig het. Gebruik swaarder bespierde bulle liewers op u koeie as u verse. Die swaar bespierde dier is altyd ronder as meer vierkantig. Sy borsvloer is oop en sy voorbene wyd geplaas. So ook is sy agterbene oop en nie koeihakkig nie. n Senior bul word al sterker voor (bv. kop en nek) en wig na agter. Gladde bespiering kan nie by n bul voorkom nie. Bespiering word op die bul se voorarm goed gedefinieer en is duidelik bultend. n Bul se bespiering word nie gesoek nie, dit moet duidelik waarneembaar wees. (Muscles are expressive, definitive and bulge). Swak bespierde diere is gewoonlik glad en vertoon vet aanpaksels op die sitbene, heupbene en borsstuk. Daar is n groot verskil tussen vet en bespiering. Frame size will be the hardest trait to achieve and to maintain.. The laws of average will always bring you down to average. It is a well known fact that the bull provides only 50% of the genes in his progeny and that frame size is more or less 60% heritable. You will therefore have to use a bull that is about 100mm larger than your present bull if you wish your cows to be about 25mm higher. It is our experience that a larger bull always delivered the desired results in our herd, especially when the correct cows were selected for him. There is also a direct link between height and length which with the correct matings may boost your breeding program. 2. Muscling This trait is 48% heritable. If you select for heavier muscling you will increase your risk of calving problems. Calving ease is one of our strong suits and you should definitely not put that at risk when selecting for heavier muscling. Muscle is a carcass tissue that is early maturing and present at birth.. However bear in mind that selecting against muscling is similar to selecting against meat. We prefer using larger cows in our breeding program, those with a larger pelvic size which can bear large calves, rather than using bulls to breed small calves which in turn result in smaller mature size and weight. Rather use heavier muscled bulls on your cows than your heifers. The heavier muscled animal is always more round than square. Its chest floor would be open with front legs widely placed, as is the case with its hind legs which would be open and not cow hocked. A senior bull would be stronger in the front (ie head and neck) wedging towards the hind section. Bulls do not have smooth muscling. Muscling is clearly defined on a bull s front arm it must be bulging on the forearm and be the first thing that you see. (Muscles are expressive, definitive and bulge). Poorly muscled animals normally appear smooth, with fat deposits on the pin bones, hip bones and brisket. There is a very definite difference between fat and muscling. 3. Structural Soundness This trait is 14% heritable (very low therefore). Due to its low heritability it is very difficult to Brahman Julie 2016 July 17

18 3. Strukturele Korrektheid: Hierdie eienskap is 14% oorerfbaar (Dus baie laag oorerfbaar). Omdat dit laag oorerfbaar is, is dit baie moeilik om foute (soos voetfoute) uit te teel. Gebruik dus nooit n bul met ernstige foute nie. Dit gaan u en u kliënte vorentoe benadeel. Strukturele korrektheid is die heel belangrikste doelstelling (trait) in u stoet teelprogram. Beeste moet oor lang afstande kan loop en nog steeds produseer. Regophakke is slegter as sekelhakke. Regophakke is hoogs oorerfbaar. U bulle sal gou kruppel raak en nie meer kan dek nie, u koeie sal nie kan loop nie en altyd in swak kondisie wees. Groot eweredige kloue, goeie definisie van hak, sterk kootgewrigte wat nie deur trap nie, is die ideaal. Lang regop kote is n ernstige probleem. Die gang van die bees moet gemaklik wees, alle dele soos hakke, kote en kloutjies moet funksioneel wees. n Lang reguit rug, lang reguit breë agterkwart, breed oor sitbene, draaibene, heupbene met vleis tot op die tweede dy is ideaal. As u agter die dier staan moet u nie die pens sien nie. Nou sit- en draaibene is die eerste tekens van swak bespiering. Goeie been is nodig om bespiering aan te hang! 4. Vetaanpakking: Hierdie eienskap 80% oorerfbaar. Alle volwasse diere, sal wanneer hulle ouer word, begin vet aanpak en sal al hoe meer vet aanpaksels kry. Klein diere sal by volwassenheid gouer vet aanpak, en gewoonlik is hulle ook ligter bespierd. Oormatige vet is nadelig, vermorsend en duur. U sal die vet aanpaksels sien in die keelvel, borsstuk, lies, sitbene en aan die kant van die stertwortel. 5. Rasegtheid: Hierdie eienskap is 18% oorerfbaar. Omdat dit so laag oorerfbaar is, is dit moeilik om hiermee vinnig te vorder. Daarom is dit so moeilik om pigment (gesplete neusspieël), klein skoffies, groot skedes en groot naelvelle uit te teel. As stoettelers weet ons, ons moet konstant hiervoor selekteer, anders gaan ons nooit die perfekte Bul teel nie. Die Brahman kom uit verskillende stamrasse naamlik die Gyr, Nelore, Indu-Brazil en Guzerat. Die belangrikste raseienskappe van die Brahman is: out breed defects such as foot faults. Don t ever therefore use a bull with serious defects it will in the long run be to the detriment of both you and your clients. Structural soundness is the most important trait in your stud breeding program. Cattle should be able to walk long distances and still produce. Post leggedness are worse than sickle hocks. Post