ARC LNR - Agricultural Research Council
Transcription
ARC LNR - Agricultural Research Council
no/nr 102 ARC LNR Excellence in Research and Development Animal Production Institute Diereproduksie-instituut newsletter nuusbrief National Beef Recording and Improvement Scheme Nasionale Vleisbeesaantekening en -Verbeteringskema 2013 ARC LNR Excellence in Research and Development COMMENTS / KOMMENTAAR ........................................................................ 3 NEWS ITEMS / NUUSBROKKIES ..................................................................... 4 ARC National Beef Performers Awards National Special Performance Test Class ................................................................................. 4 National Best Elite Cow Awards .................................................................................................. 5 National Platinum Awards ........................................................................................................... 7 National Emerging Beef Farmer of the Year Award ...................... ............................................ 8 National Beef Cattle Improvement Herd of the Year Award ...................................................... 11 World Conference on Animal Production (WCAP) in Beijing, China ...................................... 11 ARTICLES / ARTIKELS .................................................................................. 15 Angus laat jou syfers klop! ..................................................................................................................... 15 Swart-Angus: Karkaskoning én Prins van die Voerkraal .................................................................... 16 Rasegte Angus-Bulle presteer by Nguni-koeie ................................................................................... 17 Effect of Year and Season on Feedlot Performance of Simmentaler Bulls ....................................... 19 Wat behels die Evaluasie van Bulle in Fase C .................................................................................... 21 The Brahman: The Embodiment of Hardiness ..................................................................................... 22 Breeding Strategies to improve Production Efficiency and reduce Carbon Footprint ..................... 24 A Breeding Objective that may reduce the Carbon Footprint ............................................................ 27 Mastitis is not just a Problem in the Dairy Industry ............................................................................. 28 High-tech Science for delivering Services to the Farmers ................................................................. 31 Praktiese Koei- en Versbestuur ............................................................................................................. 32 Profile of a Winner: Mr Zengetwa ......................................................................................................... 35 LNR Boeredae 2013 / ARC Farmer’s Days 2013 .............................................................................. 36 Fase C Rantsoene ................................................................................................................................... 41 Beginsels vir suksesvolle Vleisbees Produksie .................................................................................. 43 DNA Forensics is the Key to resolving Stock Theft in South Africa ................................................... 47 Genetic Improvement benefits Commercial Producers ...................................................................... 48 Waarin lê die Sukses van Stoetteling? ................................................................................................. 54 Ultrasoniese Skandering van Beeste ................................................................................................... 59 A Perspective on Legislation aimed at combatting Stock Theft in South Africa .............................. 60 Real Time Ultrasound Scanning Accreditation ................................................................................... 63 CONTENTS/INHOUD CONTENTS/INHOUD Compilers / Samestellers: Dr Ben Greyling, Frans Jordaan & Celeste Appies Design and printing / Ontwerp en drukwerk: Asikhulume Pixart cc +27 12 661-9728 www.pixart.co.za Copyright reserved: ARC- Animal Production Institute No part of this publication may be duplicated, reproduced or published in any form without the written consent of the General Manager: ARC-Animal Production Institute, Irene Kopiereg voorbehou: LNR- Diereproduksie-instituut Geen gedeelte van hierdie publikasie mag gedupliseer, gereproduseer of gepubliseer word in enige vorm nie, tensy skriftelike toestemming van die Algemene Bestuurder: LNRDiereproduksie-instituut verkry is . ARC-Animal Production Institute LNR-Diereproduksie-instituut Private Bag X2 / Privaatsak X2, Irene, 0062, South Africa Tel: +27 12 672 9087 Faks/ Fax (012) 672 9002 Email/E-pos: [email protected] 1 Dr Ben Greyling Dit is altyd lekker om te kan kommentaar lewer as jy kan terugkyk na 'n jaar wat deur baie hoogtepunte gekenmerk is. Behalwe vir dienste wat na alle produsente in die bedryf uitgebrei is, is heelwat nuwe projekte ook aangepak, soos bv. die toets van bulle vir residuele voerrinname en –groei, om maar een te noem. Gedurende 2013 het die International Committee for Animal Recording (ICAR) ook hul “Certificate of Quality” aan die LNR uitgereik, u waarborg dat ons dienste aan die hoogste internasionale standaarde en vereistes voldoen. Die LNR as nasionale diensverskaffer moet natuurlik gedurig tred hou met verandering nie net in die bedryf nie, maar ook hoe dit die behoeftes van die produsent raak en dan daarby aanpas. Verskeie van die artikels in hierdie uitgawe werp lig op belangrike nuwe verwikkelinge wat u boerdery mag raak, teweeggebring deur nuwe navorsing, waarvan u as die produsent moet kennis neem ten einde die inligting optimaal te kan aanwend. U sal ook sien dat van die artikels deur vooraanstaande telers self geskryf is, dus van die boer aan die boer! Die oorgrote meerderheid van die artikels is egter geskryf deur tegnici, spesialis-navorsers en selfs diensverskaffers in 'n poging om 'n gebalanseerde prentjie te skep van waaroor die Vleisbeesskema gaan. Ons fokus dus baie sterk op inligting-oordrag in hierdie uitgawe aangesien ons gedurende die jaar heelwat versoeke in die verband gekry het vanuit die bedryf. Daar is verder heelwat nuusbrokkies wat allerlei noemenswaardige gebeure gedurende 2013 toelig. Soos gebruiklik bevat hierdie uitgawe ook 'n gedetailleerde weergawe van ons jaarlikse hoogtepunt, nl. 2013 se Nasionale Toekennings van die Vleisbeesskema van die LNR wat by die Tshwane Lenteskou aangebied is. Ek hoop u geniet u nuusbrief terdee en will terselfdertyd van die geleentheid ARC LNR Excellence in Research and Development COMMENTS/KOMMENTAAR Programbestuurder: Vleisbeesverbetering Programme Manager: Beef Cattle Improvement gebruik maak om u en u geliefdes 'n baie voorspoedige 2014 toe te wens. It is always a pleasure to reflect on a year that was characterized by many highlights. Besides having expanded our services to all role players in industry, the Scheme also embarked on several new projects, in collaboration with our partners in industry. These include, to name but one, the testing of bulls for residual feed intake and -growth. During 2013 the International Committee for Animal Recording (ICAR) also awarded the ARC with their Certificate of Quality, your guarantee that our services comply with the highest international standards and guidelines. In a changing environment the ARC continually needs to take note of changes taking place within industry and how these affect the needs of the producer. And off course position ourselves to address these needs! A variety of articles in this edition of your newsletter cover a range of new developments, the result of new research, that may affect your farming enterprise and which you should take note of in order to apply it optimally to your benefit. It is noteworthy that some of the articles have been written by prominent breeders – thus from the farmer to the farmer! The majority of articles are contributions from technicians, specialist researchers and even service providers in an attempt to bring you a balanced picture of what the Scheme is all about. Hence the focus is information dissemination, in response to several requests from industry during the year. This issue also highlights a variety of newsworthy items of 2013, and as is custom, brings you a detailed reflection of the annual highlight of the Scheme - the ARC's National Awards that took place at the Tshwane Spring show. I trust you will find this issue informative and also would like to take the opportunity to wish you and your loved ones a very prosperous 2014. ARC awarded Certificate of Quality from International Committee for Animal Recording (ICAR) The main objective of ICAR, and international nonprofit organization, is to promote the development and improvement of the activities that relate to performance recording and evaluation of farm livestock. In order to achieve this objective, ICAR develops definitions and sets standards and guidelines for the purpose of identifying animals, registration of their parentage, recording their performance and their evaluation and also to publish the findings. ICAR recently introduced the Certificate of Quality (that replaced the ICAR Special Stamp) in order to acknowledge its member organizations (such as the ARC) who provides services that comply with their standards and guidelines. The following activities relating to performance testing were acknowledged in the Certificate of Quality awarded to the ARC: Identification system for dairy cattle, beef cattle Recording of production of dairy cattle, beef cattle, dairy sheep Genetic evaluation of dairy cattle Recording of production of meat sheep and goats Genetic evaluation of beef cattle Laboratory analysis and data processing for members Farmers making use of the services of the ARC's Performance Recording and Improvement Schemes can thus rest assured that the services offered and executed comply with the highest international standards. 3 ARC NATIONAL BEEF PERFORMERS AWARDS Dr Ben Greyling, Frans Jordaan and Celeste Appies National Beef Recording and Improvement Scheme ARC-Animal Production Institute, Irene ARC LNR awards included the following categories: The Special Performance Test Class for Phase C tested th bulls was presented for the 35 year, making it one of the flagship awards of the event. The purpose of this award is to put performance testing in its correct perspective and promote it among the leading breeders of all breeds; to promote the appropriate use of performance data in the show ring; and thirdly to bring together all parties interested in beef cattle production. based on their merit classification. In light of the high profile of this class and to minimise the influence of personal preferences, three judges, Mr Martin Seyfferdt, Mr Jan de Jongh and Mr Theo Dicke adjudicated this class. The Pinzgauer bull, SG 11 0001, bred by Mr Paul Bester of Silence Genetics (Pty) Ltd (Mooketsi) walked away with top honours this year. Congralutations to Paul, as well as all the other finalists. The bulls that participated in this class had to complete a standardized growth test (Phase C) and their performance had to be recognized either by a gold or silver merit certificate. The bull had to have at least 10 contemporaries in the Phase C test and also had to comply with the minimum breed standard with regard to scrotal circumference. The bull also had to be inspected and approved by the breeders' society concerned. Nominations for the class are subsequently done by the respective breeders' societies from a list of bulls that qualified on the above-mentioned standards. Only one bull per breed could be entered for the class, and the final placing of bulls during judging in the ring at the awards ceremony is based only on functional efficiency and appearance, since the performance of the bulls is already taken into consideration Winner: Pinzgauer Bull bred by Mr Paul Bester The ARC National Special Performance Test Class. The ARC National Best Elite Cow awards sponsored by Farmer's Weekly. The ARC National Platinum Bull awards sponsored by GMPBasic. The ARC National Emerging Beef Farmer of the Year Awards sponsored by ABSA. The ARC National Beef Cattle Improvement Herd of the Year Awards sponsored by ABSA. ARC NATIONAL SPECIAL PERFORMANCE TEST CLASS Dr Robert Kleinloog Freddie Rautenbach FR 11 027 Santa Gertrudis Neil Dry RK 11 0041 Angus Willie Roode NMS 11 0042 Beef Shorthorn Dami Stemmet RO 11 0009 Brahman 4 The ARC's annual National Beef Performers Awards took place on Thursdays 29 August at the Spring Show in which many of South Africa’s top achievers participated. Besides being attended by eager participants and recipients of awards, this prestigious event was also honoured by the presence of representatives from DAFF and other main stakeholders of industry, highlighting the importance and status of this event on the annual agricultural calendar. The event also received widespread exposure in the agricultural media. The aim of the awards is to give recognition to South Africa's most outstanding achievers when it comes to breeding of genetically superior animals, using performance recording and -testing as a tool. This year's DS 11 0672 Charolais NATIONAL SPECIAL PERFORMANCE TEST CLASS Excellence in Research and Development TABLE 1 The 2013 ARC National Special Performance Test Class bulls Breed Bull ID No Born ADG Wean Index (g) FCR Ind Ind Kg/Kg Centre Tested Adjusted Adjusted Adjusted Shoulder/Hip* Body Length Scotrum Height (mm) (mm) Circum. (mm) Angus RK 11 0041 12/10/2011 103 2 324 120 5,08 111 Cedara 1 286 1 492 356 Beef Shorthorn NMS 11 0042 20/12/2011 104 1 918 112 6,57 106 Irene 1 206 1 390 371 Brahman RO 11 0009 08/09/2011 103 1 783 121 5,69 103 Irene 1 241 1 364 273 Charolais DS 11 0672 17/07/2011 105 2 297 110 4,79 107 Glen 1 188 1 470 322 Hugenoot SFF 11 4606 22/12/2011 106 2 119 126 5,67 106 Irene 1 237 1 362 339 Limousin DL 11 0125 30/10/2011 110 1 723 106 5,65 105 Sernick 1 192 1 381 312 Pinzgauer SG 11 0001 14/10/2011 100 2 035 104 5,48 103 Irene 1 210 1 432 349 2 PinZ yl PZ 11 0434 19/10/2011 99 1 718 120 5,70 109 Irene 1 133 1 316 292 Santa Gertrudis FR 11 0027 20/08/2011 100 2 064 121 5,65 105 Glen 1 270 1 455 372 TABLE 2 The owners of the 2013 National ARC Special Performance Test Class bulls Breed Bull ID No Owner/Contact person Town E-mail Angus RK 11 41 Dr R Kleinloog (Robert) Nottingham Road [email protected] Cell No 082 573 7424 Beef Shorthorn NMS 11 42 Mr D P Dry (Neil) Magaliesburg [email protected] 083 778 8000 Brahman RO 11 9 CJ & JW Roode (Willie Roode) Ermelo [email protected] 082 701 1121 Charolais DS 11 672 Mr A P Stemmet (Dami) Senekal [email protected] 083 264 1231 Hugenoot SFF 11 4606 Pan Lochner Boerdery (Edms Bpk) (Pan) Wierdapark [email protected] 082 553 4135 Limousin DL 11 125 John & Tracey Devonport Houghton [email protected] 083 454 3095 Pinzgauer SG 11 1 Silence Genetics (Pty) Ltd (Paul Bester) Mooketsi [email protected] 083 627 6899 2 PinZ yl PZ 11 434 Bertie van Zyl 3 (Pty) Ltd (Paul Bester) Mooketsi [email protected] 083 627 6899 Santa Gertrudis FR 11 27 Mr Freddie Rautenbach Excelsior [email protected] 082 775 2408 ARC NATIONAL BEST ELITE COW AWARDS Table 1 lists the bulls and their respective performance figures, while Table 2 lists the owners of the bulls. Sponsored by Farmer's Weekly Paul Bester PZ 11 434 PinZ2yl Paul Bester SG 11 0001 Pinzgauer 20 Pan Lochner SFF 11 4606 Hugenoot DL 11 0125 Limousin Tracey & John Devonport estimation. This year is the 35th anniversary of the ARC National Best Elite Cow award. Farmer's Weekly has been the sponsor of this award since 1979, joining the ARC to give recognition to outstanding performing cows. To qualify for an ARC National Best Elite Cow award, a cow must comply with the following requirements: A. Registered breeds: 1. The cow must be alive on the evaluation date. 2. The cow's age at first calving must not exceed 39 months. NATIONAL BEEF PERFORMERS AWARDS The aim of the ARC National Best Elite Cow Award is to identify cows which, based on performance test records and breeding values, have proven themselves as genetically superior in all economically important traits, such as reproduction, maternal ability and pre-weaning growth rate (weaning weight). The ARC-Animal Production Institute this year decided to consider cows of all beef breeds for the ARC National Best Elite Cow Awards, irrespective of which service provider (ARC, SA Stud Book or Breedplan) the relevant breeders' society uses for registration, performance testing and breeding value 21 5 ARC NATIONAL BEST ELITE COW AWARDS TABLE 3 The 2013 ARC National Best Elite Cow Awards sponsored by Farmer's Weekly 6 Breed Cow ID No Age Age Ave. 1st (last) Number ACP1 calving Calves calving (days) (months) years) Repro- Average Average ductive Weaning Effec. Index2 Index3 Index4 Birth Weight EBV (kg)5 Dir7 Acc Mat8 Acc Weaning Weight EBV (kg)6 Dir7 Acc Mat8 Acc Angus NEL 01 0012 11 10 24 361 119 110 105 1,1888 1,2475 16,0064 16,8049 Beefmaster AHA 00 0120 12 11 27 369 115 105 - 0,2989 0,5676 9,685 8,359 Bonsmara JCV 95 0040 18 16 27 366 116 108 102 -0,0192 1,0282 10,4089 8,8084 Braford TH 00 0091 12 10 35 366 NA NA NA 1,4082 NA 12,0067 5,0059 Brahman R10 98 0025 14 15 24 358 NA NA NA 2,3081 NA 26,0077 8,0074 Brangus C 02 0001 11 9 28 368 NA NA NA 0,4080 NA 8,0072 -1,0059 Charolais MF 01 0002 11 9 35 359 111 103 101 1,1688 1,1375 14,2084 6,0058 Drakensberger HN 01 0087 11 9 36 364 111 113 - 2,6788 0,4273 17,4083 9,4075 Hugenoot BLN 01 0002 12 10 21 410 111 98 - -1,4488 0,6773 1,1080 2,3052 Limousin DK 01 0051 11 10 27 358 NA NA NA 2,.2084 NA 20,0082 9,0075 Nguni MVN 99 0029 13 12 25 364 117 102 90 1,2578 0,2659 10,7085 2,5061 Pinzgauer PGJ 99 0030 14 10 36 378 109 99 107 0,4988 -0,4172 3,8082 1,3053 Santa Gertrudis VV 02 0135 10 8 27 354 118 117 - 0,4184 -1,4983 3,2083 11,9082 Simbra AJP 00 0029B 12 11 24 369 NA NA NA 1,1084 NA 12,005 7,0071 Simmentaler ASM 01 0044 12 10 26 360 NA NA NA 1 9080 NA 15,0071 7,5035 South Devon JM 00 2226 12 9 - 371 115 113 117 -5,5278 1,2457 3,3071 7,5035 Sussex TZ 01 0100 11 9 34 375 110 104 107 1,1989 0,5975 18,8084 9,5058 1. Av. ICP 2. Reprod. Index 3. Average Weaning Index 4. Average Eff. Index 5. Birth Weight EBV = Average Intercalving Period = Reproduction index (based on age at first calving and average ICP) = Average weaning weight index of calves = Average cow efficiency ratio (205 day weight / Cow weight 0,75 ) index = Estimated Breeding Value for birth weight 3. The cow's average inter-calving period must not exceed 425 days. 4. The cow must have calved normally during the 18 months before the evaluation date. 5. The cow must not have more than one calf without a valid weaning weight after the first calf with a valid weaning weight. 