leggedness are highly heritable. Your bulls will start limping and will no longer be able to mount your cows and your cows will not be able to walk and will always be in poor condition. Large hooves with uniform hooves, hocks well defined, strong pasterns those are the ideals to strive for. Long and upright pasterns constitute a serious problem. The animal must have a comfortable gait and all heels, pasterns and claws must be functional. The back should ideally be long and straight as is the case with the hind quarter, wide over the pin bones, thurls, hip bones with muscling up to the second thigh - that is the ideal. Observed from the back one should not see the animal s stomach. Narrow pin bones and thurls are the first signs of poor muscling. Good muscling requires sound bone structure! 4. Fat deposit This trait is 80% heritable. As mature animals age they will naturally accumulate more fat. Smaller animals will accumulate fat quicker and they are normally more lightly muscled. Excessive fat deposits are undesirable and uneconomical. You will observe fat deposits in the dewlap, brisket, groin, pinbones and on the sides of the tail root. 5. Breed Character This trait is 18% heritable. Due to its low heritability this does not bring rapid progress. This is the reason why it is difficult to correct pigmentation (split muzzle) small humps, large sheaths and large navel. We as stud breeders know that we should constantly select for these traits, failing which we will never breed the perfect bull. The Brahman originated from various base breeds ie Gyr, Nelore, Indu-Brazil and Guzerat. The most important breed traits of the Brahman are: 18 Brahman Julie 2016 July

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20 o Die wit of rooi haar o Die swart vel o Kort gladde haar o Donker neus en stertkwas Die besonderse skof, asook die groot ore is n ras eienskappe wat die Brahman so anders as al die ander rasse maak. Die teler wat dit regkry om n bul met n skoner skede te teel en dit regkry dat hierdie bul dit herhaal sal n wonderlike bydrae tot die ras maak en sal ryklik beloon word. 6. Manlikheid: By bulle moet manlikheid uitstaan o Verdonkering van die voorkwart o Goeie nek ontwikkeling o Manlike kop en breedte tussen die oë o Sterk oogbanke en n breë bek o Breedte regdeur die bul o n Skoon skede o Die skrotum omvang moet ooglopend goed wees; en o Die bul moet n oormaat libido vertoon Opmerkings vir u teelprogram: Al die opmerkings wat hier gemaak is, moet deel uitmaak van u aggressiewe teelprogram. Geen dier is perfek nie. Maar as u nie die ideale dier in u kop het en hom probeer teel nie, het u verloor voor u begin het. Elke teler het n spesiale prent in sy kop oor hoe sy koei en stoetbul moet lyk. Bestudeer alle metodes van seleksie. Bestudeer alle stambome (pedigrees) van die uitstaande diere van die ras (manlik en vroulik) Understand why they were outstanding in and out of the show ring.. U sal vind dat sekere diere net superior in alle opsigte is en beter as hulle maats is. Wees altyd objektief oor u beeste en sien die sterk en swakker eienskappe raak, want elke dier het dit. Wees altyd eerlik oor u stambome en u prestasiesyfers, anders mislei u, u-self en u kopers. n Goeie manier om vinnige vordering in u kudde te maak, is deur u seleksie druk te verhoog. Moet nooit u uitskotdiere aan ander telers verkoop nie onthou ons is in n langtermyn besigheid. Performance testing for weight only does not give a complete picture about composition of the individual. Is he or she growing and adding more lean meat, or is he or she only adding more fat? As n dier swaarder moet wees, moet hy langer wees en indien u spier op die raamwerk wil pak, sal hy breed en rond moet wees. o White or red coat o Black skin o Smooth coat cover o Dark black nose and tail switch The unique hump and large ears are furthermore traits that sharply distinguishes the Brahman from other breeds. The breeder that succeeds in breeding a bull with a clean sheath and furthermore succeeds in getting such a bull to transfer this trait to its progeny will make a mammoth contribution to the breed and will be richly compensated. 6. Sex Character Bulls should clearly display a masculine character o Darkening of the front quarter o Sound neck development o Masculine head and width between the eyes o Strong eye brows and wide muscle o Breath throughout o A clean sheath o Scrotal circumference to be visibly sound; and o The bull must display an excessive libido Remarks for your breeding program: All the remarks made, must form part of an aggressive breeding program. There are no perfect animals. But if you do not have a clear picture in mind of the ideal animal and strive towards breeding such an animal you have lost before you even started. Study all methods of selection. Study all pedigrees of all outstanding animals in the breed, both male and female. Understand why they were outstanding in and out of the show ring.. You will find that some animals are just superior in all respects. Always be objective about your cattle identify their strong and weak points, which are present in all animals. Be honest as far as pedigrees and performance figures are concerned otherwise you will be doing a disfavour both to yourself and your clients. Intensifying selection pressure is a sound way in which to speed up progress in your herd. Never sell your culls to other breeders remember we are in a long term business. Performance testing for weight only does not give a complete picture about composition of the individual. Is he or she growing and adding more lean meat, or is he or she only adding more fat?. If an animal must be heavier, it must be longer and if you want to add muscle to the frame, the animal will have to be wide and round. 20 Brahman Julie 2016 July