6. Breeding value requirements: 6.1 Wean direct breeding value must be within the best 50% of the active females in the breed. 6.2 Wean maternal breeding value must be within the best 50% of the active females in the breed. 6.3 Birth direct breeding value must be within the lowest 99% of the active females in the breed. 6.4 Birth maternal breeding value (where available) must be within the lowest 99% of the active females in the breed. 7. The cow must have a minimum of seven calves with reliable weaning weights. 8. The cow may not have received a previous ARC National Best Elite Cow award. B. Commercial herds (where no BLUP breeding values are available): The breeding value requirements (above-mentioned item 6) are replaced with the following: 6.1 No calf with a weaning index below 90. 6. Weaning Weight EBV = Estimated Breeding Value for weaning weight 7. Dir = Direct EBV (accuracy) 8. Mat = Maternal EBV (accuracy) *NA = Not Available for these breeds. Neville Landsdell 6.2 Average weaning index of calves must be at least 100 6.3 Maximum of two calves with a weaning Angus index below 100. Pieter van Deventer The following aspects of the qualifying cows (see above) are evaluated to identify the Best Elite Cow per breed: 5.1 Birth and weaning breeding values of the cow. 5.2 Average efficiency index (if available). Beefmaster 5.3 Approval ratio (percentage of her progeny approved for registration by the breeders' society concerned), considering the sex and herd book status of each calf. 5.4 Average inter-calving period and reproduction index. 5.5 Percentage of performance tested calves (with valid birth and weaning weights). 5.6 Number of calves with valid weaning weights in relation to the cow's age. The Best Elite Cows are selected purely on performance, based on the above criteria, and the physical appearance of the cow plays no role in the selection process. This year these awards were presented to the owners of 17 cows. Including this year's 17 awards, Farmer's Weekly has presented a total of 413 trophies since 1979. Its commitment to sponsor the awards since 1979 should be saluted! The 2013 ARC National Best Elite Cow Awards are listed in TABLE 4 The owners of the 2013 ARC National Best Elite Cow Awards sponsored by Farmer's Weekly Breed Angus Cow ID No Owner/Contact Person NEL 01 12 Town Neville Lansdel E-mail Alexandria Cell Number [email protected] 046 654 0102 Beefmaster AHA 00 120 Pieter van Deventer Coligny [email protected] 018 632 6061 Bonsmara JCV 95 40 Ermelo [email protected] 082 324 9633 Johan & Michiel Geldenhuys Braford TH 00 91 Thiele Estate (Carl Thiele) Paulpietersburg [email protected] 082 944 0481 Brahman RIO 98 25 Llewellyn Labuschagne Letsitele [email protected] 082 579 5479 Brangus C 02 1 Reinet Meyer Bloemfontein [email protected] 082 923 2639 Charolais MF 01 2 Davie van der Merwe (Willie Strauss) Schweizer-Reneke [email protected] 083 944 9220 Drakensberger HN 01 87 Neuman Brothers (Rodney & Leonard) Vrede [email protected] 082 746 8142 Hugenoot BLN 01 2 Louis Nel Melkrivier [email protected] 082 375 3640 Limousine DK 01 51 John & Tracey Devonport Houghton [email protected] 083 454 3095 Nguni MVN 99 29 Michiel van Niekerk Boshof [email protected] 083 234 0358 Pinzgauer PGJ 99 30 Cappuccino Stud, ZZ2 (Paul Bester) Mooketsi [email protected] 083 627 6899 Santa Gertrudis VV 02 135 Tina de Jager Vryburg [email protected] 082 774 4777 Simbra AJP 00 29B Abraham Pelser Steenbokpan [email protected] 014 766 0226 Simmentaler ASM 01 44 Daniel van der Merwe (Niel) Senekal [email protected] 082 416 6342 South Devon JM 00 2226 John Miller Cathcart [email protected] 083 659 8269 Sussex TZ 01 100 Theo van Zyl Ladybrand [email protected] 082 564 4921 Table 3 and the owners of the cows in Table 4. Congratulations to each of these owners for an outstanding achievement. Willie Strauss Carl Thiele NATIONAL BEST ELITE COW AWARDS Reinet Meyer Llewellyn & Corrie Labuschagne Charolais Louis Nel Braford Michiel van Niekerk Hugenoot Brangus Paul Bester Nguni Pinzgauer Johan & Michiel Geldenhuys Rodney & Leonard Newman Bonsmara Drakensberger Brahman Tina de Jager Santa Gertudis Abraham Pelser Simbra Niel van der Merwe Simmentaler Tracey & John Devonport John Miller Limousin Theo van Zyl South Devon Sussex ARC NATIONAL PLATINUM AWARDS Sponsored by GMP-Basic This category was introduced in 1996, to give recognition to excellent performing bulls from excellent performing cows. For a bull to qualify for an ARC National Platinum Award, it had to receive a gold merit award in Phase C and its dam had to be an Elite Cow award winner before or during the year in which the bull received a gold merit award. This is the 17th year that the Platinum Awards are presented and the third year that GMP-Basic is the sponsor of this highly competitive class. Breeders participating in Phase C (central standardised performance tests) of the ARC's National Beef Recording and Improvement Scheme are encouraged to test bulls bred from top performing proven dams. Bulls considered for this year's awards must have completed the Phase C test between 1 January 2012 and 31 December 2012. To date a total of 113 Platinum Awards have been made in this category. The five ARC National Platinum Award bulls are listed in Table 5 and their owners in Table 6. Congratulations to all these breeders! 7 TABLE 5 The 2013 ARC National Platinum award bulls sponsored by GMP-Basic Bull ID No Breed SP 10 7 Drakensberger DAM* Age 1st Aver. Calv- calving ICP ings (mnths) (days) Adjusted Wean ADG FCR Scrotum Dam ID No Index Index Index circum. Age (yrs) 110 13 9 113 119 326 JA 00 9 37 364 EBV (kg) Birth Weight Weaning Weight Dir Mat Dir Mat -0,7388 1,1173 7,183 8,475 BEI 10 118 Bonsmara 110 120 111 374 BEI 00 17 13 10 33 386 0,4790 0,5378 8,686 12,280 GR 10 248 Drakensberger 116 115 111 327 GR 00 35 13 8 23 423 1,5787 0,6372 10,583 4,875 HFN 11 201 Bonsmara 102 121 108 320 HFN 97 40 16 12 27 400 0,6090 0,2678 11,487 9,980 NFS 10 89 126 100 112 316 NFS 98 231 15 11 32 414 6,2387 1,.2676 27,983 10,777 Bonsmara * The information of the dam is the newest available. This could have changed since the cow received the last Elite award. TABLE 6 The owners of the ARC National Platinum award bulls sponsored by GMP-Basic Bull ID No SP 10 7 Breed Owner/Contact Person Drakensberger Mr S P Fourie (SP) Town E-mail Hartbeesfontein Cell Number [email protected] 082 745 4906 BEI 100118 Bonsmara Mr P S Beith (Peter) Vaalwater [email protected] 083 297 2626/7 GR 10 248 Drakensberger Mr G W Roux (Gawie) Ventersburg [email protected] 083 264 5487 HFN 11 201 Bonsmara Mr HF Naude (Hennie) Heilbron [email protected] 083 269 9293 NFS 10 89 Bonsmara Sernick Bonsmaras (Nick Serfontein) Edenville [email protected] 082 384 0020 Hennie Naudé Bonsmara Nick Serfontein Peter Beith Bonsmara Gawie Roux Bonsmara Drakensberger SP Fourie Drakensberger NATIONAL EMERGING BEEF FARMER ARC OF THE YEAR AWARD Sponsored by ABSA HISTORY & BACKGROUND The ARC keeps refining the Kaonafatso ya Dikgomo Scheme in its quest to effectively serve and support emerging farmers. Since 2007, when DAFF officially launched the Scheme, the ARC Animal Production Institute has invested considerably into this scheme in order to fast track its progress. The Scheme recently received funding from Treasury to appoint nine more technicians and 36 interns to be involved in recording and improvement of the herds of emerging farmers. The Scheme is currently operational in all nine provinces. Currently more than 420 emerging farmers out of the 1 415 participating in the Scheme have been registered on 8 Intergis. The aim of the Kaonafatso ya Dikgomo Scheme is to assist emerging beef cattle farmers to adopt and apply the available beef recording and improvement technology to increase the productivity and profitability of their herds. This is achieved by applying improved management practices and accurate selection for economically important traits. The ultimate goal of the Scheme is to fully integrate the participants into the National Beef Recording and Improvement Scheme. Since 2003, emerging beef cattle farmers have shared the stage with elite commercial cattlemen through a national award for those participating in the Kaonafatso ya Dikgomo Scheme. This year the awards celebrated a decade of existence, with the winner being sponsored by ABSA to NATIONAL PLATINUM AWARDS ARC NATIONAL PLATINUM AWARDS BULL TABLE 7 The 2013 ARC National Emerging Beef Farmer of the Year Award: Provincial Winners ARC NATIONAL EMERGING BEEF FARMER Province Name/ Contact Person Town Farm/Project Name Limpopo Mrs R Mamonare Mookgopong Ngaonaboko Farming Project Mpumalanga Mrs & Mr Tshabangu Middleton Middleton Abattoir farm 082 442 3579 Nguni & cross breeds 200 082 777 7162 082 570 2154 Bonsmara 146 Eastern Cape Mr M Zengetwa Elliott Grootfontein farm 072 205 3072 Bonsmara 146 North West Mrs P Sejanamane Zeerust Semmelang Bomme project 083 681 8350 Nguni 224 Free State Mr R Thekiso Thaba-Nchu Khumo farm 083 685 1757 071 029 9307 Bonsmara 97 Northern Cape Mr K Holele Kuruman Pender farm 082 827 0663 Nguni & Bonsmara 170 Western Cape Mr J Davids Napier Agri Dwala farm 028 423 3868 Angus & Cross Angus 200 Santa Getrudis & Bonsmara 162 Brahman, Nguni & Bonsmara 804 078 309 3949 073 632 9502 Gauteng Mrs P Dlamini Nigel Leeufontein farm 083 333 0941 KwaZulu Natal Mr D Sithole Umuludi Vreesnet farm 073 436 9104 082 555 7867 attend the annual Beef Federation Improvement Congress in the USA. PURPOSE The aim of the awards is: To acknowledge members of the Kaonafatso ya Dikgomo Scheme that performed well on specific criteria related to recording, management and performance of their herds; To encourage emerging beef cattle farmers to improve their standard of living through better returns from animal production and job creation; To promote participation in the Kaonafatso ya Dikgomo Scheme; To promote sound breeding and management principles in the beef cattle industry; and To demonstrate the benefit of performance testing, practically by means of identifying outstanding herds. IDENTIFYING THE WINNERS All emerging farmers participating in the Kaonafatso ya Dikgomo Scheme are screened annually to identify those meeting the requirements of the award. The nine provincial winners identified from the qualifying herds are listed in Table 7. The gross margins records and performance of the herd, especially reproduction, are the most important conMr R Thekiso sideration in the selection of the national winner. Congratulations to Mr Zengetwa of Elliot in the Eastern Cape for taking top honours in this category and walking away Free State with his prestigious prize sponsored by ABSA! Mr D Sithole Mr Zengetwa Kwa-Zulu Natal Mrs R Mamonare NATIONAL EMERGING BEEF FARMER OF THE YEAR AWARD Mr J Davids Western Cape 10 Number of Cows Breed Cell Number Mr M Zengetwa Eastern Cape Winner Mrs P Dlamini Gauteng Mr A Tshabangu Mpumalanga Mr K Holele Northern Cape Limpopo Province Mrs P Sejanamane North-West Sponsored by ABSA HISTORY To promote participation in performance testing; This award category was introduced in 1997, and this year was the 16th year that the award was presented on a provincial (previously regional) as well as national level. The ARC National Beef Cattle Improvement Herd of the Year Award is probably the most prestigious award in the South African beef cattle industry. The national winner's main prize is a visit to the annual conference of the Beef Improvement Federation (BIF) in the USA. This year is the first year that herds of all beef breeds, irrespective of which service provider (ARC, SA Stud Book or Breedplan) the relevant breeders' society use for registration, performance testing and breeding value estimation, were considered for the ARC National Beef Cattle Improvement Herd of the Year Award. The ARC also decided to extend the competition to include herds in other Southern African countries, e.g. Namibia. The latter was considered with the nine provincial winners for the national (overall) winner. To demonstrate the benefit of performance testing practically by means of identifying outstanding herds. IDENTIFYING THE PROVINCIAL WINNERS AND NATIONAL WINNER The criteria used to select the finalists in each province were as follows: The herd must participate in performance testing with one of the service providers (ARC, SA Stud Book or Breedplan) that the relevant breeder's society uses for registration, performance testing and breeding value estimation. At least 12 and/or 18 months weight must be recorded; The aim of the awards is: To acknowledge breeders that perform well on several criteria related to performance testing, genetic improvement, breeding and management; To encourage cattlemen to improve the efficiency of their enterprises; Phillip de Waal NATIONAL BEEF CATTLE IMPROVEMENT HERD OF THE YEAR AWARD To promote sound breeding and management principles in the beef cattle industry; and At least birth, weaning and cow weight (at calving and/or at weaning of calves) must be recorded in the herd; PURPOSE Western Cape Jan & Gideon van Zyl Chris Purdon Eastern Cape Joggie Briedenhann At least 20% of the weaned bull calves must be tested in Phases C or D (not applicable to breeds using Breedplan as service provider); The promptness of submitting all data and the accuracy of all performance test data must be within acceptable norms; Gideon Brits Gauteng Danie Olivier K J v Rensburg Mpumalanga Peter Farrant Arthur de Villiers Free State Jan Hattingh Northern Cape Non-SA Countries 20 ARC NATIONAL BEEF CATTLE IMPROVEMENT BEEF CATTLE IMPROVEMENT ARC NATIONAL HERD OF THE YEAR AWARD Kwa-Zulu Natal Limpopo Province North-West 11 TABLE 8 The 2013 ARC National Beef Cattle Improvement Herd of the Year Award Provincial Winners ARC NATIONAL BEEF CATTLE IMPROVEMENT Province 12 Owner/ Contact Person Eastern Cape Chris Purdon Free State Arthur de Villiers Gauteng Gideon Brits KwaZulu-Natal Danie Olivier Limpopo Peter & Nick Farrant Mpumalanga Kerneels Jansen van Rensburg Jan Hattingh North West Northern Cape Jan van Zyl Western Cape Phillip de Waal Non-SA Countries Joggie Briedenhann Herd Name & Breed Veejay Angus Arcadia Bonsmaras Beefmaster Alliance Hotvoor Bonsmaras Culmpine Bonsmaras Nooitverwag Beefmaster Salerika Simmentalers Kroonvee Brahmane Locheim Hereford Hartebeestloop Bonsmaras Town E-mail Cell Number Average Average Number 1st calving ICP of Cows (months) (days) Average Reprod. Index Cathcart 082 879 2744 [email protected] 450 35 379 100 Vrede 082 564 8912 [email protected] 824 29 398 107 Nigel 082 457 2816 [email protected] 900 26 374 120 Vryheid 083 229 9195 [email protected] 458 32 380 106 Vaalwater 082 822 8935 [email protected] 99 34 377 105 Ermelo 082 651 2783 [email protected] 420 34 376 103 Delareyville 083 274 4493 [email protected] 272 24 376 NA Olifantshoek 082 444 5222 [email protected] 441 33 428 NA Moorreesburg 082 783 0011 [email protected] 146 28 374 113 Stampriet, Namibia 00264 81 2316169 [email protected] 480 27 386 115 *NA = Not Available for these breeds The herd must consist of at least 50 cows; The average ICP for all the cows in the herd may not exceed 415 days; The average age at first calving for all the cows in the herd may not exceed 36 months; The average elapsed time since last calving for all the cows in the herd may not exceed 415 days; and At least 96% calves must have been born alive. To select the provincial and national winner from the list of finalists, the following aspects are considered: Level of participation of the herd in performance testing regarding the various phases and traits concerned; Level of reproductive performance of the herd; Breeding objectives for the herd; Genetic progress and genetic level of the herd; Application of performance test data and BLUP breeding values in the selection, breeding and management of the herd; Application of modern scientific breeding techniques in the herd; Involvement of the owner in performance testing activities and promoting performance testing; Arthur de Villiers Mentoring and training of new and/or emerging farmers by the owner of the herd; and Herd size. The performance of the herd, especially relating to Winner reproduction, is the most important consideration in the selection of the winner. This year Mr Arthur de Villiers from Vrede in the Free State took the number one position in South Africa in this category and also walked away with a prize worth more than R50 000, sponsored by ABSA. Congratulations to Arthur and all the provincial winners. The provincial winners and the non-SA winner for the 2013 ARC National Beef Cattle Improvement Herd of the Year Award are presented in Table 8. GMP Basic GMP Basic GMP Basic GMP Basic GMPBasic® Livestock Management ear tags and management program people can approach some-one in the community perhaps to assist them with the record keeping of their animals within the system. In addition to this the GMP Traceability company offers remote support and administration services for clients offices. Affordable training courses for the GMPBasic software system are provided by GMP Traceability. Cows with calves - are all the cows working? Cow reproduction performance The primary goal of owning beef cattle must be to produce beef for the nation. Food security for all citizens of the country is an absolute must. There is no justification for some-one to be 'owning' cattle merely for the sake of owning cattle as a measure of wealth. Beef cattle need to be produced through the birth of calves from fertile cows. Each beef cow in any of the regions of South Africa should be considered a national asset. These assets must be productive. Focus must be placed on improving the beef farming skills of beef cattle owners. An important aspect to reach the goal of one calf per year per sexually and physiologically mature cow is to have a good record keeping system. Such a system should also be able to cover many aspects simultaneously for producer, state vet services, government and the consumer. Calves are linked back to specific cows in this screenshot. Keeping records of the calves born and the inter-calving days are important to determine whether a cow is worth while keeping. The producers’ responsibilities are to ensure that the cows have sufficient quality feed with supplementary summer or winter lick for 24 hours a day to assist with good beef production. For more information from GMP Traceability: Tel: 011 954 4971 [email protected] [email protected] www.gmptags.co.za The GMPBasic livestock identification, management and traceability system is such a system. It affords the beef producer the function to identify the cow (dam) and to link all the offspring to the dam's records. When all the cows in such a herd are linked up with their calves then a comprehensive reproduction analysis is possible. The daily management with GMPBasic® also assists the producer with compliance and certification challenges in the livestock industry. People have different levels of literacy, computer skills and financial resources available. This is where the GMPBasic system lends itself well to being able to manage multiple owner profiles on one computer. It means that poor or elder or less educated 13 ANGUS ANGUS LAAT JOU SYFERS KLOP! word die kruisteling met geregistreerde Angus-bulle met soveel sukses toegepas. Kruisteling veroorsaak beduidende basterkrag wat 'n toename van 15% tot 30% sal veroorsaak ten opsigte van, onder meer, die volgende: Speengewig; Melkproduksie; Vroeër volwassenheid; ANGUS Die Angus is oorspronklik 'n Skotse beesras. Die meeste sintetiese beesrasse, soos Beefmaster en Bonsmara, is geteel met Engelse beesrasse, soos Hereford en Shorthorn, as grondslag vir verbetering van bouvorm en karkasgehalte. Wanneer karkasgehalte geneties oor 400 jaar in 'n beesras vasgelê is, soos by die Angus, verseker dit dat die Angus deur ander rasse as 'n norm vir karkasgehalte gebruik word. In Landbouweekblad van 12 Julie 2013 (“Bonsmara 'n heilsame smaaksensasie”) meet Bonsmara-boere hul vordering op karkasgebied aan Angus. Dit word verwelkom. Die Angus-ras produseer konsekwent smaaklike en sagte vleis van gehalte met 'n fyn grein, met presies genoeg vermarmering wat 'n onvergelyklike eetervaring verseker. 'n Bonsmara-tipe koei met haar Angus-kruiskalf op Campher se plaas Hoër gemiddelde daaglikse gewigstoename (GDT) in vergelyking met ander beesrasse; 'n Rooi poenskopkalf; ANGUS Op 17 Julie vanjaar het die 30ste jaarlikse Malutiaanteelslagvee- veiling naby Bethlehem plaasgevind. Op die veiling is Angus x Bonsmara-vervangingsteelversies wat lewend gemiddeld 315 kg weeg, teen tot R23,65/kg verkoop. Angus x Bonsmara-speenkalwers is teen R18,50/kg verkoop, terwyl ander rasse se speenkalwers op dieselfde veiling teen R16,40/kg verkoop is. Waarom die prysverskille? Die erfdwang van die Angus-bulle is sigbaar by die kalwers. Dié tipiese dieprooi poenskopdiere is met trots deur deelnemende boere van die omgewing aangebied. Dit is nie slegs bouvorm wat Angus-kruiskalwers 'n bogemiddelde prys besorg nie. Die waarde van hierdie diere is geleë in die toevoeging wat die Angus-teelmateriaal ten opsigte van karkasgehalte maak. ANGUS Kruisteling met geregistreerde Angus-bulle word besonder suksesvol toegepas omdat die Angus-ras nie in die teling van sintetiese beesrasse in Suid-Afrika gebruik is nie. Die kalwers sal dieselfde blokkige bouvorm as die Angus vertoon. Die bykomende bonus is dat die kalf wat die resultaat daarvan is, vir toelating tot die Certified South African Angus Beef®-protokol in aanmerking sal kom. Dit is 'n voordeel vir enige kommersiële vleisbeesboer omdat dié bykomende bemarkingsopsie aansienlike waarde toevoeg. Angus x Bonsmaraverse beland selde in die voerkraal. Hulle is gesogte vroulike vervangingsteeldiere wat van 15 maande tot 18 maande gepaar kan word. Dit het 'n bykomende kalf tot gevolg, veral wanneer dié ouderdom vergelyk word met die tradisionele paring op 24 maande tot 27 maande. Sulke vroulike diere is teelkragtig in menige kommersiële beesvleisproduserende kuddes en bly dit steeds, selfs ná die ouderdom van tien jaar. Maak seker jou syfers klop met Angus-teelKruisteling op sy beste. Dié foto is geneem op die plaas Roodekop op die materiaal. ANGUS Aangesien Angus nie in die teling van sintetiese beesrasse in Suid-Afrika gebruik is nie en dus nie aan die meeste ander vleisrasse in Suid-Afrika verwant is nie, plaas van mnr Loutjie Campher in Noordwes 15 SWART ANGUS Karkaskoning én Prins ANGUS ANGUS ANGUS ANGUS van die Voerkraal Jare lank het sommige voerkrale teen swart beeste gediskrimineer. Die ongekende groei wat die Angus-ras beleef en die klem wat Angus-telers wêreldwyd op prestasiemeting plaas, het die bordjies egter verhang. SAV NETWORTH 4200. 'n Bul wat 'n wesenlike impak op Suid-Afrikaanse Angusteelmateriaal het. Sy speengewig op 205 dae was 452 kg. Net Worth se SuidAfrikaanse indekse (bepaal deur sy aanteel in Suid-Afrika) is: Speen: +32,9 kg; Melk: +8,7 kg; Groei (12 maande): +51,6 kg; Oogspierarea: +2,89. Dit is enige speenkalfprodusent en voerkraal se droom. Die Angus-ras se gewildheid groei met rasse skrede. Hier is sommige van die syfers en redes vir dié gunstige groeineigings. Die nasionale gemiddelde speengewigte, gemiddelde daaglikse gewigstoename en karkasmetings vir Angus-, Drakensbergeren Dexterbeeste vir 2004 en verlede jaar is in die tabel te sien. Die Angus se gemiddelde speengewig vir manlike en vroulike diere het sedert 2004 met 11% gestyg, terwyl die Drakensberger s'n met 9% en die Dexter s'n met 16% gestyg het. Drakensbergers en Dexters het egter verlede jaar nog nie die gemiddelde speengewig bereik wat die Angus al in 2004 bemeester het nie. As die gemiddelde daaglikse gewigstoename (GDT) bekyk word, toon die Angus 'n toename in GDT van 0,083 kg per dag, die Drakensberger 'n toename van 0,049 kg per dag en die Dexter 'n afname van 0,13 kg per dag. Die Drakensberger en die Dexter het weer eens verlede jaar steeds nie die GDT bereik waaroor die Angus in 2004 beskik het nie. Voerkrale se diskriminasie teen swart diere moet iets van die verlede word as die Angus se prestasie op karkasgebied beskou word. Die gehalte van beesvleis word gemeet aan die oppervlakte van die oogspierarea van die dier en die marmering van die karkas wat dit produseer. As swart beeste aan die hand van SA Stamboek se 2012-verslag beskou word, is die Drakensberger se oogspierarea heeltemal in pas met rooi beesrasse s'n, soos die Hereford en die Bonsmara, terwyl die Angus se oogspierarea (87 cm2) groter as dié van enige vleisbeesras is. Die Dexter en die Angus se marmeringtelling (onderskeidelik 3,4 en 3) is ook beter as enige ander beesras s'n. Alles dui daarop dat die gaping tussen die Angus en beesrasse van alle kleure in die toekoms verder gaan vergroot. Die rede daarvoor is die voordeel van 'n massiewe genepoel wat Suid-Afrikaanse Angus-stoettelers geniet vir die verbetering van hul ras en vleisproduksie in SuidAfrika in die algemeen. Die Angus is en bly die karkaskoning en die prins van die voerkraal! Navrae: Mnr. John Boulle, rasdirekteur, tel. 051 447 9849 of sel 076 604 4900. *Artikel het oorspronklik in Lanbouweekblad verskyn ANGUS TABEL 1 Vergelykbare syfers vir Angus-, Drakensberger- en Dexter-beeste vir 2004 en 2012 RAS SPEENGEWIG (kg) OP 205 DAE MANLIKE en VROULIKE DIERE GEMIDDELDE DAAGLIKSE GEWIGS- OOGSPIERAREA TOENAME (GDT) TYDENS RTUTYDENSSENTRALE SKANDERING (cm2) TOETS (g) VLEISMARMERING TELLING 2004 2012 2004 2012 2004 2012 2004 2012 Drakensberger 208 228 1 712 1 761 - 58 - 2,2 Angus 219 246 1 832 1 915 - 87 - 3 Dexter 148 177 1 508 1 378 - 57 - 3,4 *Bron : LNR Jaarverslag: Nasionale Vleisbeesverbeteringskema 2004 en SA Stamboek Logix Beesvleisverslag 2012 16 Nguni-koeie ANGUS RASEGTE ANGUS-BULLE presteer by Onder leiding van dr. Michiel Scholtz is voorgestel dat gebruik gemaak word van 'n effekleur, poenskopras wat maklik identifiseerbaar en horingloos is, en met aanvaarbare prestasievlakke vir voerkraaloperateurs. Die antwoord was – natuurlik - Angus. Gevolglik is kruisteling met swart Angus-bulle by Ngunikoeie voorgestel wat horinglose, swart kalwers sou lewer. In 2011 is 'n memorandum van ooreenkoms deur die onderstaande genote onderteken ingevolge waarvan die gebruik van Angus-bulle by Nguni-koeie Angus x Ngunikalwers sou lewer wat geskik sou wees vir die Gesertifiseerde Suid-Afrikaanse Angus Beef-protokol en deur die supermarkgroep Pick n Pay bemark kon word. Die genote is die SA Angus-genootskap, Angus Beef (Edms.) Bpk., Beefcor-voerkraal, die Nywerheidsontwikkelingskorporasie (IDC), Limpopo se departement van landbou, die Nguni-ontwikkelingstrust, die Landbounavorsingsraad (LNR) en die Pick n Pay-groep. Bulle is vanoor die hele Suid-Afrika aangekoop van Angusstoettelers en by die Tawoomba-navorsingstasie onder toesig van me. Erna van Schoor versorg en met hartwaterbloed geïmmuniseer. 'n Twee dae lange opleidingswerksessie is aangebied om al die voornemende boere op hoogte te bring met die gebruik en versorging van die Angusbulle, die werking van die Angus Beef-protokol, naspoorbaarheid en bestuur. 20 Navorsing deur die LNR het die volgende aan die lig gebring: ANGUS Een van mnr. Albertus Erasmus van Wesselsbron se Angus x Nguni-verse Die kruisspeenkalwers was 18% swaarder vergeleke met die suiwer geteelde kalwers. Die kruisspeenkalwers se gemiddelde daaglikse gewigstoename was 38% beter vergeleke met die suiwer geteelde kalwers. Die vleisgehalte van die kruiskalwers was bykans dieselfde as dié van suiwer geteelde Anguskalwers. ANGUS Min boere sou twee dekades gelede glo dat die Ngunibeesras aan die vooraand was van die produksie van beesvleis van topgehalte. Voerkraaloperateurs het openlik gediskrimineer teen kalwers van Nguni-koeie en Nguni's het meesal gesog geraak vir hul huide. In Limpopo is 'n projek begin wat deur die IDC gefinansier word. Dertig dragtige Nguni-koeie en -verse word aan 'n beesvleisboer gegee. Binne die leentydperk van vyf jaar moet die boer die lening met 30 dragtige Nguni's afgelos. Die boere het egter laat blyk dat alternatiewe vir die suiwer geteelde Ngunispeenkalwers gevind moes word. Verskeie voerkraaloperateurs het die suiwer geteelde Nguni-kalwers gepenaliseer en dit het 'n laer as verwagte inkomste tot gevolg gehad. In Januarie verlede jaar het mnr. Cedric Majopelo van Limpopo se departement van landbou hierdie bulle aan die begunstigdes toegeken. Hoewel die bulle in moeilike omstandighede koeie moes dek, het die bulle by die Limpopo-bosveldtoestande aangepas, gegroei en uitstekende resultate gelewer. Laat in Januarie vanjaar is besoek gebring aan die kuddes om die bulle en nageslag te besigtig. Die kalwers was horingloos, met die konformasie van die Angus en die meeste met 'n swart haarkleed. ANGUS Die nageslag van Angus-bulle by Nguni-koeie in Limpopo is horingslose kalwers met die konformasie van die Angus ANGUS In kruisteling met twee eeue oue beesrasse in Limpopo het Angus-bulle 'n merkbare verbetering in die grootte en winsgewendheid van speen-kalwers van Nguni-koeie. Die eerste besending van hierdie Angus x Ngunispeenkalwers is op Donderdag 27 Junie aan die Beefcorvoerkraal op Bronkhorstspruit gelewer word waar hulle gevoer sal word en in die Gesertifiseerde SA Angus Beefprojek opgeneem sal word in opdrag van Pick n Pay. Hierdie kalwers, almal verwek deur geregistreerde, prestasiegeselekteerde Angusbulle, kom in aanmerking vir die Angus Beef-protokol. Die twee eeue oue beesrasse word met sukses in moderne beesvleisproduksie gebruik en die toekoms van beesvleisproduksie lê opgesluit in doelgerigte kruisteling. Top-Angusteelmateriaal is beskikbaar op die nasionale Angus-veiling in die Afridome, Parys, op 6 Augustus om 11:00. 17 FEE STRUCTURE FEE STRUCTURE FEE STRUCTURE FEE STRUCTURE National Beef Recording and Improvement Scheme 18 Item Unit Price (VAT Excl) 1. PREFIX REGISTRATION ON INTERGIS Registration of Prefix (Once Off) R200.00 Change of Prefix R 12.00 Session (transfer) of Prefix R120.00 2. PEDIGREE RECORDING ON INTERGIS (Seed Stock) Once-off joining fee R219.00 Annual subscription fee R219.00 Annual per capita - paper option R 2.00 Annual per capita fee - electronic option R 1.20 3. PERFORMANCE RECORDING ON INTERGIS 3.1 Phases A & B Once-off joining fee R525.00 Annual herd fee R180.00 Annual per capita fee - paper option R 4.70 Annual per capita fee - electronic option R 2.90 3.2 Central Standardized Bull Growth and Feed Efficiency Tests at ARC Test Centres (Phase C and RFI) Feed costs Actual feed consumed Management fee per bull R295.00 Processing (dip, dose, etc.) R120.00 RTU scanning Free 3.3 On-farm post weaning Growth Tests (Phase D) Farm visit R825.00 Fee per bull in test R 47.00 RTU, all measurements Free 4 GENETIC EVALUATION Annual per capita fee (BLUP) R 1.75 Additional herd profile R150.00 5 CERTIFICATION SERVICES Once-off joining fee R250.00 Annual subscription fee R250.00 Annual per capita fee - paper option R 2.35 Annual per capita fee - electronic option R 1.45 Printing of individual animal certificate (min R25) R 2.50 6 ADDITIONAL SERVICES 6.1 RTU Scanning Farm visit R825.00 RTU scanning per animal R 41.00 6.2 Consultation Farm visit R825.00 Consultation / per hour (maximum of R800 per day) R150.00 The prices for pedigree recording include: Capturing of birth notifications Cancellations, transfers and re-instatements One inspection form per year Capturing of animals following inspection Capturing of inspection results Annual per capita list with all animals on system Capturing of data on the INTERGIS The Data can be submitted by the farmers directly to the INTERGIS in one of the following ways: Electronic files submitted through BeefPr" Directly on the system through the INTERGIS Interface Via a paper option that should be send to the ARC Data Editing section in Bloemfontein Electronic files submitted through any other software, provided the file format is compatible with the INTERGIS None of these options will put an additional burden on the particular breeders' society and all enquiries should be directed directly to the ARC. The only responsibilities of the breeders' society will be to request the ARC LNR Excellence in Research and Development 1 April 2013 – 31 March 2014 inspection forms and distribute them to the inspectors. The breeders' society will also have to return the completed inspection forms to the ARC. A new/different Group (Breed) code will be created on the INTERGIS to accommodate this Certification. ARC representation on breeders' society technical committees: Direct cost for traveling and subsistence The prices for genetic evaluation include: An annual BLUP analyses using the ARC's current operational models that were developed for the breed One electronic or paper herd profile per herd One sire summary that will be supplied to the Society Certificate Services The fee includes the following: Capturing of all birth notifications if applicable (including pedigree information if available) Capturing of individual animals following an inspection/approval. An annual per capita list as on 1 July with all the animals in the possession of the member (the annual per capita fee will also be levied on the number of animals on this per capita list). One inspection form with individual animal ID's per year per member, if required for inspection purposes. Capturing of inspection results if completed on the inspection form. Cancellations, transfers and re-instatements Access to information Individual members will have access to their own information and a breeders' society will have access to the information of all its members. Technology Transfer Services Training courses: Beef Recording and Performance Testing Beef Breeding with Breeding Values BeefPro Beef Cattle Management Software GenePro Breeding Management Software Beef Cattle Management Manuals, Books & Newsletters: Beef Breeding in SA Beef Production Manual National Beef Recording and Improvement Scheme Newsletter Articles for journals, newsletters, agricultural magazines, etc. Lectures at farmer's days, etc. Consultation Services Herd screening - Identification of non-functional, unproductive and/or inefficient animals Identification of excellent bulls and cows (potential AI bulls & embryo donor cows) Herd reproduction analysis and services (data/report available prior to visit) Herd profitability analysis (total input/output) Setting up herd management programmes Breeding plans: Breeding objectives (software assisted) Breeding strategies (software assisted) Selection of animals for breeding groups and AI Visual evaluation and linear classification Inspection of animals for registration Screenings of animals for sales Interpretation of breeding values, diagnostics of performance figures Please note: The ARC is not a Registering Authority and can therefore not issue registration certificates in its own name. However, the ARC can issue registration certificates on behalf of a Registering Authority. If you want to make use of the pedigree recording services of the ARC it is recommended that your Society apply to the Registrar of Animal Improvement to become a Registering Authority and the ARC will assist you in this regard. Alternatively you can negotiate with another existing Registering Authority so that the ARC can issue the registration certificates on behalf of that Registering Authority for your breed. THE EFFECT OF YEAR AND SEASON on feedlot performance of SIMMENTALER BULLS in a warm and arid area M.N Ferreira, M.M Scholtz, F Jordaan and B.J Greyling Farmers have been sending their bulls to the ARC's central growth test centres (bull testing centres) for many decades throughout the year, and this study was under-taken to establish the effect of year and season on the performance of the animals, specifically on the growth, feed intake and feed efficiency (total weight gain / total feed intake). Simmentaler bulls at the Armoedsvlakte bull testing station of the ARC near Vryburg were used as the test group in this study. Following adaptation of animals to their new feed (28 days), the bulls were given a complete high energy ration according to the standardized central growth tests (Phase C) of the ARC. Bull calves between 151 and 250 days of age were tested for 84 days following the adaption period. During the adaption period bulls received 7kg of feed per day for the first two weeks and the second two weeks they received 10kg of feed per day per bull. In the second week of adaption the gates at the individual feeding troughs were closed, and then the bulls learned where they must eat. Each bull was assigned a specific feeding trough. Each bull also got a transponder around his neck with a number, the number correlates with the number of the feeding trough. Each transponder only opens the gate of the feeding pen with the same number. There are 10 feed troughs in one kraal. Individual body weight and feed intake were measured on a weekly basis. Feed conversion ratio (FCR) is the amount of feed an animal consumes to gain 1kg body weight. The lower the FCR the better the animal utilises the feed consumed. Data of 162 bulls were used between 1999 to 2012, representing 5 summer and 5 winter tests respectively. The test number indicates the month in which the test started. The Vryburg region receives on average 344mm of rainfall per year, mainly during summer, with the lowest rainfall (0mm) in June and the highest (70mm) in February. The average midday temperatures range from 19 oC in June to 33 oC in January. July is the coldest month with an average night temperature 0o C. TABLE 1 Summer tests Year & Season 1999 1999 2000 2008 2012 (02) (10) (10) (01) (11) Average Total weight gained for summer test (Kg) Total feed intake for summer test (Kg) FCR for summer test 177.86 172.08 187.50 155.07 176.67 1180.00 1265.92 1439.00 886.67 1254.81 6.63 7.36 7.67 5.72 7.10 173.83 ± 11.90 1205.28 ± 201.81 ARC Animal Production Institute, [email protected] TABLE 2 Winter tests Year & Season 1999 2000 2001 2007 2012 (03) (03) (05) (06) (05) Average Total weight gained for winter test (Kg) Total feed intake for winter test (Kg) FCR for winter test 168.67 174.55 156.18 174.29 161.67 1138.52 1233.91 1173.00 1477.43 978.58 6.75 7.07 7.51 8.48 6.05 167.07 ± 8.04 1200.29 ± 181.42 7.42 ± 0.90 *Test number indicated in brackets The total weight gain, total feed intake and feed conversion ratio are indicated in the Table 1. The following was evident from the observations: Summer During the 2008 summer test the total weight gain was the lowest, with only 155 kg weight gained accompanied by the lowest feed intake. The FCR however was good at only 5.72. Normally lower weight gains are associated with poorer efficiency (FCR). During the 2000 summer test the total weight gained was 188 kg, with a total of 1 439 kg feed consumed, resulting in a FCR of 7.67. Winter During the 2007 winter test the total weight gained was 174 kg, while a total of 1 477 kg feed consumed. The FCR for the test was 8.48, the worst FCR despite a relatively high total weight gain. The best winter test was in 2000 with a total weight gain of 175 kg, accompanied by a total feed consumption of 1234 kg and an FCR of 7.07. In conclusion, there were no statistically significant differences between any of the performance traits among seasons, indicating that season does not have an effect on performance. This result may be due to the large variation in performance both within and between seasons, with no specific pattern. The fact that there no significant differences could be demonstrated in the performance between the bulls tested among the different seasons, could also be attributed to the fact that the bulls tested at the Armoedsvlakte are well adapted to the environment of the region. Furthermore, it is not clear whether the large variation, in particular for FCR, is due to genetic differences of the bulls between tests or whether it can be ascribed to pre-testing management or weather conditions. The poor FCR of the winter test (2007) and the good FCR of the 2008 summer test may be due to the temperature and/or humidity (rainfall), but further research is needed to establish the relationship between performance within a specific year and season, taking into account weather patterns, including temperature and rainfall. 