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22 Dit is presies wat ons soek op ons moderne Brahman. Nie te hoog op die been nie, maar n karkas wat gou gewig aansit, swaar bespierd is en wat rond en breed is. Hoe u hierdie inligting wat ons nou ten opsigte van die bul bespreek het, in die toekoms gaan toepas, gaan bepaal hoeveel sukses u met u Stoetbul in u kudde gaan hê. Met dank aan: Prof. Cas Mareé, Universiteit van Pretoria Prof. Jan Bonsma, Universiteit van Pretoria Dr. Edward J le Blanc (VSA) Teler en skrywer Attie Marais Teler, Magudu, Kwa-Zulu Natal Eric Bilse Meester Teler, Mooketsi, Limpopo Henry Clay Koontz (VSA) Meester Rooi Teler, Texas Dr. Tok Serfontein Meester Rooi Teler, Suid-Afrika Wie se skrywes en mededelings aan my teorieë help skaaf en bou het en wat ek in hierdie artikel ruim gebruik is, ja selfs misbruik het. Die telers en baie ander het my gehelp om daarna te streef om die perfekte Brahman te teel. That is exactly what we want on the modern Brahman. Not too high on the leg but a carcass adding weight quickly, heavily muscled, round and wide. The future application of the above information will determine your success with your stud bull of choice in your own herd. With thanks to: Prof. Cas Mareé, University of Pretoria Prof. Jan Bonsma, University of Pretoria Dr. Edward J le Blanc (USA) Breeder and author Attie Marais Breeder, Magudu, Kwa-Zulu Natal Eric Bilse Master breeder, Mooketsi, Limpopo Henry Clay Koontz (VSA) Master red breeder, Texas Dr. Tok Serfontein Master Red breeder, South Africa Whose letters and advices largely contributed to the formulation of my theories used in this article. Breeders and many others helped me in striving to breed the perfect Brahman.

23 -Brand reëls en prosedures rules and procedures Implementeringsdatum: Januarie Die volgende minimum standaarde is gestel om te kwalifiseer vir B brand: 1) Toepassing van standaard van voortreflikheid. 2) Prestasietoetsing: 2.1) Minimum IKP van moeders van bulle wat gebrand moet word (550 dae). 2.2) Vanaf 2017 is skrotum meting (testis omvang) n vereiste soos voorgeskryf in die Breedplantoetsplan (meting tussen dae). 2.3) Vanaf 2018 sal die Minimum prestasievereistes onderhewig wees aan totale indiening van die betrokke kudde se speenmassas sowel as die koeimassa geneem tydens die speenproses. 3) Rasbeoordelaars en Senior Beoordelaars doen keuring van bulle. 4) n Volledige lys sal vanaf die kantoor verskaf word watter bulle kwalifiseer om gebrand te word na aanleiding van bogenoemde minimum vereistes. Die diere wat gekeur moet word moet in n redelike goeie kondisie aangebied word vir inspeksie. 5) Diere wat in die gewone keuringsproses (keurkaart) gekeur is, voldoen nie aan die B brand as die bogenoemde minimum vereistes in plek is nie. 6) Keuringsdatum word op die sertifikaat gedruk. 7) Die B brand proses is nie verpligtend nie. 8) Slegs bulle word met n B gebrand. As previously advised the B brand (mark of quality) to be used on inspected bulls has now been finalised and will in future be branded on inspected bulls to confirm that they were inspected in terms of and conform to the Society s minimum breed standard and are therefore suitable for breeding purposes. Implementation day: January 2016 In order to qualify for the B brand the following minimum standards must be met: 1) Application of standard of excellence. 2) Performance testing - 2.1) Minimum ICP of the dams of bulls to be branded (550 days). 2.2) As from 2017 scrotum circumference will be compulsory as prescribed in the Breedplan testing plan (measurement to be taken between days). 2.3) As from 2018 the minimum performance requirements will include the submission of the weaning mass of the complete herd as well as the cow mass taken during the weaning process. 3) Inspection of bulls to be performed by breed and senior judges. 4) A list will be provided by the office to identify bulls that qualify to be branded in terms of the above requirements. Animals to be inspected must be presented in a reasonably good condition. 5) Unless the above minimum requirements are met, animals inspected in accordance with the inspection card will not qualify for the B brand. 6) The inspection date will be printed on the certificate. 7) The B brand process is not compulsory. 8) Only bulls are branded with the B. Brahman Julie 2016 July 23