6.93 ± 0.76 *Test number indicated in brackets 19 Tuli Limousin Afrigus Ankole Senepol Boran SA Beefmaster Drakensberger Beef Breeding in South Africa Pinzgauer Angus Braunvieh 2nd Edition Charolais Gelbvieh CONTENTS Hugenoot PinZ2yl Red Poll SA Hereford CONTRIBUTORS Sanganer Shorthorn South Devon EDITOR Wagyu Brahman SA Braford Simbra Santa Gertrudis Afrikaner Sussex Bonsmara Brangus Dexter Simmentaler PRICE / PRYS Nguni Romagnola R 200-00 PER COPY (plus R 50-00 postage and packaging if applicable) R 200-00 PER KOPIE (plus R 50-00 posgeld en verpakking indien toepaslik) ORDERS / BESTELLINGS Una-Lou Lecuona Fax: 012 672-9113; Tel: 012 672-9391 E-mail: [email protected] Afrisim Wat behels die EVALUASIE VAN BULLE IN FASE C Leon de Lange Fase C toetsing behels die volledige evaluasie van stoetbulkalwers vir ekonomies belangrike eienskappe onder gestandaardiseerde toestande. Die eienskappe waarna gekyk word is voeromsetverhouding, groei-vermoë, raseienskappe en strukturele korrektheid. Bulle wat genomineer word vir Fase C moet as moontlike kudde-vaars gesien word en dus moet die seleksie van sulke diere vooraf baie oordeelkundig geskied en die volgende punte is van belang: Daar moet sorgvuldig na die ma se teelrekords gekyk word, of sy wel die potensiaal het om 'n stoetbul te kan teel. Dus moet haar vrugbaarheid, melkproduksie en retensie uitstekend wees Die kalf moet 'n aanvaarbare geboorte massa hê Teelorgane moet goed ontwikkel wees Daar moet ook geen ooglopende genetiese defekte soos skede-, uitgroei hoewe-, kort onderkaak-, skewe bek-, swak rug- en temperament probleme wees nie. Van hierdie genetiese defekte op 'n jong ouderdom kan net vererger gedurende die toetsperiode, wat dan sal lei tot swak prestasie Vir 'n bul om te kwalifiseer om in Fase C getoets te word, moet die dier jonger wees as 250 dae by aankoms by die betrokke toetssentrum. Die dier moet ook tussen sekere gewigsgrense per ras wees by aankoms. Na aankoms by die toetssentrum gaan die bul deur twee fases, naamlik 'n aanpassingsperiode van 28 dae wat gevolg word deur die toetsperiode van 84 dae. Gedurende die toetsperiode word die bulle individueel gevoer en weekliks geweeg om hul groeivermoë en voeromset te bepaal. Die bulle ontvang 'n rantsoen met 'n ruvesel inhoud van 30%. Die rantsoen is spesiaal geformuleer om optimale groei te verseker, sodat die ekonomiese eienskappe sinvol geevalueer kan word. Vir hierdie evaluasie is twee gewigte van belang nl. begintoetsgewig en eindtoetsgewig. Hierdie gewigte word gebruik om die volgende groeimaatstawwe te evalueer nl. LNR Diereproduksie-instituut; [email protected] EVALUASIE VAN BULLE Leon de Lange voer die bul benodig om een kilogram in lewende liggaamsgewig toe te neem. Ander aspekte wat ook aandag geniet is die neem van liggaamsmates nl. skouerhoogte, liggaamslengte, veldikte en skrotum omtrek. Hierdie mates help met die bepaling van die raam-tipes van die bulle, en die skrotum omvang is weer 'n aanduiding van die reproduksie vermoë van die bul. Aan die einde van die toets word die bul deur 'n ras keurder geïnspekteer vir goedkeuring alvorens 'n bul kan kwalifiseer vir 'n meriete toekenning. Om die meriete prestasie van die bulle te bepaal word die bul se groei en voeromset vergelyk met dié van al die bulle van dieselfde ras wat die afglope 10 jaar by die betrokke sentrum getoets is. Dus kan u slegs een bul laat toets, en die bul kan nog steeds geevalueer word. Merietes, volgens prestasie, wat toegeken word wissel tussen goud, silwer, brons en submeriete (lg vir bulle wat nie voldoen het aan prestasiestandaarde nie). 'n Meriete toekenning deur 'n bul behaal word op die linkerblad gebrand met 'n duidelike herkenbare "V". 'n Goue meriete bul is 'n bul wat bogemiddeld presteer wat betref voeromset en groeivermoë, terwyl die brons meriete bul een is wat weer binne 10% onder die rasgemiddeld presteer. Daar moet onthou word dat die goue meriete bul nie noodwendig altyd die beste keuse is vir alle omstandighede nie. Raam-tipe is bv. ook van groot belang by verskillende weidings omstandighede. Goue presteerdes word egter in alle raamtipes gekry en die variasie binne 'n ras moet tydens seleksiebesluite benut word. Deur u bul vir 84 dae in die bekwame hande van die Bultoetssentrum bestuurders te laat, kry u 'n volledige korrekte evaluasie van u bul vir beide genetiese en visuele eienskappe. Die LNR beskik oor 4 toetssentrums deur die land, nl. Irene, Vryburg, Glen en Cedara. 'n Vyfde sentrum op Elsenburg in the wes- Kaap, wat bedryf word saam met die department van landbou en die boere van die streek, is ook beskikbaar vir toetsing. Die gemiddelde daaglikse toename of G.D.T. Dit is die groei per dag van die bul, wat in toets is, oor die toetsperiode. Die doeltreffendheid waarmee voer omgesit word in eetbare vleis, is baie belangrik. Hierdie voeromsetverhouding (V.O.V.) word akkuraat bepaal gedurende die toetsperiode van 84 dae. Rekord word gehou van die hoeveelheid voer wat aan die bul uitgereik word, en deur sy groei te monitor kan bepaal word hoeveel 21 THE BRAHMAN Sietze Smit THE EMBODIMENT OF HARDINESS THE BRAHMAN THE BRAHMAN THE BRAHMAN Breed Director, Brahman Breed Society of South Africa; [email protected] 22 animal's heat adaptability. The heat increment of food can therefore be utilised for production, milk or growth, instead of energy for extra cooling mechanisms. Mothering ability The Brahman breed's extremely protective disposition towards its progeny allows commercial producers to farm with Brahmans in extensive areas, which would otherwise be unproductive because of predators. It creates an ideal environment for the calf to grow. Calving ease Brahman cows have an inherent capacity to restrict the birth weight of their calves before birth. Small calves allow for easy births. The breed's characteristic slightly drooping rump furthermore facilitates the birthing process. The Brahman is one of the most popular beef cattle breeds in South Africa, with herds distributed all over the country and in all climatic regions. This economically-efficient breed, which is characterised by a large hump over the top of the shoulder and neck, boasts many strong points. They fill a unique space in beef production due to their ability to withstand hot and humid weather conditions. Adaptability Hair coat Its short, thick, smooth and glossy hair coat, which reflects most of the intense sunbeams by day, enables the Brahman to graze during the hottest part of the day in full sunshine, while other breeds lie under trees or look for protection from the intense rays of the sun. No signs of heat stress are observed in Brahman cattle on open grazing. Skin pigmentation All uncovered skin, such as on the muzzle, hooves, as well as the tail brush, should be black pigmented. Black pigment occurs under the hair coat on the entire skin surface of the animal. The black pigmented skin surface keeps the harmful sun rays from the deeper skin. Intense rays from the sun would otherwise damage the deeper tissue. Sweat glands Brahmans have highly developed sweat glands. As a result of the larger skin area, there are also more sweat glands. Brahmans perspire with ease to cool off their bodies. A gland excretes an oil with a characteristic odour, visible as a light yellow-brown excretion between the animal's skin folds, and also serves as a natural insect repellent. Internal body heat There is a high correlation between an animal's biological reaction and its productive capacity. Its physiological reaction is influenced by its body temperature, breathing tempo and pulse rate. Brahmans produce less internal body heat in hot weather. This single characteristic contributes the most to the “Brahmans remain productive until the high age of approximately 12 to 15 years.” Extended marketing period It is a known fact that Brahmans shed their milk teeth as late as 32 months. In the present A and AB grading system it presents an indirect advantage for the commercial cattle farmer. Brahmans and Brahman crosses can therefore be kept on the veld longer before being sent to the feedlot, or rounded off on the veld and then marketed. Longevity Brahmans remain productive until the high age of approximately 12 to 15 years. Heterosis (hybrid vigour) The Brahman is known as the “king of crossbreeding”. The breed's genetic composition differs markedly from other Cattle breeds. The Zebu genes obtained from three original Zebu breeds, namely Guzerat, Nellore and Gir, contributed collectively towards the development of a unique “Zebu breed”. Maximal heterosis is obtained by mating of breeds that are distantly related. The Brahman has contributed towards the development of 16 other beef-cattle breeds. Worldwide, especially in the sub-tropical and tropical production areas, the Brahman cow is considered unbeatable as far as productive capacity is concerned. Her traits include: Excellent mothering ability. High fertility and reconception. Weans heavy calves and good milk production. Longevity. Heat-tolerant. This article has been reproduced with the permission of Stockfarm magazine 17 th WORLD BRAHMAN CONGRESS The Brahman Breeders' Societies of South Africa and Associations from the Southern African region are privileged and honoured to be hosting the 17th World Brahman Congress during April 2014 in South Africa. The World Brahman Congress is hosted bi-annually by a member country of the Brahman World Federation, consisting of 20 member Countries. The objective of the Congress is to strengthen links between Brahman breeders, to encourage the implementation of modern science techniques and to promote Brahmans as a dominant breed in the global arena. This prestigious event will also celebrate 60 years of Brahmans on the Southern African continent. VENUE The congress, international show and sale will take place at world class venues in Parys, Free State Province: Khaya IBhubesi and The Afri Dome, from 5 - 11 April 2014. Khaya IBhubesi is an exceptionally distinguished conference venue with scenic splendour and riverine tranquillity. The welcome function on Sunday evening, the Technical Conference as well as the opening and gala functions will be held here.. The Afri Dome with its majestic indoor arena will certainly add to the festive character of the World Congress and will host all animal related congress activities as well as informal day- and evening functions. TECHNICAL CONFERENCE The congress program will commence with a 2-day technical conference on Monday 7 and Tuesday 8 April. The conference will offer a platform where Brahman breeders and livestock scientists can discuss the latest developments in breeding technology, promotional opportunities and to exchange ideas on an international level. The global scenario of beef production and the demand in 2014 and beyond with specific reference to role of the Brahman breed in developing countries will set the scene for interesting discussions. The technical conference promises to bring new and much needed scientific research information relevant to the Brahman industry. SHOW AND SALES Nine hundred and fifty Brahmans' will be exhibited with judging taking place on 9 and 10 April. The judging of the 150 non-halter trained Brahmans will be on Saturday 5 April in the 2014 Challenge. At 17:00 on Tuesday 8 April, 60 of the best Brahmans ever to be on sale will be under the hammer and will include 20 Grey & red desired seed stock sires and 40 outstanding females. During the Gala function 20 superior grey & red Heifers will be on offer on the big screen. EVENING PROGRAMMES & TOURS WORLD BRAHMAN CONGRESS WORLD BRAHMAN CONGRESS DIE BRAHMAN BEESTELERSGENOOTSKAP VAN SUID-AFRIKA THE BRAHMAN BREEDERS’ SOCIETY OF SOUTH AFRICA Unit/Eenheid 7, Genius Loci Office Park/Kantoorpark, Nr./No. 6, CP Hoogenhoutstraat, Langenhovenpark Privaatsak/Private Bag X12, BRANDHOF 9324 T. 051 446 4619 / 3452 F. 051 446 3148 F. [email protected] W. www.brahman.co.za The evening entertainment programmes will reflect an authentic South African flavour across the performing arts spectrum with artists like The Campbell's, Radio Kalahari Orkes, Cultural Singer Pieter vd Westhuizen and The Rainbow Tenors. These artists will entertain and welcome all our local and international guests. Optional pre- and post-Congress tours have specifically been put together, not only to introduce visitors to prominent Brahman breeders but also to visit some of South Africa's most pristine wildlife and natural areas. An alternate programme will offer visits to local interesting areas and activities such as the Vredefort Dome World Heritage site on the outskirts of Parys and a river cruise on the Vaal River. To date the SA Brahman Breeders' Society already processed 500 registrations which include 120 foreign and 60 SADEC registrations for the 2014 Congress. It is evident that all involved in the Brahman industry is looking forward to the Congress and all its associated activities with immense enthusiasm! For costs, programme & conference details and online registration for both the Congress as well as pre- and post- congress tours go to www.brahman.co.za or contact Karin Botha: [email protected] / +2751 4440172 WORLD BRAHMAN CONGRESS 23 BREEDING STRATEGIES to IMPROVE PRODUCTION EFFICIENCY and REDUCE THE CARBON FOOTPRINT from beef cattle M M Scholtz1,2, M C Mokolobate1.2, J Hendriks1.2, A Theunissen3 & F W C Neser2 1 ARC-Animal Production Institute, Private Bag X2, Irene, 0062, South Africa University of the Free State, PO Box 339, Bloemfontein, 9300, South Africa 3 Northern Cape Department of Agriculture,Land Reform and Rural Development, P. Bag X9, Jan Kempdorp, 8550 BREEDING STRATEGIES 2 Note: This article is based on a paper that was presented at the 11th World Conference on Animal Production that was held in China in October 2013, as well as a scientific article that was published in volume 43 of the South African Journal of Animal Science. INTRODUCTION The atmospheric lifetime of methane (CH4) is 12 years, compared to 100 to 200 years of carbon dioxide (CO2). Furthermore the heating potential of methane is 23 times that of carbon dioxide. Reduction in CH4 levels will thus have a significant effect on the Greenhouse Gas (GHG) reduction targets set by governments, since its impact will be faster due to the shorter lifetime and bigger due to the higher heating potential, compared to CO2. More emphasis on the reduction of methane emissions from livestock can thus be expected in the immediate future. The aim of this article is to describe possible breeding strategies by which production efficiency in beef cattle can be improved. An effective way to reduce GHG from beef is to reduce the cattle numbers and increase the production per animal, thereby improving their productivity. There is sufficient genetic variation in South Africa's livestock genetic resources (and in other developing countries) to facilitate breeding for improved production efficiency. The breeding strategies to be discussed are: 1. The effective use of crossbreeding and the use of appropriate genotypes. 