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26 Managing Inbreeding within a Seedstock Beef Breeding Enterprise Die bestuur van inteling in n Stoeten Beesvleistelingsonderneming >> Paul Williams TBTS Technical Officer, Australia The discussion of inbreeding in bull breeder circles can lead to a passionate debate, with thoughts ranging from we must avoid inbreeding at all costs to linebreeding is the best thing since sliced bread. Inbreeding is essentially the mating of animals that are related. Within the pedigree of the mated sire and dam, one or more animals will be in common; resulting in progeny with a certain level of inbreeding. The level of inbreeding will depend on the relationship between the two mated animals, with the closer the relationship, the greater the level of inbreeding that will occur in the resulting progeny. As bultelers die onderwerp van inteling bespreek lei dit gewoonlik tot n vurige debat met menings wat wissel van ons moet ten alle koste inteling verhoed tot lynteling is die heel beste ding ooit. Inteling is basies die paring van verwante diere. Binne die stamboom van die bul en koei wat gepaar word sal een of meer diere verwant wees wat nageslag met n sekere vlak van inteling tot gevolg sal hê. Sodanige vlak van inteling sal afhang van die verwantskap tussen die twee diere wat gepaar word; hoe nader die verwantskap hoe groter sal die vlak van inteling in die gevolglike nageslag wees. Figure 1: Example outcome from the mating predictor from a half-sib mating Figuur 1: Voorbeeld van die paring voorspeller van n half-sib paring Linebreeding is the deliberate mating of closely related animals with the perceived objective to concentrate desirable characteristics of the progeny and to breed consistency. The Measurement of Inbreeding A common method of measuring the inbreeding level in a specific animal or from a planned mating is by way Lynteling is die doelbewuste paring van naby verwante diere met die vooropgestelde doel om gewenste eienskappe in die nageslag in te teel asook voorspelbaarheid. Die bepaling van inteling Die algemene metode om die intelingsvlak in n spesifieke dier of van n beplande paring te bepaal is by 26 Brahman Julie 2016 July

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29 of an inbreeding coefficient. An inbreeding coefficient is calculated as the probability percentage (%) for any allele (i.e. pair of genes at a specific location on the chromosome) to be identical by descent. Typical inbreeding coefficient percentages are as follows. This is assuming no previous inbreeding between any parents: wyse van n intelingskoëffisient. Dit word bereken as die moontlike persentasie (%) vir enige allele ( n paar gene op n spesifieke plek op die chromosome) om by wyse van afkoms identies te wees. Tipiese intelingskoëffisiente-persentasies is as volg wanner die aanname gemaak word dat daar geen vorige inteling tussen die ouers was nie: Relationship Animal mated to its own parent (e.g. sire to daughter) Full siblings (e.g. sire to dam with a common sire and dam) Half siblings (sire to dam with a common sire or dam) Half cousins (sire to dam with a single common grandparent) Inbreeding Coefficient 25% 25% 12.5% 3.1% Verwantskap Dier gepaar met sy eie ouer (bul en dogter) Volle sibs (bul en koei met dieselfde bul en koei) Half sibs (bul en koei met dieselfde bul of koei) Half neefs of niggies (bul en koei met n enkele oupa of ouma) Intelingskoëffisient 25% 25% 12.5% 3.1% One limitation when calculating the inbreeding coefficient value for an animal is the accuracy and depth of pedigree that is recorded. For example, the accuracy of the inbreeding coefficient that is calculated for an animal with little or no pedigree recorded may understate the true level of inbreeding, and be a lot lower than the inbreeding coefficient that would be calculated if 10 generations of pedigree had been recorded for the animal. Effects of Inbreeding in Beef Cattle Inbreeding is an important consideration in breeding programs as it can potentially lead to three main negative outcomes being: 1) inbreeding depression in production traits 2) increase homozygosity of recessive genetic conditions, and 3) a reduction in genetic diversity. Inbreeding depression Generally, animals with higher levels of inbreeding have depressed performance for a range of economically important traits when compared to animals with lower levels of inbreeding (with all other factors being equal). The depression caused by inbreeding tends to negatively affect the traits which are positively affected by heterosis (i.e. crossbreeding the opposite of inbreeding), with these being fertility, survival, growth, and to a lesser extent, carcase traits. A literature review undertaken by Burrow (1993) Wat die berekening van die intelingskoëffisientwaarde beperk, is die akkuraatheid en vlak waarop die stamboom aangeteken is. Byvoorbeeld, die akkuraatheid van die intelingskoëffisient wat bereken word vir n dier met baie min of geen stamboomdata, mag nie die ware vlak van inteling weerspieël nie en mag baie laer wees as die intelingskoëffisient wat bereken sou word indien 10 geslagte van die stamboom aanteken was. Die gevolge van inteling in Vleisbeeste Inteling is n baie belangrike oorweging in teelprogramme aangesien dit die potensiaal het om tot die volgende drie hoofsaaklik negatiewe tendense aanleiding te gee: 1) Intelingsdepressie van produksie-eienskappe 2) Verhoging van die homosigositeit van resessiewe genetiese toestande en 3) n Verlaging in genetiese diversiteit Intelingsdepressie Diere met hoë vlakke van inteling presteer oor die algemeen swakker tov verskeie ekonomies belangrike eienskappe wanneer hulle met diere met laer vlakke van inteling vergelyk word (wanneer alle ander faktore gelyk is). Intelingsdepressie neig daarna om negatief in te werk op eienskappe wat positief deur heteroses beïnvloed word (uitkruising die teenoorgestelde van inteling), naamlik vrugbaarheid, oorlewing, groei en tot n mindere mate karkaseienskappe. n Literêre oorsig wat in 1993 deur Burrow onderneem Brahman Julie 2016 July 29