2. Improvement in the low reproductive rate 3. A breeding objective for improved efficiency in extensive cow-calf production systems 4. Selection for alternative measures of efficiency DISCUSSION Crossbreeding and the use of appropriate genotypes Many studies have shown that the efficiency of beef production in indigenous Sanga breeds can be increased when economic important traits are maximized through heterosis. Crossbreeding systems are generally employed for this purpose and/or to improve adaptation in exotic breeds. A study in South Africa provided information on the effects of heterosis on production traits, using the Afrikaner as the dam line and European (Charolais and Simmentaler), British (Hereford) and Zebu (Brahman) breeds as sire lines. This and the other studies suggest the use of appropriate genotypes to increase production efficiency in beef cattle. It was shown that the kilogramme calf weaned per large stock unit can be increased by up to 21% through properly designed sustainable crossbreeding systems, thereby 24 increasing cow efficiency and reducing the carbon footprint of beef production. Improvement in the low reproductive rate The estimated calving percentage for beef cattle is 35% in the communal sector and 62% in the commercial sector. More emphasis should therefore be put increasing fertility. It is only in the case of growth and production traits that quantitative breeding technology has succeeded in the prediction of breeding values that are not problematic. Traits linked to fertility and/or survival (age at first calving, calving interval) are all influenced significantly by the environment, management or arbitrary decisions taken by breeders or scientists. The appropriate quantitative breeding technology to properly handle most of these traits still needs to be developed or refined. Although selection for days to calving has been proposed some time ago and seems to be an effective way to improve fertility in beef cattle, its application is still limited in developing countries since adequate data is not recorded by farmers. Improvement in kilogram calf weaned per Large Stock Unit A possible breeding objective/goal that may reduce the carbon footprint of extensive cow-calf production systems is kilogram calf weaned per Large Stock Unit (KgG/LSU). Since a LSU unit is linked to specific metabolisable energy requirements it should be possible to eventually “link” this breeding objective with the carbon footprint of weaner calf production. In South Africa a LSU is defined as an animal that need 9kg of grass/day with a mean Digestible Energy concentration of 55%, and 75 MJ Metabolisable Energy. An improvement in KgC/LSU reflects an improvement in cow efficiency and should reduce the carbon footprint of weaner calf production. The information from performance recording of 30 beef and dual purpose breeds in South Africa over a 10 year period FIGURE 1 Kilogram calf produced per Large Stock Unit FIGURE 2 Kilogram calf produced per Large Stock Unit by different cow weights was used to estimate the KgG/LSU for the different breed types. The results are indicated in Figure 1. The KgG/LSU produced by Sanga (indigenous) derived breeds was higher than that of other breed types. This is probably due to retained heterosis in these composite breeds and demonstrates the advantage of appropriate genotypes. It was also found that KgC/LSU is independent of cow weight (Figure 2), which is contrary to the calf/cow weight ratio which favours smaller cows (Figure 3). The fact that there are differences in the KgC/LSU between certain breed types, points to genetic differences, providing the potential for improvement through selection. These calculations were only done on breed averages. The next step is now to do a genetic analysis on a breed level to estimate genetic parameters for the trait KgC/LSU, and its genetic correlations with other traits of relevance (e.g. weaning weight, cow weight, cow LSU) before a decision can be taken whether selection for it will be feasible. The combination of calf weight as a trait of the cow and cow LSU units in a selection index will probably be the most feasible option and such a selection index will be investigated. Selection for alternative measures of efficiency In respect of post weaning growth, breeding programmes mainly focus on growth and efficiency traits. Selection for (lower) residual feed intake (RFI) differs from other feed efficiency traits such as feed conversion ratio (feed intake/growth) and feed efficiency (growth/feed intake), since it is independent from growth and body weight, thus not leading to increased maintenance requirements in mature animals. Residual feed intake is improved by reducing feed intake whereas feed conversion ratio can be improved by either better growth or lower levels of intake or both. It will also lead to less methane emissions since a positive correlation exists between RFI and methane production, thus reducing the carbon footprint. Following the suggestion to use residual feed intake as a measure of efficiency, MacNeil suggested the use of residual daily gain (RDG) as an alternative. Both RFI and RDG hold benefits as efficiency traits, where RFI will decrease intake without affecting growth and RDG will improve growth without affecting feed intake. In South Africa the heritability estimates for RFI vary between 0.27 and 0.31, whereas that of RDG was estimated to be below 0.2. Evaluation of candidate animals for selection based on RFI and RDG in South Africa provide quite different ranking of their merit and the use of a selection index is an efficient FIGURE 3 Association between cow to calf weight ratio and cow weight approach for breaking this antagonism. Applying economic weights to the EBV for ADG (Average Daily gain) and DFI (Daily Feed Intake) directly is straightforward and likely to be most transparent to farmers when compared to selection indexes using residual measures of efficiency. It is therefore recommended that genetic evaluation systems include analyses of the primary traits ADG and DFI. Bivariate methods to estimate protein (muscle) and adipose (fat) deposition efficiencies have been developed recently. This implies that in future it may be possible to select animals for efficiency of fat deposition and/or efficiency of muscle growth. In addition to normal growth measurements (weight and gain), feed intake and body composition between two growth points will be required for this. Whereas individual feed intake is already measured in some testing stations, body composition can be derived from Real Time Ultrasound scanning. CONCLUSION Most beef breeding programmes in developing countries lack basic definition of breeding objectives and criteria to improve production efficiency. In these countries, maximum production may not be feasible or the recommended production system, which is in contrast to production systems in northern hemisphere temperate zone developed countries. Systems of optimal production that are in harmony with the environment and which utilize appropriate genotypes should thus be developed. This should include the definition of breeding objectives which could be linked to both tangible (profitability) and intangible (carbon footprint) factors of sustainable production systems in changing environments. 25 A breeding objective that may reduce the carbon footprint of extensive cow-calf production systems Motshabi Mokolobate & Michiel Scholtz ARC-Animal Production Institute [email protected] Livestock is believed to be a major contributor to global warming, which mainly resulted from the FAO publication “Livestock's Long Shadow” which indicated that livestock is responsible for 18% of the world's greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions .This initial figure has been scaled down to 5-10%, indicating that livestock contributes about 65% of the total agricultural GHG (C02 equivalent) which is mostly accounted for by enteric methane emissions (produced in the digestive tract of ruminants, including game). It is imperative that these GHG are reduced, with great emphasis placed on methane, since it is the second most abundant GHG and has a shorter life span and a greater heating potential than other GHG, which will result in quicker and greater impact, if its emissions can be reduced. Reducing methane levels will have a significant effect on the GHG reduction targets set by governments. The emission of GHG from livestock is calculated either in terms of kg CO2 (carbon dioxide) equivalent per kg of meat or milk available for consumption, or per area of land used. Livestock on extensive pastures produce more methane than livestock on intensive production systems, since the lower quality feed (mainly pastures that they are consuming) produce more GHG per kilogram feed intake than the higher quality feed used in intensive systems. Livestock agriculture is the largest user of land resources in southern Africa. Over 70% of the surface area is suitable for extensive livestock farming in South Africa. Thus, the majority of beef cattle farming (cow- calf production cycle) is largely extensive. The cow-calf portion of the production cycle, (the extensive part in Southern Africa) accounts for 72% of the nutrient requirements from conception to harvest. Until now most measurements for beef improvement in South Africa, and many other parts of the world, have been per individual animal (weaning weight, calving interval, growth rate, etc.). A measurement is however needed that expresses performance per constant (standardized) unit which will eventually be included in selection indexes. Selection for productivity and efficiency will for instance have a permanent mitigating effect on the production of GHG's, as higher productivity will lead to higher net efficiency as a result of diluting the maintenance cost of animals. A possible breeding objective/goal that may reduce the carbon footprint of extensive cow-calf production is being investigated. A trait that expresses performance (e.g. calf weaning weight) per constant unit, viz. kilogram calf weaned per Large Stock Unit (KgC/LSU) may be useful as such a breeding objective. Since a LSU (Large Stock Unit) is linked to specific metabolisable energy requirements it should be possible to eventually “link” this breeding objective with the carbon footprint of weaner calf production. In a breeding objective/goal, the trait under consideration is the end product—what should be achieved. Decisions about such a trait are based purely on the end result, not on whether it is difficult or easy to measure or whether there may be problems in selecting for it. The next phase will then be to identify selection criteria, which are the traits that should be actually used in the selection of animals. Traits in the selection criteria should be correlated with the trait in the breeding objective, easily measurable and heritable. This investigation used the information of 30 beef and dual purpose breeds recorded over a period of 10 years. The 205 day corrected weaning weights and cow weights were used FIGURE 1 The relationship between kilogram calf weaned/LSU (KgC/LSU) and cow weight FIGURE 2 The relationship between the calf to cow weight ratio and cow weight to estimate the kilogram of calf weaned / Large Stock Unit (KgC/LSU). In South Africa a Large Stock Unit (LSU) is defined as the equivalent of an ox with a weight of 450kg and a weight gain of 500 g per day on grass pasture with a mean Digestible Energy (DE) concentration of 55%. To maintain this, 75 MJ Metabolisable Energy (ME) is required. In practice this means a requirement of 9kg of grass per day that meet these requirements. This investigation indicated that KgC/LSU is independent of cow weight (R2 = 0.08) as indicated in Figure 1. This is contrary to the calf/cow weight ratio that is currently being used in South Africa (and other countries) which favours smaller cows. In Figure 2 the relationship between cow weight and the cow to calf weight ratio is demonstrated. From this Figure it is clear that this ratio favours smaller cows (R2 = 0.45). This investigation is continuing with the aim to identify the optimal way in which to improve true cow efficiency through breeding. To achieve this well-defined breeding objective(s) and selection criteria are needed. Acknowledgement This work is based on research supported in part by Red Meat Research and Development South Africa and the National Research Foundation of South Africa (NRF), under grant UID 75123. The Grant holder acknowledges that opinions, findings and conclusions or recommendations expressed in any publication generated by the NRF supported research are that of the authors, and that the NRF accepts no liability whatsoever in this regard. Note: This paper is based on an article that was published in Natural Science (2013) Vol. 5, pg. 167 – 171. http://www.scirp.org/journal/ns/ 27 MASTITIS Dr DG Catton IS NOT JUST A PROBLEM MASTITIS MASTITIS MASTITIS MASTITIS Industrial Veterinary Consultant; [email protected] 28 Recently, Kansas State University have supplied a notification to beef farmers, where they have drawn to the attention of beef farmers that mastitis can play a very important economic role in beef production and in particular linked to pre-weaning calf weight gain variations. They have emphasized that where mastitis infections are present, this results in reduced milk yield and this can reduce the weaning weights of calves by between 7 – 12 %. BASIC DETAILS CONCERNING MASTITIS Mastitis is defined as an inflammation of the mammary gland in any mammal. These infections can be as a result of an injury, but virtually all cases are due to infectious bacteria, but typically Staphylococcus or Streptococcus. Mastitis can be classified into 4 degrees of severity: Peracute – swollen, hot, red udder, fever, depression, weight loss, depressed appetite Acute – severe udder inflammation, some fever, mild depression Sub acute – less pronounced udder symptoms, cows do not appear sick Sub clinical – no visible signs or symptoms but infectious agents present The bacteria responsible for mastitis are widely distributed in the environment and in particular on the skin of most animals. Cows can come in contact with them through bedding, pastures, in dry kraals, or from other cows through cross suckling by calves and in particular from flies. The biggest bacterial culprit is Staphylococcus aureus and this is often found as a teat canal infection (which is not necessarily a case of mastitis) and is often found in heifers prior to their first lactation. Factors that are often associated with mastitis include wet and muddy conditions, confinement conditions, nutritional stress (which results in an impact on the immune function) where teats are wide and flat-tipped, older cows (since pendulous udders are more prone to physical injury and contamination) and significant fly population. Virtually all flies can physically carry disease organisms onto an animal. The common indicator of mastitis is the somatic cell count (SCC). These are white blood cells known as leukocytes and they constitute the majority of the somatic cells in milk (which is counted by a machine) to produce the somatic cell count. The number of somatic cells increases in response to pathogenic bacteria in particular Staphylococcus aureus and typically values less than 100 000 cells/mℓ would be considered uninfected, while cows with greater than 300 000 cells/mℓ are infected with significant pathogens. Several research projects have evaluated the prevalence and significance of mastitis in beef cows and heifers, reporting infections in 7-54% in animals involved. In a study at Louisiana State University, mastitis in heifers reduced weaning weights by 23 pounds (10.45 kg). This matches closely with a couple of published veterinary case studies, where it was reported that there are decreases of between 31.5 and 26.5 pounds (14.3 – 12.0 kg). The predominant bacteria were S. aureus and its concentration relative to other infectious species increased with cow age (this is typical of infections found in dairy cows). The persistence of S. aureus infections was observed in both Angus and Brahman sired heifers in research done at the University of Arkansas. Bacterial infection was measured in teat secretions and milk collected during pregnancy and early lactation. Another study (Watts et al.) specifically linked S. aureus infections to a 42-pound (19.1 kg) depression in preweaning gains. In this group of cows, 37 % of the animals (and 18 % of all quarters) were infected with the organism. Work at North Carolina State evaluated mastitis in a group of Simmentaler heifers, collecting and analyzing milk samples six times during their initial lactation. They found mastitis affiliated bacteria in milk from about one third of the animals. Using an SCC of 292 000 cells/mℓ as the dividing line, these were grouped into “high” and “low” SCC groups. The elevated SCC levels were associated with a 16 % reduction in milk production. At Oklahoma State, scientists working with Hereford and Hereford-cross females also showed that mastitis negatively affects the nutritional composition of milk, reducing concentrations of butterfat, lactose and protein. In this study they found that 62 % of the heifers were infected and this value jumped to nearly 67 % th th in cows that were nursing their 5 to 9 calf. If S. aureus was present in an early sample, it was almost always detected in milk samples taken later from the same quarter (thus S. aureus infections are very difficult to treat and cure and often become chronic infections). They also showed that if a quarter was clean during pregnancy, there was a high likelihood it would remain so going into lactation. The authors made a point of commenting on the widespread presence of dry scabs on the udders of these heifers, which was largely due to horn flies (which are blood sucking flies in the US). Researchers at Pennsylvania State tested the efficacy of an intramammary infusion of cephalosporin, given at weaning in hopes of reducing mastitis during the following lactation. While this protocol did eliminate existing infections in a majority of animals, it apparently did nothing to prevent new infections. This was somewhat surprising, since this is a proven practice with dairy cows, but the authors suggested the differing response was due to the extended length of the “dry period” in beef vs. dairy production systems. Regardless, this would probably not be a practical option in most beef cowherds. In another MASTITIS All of this highlights the value of prevention starting with developing heifers. Critical control points should include: Adequate and balanced nutrition to support immune function Good hygiene in facilities and pastures to minimize opportunity for udder contamination and to limit fly breeding sties An integrated fly control program that targets all problem flies MASTITIS MANAGEMENT OPTIONS MASTITIS US EVIDENCE – HOW BIG IS THE PROBLEM Oklahoma study, intramuscular injection of oxytetracycline at weaning and/or calving was evaluated as an effort to reduce mastitis. Unfortunately, this drug was not effective. Regardless of treatment, 53,7 % of cows were infected at weaning, and 43,4 % were infected at their subsequent calving date. If one of the quarters was impacted, weaning weights dropped by 22 pounds (10 kg); if three or four quarters were infected, the resulting reduction was 56 pounds (25,5 kg). Mastitis also impacts reproduction. An Israeli company has shown that mammary infections can double the length of time it takes a cow to return to heat after calving. This is accompanied by lower levels of reproductive hormones and reduced follicle function and oocyte competence. 20 MASTITIS IN THE DAIRY INDUSTRY In today's market, all of these represent cost-effective investments in the health and productivity of the cowherd. 21 GUIDELINES FOR IMPORTING AND EXPORTING ANIMALS AND GENETIC MATERIAL This shall only apply to any kind of animals, or animal of a specified breed as per Animal Improvement Act, 1998 (Act 62 of 1998). Refer to Section 16 and 17 of the Animal improvement Act, 1998 (Act 62 of 1998) and Regulations 13 and 14. The facts: Anybody may import animals and genetic material of an approved breed. An applicant does not have to be a member of the relevant breed society-but: Such applicants will not be able to register any animals or progeny. All will be referred to the relevant breed society if it involves an animal - or if the import is for genetic material from a donor that has been previously screened and approved by the society. Copies of all import authorizations are also sent to the relevant breed societies & Registering Authorities - and this information could be used to recruit new members. Breeders' Societies and Registering Authorities could take this opportunity to provide members with a value-added service – receiving and screening applicants – and then forwarding these to the registrar for further processing. Applying to import or export an animal or genetic material: Apply on the prescribed form that is available from the office of the registrar – or at the breeders' society. Take care to fill in all the required information to avoid delays. Ensure that either proof of payment of the prescribed administration fee – or actual payment is included. Application to import or export animals or genetic material can be sent directly to the registrar – or can be screened and forwarded by the respective Breeders' Society – or registering authority – as a service to members This will save time where the genetic material in question has not been screened. Note that all imports are subjected to positive identification. This includes full DNA for all bulls and Semen. Cows and heifers need only be verified by way of a blood sample or hair follicle for later reference (depending on the provider of the DNA Registry service) If the exporting country does not have such a service, this can be done locally before release from quarantine. The process at the Registrar's office: The office will process the application – making sure that all the prescribed information has been included. Where necessary, applications will be referred to the relevant Breeders' Society for recommendation. IMPORTING ANIMALS FOR OTHER PURPOSES This includes shows, sales, breeding and veterinary treatment and normally applies more to equine industry. 30 All animals must be positively identified in accordance with the Animal Identification Act, 2000 (Act 6 of 2002) or in accordance with the bylaws of the relevant Society. Where applicable, animals must have a country identification mark. The relevant form must be completed. EXPORTING ANIMALS AND GENETIC MATERIAL Nobody may export any animals or genetic material without an animal improvement authorization. No applications are processed without an inspection report from the relevant Breeders' Society. This report will certify that the animals are either registered or nonregistered and that they comply with the minimum standards for the breed. This should also be seen as an opportunity for breed societies to provide a useful service to all owners of animals of the breed in question. If all the prescribed information has been provided, the registrar's office will process the application/s – and forward the authorization/s to the Directorate: Animal Health for further processing. A copy of the authorization will be sent to the relevant breeders' society and the relevant registering authority. This information is strictly confidential. Should applicants have any queries regarding what information is needed, the following can be contacted: Registrar: Animal Improvement Mr. Joel Mamabolo Tel.: 012-319-7424 E-mail: [email protected] For Import, export and Reproduction Centers: Mr. Hulisani Muswubi Tel.: 012-319-7486 E-mail: [email protected] Ms Vivian Mvimbi Tel.: 012-319-7576 E-mail: [email protected] Mr. Alfred Mabena Tel.: 012-319-7434 E-mail: [email protected] For registration of Reproduction operators: Mr. Hazel Madikologa Tel.: 016-319-7590 E-mail: [email protected] High-tech science for delivering services to the farmers by the Agricultural Research Council's Gamete-Tek Cryo- Mobile Laboratory Prof TL Nedambale ARC-Animal Production Institute Germplasm Conservation & Reproductive Biotechnologies [email protected], [email protected] According to the Food and Agricultural Organization, the world population is expected to grow by more than a third, or 2.3 billion people, by 2050. The projections show that feeding a world population of 9.1 billion people in 2050 would require an overall increase in food production by some 70%. Hence, South Africa does not stand alone in facing the global challenges of a rising population and diminishing natural resources. Cattle from poor communities are an important but unproductive asset for South Africa as these herds comprise some 40% of the national herd, whilst only contributing 5% to South Africa's GDP. Although the list of challenges faced by emerging cattle farming is long, the reality is that this sector still exists and it is currently the biggest part of the developing herd and highly profitable. The challenges include a lack of superior genetics, inaccessibility to technologies and financial constraints. Currently, less than 1% of the embryos in the embryo transfer industry (ET) are produced by in vitro technology in Africa (IETS data report, 2010). Without improvements in these technologies, the ET industry may have little opportunity for growth in Africa. However, South Africa is currently the leading country in Africa when it comes to embryo transfer technology. There are a few private service providers for this technology in the country, but due to the exorbitant pricing of the services very few emerging farmers make use this technology. In addition, the application of these technologies in the rural areas is challenging in itself due to difficulties such as rough terrain, lack of facilities, infrastructure and electricity necessary to operate sophisticated equipment such as microscopes that are used for semen and embryo evaluations. Moreover, the genetically superior embryos or sperm cells are then ARC Gamete-Tek Cryo-mobile Laboratory transferred to cows (also called embryo or sperm recipients) of lesser genetic merit (emerging farmer's cow). The Gamete-Tek Cryo-Mobile Laboratory is the first state of the art mobile laboratory with an innovative new way of delivering Assisted Reproductive Technologies to both the emerging- and commercial farming sectors. The use of the Gamete-Tek mobile laboratory is vital for rapid field evaluations, providing the farmer with information about their bulls or gametes immediately. Another benefit is that their bulls will also be evaluated for functional efficiency and structural correctness. The ARC–API developed its research capacity for assisted reproductive technologies to ensure increase in success rates of AI and ET. Moreover, the ARC-API is in a better position to offer quality scientific services to the agricultural sector. Semen is collected and evaluated using Computer Aided Sperm Analysis (CASA) system (a). The CASA system is fitted with sophisticated video cameras, software and a computer. It provides automatic sperm motility- and velocity analysis and captures images that were previously unattainable. The ultimate goal of the mobile laboratory is to improve the genetics of the whole herd through the application of assisted reproductive technologies (ART) by bringing the advanced reproduction science to farmers. The Agricultural Research Council-Animal Production Institute (ARC-API), in partnership with the Technology Innovation ACKNOWLEDGEMENT: ARC Gamete-Tek Cryo- Mobile Lab Agency (TIA) and the Provincial Departments of Agriculture are was funded by a grant from the Technology Innovation Agency currently rolling out the implementation of the Livestock (TIA). Development Programme. In this initiative the ARC is introducing and expanding on the dissemination of Assisted Reproductive Technologies. The benefit of using Assisted Reproductive Technologies such as artificial insemination and embryo transfer technology lies in the fact that it allows farmers to obtain multiple progeny from genetically superior females or males. Embryo evaluation following embryo collection inside the Gamete-Tek mobile laboratory A B C (A) Computer Aided Sperm Analysis (CASA) system to analyse the fertility of fresh or frozen bull semen including DNA fragmentation and morphology before fertilization (CASA system is equipped in Gamete-Tech mobile Lab) ;(B) Calves born in Limpopo from Artificial insemination during 2012/2013 breeding season ; (C) Farmers from Vuvha, Limpopo at ARC Gamete-Tek Cryo-Mobile Laboratory. 31 Praktiese Koei- en Versbestuur vir medium-raam vleisbeeste PRAKTIESE KOEI- EN VERSBESTUUR Arthur M. de Villiers Arcadia Bonsmaras, Vrede, [email protected] Die stelling dat u bul die belangrikste enkele dier in u de Lange kudde isLeon verwys sekerlik primêr na sy geweldige genetiese bydrae (50% van elke kalf) asook ook sy groot fisiese bydrae tot die kudde (tot 40 en meer kalwers per jaar). MAAR – selfs die beste superieure bul is van geen waarde as daar nie 'n koei of vers is wat sy gene by wyse van soveel as moontlik kalwers kan “dra” nie. Daarom wil ek dit dus kategories stel dat u koeikudde se produksie en bestuur die begin en einde van u beesboerdery is. Met elke besluit en aksie wat u neem t.o.v. u koeie en verse behoort die klem te lê op konsepsie en herkonsepsie. VAN GEBOORTE TOT SPEEN Tydens hierdie periode behoort 'n verskalf onder normale omstandighede met 'n gesonde, goeie moeder en op gemiddelde tot goeie weiding goed genoeg te groei om in 'n normale produserende koei te ontwikkel. 'n Goeie norm vir die meeste ekstensiewe beesboerderye in alle dele van die wêreld is 'n massatoename van 1kg per dag vanaf geboorte tot speen (205 dae). D.w.s. u speenvers behoort op 205 dae ±235 – 240kg te weeg. (30 – 35kg by geboorte + 205kg). Indien u verskalf baie swaar gekry het in hierdie periode mag dit wees dat sy nie die teiken massa van 320kg op 18 maande gaan bereik nie. Teenoorgesteld, as u verskalf weer te geil gegroei het tydens hierdie periode mag sy moontlik vet aanpak in haar uier wat haar toekomstige melkproduksie nadelig kan beïnvloed. Die feit dat sy van kleins af so vet is, kan ook in sekere gevalle hormoon versteurings veroorsaak. Een dosering vir melk-lintwurm en moontlik rondewurms op 3 tot 5 maande kan 'n positiewe effek hê op die kalf se groei. Net voor speen is dit, met die oog op gesonde diere vir maksimale reproduksie, ook noodsaaklik om 'n inentingsprogram teen die algemene siektes in die betrokke gebied te volg wat moontlik die volgende kan insluit: Brucellose, Knoppiesvel-, Spons-, Lam-, Miltsiekte, BVD ens. Oorweeg eerder die nuwe meerstammige Sponssiekte entstof as die ou tradisionele Sponssiekte entstof. BVD immunisering moet ook streng in samewerking met u veearts gedoen word en is van groot belang. Drie-daestywesiekte kan in die natter dele van die land 'n probleem wees en dit kan die moeite werd wees om te ent daarteen. VANAF SPEEN TOT EERSTE DEKSIKLUS Verse het die vermoë om, alhoewel hulle matig gewig kan verloor vanaf speen tot jaar ouderdom, te kompenseer om normale geslags-aktiewe diere te wees op 18 - 20 maande. Navorsing is gedoen waar bewys 32 is dat as verse eerder sekere tye van die jaar (bv. in die winter) effens gewig verloor dit beter is vir reproduksie as een wat heeltyd in haar lewe net gewig optel tot en met puberteit. Die normale gewig vir 'n mediumraam vers om by die bul te kom is 320kg. A.g.v. seisoens- en bestuurs-praktykverskille behoort verse op maksimum ouderdom van twee jaar by die bul gesit te word. Onder sekere omstandighede is dit ook moontlik om verse tussen 14 en 16 maande by die bul te sit. Streef daarna om gespeende verse apart van enige koeie groot te maak. Een dosering met 'n breë spektrum rondewurm middel na speen en dieselfde dosering net voor die verse gedek word, is gewoonlik 'n goeie bestuurspraktyk. 'n Jaarlikse opvolg van die inentings program, soos aanbeveel deur die veearts wat bekend is met die gebied, is die regte ding om te doen. Bosluisbeheer in elke gebied verskil, maar probeer om 'n matige bosluisbelading op u diere te hê. As diere te skoon gedip word, is dit gevaarlik omdat immuniteit teen bosluis oordraagbare siektes verlaag of selfs verloor kan word. Te veel bosluise daarenteen sal produksie benadeel en kan selfs wonde en speenbeskadiging veroorsaak. VANAF DRAGTIGHEID TOT KALWING Gewoonlik sal dragtige diere weiding meer effektief benut teenoor diere wat nie dragtig is nie – let gerus op na die individuele kondisie van die koeie kort nadat hul kalwers gespeen is – die koeie in die beter kondisie is gewoonlik die wat reeds dragtig is en hulle behoort ook beter deur die winter te gaan as die nie-dragtige diere. 'n Goeie praktyk is in elk geval om dragtigheids ondersoeke so gou as moontlik na die dekseisoen te doen en dan die dragtige diere met meer sorg en aandag te bestuur. Dit beteken net goeie veldweiding vir hierdie diere, verkieslik spaarveld en die normale lek vir die seisoen en die gebied. Baie belangrik: sorg dat u koeie of verse in 'n goeie kondisie kalf – dit het die heel grootste effek op herbesetting. Indien u verse in 'n oorvet kondisie kalf is dit ook nadelig – die kalf groei onnodig groot in die baarmoeder voor geboorte en in die geboortekanaal pak te veel vet aan. Dit lyk baie keer of 'n oorvet vers nie hard en lank genoeg kan druk tydens die geboorteproses nie. Moeilike geboortes het verskeie nadele. Die kalf is moeg en uitgeput, begin stadig drink, en omdat die moeder seergekry het met die kalwing is sy minder geneë om die kalf te “vat” en te laat suip. Bogenoemde koei of vers se baarmoeder herstel ook baie stadiger as die een wat normaal binne ±2 ure kalf. Met enige swaar geboorte is dit goeie praktyk om so gou as moontlik die koei te spuit met 'n volle dosis (10ml/100kg) langwerkende antibiotika. Die koei se kondisie behoort tussen 2,5 en 3,5 kondisiepunt uit 5 te wees met kalwing. 'n Goeie praktyk is om alle dragtige diere 30 tot 60 dae voor kalwing te supplementeer met minerale (mikro en makro) en Vitamien A, D en E. Werk rustig met die diere tydens of net na die dekseisoen. Die embrio is redelik gevoelig vir stres en kan geresorbeer of geaborteer word. VANAF KALWING TOT HERBESETTING Hierdie is 'n kritiese periode vir die beesboer. Sodra die een hekkie van 'n lewenskragtige kalf suksesvol oorkom is, verskuif die fokus weer terug na die koei – sy moet so gou as moontlik weer herbeset raak. Soos vroeër genoem is haar kondisie by kalwing die belangrikste aspek van hoe gou sy weer beset sal raak. Die tweede belangrikste aspek is die feit dat sy moet gewig optel tydens die dekseisoen. As sy dus met 'n kondisietelling van 2,5 kalf, moet sy aan die einde van die dekseisoen 'n 3 tot 3,5 kondisietelling hê. Indien u hierin geslaag het, behoort u koeitrop 'n 90%+ herbesetting te hê. Dit word aanvaar dat die bulbestuur ook heeltemal korrek was. Dit is baie belangrik dat verse en koeie geskei word tydens die dekseisoen. Indien u vers-trop nie groot genoeg is om een trop en ten minste een bul te regverdig nie, sit hoogstens die verse saam met die eerste-kalf koeie. Die beste is ook om selfs die tweede-kalf koeie ook apart te laat loop gedurende die dekseisoen. 'n Goeie lae-koste praktyk is om, veral met eerste-kalf koeie, die kalwers in die laaste maand van die dekseisoen elke aand af te hok. Indien dit nie prakties moontlik is nie, kan die kalwers ongeveer tien dae voor die einde van die dekseisoen by een geleentheid vir 48 uur afgehok word. Die uierdruk van opgehoopte melk het 'n positiewe effek op die hormone wat her-konsepsie bevorder. Nog 'n behandeling met minerale en Vitamiene A,D en E voor die dekseisoen (na kalwing) is gewoonlik noodsaaklik. Dit is gewoonlik nie nodig om volwasse diere te doseer vir rondewurms nie, maar indien die diere se kondisie swak is of hulle reageer stadig in die nuwe seisoen, mag dit u loon om hulle daarvoor en ook vir lewerslak te doseer. Indien u 'n “nat” seisoen beleef het of as u diere uit vleie, panne, gronddamme of ander oop waters drink is lewerslak behandeling gewoonlik nodig. Let op dat u nie 'n middel gebruik wat slegs die volwasse slak doodmaak nie maar wel een wat ook die onvolwasse slak doodmaak. Drie-dae-stywesiekte enting kan voordelig wees as dit 'n probleem in u area is. Bosluisbehandeling soos nodig. ALGEMENE OPMERKINGS T.O.V. U KOEIE/VERSE Sorg dat u binne u drakrag norme vir u gebied bly. Oorbelading is 'n sekere resep vir swak konsepsie. Ken ten minste drie klimaks-, drie intermediëre- en drie pioniergrasse op u plaas. 'n Suksesvolle beesboer ken sy veld en pas dit op. Wees 'n “grasboer”. Gee die normale minerale lek vir u gebied in die somer en 'n goeie onderhoudslek (wat gewoonlik ureum bevat) in die winter as die koeie droog is. Ongeveer 10% natuurlike proteïen in hierdie lek het gewoonlik positiewe resultate. Begin betyds (eerder te vroeg as te laat) met u onderhoudslek vir u gebied. Lekbakke van omgekeerde trok-buitebande werk goed. Tussen 10 en 15 koeie per lekbak verskaf gewoonlik voldoende vreetspasie vir ad lib lek voorsiening. Skoon, koel water wat altyd beskikbaar is, is van uiterste belang. Ten minste 'n basiese vorm van rekord houding is noodsaaklik en sluit o.a. geboorte datum, nommer van die kalf, geslag, nommer van die moeder en 'n speenmassa in. Pas moontlik u dekseisoen so aan dat die koeie nie te vroeg in die lente kalf nie. U sal ligter kalwers speen maar u koeie sal goedkoper en gouer na kalwing herbeset raak. Vrugbaarheid is relatief laag oorerflik. Bestuur en voeding speel 'n baie groot rol in die verband en dit bly egter 'n goeie praktyk om aanteelkoeie, wat sonder rede nie 'n kalf speen nie, slegs een kans in haar leeftyd te gee, daarna moet sy haarself opoffer. Loseerders moet sonder sentiment uitgeskot word! U moet wel oortuig wees dat u alles van u kant af gedoen het om u koei of vers die beste kans te gee om beset te raak en 'n goeie kalf te speen. Hierdie is baie basiese riglyne vir ekstensiewe beesboere. Daar kan baie uitgewei word oor voeding en gesondheid. My mening is dat indien u t.o.v. voeding oorboord gaan met te hoë kostes, u beesboerdery-wins onder druk gaan kom. Beeste behoort so vêr as moontlik op goeie natuurlike weiding klaar te kom. Navorsers het bevind dat stoetvee-telers die hoogste mate van beroeps tevredenheid ervaar van alle beroepe. Geniet dus u verse, koeie en kalwers. Beesboerdery bly 'n goeie belegging (met lae risiko) – goed vir u gemoedstoestand en vir u Bankbalans! 