30 investigated the effects of inbreeding in beef cattle. The review revealed that inbreeding of the individual has a consistent adverse effect on growth traits from birth to maturity and on maternal traits. More specifically, for every 1% increase in inbreeding coefficient a decrease of 0.06, 0.44, 0.69 and 1.30 kg in live weight at birth, weaning, yearling and maturity respectively was observed. Additionally, inbreeding in the dam decreased weaning and yearling weights by 0.30 and 0.21 kg respectively for every 1% increase in inbreeding coefficient, probably as a result of decreasing milk yield and reduced maternal value of the inbred dams. The review also reported inbreeding as having a depressive effect (although the magnitudes of effect were small in some cases) on heifer conception rates, female fertility, conformation/structure, feed intake, feed conversion efficiency, carcase traits and male reproductive traits. Recessive Genetic Conditions Most breeds have at least one recognised recessive genetic condition. Examples of these are Arthrogryposis Multiplex (AM) in Angus or Angus derived cattle or Pompes Disease in Brahman or Brahman derived cattle. An animal must carry two copies (i.e. homozygote) of the recessive disease allele to be affected by the genetic condition. An animal that only carries one copy (heterozygote) will not show the affects, but is a carrier. An increase in inbreeding can inadvertently lead to an increase in the likelihood of animals being affected by recessive genetic conditions. This is primarily through the increase in allele homozygosity as explained earlier. Reduction in Genetic Diversity Over time, higher levels of inbreeding will result in a loss of genetic diversity within the population. This can impact in both the potential loss of favourable alleles that may have existed for some traits, plus a decrease in the amount of genetic variation that exists between the animals on which future selection decisions can be made. Inbreeding Considerations Some breeders may argue that structured inbreeding programs can be used to produce a single superior individual through the stacking of desirable genes for certain production or functional traits (i.e. linebreeding). This is common practice in the thoroughbred horse industry. For example, Black Caviar has common ancestry in its pedigree through the stallion, Vain. This stallion is both Black Caviar s paternal great grandsire and maternal great-great-grandsire. She also has a second sire, Silly Season, further back in the pedigree that appears on both the maternal and paternal side. is het die gevolge van inteling in vleisbeeste ondersoek. Dit het bevind dat die inteling van die individuele dier n konstante negatiewe effek op groeieienskappe van geboorte tot volwassenheid het asook van moedereienskappe. Meer spesifiek, vir elke 1% verhoging in inteling koëffisient was daar onderskeidelik n afname van 0.06, 0.44, 0.69 en 1.30kg in die lewendige gewig by geboorte, speen, jaaroud en volwasse. Inteling by die moeder het speen- en jaaroudgewigte laat afneem met onderskeidelik 0.30 en 0.21 kg vir elke 1% verhoging in intelingskoëffisient; moontlik die gevolg van verminderde melk en die verlaging in maternale waarde van die ingeteelde moeders. Hierdie oorsig het ook bevind dat inteling n depressiewe effek (ofskoon baie klein in sommige gevalle) op die besettingsvlak van verse, vroulike vrugbaarheid, konformasie\struktuur, voerinname, voeromset doeltreffendheid, karkaseienskappe en manlike reproduktiewe eienskappe het. Resessiewe Genetiese Toestande Die meeste rasse het ten minte een erkende resessiewe genetiese toestand. Voorbeelde hiervan is beeste met AM (Arthrogryposis Multiplex) by Angus beeste of diè afkomstig van Angus of Pompes-siekte by Brahmanbeeste of Brahman-tipes. Sodanige diere moet twee kopieë (nl homosigote) van die resessiewe siekteallele dra om deur die genetiese toestand geaffekteer te wees. n Dier met slegs een kopie (heterosigote) sal nie die effek wys nie maar is dan n draer. n Verhoging in inteling kan onbewustelik lei tot n verhoging in die moontlikheid van diere wat deur resessiewe genetiese toestande geaffekteer word. Dit is hoofsaaklik as gevolg van die verhoging in alleel homosigositeit soos vroeër verduidelik. Afname in Genetiese Diversiteit Met verloop van tyd sal hoër vlakke van inteling n verlies in genetiese diversiteit binne die populasie tot gevolg hê. Dit kan n impak hê op beide die potensiële verlies van gunstige alleles wat vir sommige eienskappe mag bestaan asook n afname in genetiese variasie tussen die diere waarop toekomstige seleksiebesluite sal berus. Inteling Oorwegings Sommige telers mag argumenteer dat gestruktureerde intelingsprogramme n enkel superieure individu kan produseer, by wyse van die opeenhoping van gewenste gene vir sekere produksie of funksionele eienskappe (lynteling). Hierdie is algemene gebruik in die volbloed perd bedryf. Byvoorbeeld, Black Caviar het baie van die hings Vain se voorgeslagte in sy stamboom. Hierdie hings is beide Black Caviar se paternale oupagrootjie en sy maternale oor- oupagrootjie. Sy het ook n tweede hings, Silly Season, verder terug in die stamboom wat op 30 Brahman Julie 2016 July