33 PROFILE OF A WINNER: MR ZENGETWA THE BONSMARA STUD BREEDER FROM THE EASTERN CAPE Mr Moses Mnyamezeli Zengetwa's dream of becoming a recognized stud breeder was realized during the 2013 ARC National Beef Performers Awards held at the Spring Show in Pretoria on the 29th of August 2013. The achievements of this Bonsmara stud breeder from Cala outside Elliot, in the Eastern Cape Province, were acknowleged when he took first prize in the category ARC National Emerging Beef Farmer of the Year Awards, sponsored by ABSA. He competed with farmers of all 9 of South Africa's provinces that participated in the Kaonafatso ya Dikgomo Scheme (KyD) of the ARC. The Scheme was launched in 2007, and is funded by the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF), with the aim of assisting emerging beef cattle farmers to adopt and apply available beef recording and improvement technology to increase the productivity and profitability of their herds. The Scheme also aims to groom participating emerging farmers for integration into the National Beef Recording and Improvement Scheme . Way back in 1988, Mr Zengetwa leased the 830ha farm (Grootfontein) from the then Transkei homeland government. In 1996, farmers who had lease agreements were given the opportunity to buy and own the farms that they leased. He seized the opportunity and bought the farm, with the vision to start a Bonsmara stud. Mr Zengetwa started his endevours by buying 10 Bonsmara heifers and a stud bull. In the years that followed, he continued buying several Bonsmara stud bulls to use in his herd, and currently owns a total of 152 Bonsmaras. In 2008, he joined the ARC's Kaonafatso ya Dikgomo scheme and the Beef Profit Partnerships and started proper and unique identification of his animals, also keeping accurate herd records and gross margins data. His daughter, Yonela, assisted him with the identification, data capturing and up to date general management duties on the farm. Calving percentages of more than 80% have been recorded on his farm since he joined KyD. Profit is the main driver behind Mr Zengetwa's enterprize, and he sold 34 weaners at an auction held in Elliot in May 2012, receiving the award for the “Best Beef Farmer” in the district. MR ZENGETWA Simpiwe Nini ARC Animal Production Institute, Kaonafatso ya Dikgomo, [email protected] Mr Zengetwa firmly believes in sharing of knowledge and skills, and he is actively involved in the farming community. He founded and chairs the Beestekraal Farmers' Co-operative, using it as a platform to assist and motivate other members of the cooperative. He is a member of the Bonsmara Breeders Society, continues to acquire skills and knowledge from all Farmer Support Teams, the department of Agriculture and local commercial farmers as well as stud breeders in the district. Mr Zengetwa's active participation in Phase A1 and A2 of the KyD scheme has helped him to gain access and participation in the ARC's Phase D performance test. Twenty of his bull calves have subsequently been selected and weighed and will participate in the test under the supervision and technical guidance of ARC's personnel. Mr Zengetwa’s aim is to access the national market in order to expand his farming enterprise and take it to the next level. The ARC wishes to thank ABSA bank for sponsoring the award and congratulates Mr Zengetwa with his outstanding achievement. His achievements will surely bring hope to many aspiring farmers, motivating them to strive towards achieving excellence in cattle production. WES KAAP BULTOETSSENTRUM Toets Nr. Aankoms Aanpassing 1 13-01-14 16-01-14 2 24-02-14 3 24-03-14 4 Toetsperiode TOETSDATUMS 2014 Vertrek Gebore na 13-02-14/ 08-05-14 09-05-14 11-05-13 27-02-14 27-03-14/ 19-06-14 20-06-14 22-06-13 27-03-14 24-04-14/ 17-07-14 18-07-14 20-07-13 30-06-14 03-07-14 31-07-14/ 23-10-14 24-10-14 26-10-13 5 04-08-14 07-08-14 04-09-14/ 27-11-14 28-11-14 30-11-13 6 15-09-14 18-09-14 16-10-14/ 08-01-15 09-01-15 11-01-14 7 06-10-14 09-10-14 06-11-14/ 29-01-15 30-01-15 01-02-14 8 27-10-14 30-10-14 27-11-14/ 19-02-15 20-02-15 22-02-14 35 LNR BOEREDAE 2013 ARC LNR Excellence in Research and Development Frans Jordaan LNR BOEREDAE 2013 LNR BOEREDAE 2013 LNR-Diereproduksie-instituut, [email protected] Die Nasionale Vleisbeesskema van die LNR het verskeie boeredae gedurende 2013 landwyd aangebied en die opkoms van telers by hierdie dae het alle verwagtinge oortref. Een ding wat soos 'n paal bo water uitgestaan het is die belangrikhied van die “inhoud” van hierdie boeredae. Dit is dus belangrik dat sprekers op boeredae toepaslike en bruikbare kennis oordra. Telers het ook hul waardering uitgespreek vir die feit dat die Landbou Navorsingsraad steeds sterk staan in die bedryf, steeds uiters relevant is en deur hande te vat met die bedryf van krag tot krag gaan. Die Landbou Navorsingsraad bedien die totale spektrum van die vleisbeesproduksiebedryf, en besef terdee dat die interaksie tussen stoet telers en opkomende boere asook kommersiële boere van kardinale belang is om sukses vir almal binne die boerdery gemeenskap in SuidAfrika te verseker. Die LNR se boeredae is die ideale geleentheid vir hierdie interaksie tussen telers en opkomende boere te bewerkstellig. Sommige van vandag se opkomende boere is die kommersiële telers van more wat weer op hul beurt 'n stoet- bul koop ten einde hul kudde se genetika te verbeter. Die LNR tesame met die bedryf het 'n enorme taak om hierdie telers te ondersteun en te ontwikkel en te verseker dat opkomende boere die nodige rugsteun ontvang ten einde groei te bewerkstellig. Enige teler is natuurlik geregtig op die Landbounavorsingsraad se gesubsideerde dienste, ongeag van watter diensverskaffer u gebruik van maak vir registrasie en prestasie aantekening. Sien die Nasionale Vleisbeesskema se dienste en tariewe elders in die nuusbrief. LNR BOEREDAE 2013 Noordwes - Vryburg 36 Gedurende die boeredag op Vryburg wat by die bultoetssentrum op Armoedsvlakte aangebied is, was van die hoogtepunte 'n aanbieding van Prof. Michiel Scholtz wat die boere meer vertel het van klimaatsverandering en die invloed daarvan op beesvleis produksie, 'n onderwerp wat tans baie aandag geniet vir navorsing wêreldwyd. Mnr Stephen Rasebotsa het 'n lesing gegee oor die vleisbees skema vir die opkomende boere oftewel Kaonafatso Ya Dikgomo en het die bykans 100 opkomende boere se vrae beantwoord en meer lig gewerp opr die pad vorentoe vir hierdie boere. Die dag is ook goed bygewoon deur kommersiële en stoettelers van die omgewing en Dr Michael Bradfield het hulle meer vertel aangaande die voordele wat genetiese verbetering vir die kommersiële produsent inhou. Mnr Jurgen Hendriks, senior navorsingstegikus van die LNR en bultoetssentrumbestuurder by Glen, se onderwerp het gehandel oor netto voerinname en netto groeitempo wat 'n aanduiding is van die doeltreffendheid van diere, 'n aspek wat tans wêreldwyd nagevors word met die doel om meer doeltreffende diere te teel deur produksie per grootvee-eenheid te verhoog sonder om die dier se raamtipe te vergroot. Daarna het Mnr Frans Jordaan van die LNR 'n oorsig gegee oor die Nasionale Vleisbeesskema se dienste. Van die meer onlangse verwikkelinge is dat ultrasoniese skandering nou kosteloos gedoen word indien die Landbounavorsingsraad se tegnici u Fase D groeitoets aflsuit. Die Vleisbeesskema van die LNR het geakkrediteerde tegnici in alle streke om boere te bedien in hierdie verband. Die borge vir die Vryburg boeredag was Putter Voere, Virbac en Suidwes Landbou LTD. Die personeel van die Vryburg streek word weereens geluk gewens en bedank vir hul harde werk en lojaliteit om ook van hul boeredag 'n groot sukses te maak. Wes Kaap - Stellenbosch Die Wes Kaap boeredag is op die landgoed van die bekende Mnr Johann Rupert gehou, te L'Ormarins naby Franschhoek. Na lekker reën van die vorige paar dae wat die boeredag voorafgegaan het was die boere in goeie luim en het daar 'n goeie gees geheers, afgesien van die bitter koue weer wat almal trotseer het om die dag by te woon. Die skilderagtige omgewing het bygedra tot 'n baie suksesvolle boeredag waar toepaslike aanbiedinge weereens deur 'n verskeidenheid van sprekers gedoen is. Prof. Michiel Scholtz het weggespring met sy lesing oor klimaatsverandering en die invloed daarvan op beesvleisprododuksie, waarna Mnr. Brink Van Zyl van Afgri Veevoere meer lig gewerp het op strategiese aanvullings vir optimale vleisbees produksie. Mnr. Jurgen Hendriks het daarna die boere meer vertel van netto voerinname en netto groeitempo se belangrikheid as dit kom by die seleksie van meer doeltreffende diere. Jurgen is tans besig met sy M.Sc. studie in die verband en sal eersdaags sy bevindinge publiseer. Mnr. Frans Jordaan het die boere getrakteer met 'n lesing wat gehandel het oor die toepassing van Blup teelwaardes en hoe die teler m.b.v. teelwaardes bulle kan identifiseer wat nageslag sal produseer wat sal voldoen aan vooraf bepaalde teeldoelwitte en seleksie-kriteria. 'n Voorbeeld is dogters wat of bestem is as vervangingsverse of as terminale kruisings om optimale groei te verseker, Beide kan twee baie uiteenlopende bulkeuses tot gevolg hê. Sonder teelwaardes kan die keuses nie gemaak word slegs op visuele beoordeling nie. Na die lesings het Mnre Hannes Muller en Renier Theron 'n praktiese demonstrasie aangebied om die teorie en praktyk bymekaar te bring. Diere van die Fredericksburg Angus stoet is vertoon en met belangstellendes bespreek. Borge: RMB Private Bank, BKB, PathCare, Afgri Feeds/Veevoere, Anthonij Rupert Wyne en Zoetis. Die personeel van die Wes-Kaap streek het met harde werk weereens verseker dat almal wat die dag bygewoon het waarde kon put daaruit. Die dag is bygewoon deur ongeveer 110 boere en belangstellendes. Oos- Kaap - Port Elizabeth Die Oos Kaap boeredag is te Bathurst naby Port Alfred aangebied en is deur 'n goeie “mengsel” van boere wat alle sektore van die vleisbeesbedryf verteenwoordig bygewoon. Mnr. Stephen Rasebotsa het 'n lesing gegee oor die LNR se skema vir opkomende boere, Kaonafatso Ya Dikgomo. Dit is gevolg met 'n motiveringspraatjie van die 2013 nasionale wenner van die LNR se Opkomende Vleisbees boer van die jaar kompetisie (geborg deur ABSA), Mnr Moses Zengetwa van Elliot. Hy het 'n inspirerende boodskap van hoop aan alle telers gebring met sy boodskap dat “met harde werk en goeie beplanning enigiets bereikbaar is”. Mnr. Greame Cole van ENB (Port Elizabeth) het 'n uitstekende lesing aangebied oor die gesonde bestuur van jou balansstaat en finansiering in die huidige finansiële klimaat. Hierna het die welbekende Dr. Fafa Malan van Virbac 'n baie insiggewende lesing oor spoor elemente aangebied en wat die gevare van tekorte kan inhou vir die vleisbees-produsent. Dr. Michael Bradfield van Breedplan se lesing het gehandel oor genetiese verbetering en die voordele wat dit vir die kommersiële produsent inhou. Mnr. Maliviwe Mpayipheli van die LNR het gepraat oor die uitdagings wat die kommunale boerdery stelsel inhou en metodes wat gevolg kan word om produksie te verhoog in hierdie uitdagende omgewing. Die dag is afgesluit deur 'n puik praktiese demonstrasie op Dohne Nguni Stoet deur Mev. Leonie Yendall, self 'n Nguni stoetteler. Sy het die belangrikheid van 'n funksionele effektiewe koei aan alle belangstellendes gedemonstreer en vrae rondom teling in die algemeen beantwoord. Almal bymekaargetel (beamptes & borge ingesluit) het 132 mense die boeredag bygewoon. Borge: ABSA, ENB, GWM, Virbac, Molatek, J&B Boerdienste, PPE-Port Elizabeth, Riverview Trading, BKB-Port Elizabeth, Olifantskop Veevoere, Zoetis, Engen Petroleum. Die Oos-Kaap streek se personeel kan met reg trots wees op wat bereik is met die boeredag. Dit was opvallend een van die boeredae met 'n ongelooflike goeie program - baie dankie aan Sakkie van der Merwe en die res van sy span. GLEN BULLTESTING CENTRE Test Nr. Arrival Adaptation 1 12-12-13 17-12-13 2 09-01-14 3 06-02-14 4 TEST DATES 2014 Test Period Departure Born after 14-01-14/08 -04-14 11-04-14 12-04-13 14-01-14 11-02-14/06 -05-14 09-05-14 10-05-13 11-02-14 11-03-14/ 03-06-14 06-06-14 07-06-13 06-03-14 11-03-14 08-04-14/01 -07-14 04-07-14 05-07-13 5 03-04-14 08-04-14 06-05-14/29 -07-14 01-07-14 02-08-13 6 01-05-14 06-05-14 03-06-14/26 -08-14 29-08-14 30-08-13 7 29-05-14 03-06-14 01-07-14/23 -09-14 26-09-14 27-09-13 8 26-06-14 01-07-14 29-07-14/21 -10-14 24-10-14 25-10-13 9 24-07-14 29-07-14 26-08-14/ 18-11-14 21-11-14 22-11-13 10 21-08-14 26-08-14 23-09-14/ 16-12-14 19-12-14 20-12-13 11 18-09-14 23-09-14 21-10-14/13 -01-15 16-01-15 17-01-14 12 16-10-14 21-10-14 18-11-14/10 -02-15 13-02-15 14-02-14 37 ARC FARMER’S DAYS 2013 ARC LNR Excellence in Research and Development Frans Jordaan ARC FARMER’S DAYS 2013 ARC FARMER’S DAYS 2013 ARC FARMER’S DAYS 2013 LNR-Animal Production Institute, [email protected] 38 The National Beef Recording and Improvement scheme (Beef Scheme for short) held several succesfull farmer's days country-wide during 2013, with the aim to ensure information dissemination and technology transfer in the form of lectures and practical demonstrations. The days were very well attended and supported by all sectors of industry and the support of our sponsors is acknowledged and much appreciated. The support from farmers from all sectors of the beef industry on these days once again highlighted the importance of the relevance of the content of a farmers day. The ARC has a mandate to service farmers from all sectors and making use of any of the service providers involved with registration and performance recording activities. These days thus present the ideal opportunity to create an environment where breeders of all sectors can interact and learn from each other. The ARC, on behalf of government, also has the responsibility to develop emerging farmers through its Kaonafatso Ya Dikgomo scheme. The emerging farmer of today will be the commercial farmer of tomorrow, buying his stud bulls to upgrade the genetics of his herd. It is thus vital to ensure close interaction and cooperation between farmers from all sectors to ensure a healthy industry in future. Any farmer is more than welcome to utilize the subsidized services rendered by the ARC, irrespective of the particular service provider he or she makes use of for registration and performance recording purposes. Northwest - Vryburg One of the highlights at the Vryburg farmers day was the presentation of Prof Michiel Scholtz on climate change and the possible effects it can have on beef production. This is a topic which is relevant world-wide and countries are currently engaging in research to formalize policies in this regard for future. The 3rd Global Conference on Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Security and climate change was held from 3 – 5 December in South Africa. Mr Stephen Rasebotsa gave a presentation on the functioning and aims of Kaonafatso Ya Dikgomo, the improvement scheme for emerging farmers. Almost 100 emerging farmers attended the day, and their questions and concerns as well as the way forward were addressed by the speaker. Dr Michael Bradfield of Breedplan presented a very interesting lecture, highlighting the benefits of genetic improvement for the commercial producer. Mr. Jurgen Hendriks followed with a presentation that highlighted trends regarding the latest research on nett feed intake and nett growth, and indication of the efficiency of the animal with regard to growth and feed utilization. The rationale behind this research is to enable breeders to identify and select animals that utilize feed more efficiently without affecting mature frame-size. Mr Hendriks is currently busy with his M. Sc. study at Freestate University, and will in due course publish his findings on this important topic. Mr Frans Jordaan gave a presentation on the services offered by the Beef Scheme and pointed out that the ARC offers real time ultrasonic (RTU) scanning services at no cost if it forms part of a phase D done by ARC officials. The ARC now has accredited technicians servicing all regions of the country and farmers are encouraged to make use of this service for which a huge demand has developed over the past two years. The sponsors for the Northwest farmers day were Putter Voere, Virbac and Suidwes Landbou LTD. A big thank you to the staff of the Vryburg regional office for their loyalty and hard work to ensure that the day was a resounding success. Western Cape - Stellenbosch The Western Cape farmers day was held on the picturesque L'Ormarins, the farm near Franschhoek of the well-known business man, Mr Johann Rupert, Despite the cold weather, the day was very well supported by more than a hundred commercial and stud farmers who were treated with presentations of a high standard and that were relevant to both the commercialand stud farmer. Prof. Michiel Scholtz enlightened the audience of the possible effects of climate change on beef production. This was followed by Mr. Brink Van Zyl from Afgri Feeds emphasised the importance of supplements for optimal beef production. Mr. Jurgen Hendriks summarized in his presentation current trends and research regarding net feed intake and nett growth, both of which are indicators of efficient producers. Mr Hendriks was also recently appointed as the bull test centre manager at Geln near Bloemfontein, and we would like to wish him all the best with his new position. Mr Frans Jordaan gave a presentation on the use and value of Blup breeding values by the commercial farmer and encouraged farmers that buy a registered bull to make use of breeding values to enable them to select an animal in line with their specific breeding objectives. As an example he pointed out that a bull for terminal breeding used for optimal growth will have different breeding values than a bull used to breed replacement heifers, and stressed the fact that without breeding values it will be almost impossible to make these choices, especially if based on visual appraisal. Just before lunch Mr. Hannes Muller and Renier Theron gave a practical demonstration of Angus cattle from the Fredericksburg Angus stud, discussing the breeding values of the animals displayed and bringing it in line with the breeding objectives for the herd as well as the importance of visual appraisal. Sponsors: RMB Private Bank, BKB, PathCare, Afgri Feeds/Veevoere, Anthonij Rupert Wines and Zoetis. The efforts of the staff of the Western Cape regional office should be commended for ensuring a very successful day. Thank you to Dr Jakkie Du Toit and his team. Eastern Cape - Port Elizabeth The annual farmers day of the eastern Cape was held in the small town of Bathurst, not to far from Port Alfred. The day was attended by a good combination of farmers from all sectors in the beef industry. Mr. Stephen Rasebotsa of the ARC gave a presentation on the functioning and aims of Kaonafatso Ya Dikgomo, the scheme for