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32 Of course, aiming to produce one superior individual will also result in many more inferior animals through inbreeding depression or appearance of recessive genetic conditions. The aim of beef cattle breeders should be to improve the average performance of the herd. This can be achieved through objective selection and allocation of matings of breeding animals on performance traits (EBVs and selection indexes) in conjunction with visual appraisal, while managing inbreeding levels. This will ensure the average performance of a herd (or breed) is improved while the inbreeding level (or genetic diversity) is maintained. Acceptable Levels of Inbreeding There is no magic level that is considered an acceptable level of inbreeding within a breeding program, with the goal in most breeding programs being to manage inbreeding rather than totally avoid it. Breeding programs that simply avoid inbreeding without considering the genetic merit of the animals used within the mating program are not likely to be economically sustainable in the long term. Ultimately, the most beneficial breeding program will be the one that results in the progeny with the highest overall genetic merit once the negative effects of inbreeding have been adjusted for. Average inbreeding coefficient levels of less than 5% within a breeding program are considered low, with inbreeding levels of 5 10% generally considered more moderate levels of inbreeding and warranting more careful management. However, managing the increase in inbreeding level over time is as important, if not more important than managing the overall level of inbreeding within the breeding herd. Ensuring inbreeding levels do not increase by 1% per generation is generally considered to be a good rule of thumb. Tools to Manage Inbreeding Bull breeders have a range of tools available to assist them with genetically improving the average of their herd for production traits while monitoring and managing inbreeding. These include: Online Mating Predictor The online animal search facility (colloquially know as Internet Solutions) includes an enhanced mating predictor option which has been implemented by many Breed Societies. This facility includes the calculation of an inbreeding coefficient, plus details on the depth of pedigree as a pseudo accuracy measure, for progeny from a specified mating (see Figure 1). beide die maternale en paternale kante verskyn. Die strewe om een superieure individu te produseer sal natuurlik ook meer minderwaardige diere tot gevolg hê op grond van intelingsdepressie of die voorkoms van resessiewe genetiese toestande. Die strewe van vleisbeestelers behoort te wees om die gemiddelde prestasie van die kudde te verbeter. Dit kan bereik word deur objektiewe seleksie en die allokasie van parings van teeldiere op grond van prestasie-eienskappe (GTWs en seleksie-indekse) in samehang met visuele waardering, terwyl intelingsvlakke effektief bestuur word. Dit sal verseker dat die gemiddelde prestasie van n kudde (of ras) verbeter terwyl die intelingsvlak (of genetiese diversiteit) behou word. Aanvaarbare vlakke van inteling Daar is geen magiese vlak wat as aanvaarbare vlak van inteling in n teelprogram beskou word nie, met die strewe in die meeste teelprogramme om inteling te bestuur eerder as om dit heeltemal te vermy. Teelprogramme wat inteling summier vermy sonder om oorweging te skenk aan die genetiese meriete van die diere wat in die paringsprogram gebruik word, is oor die lang termyn nie ekonomies volhoubaar nie. Die mees voordelige teelprogram sal uiteindelik die een wees wat nageslag oplewer met die hoogste totale genetiese meriete, sodra aanpassings vir die negatiewe gevolge van inteling gemaak is. Die gemiddelde intelingskoëffisient-vlakke van minder as 5% binne n teelprogram word as laag beskou, met intelingsvlakke van 5 10% wat algemeen beskou word as meer gemiddeld wat meer noukeurige bestuur vereis. Die bestuur van intelingsvlakke oor tyd is egter net so belangrik, indien nie meer so nie, as die bestuur van die totale vlak van inteling binne die teelkudde. Die goue reël is om te verhoed dat intelingsvlakke met 1% per generasie verhoog. Hulpmiddels om Inteling te Bestuur Bultelers het vele hulpmiddels beskikbaar om hulle te help om die genetiese gemiddeld van hul kudde vir produksie eienskappe te verhoog, terwyl inteling gemonitor en bestuur word. Dit sluit in: Aanlyn Paringsvoorspellers Die aanlyn diersoekfasiliteit (bekend as Internet Solutions ) sluit in n verbeterde paringsvoorspelleropsie wat deur baie telersgenootskappe geïmplementeer word. Hierdie fasiliteit sluit in die berekening van n intelingskoëffisient plus besonderhede van die diepte van die stamboom as n pseudo akkuraatheidsmeting vir nageslag van n spesifieke paring (sien Figuur 1). 32 Brahman Julie 2016 July

33 Mate Allocation Tools (e.g. MateSel) A number of computer based breeding tools are available that enable breeders to optimise breeding outcomes for their herd by creating a mating list based on a list of candidate sires and dams. These provide beef cattle seedstock producers with a mechanism for objectively optimising mating allocations to reflect their breeding goals and creating long term, sustainable genetic gains. The genetic gains are based on a nominated breeding objective, while constraints are applied on inbreeding to ensure genetic diversity is maintained or improved. More information is provided regarding one such tool, MateSel, on the BREEDPLAN website. For further information regarding the management of inbreeding within a seedstock beef breeding enterprise, please contact staff at SBTS or TBTS. Parings Allokasiehulpmiddels (MateSel) n Aantal rekenaar gebaseerde telingshulpmiddels is beskikbaar wat telers in staat stel om telingsuitkomste vir hul kudde te optimaliseer deur die skep van n paringslys gebaseer op n lys van kandidaatbulle en -koeie. Dit voorsien semenprodusente met n meganisme om paringsallokasies objektief te optimaliseer om hul teeldoelwitte te reflekteer en lang termyn volhoubare genetiese vordering te skep. Sodanige genetiese vordering word op n genomineerde teeltdoelwit gebaseer terwyl beperkings geplaas word op inteling om te verseker dat genetiese diversiteit volhou en verbeter word. Meer inligting tov sodanige hulpmiddel MateSel is op die BREEDPLAN webtuiste beskikbaar. Vir verdere inligting wat betref die bestuur van inteling binne n semenvoorraad- en vleisbeestelingsonderneming skakel asb met die personeel by SBTS of TBTS. References/Verwysings: 1. Burrow H.M (1993). The Effects of Inbreeding in Beef Cattle, Animal Breeding Abstracts Vol. 61 No Guest B. Inbreeding in Cattle: What You Need to Know!, accessed from: Articles/Inbreeding_leaflet.pdf # 1 SA Brahman Bulls to be Sequenced DNA sequencing is the process of determining the precise order of nucleotides within a DNA molecule. It includes any method or technology that is used to determine the order of the four bases - adenine, guanine, cytosine, and thymine - in a strand of DNA. Genetically, the Brahman cattle population is very large. For Southern African Brahman, 4 sires had been selected to be sequenced. On the list of 50 animals, explaining 50% of the total genetic variation of the SA Brahman population, these four sires represent the topmost influential animals. The sires are 78WD S, BBBB70114, BPM90307 and MAS9015. DNA volgorde bepaling is die proses waarvolgens die presiese orde van nukleotiede binne n DNS molekule bepaal word. Dit sluit in enige metode of tegnologie wat gebruik word om te bepaal wat die volgorde van die vier basisse adenien, guanien, sitosien en tiamien in n DNS string is. Geneties is die Brahman beespopulasie baie groot. Vir die Suider-Afrikaanse Brahman, is vier vaders geselekteer vir volgorde-bepaling. Op die lys van 50 diere, wat 50% van die totale genetiese variasie van die SA Brahman populasie verklaar, verteenwoordig hierdie vier vaders die diere met die hoogste genetiese invloed. Die bulle is 78WD S, BBBB70114, BPM90307 en MAS9015. Brahman Julie 2016 July 33

34 WD S 78 (B ) CHEROKEE GAUCHO KING 823 CHEROKEE PRINCE MISS CHEROKEE ARAUOT 24 Sire: SM CHERKOEE VERNON 489 CHEROKEE CHEROKEE MAID 518 Animal: WD S 78 CHERKOEE VERNON 489 RIO CHEROKEE 978 CHEROKEE MISS TORGSON 529 Dam: HK VERNON 333 CHEROKEE ARAUTO 372 CHEROKEE ARAUTO CHEROKEE MISS TORGSON 511 BPM90307 TARKA BPM JDH BILSE MANSO 392 BILSE S JDH LADY HUDG MANSO 18 Sire: BILSE S B BANCO SIR SPECIAL BILSE S V8 MISS Animal: TARKA BPM BILSE S BILSE S B BILSE S Dam: TARKA BPM BILSE S TARKA BILSE S Brahman Julie 2016 July

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36 BBBB70114 BANCO SIR SPECIAL SANBRA RUPERT 59 BOSBRO IMPARANSO TOPS 64 NCC MISS ALAYA 115 Sire: BOSBRO SIR RESOTO 6 67 NCC SIR RESOTO NCC MISS RESOTO 13 MANSO S GRACE Animal: BANCO SIR SPECIAL NCC SIR RESOTO 171 BANCO SIR IMPERATOR 9 NCC MISS LENA IMPERATOR 18 Dam: BANCO MISS SPECIAL 66 NCC SIR RESOTO 171 BANCO MISS IMPARANSO NCC MISS LENA DANDELION 107 MAS9015 MASBRA 15 WD S 78 REED S-RED RE REED S-RED Sire: JALBU RED-M 73 LKA LKA RIO CHEROKEE 35 REED S-RED MINERAL RANGE RIO NEGRO Animal: MASBRA 15 CHEROKEE NEGRO 2 4 MCKELLAR F NEGRO MISS CHEROKEE NEGRO 2 17 Dam: CANYONLANDS 23 5P DURAMAS 895 CANYONLANDS RUVALE MISS NEGRO CHATO RVP Brahman Julie 2016 July

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38 GENOMICS in the beef industry, the state of play Dr Michael Bradfield Inflated expectations to plateau of productivity It is interesting how many new technologies follow the so called hype cycle and the application of genomics, especially in the beef industry, has been no different. The hype cycle is clearly illustrated in Figure 1. It starts with the technology trigger when the patented technology breakthrough is announced. In the case of beef genomics Scientists from the Beef CRC in Australia for example announced that certain Genes or Gene Markers had been identified in the beef Genome that would have a large effect for difficult to measure but economically important traits such as Meat Tenderness, Feed Efficiency and Marbling. The technology was privatized and the Genestar test was developed. The peak of inflated expectations occurred when some scientist even predicted that it would be the end of cattle breed Societies because commercial producers would simply do the tests for all economically important traits using corporates such as Pfizer (whom have subsequently changed to Zoetis). However, as scientists, and especially those from the National Beef Cattle Genetics Evaluation Consortium (NBCEC) in the USA and Animal Genetics and Breeding Unit (AGBU) in Australia, continued to research the technology they came to the conclusion that the early results could not be substantiated in many populations and that the results were often not consistent across and between breeds. It s a well-known fact that scientists are highly competitive and the process is very much self-correcting as scientist replicate each other s results and sometimes come to a different conclusion. This happened in the genomic field as well. The application of genomics, especially in the beef industry then went through a period of disillusionment as the industry had a shake out. However, the research continued and was bolstered as the number of gene markers discovered continued to expand at a rapid rate whilst the costs continued to decline. The price of a high density chip (> markers) is almost the same as a marker chip would have been a few years ago. To map one human genome two decades ago cost over a billion dollars. It now costs between $1000 -$2000 and its now becoming popular for individuals to get a full genetic profile of themselves that provides a myriad of information and even gives a prediction of what diseases you could get in your lifetime. The genomic technology also follows what is called Moore s Law in computers that states that processing power of computers pretty much doubles every two years as the costs continue to fall. The same is happing in Genomics. Professor Mike Goddard, a leader in the field of genomics whom was recently admitted to the Royal Society (the peak body of a small exclusive group of scientists) readily admits that the technology was initially oversold. However, the potential benefits continued to be studied and as 38 Brahman Julie 2016 July

39 the practical application became better understood the process went through a period of enlightenment and entered into the plateau of productivity. The same professor Goddard later published a landmark paper that gave a good benchmark of the number of animals that showed the number of animals that are needed to be genotyped to get sensible results for genomics. As shown in Figure 3 you can obtain useful information if you have approximately a thousand animals genotyped but you ideally need between animals to have reasonable predictions. The power of genomics, as will be explained later, is that one hair sample on an animal could for example give you the same information for fertility as a cow that have calved over a ten-year period. In the plateau of productivity, commercial and stud producers, breed societies and service providers understand that the implementation of genomics is a long term endeavor that we as an industry will need to embrace if we are to remain relevant in the future. In the dairy industry genomic selection is already a wellestablished method of selection of candidate bulls using a hair sample with high levels of accuracy. It is easier in the dairy industry because of the high use of Artificial Insemination (AI), clear selection goals, the fact that one breed dominates and that AI companies fund the genotyping because they get a clear of cost savings in young bull testing programs. Figure 2: Moore s law, used in the IT industry, predicts that computing power doubles every second year at the same cost. The cost of Genotyping and the number of SNIPS provided has followed a similar trajectory i.e. the number of Gene Markers (SNIPS) continues to increase and the relative cost has decreased markedly Figure 3: The number of animals in the reference population and the accuracy of the breeding value in animals that have no phenotype. For example, this means that if a hair sample of an animal was analysed and no phenotype (measurement) existed, the breeding value would be of the same accuracy calculated by knowing the genotype from the hair or blood sample. Figure 1: The adoption of genomics in the beef industry has essentially followed a very similar path to the cycle of hype provided in the above illustration How genomic breeding values are calculated Traditional breeding values are calculated from performance measurements that includes all information from the parents and relatives, the animal s own performance and then the progeny. Each of these three inputs is weighted in the equation according to how much information it contributes. As more performance information is available on the animal, it plays a greater role in the calculation than pedigree, and as progeny data accumulate, they are weighted more heavily than pedigree or individual performance. The heritability and genetic correlations of each and between each trait is calculated. Because bulls and cows are used over years, across seasons and across herds, EBVs take into account environmental differences but the data has to be well structured i.e. sufficient sires used across herds for Brahman Julie 2016 July 39

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