emerging farmers, and he was followed by a very motivational talk from the 2013 national winner of the ARC's Emerging Beef Farmer of the year (sponsored by ABSA)award, Mr. Moses Zengetwa from Elliot. Mr Zengetwa inspired one and all with his message of hope and philosophy that anything can be achieved through hard work and dedication. No farmer's day is complete without an input from a financial guru, and Mr. Graeme Cole of FNB (Port Elizabeth) gave a very good overview of the current financial climate and how it affects your balance sheet and financing in within a strict regulatory environment. His talk was followed by a very entrtaining lecture from the he well-known Dr. Fafa Malan of Virbac who stressed the importance of and potential consequences of deficiencies on beef cattle. Dr. Michael Bradfield of Breedplan followed with his lecture on genetic improvement and the benefits to the commercial producer. He highlighted the importance of working with government to achieve a common goal, to the benefit of all the people of South Africa. He also pointed out that by taking hands with the ARC, the partnership with Breedplan has already culminated in several research projects proposed for the future. Mr. Maliviwe Mpayipheli of the ARC, and a “boorling” of the eastern Cape, followed Dr Bradfield and in his presentation made reference to the challenges of a communal farming environment and methods to enable these farmers to become more productive. The lectures were followed by a practical session conducted by Ms. Leonie Yendall, an Nguni stud farmer, who discussed the functional efficiency of cows, using the Dohne Nguni Stud as a practical example. All in all (officials & sponsors included) 132 people attended the day. Sponsors: ABSA, FNB, GWM, Virbac, Molatek, J&B Farm Services, PPE-Port Elizabeth, Zoetis, Riverview Trading, BKB-Port Elizabeth, Olifantskop Animal Feeds and Engen Petroleum . The staff of the Eastern Cape regional office can be proud on the outcome of the day, in particular in view of the very positive feedback received from the attendants. Thank you to Sakkie van der Merwe and his team. 21 Fase C Rantsoene Boerdery is verseker die beroep waar geloof die grootste rol in speel. Ons glo dat dit spoedig gaan reen, ons glo dat pryse gaan verbeter, ons glo dat ons daardie top bul gaan teel wat erkenning gaan gee en vir groot geld verkoop sal word en ons glo in 'n Skepper wat sal voorsien vir 'n beter more. Maar ons werk ook met die wetenskap wat ons toerus met gereedskap waarmee ons uitkomste nie net kan voorspel nie, maar selfs kan manipuleer. Die ou gesegde van “om te meet is om te weet” vorm die basis van ons landbouwetenskap. Deur atmosferiese stelsels se herhalende verloop te bestudeer, word met redelike akkuraatheid die weerpatrone van more voorspel. In omtrent elke produksiestelsel, en spesifiek in dierevoeding, word dieselfde gedoen. Alhoewel daar verskeie gesofistikeerde rantsoen simmulasie-modelle beskikbaar is, is voeding egter nie 'n wetenskap waar die uitkoms met presiesheid voorspel kan word nie. Die dier is 'n lewende organisme wat deur baie faktore beinvloed word. Verder het die herkouer nog sy rumen (fermentasiesak) waar afbraak van voer deur ensieme van swamme, bakterië en protozoa plaasvind. Hierdie gesofistikeerde ekosisteem van lewende mikroflora is hoogs sensitief vir veranderende omstandighede, waarvan pH en voorsiening van voedingstowwe die belangrikste is. Ons wil hê alle diere moet op insette dieselfde reageer, maar net soos geen twee mense dieselfde reageer op iets soos dit wat hul eet nie, reageer diere ook nie dieselfde nie. 'n Voorbeeld is juis bulle se uiteenlopende reaksie op voeding, wat tydens Fase C- en D toetsing gemeet word, en uiteindelik gebruik word om meer doeltreffende diere te identifiseer. Putter voere is vir jare al die amptelike verskaffer van die Fase-C rantsoen aan die LNR se bultoetssentrums landwyd (Glen, Vryburg, Irene en Cedara). Vier privaat bultoets-sentrums in die Vrystaat word ook bedien. Deur een rantsoen oor 'n groot gebied vir evaluasie van bulle te gebruik, word rantsoen as 'n veranderlike gestandardiseer. Dit is gerusstellend om te weet dat 'n bul uit die Kalaharie, die Bosveld, die Hoëveld en selfs Natal met dieselfde rantsoen geevalueer word. Die Fase-C rantsoen het intussen die vlagskip-produk van Putter Voere geword. Baie boere koop dit ook vir Fase-D toetsing en ook om hulle bulle voor te berei vir veilings. Die Fase-C rantsoen is na baie jare se navorsing deur die LNR ontwikkel en geformuleer as 'n rantsoen spesifiek vir die toets van bulle onder intensiewe groeitoestande. Die rantsoen moet dus aan spesifieke voorskrifte en vereistes voldoen. Dit is 'n nogal 'n uitdaging vir 'n fabriek om 750 sakke van 40kg elk op 'n trok te laai en die gerusstelling te kan hê dat sak no. 10 en sak no. 649 min genoeg van mekaar verskil sodat bulle wat potensieel R100 000 werd is regverdig teen mekaar opgeweeg kan word. Die samestelling van die rantsoen moet natuurlik jaarin en jaaruit met variasie in lusern, chop, oliekoek ens gehandhaaf word. Beskikbaarheid en koste van grondstowwe speel ook 'n rol. Chemiese ontledings mag wel vlakke van proteïen, vet of kalsuim kontroleer, maar dit sê niks van die grofheid van ruvoer nie, ook nie of die dier dalk suurpens gaan kry of dalk kan opblaas nie. Deurlopende hand- en oogkontrole, tesame met chemise ontledings is nodig om kwaliteit te verseker. Dit is egter belangrik om te weet dat hierdie Fase-C rantsoen drasties van beesvetmesting verskil. In 'n voerkraal moet 'n dier so gou moontlik en so goedkoop moontlik geslag kan word. Iets soos vrugbaarheid en die vermoë om weer veld toe te gaan is nie vir die voerkraal belangrik nie. Om vetmesting vir Fase C bulle te gebruik is dus moeilikheid soek. Die Fase-C rantsoen verskil van vetmesting op die volgende aspekte: Manus Putter Putter Voere BK [email protected] Totale proteïen is op 13% effe hoër. Ons soek spiere op 'n bul en proteïen is hierin belangrik. Ureum is op 0.6%, die helfte van vetmesting. Die rede hiervoor is dat hoër ureum met swak vrugbaarheid verbind word. Duurder natuurlike proteïen soos oliekoek en lusern word ingesluit. Graan word beperk tot 45% terwyl vetmesting tot 70% graan bevat. Suurpens en rumenskade moet voorkom word. Oormatige vet en veral vetaanpakking in die testisnek moet voorkom word want dit benadeel vrugbaarheid. Totale ruvoer moet meer as 30% wees. Dit hou die rumen gesond en verseker dat die bul maklik weer op veld kan aanpas. Mineraal- en Vitamienaanvulling verskil geweldig van vetmesting en weereens is dit om dieregesondheid en vrugbaarheid te bevorder. Oor milleniums heen het evolusie die rumen ontwikkel om laegraad-vesel soos gras deur mikrobes af te breek en energie vry te stel wat die dier kan benut. Terselfdertyd is die mikrobes, wat in etlike miljoene per milliliter rumenvloeistof voorkom, 'n bron van proteïen vir die dier. Vir my bly hierdie een die van die wonders van die natuur!! Die Fase-C rantsoen is myns insiens baie naby aan wat die natuur vereis om die rumen ekosisteem te onderhou en te voed ten einde optimale groei en benutting van voedingstowwe te bewerkstellig. Dankie aan die LNR wat soveel moeite doen om genetiese vordering in die beesbedryf van Suid-Afrika te doen. Dit is 'n voorreg vir Putter Voere om ook 'n stukkie te kan bydra. 41 LNR-Diereproduksie-instituut ARC-Animal Production Institute Die 2012 uitgawe van die “Handleiding vir die gebruik van teelwaardes in vleisbeesteling” is beskikbaar (ISBN-13: 978-1-86849-411-8) The 2012 version of the “Guide to the use of breeding values in beef cattle breeding” is available (ISBN-13: 978-1-86849-412-5) Beskikbaar van/Available from: Zelda King Tel: (012) 672 9023 Faks/Fax: (012) 672 9113 E-pos/Email: [email protected] Prys: R170-00 (BTW ingesluit) Posgeld (indien van toepassing) R10-00 Price: R170-00 (VAT included) Postage (if applicable) R10-00 ARC LNR Excellence in Research and Development Beginsels vir suksesvolle vleisbees produksie Erick Joosten; LNR-Diereproduksie-instituut; [email protected] Gedurende my 22 jaar diens by die Landbounavorsingsraad en spesifiek by diere produksie, was ek in die bevoorregtse posisie om telers met unieke produksie stelsels te ontmoet. Tog is daar sekere beginsels wat oor verskillende produksie stelsels dieselfde bly. Dit is alom bekend dat 'n dier se fenotipe, voorkoms van die dier en prestasie, 'n wisselwerking is tussen die dier se genetiese samestelling (genotipe) en die omgewing waaraan hy blootgestel word. Omgewing. Meeste elemente, soos reënval, bestraling, humiditeit en temperatuur is buite beheer van die produsent. Twee baie belangrike elemente in die 'Omgewing' wat die produsent egter wel kan beheer is i) voeding, die hoeveelheid en gehalte daarvan, en ii) kliniese welstand van die diere; siekte en parasiete. Goeie bestuur is hier van uiterste belang. Genotipe. Dit is die genetiese samestelling van 'n dier. Dit is die onsigbare komponent, vervat in sy gene, van die dier wat sy produksievermoë bepaal. Sodra daardie genetiese samestelling vasgelê word met paring, is daardie samestelling permanent. Dit kan nie weer in die dier verander word nie! Onthou dat die bul en koei onderskeidelik 50% tot die kalf se genetiese samestelling bydra. Fenotipe. Dit is die sigbare uitdrukking van die genetiese produksievermoë van 'n dier gegewe die omgewing waaraan die dier blootgestel is. Dit is wat die skaal wys ten opsigte van groei (gewigstoename) of voorkoms soos bv. die hoefontwikkeling van die dier. Die meeste fenotipiese produksie eienskappe kan maklik objektief gemeet word. Wanneer die produsent daardie genetiese samestelling vasgelê het, kan hy vir die res van daardie dier se produktiewe lewe slegs die omgewing wysig om 'n verandering te bewerkstelling in die fenotipe. Goeie genetika sal positief reageer op 'n verbeterde omgewing, maar met swak genetika is die uitdaging soveel groter. Oorerfbaarheid. Dit is die genetiese komponent van 'n dier se prestasie wat oorgedra kan word na sy nageslag, en kan as 'n persentasie uitgedruk word. Tabel 1 gee 'n breë riglyn oor die erfbaarhede van die mees algemene produksie eienskappe. Genetiese korrelasies is waar 'n verandering in een eienskap ook 'n verandering in 'n ander eienskap te weeg sal bring. Hierdie korrelasies kan positief wees, dit beteken dat 'n verbetering in die beplande eienskap ook 'n verbetering in die ander eienskap sal hê. Maar dit kan ook negatief wees, m.a.w. 'n verbetering aan die een kant mag lei tot gepaardgaande verswakking in 'n ander eienskap. Daar is 'n paar belangrike genetiese korrelasies tussen eienskappe waarvan ons bewus moet wees: Geboortegewig en speengewig: Hoog (± 50%) Speengewig en 18 maande gewig: Hoog (± 85%) Ouderdon Eerste Kalwing en Tussenkalf Periode 1-2: Laag (± -10%) TABEL 1 Oorerfbaarhede van Produksie en Vrugbaarheid Eienskappe Produksie eienskap Voorspeen Naspeen Groeivermoë Vrugbaarheid Eienskap Geboortemassa Speengewig 12maande gewig 18maande gewig GDT Finale gewig OEK TKP 1 - 2 TKP Gem Skrotum Oorerfbaarheid 39% 22 - 31% 27% 29% 25% 37% 23% 8% 9.67% 43% TEELDOELWITTE EN SELEKSIE KRITERIA Reproduksie Die belangrikste teeldoelwit vir seleksie binne 'n vleisbees kudde is vrugbaarheid. Dit bepaal o.a. die aantal verse wat beskikbaar is vir vervanging in die kudde sowel as die hoeveelheid bemarkbare diere. Eienskappe (seleksie kriteria) wat 'n maatstaf is van vrugbaarheid: 1. Kalf persentasie. Dit is die aantal kalwers gebore teenoor die aantal koeie gepaar. 2. Ouderdom Eerste Kalf. Dit is die ouderdom, in maande, wat 'n vers die eerste keer kalf. 3. Tussenkalf Periode (TKP). Dit is die aantal dae tussen twee opeenvolgende kalwings. Daar is TKP 1st tot 2de kalwing; TKP voorlaaste tot laaste kalwing. Gemiddelde TKP oor die totale produktiewe lewe van die koei. Daar is bepaalde riglyne/vereistes wat gebruik kan word as 'n hulpmiddel ten einde reproduksie te verbeter, en dit is van toepassing op beide stoet sowel as kommersiële kuddes. Tabel 2 lys 'n paar minimum vereistes vir bepaalde eiesnkappe wat nie oorskry mag word nie ten einde 'n norm daar te stel vir reproduksie. Hierdie reproduksie norme is haalbaar. In 2011 het die Nasionale Vleisbees Aantekeninge- en Prestasietoets Skema 130 kuddes ge-identifiseer wat se reproduksie in alle aspekte beter as die riglyne was. En net om verder te bewys dat dit moontlik is in alle streke van ons land, word die getalle per provinsie in Tabel 3 vertoon. Reproduksie is egter laag oorerfbaar en juis daarom moet daar streng en doelgerig daarvoor geselekteer word. MELKPRODUKSIE Die koei se melk is die beste en goedkoopste voedingsbron waarvan gebruik gemaak kan word om 'n gehalte speenkalf te produseer. Koeidoeltreffendheid is ook een 43 TABEL 2 Reproduksie riglyne Produksie eienskap OEK – Verse Tussenkalf 1ste na 2 de Tussenkalf volwasse koeie Kudde TKP Maksimum waarde 36 maande 425 dae 410 dae 415 dae TABEL 3 Aantal kuddes per provinsie wat voldoen aan reproduksie riglyne Provinsie KwaZulu Natal Mpumalanga Noord-Kaap Oos-Kaap Wes-Kaap Aantal kuddes 8 17 3 7 4 Provinsie Limpopo Gauteng Noord-Wes Vrystaat Aantal kuddes 16 5 19 51 van die eerste teeldoelwitte waarvoor geselekteer moet word. Eenvoudig gestel is koei-doeltreffendheid die gewig kalf gespeen deur die koei, as 'n persentasie van haar eie liggaamsmassa. Die minimum norm hier, wat doeltreffendheid betref, is 45%. Die doel is ook om deur seleksie enersyds die volwasse gewig van die koei te beperk en andersyds om te selekteer vir goeie direkte groei van die kalf. Speenmassa-verhouding is 'n maklike meting om te bepaal: Weeg bloot die koei op dieselfde dag wanneer die kalf se speengewig geneem word en maak die som. Dit gaan dus nie soseer oor die koei se raamgrootte of gewig nie, maar eerder oor haar vermoë om 'n swaarder kalf te speen as haar tydgenote. Die koei wat konstant 'n gemiddelde tot bogemiddelde kalf produseer, ongeag die omgewings invloede oor seisoene, is die beter keuse. Melkproduksie is maklik meetbaar, en melkproduksie is matig oorerfbaar. Deur te selekteer vir melkproduksie is goeie genetiese verbetering moontlik. PRODUKSIE – Standaarde en verbetering Op 'n kudde van 100 teelkoeie maak die teelbulle maar slegs sowat 3 – 4 % van die aantal diere op die plaas uit. Elke teelbul dra egter 50% by tot die genetiese samestelling van sy nageslag. Goeie teelbulle sal die genetiese samestelling van kalwers verbeter, en dit beteken dat die vervangingsverse van hierdie bulle die genetika van die kudde sal verbeter. Bulle met swak genetika sal natuurlik die teenoorgestelde effek hê in kuddes. Hoe weet ons hoe moet 'n goeie teelbul lyk wat aangekoop moet word? Eerstens moet die produksie standaard van die kudde bekend wees. Hier is prestasietoetsing, 'n objektiewe en wetenskaplike instrument, van kardinale belang. Deur van Blup teelwaardes gebruik te maak kan bulle geidentifiseer word wat 'n genetiese verbetering in die kudde kan teweeg bring. Die belangrikheid van prestasie toetsing in kommersiële kuddes kan ook nie gering geskat word nie. Deur diere se produksie binne kuddes te meet kan minderwaardige diere uitgeskot word. Deur gebruik te maak van volledige produksie syfers kan die produsent onmiddellik sterk areas van produksie binne sy koeikudde identifiseer, asook die areas waar verbetering noodsaaklik is. Teelbulle wat die sterk eienskappe sal behou, en in staat is om 'n enkele eienskap te verbeter, moet geselekteer word. Baie 44 belangrik om te onthou is dat die doel van die teelbul is om hoogstens twee eienskappe op 'n slag te verbeter. Fokus altyd eerste op die eienskap van ekonomiese belang wat verbeter moet word, en hou aan om dit te verbeter totdat dit op die gewenste vlak is, voor die volgende eienskap aangepak word. Baie belangrik natuurlik is dat die sterk eienskappe reeds teenwoordig, nie mag verlore gaan nie! Selekteer die vervangingsbulle eerstens op grond van hul prestasiewaardes om die goeie eienskappe te behou, en dan om swak eienskappe te verbeter. Wanneer 'n sekere bul – koei paring die gewenste resultaat lewer, probeer daardie paring 'n paar keer herhaal om meer nageslag te verseker. GROEIVERMOë Naspeense groeivermoë word meestal gesien as manlike diere binne een of ander intensiewe voedingsstelsel. Die naspeense groeivermoë wat baie belangrik is, is dié van die vervangingsvers wat minimum 65% van volwasse koeigewig moet wees by paring. Volgens die Nasionale Vleisbees Aantekening- en Prestasietoetsskema se prestasie-data van 2011 weeg die nasionale koei 502kg. Die vervangingsvers moet dus 326kg (65%) wees by eerste dekking. Gewig by dekking is twee maal meer bepalend in sukses hier as ouderdom met eerste dekking. As die vers 215kg speen (Nasionale prestasie-toetsdata 2011), en die speenskok verlies is 10kg, dan moet sy minimum 121kg gewig optel om die teikengewig vir paring te bereik. Bogenoemde groei-vereistes lyk heel haalbaar. Ek wil graag twee punte duidelik uitwys. Eerstens: al hierdie verse gaan deur 'n oorwinterings periode van 3 tot 5 maande voor eerste dekking en gedurende hierdie periode kan hul gewig verloor, of beswaarlik 100gram per dag groei. Tweedens wys prestasiesyfers van veldbulklubs dat geselekteerde bulle groei in die orde van 550 - 625 gram per dag en dit in 'n toetstydperk wat oor 'n somer seisoen val. As ons hierdie twee aspekte in ag neem, kan aangeneem word dat die minimum GDT soos in Tabel 4 gelys, eintlik verdubbel moet word. As dit die geval is, moet daar streng geselekteer word vir naspeense groeivermoë van die verse. REKORDHOUDING Sinvolle data kan uiters nuttig aangewend word deur die produsent en daarom is die nougesette aantekening en versameling van relevante data so belangrik! Elke keer as die rekords en data ge-analiseer word moet die volgende vrae gestel word, en moet die antwoorde so eerlik moontlik verskaf word: 1. Is 'n dier of kontemporêre groep se prestasie aanvaarbaar? 2. Wat is 'n aanvaarbare standaard? a. Reproduksie bly die ekonomies mees belang-rikste faktor. b. Historiese rekords is die basis van die bepaling van die standaard. Dit wys wat die produksie is in die beste van tye, maar ook in die slegste van tye. En as daardie twee uiterstes bekend is, kan maklik bepaal word wat die standaard moet wees. Teelwaardes help met die bepaling van die standaard. TABEL 5 Kalfpersentasie se invloed op inkomste TABEL 4 Minimum groeivereistes - Verse Paringsouderdom (maande) Gewigstoename benodig (tot kg) Tydperk (dae) Minimum GDT (Kg/dag) 176 176 176 215 335 668 0.819 0.525 0.263 14 18 22 c. Wat is 'n realistiese teiken en hoe moet die standaard dienooreenkomstig aangepad word. Was my bestuur van so aard dat die dier nie benadeel was nie? Diere binne 'n kontemporêre groep moet konstant dieselfde behandeling ontvang. d. Volledige rekords moet bygehou word oor weiveld bestuur, addisionele voeding en behandelings van diere - dit help met die interpretasie van prestasierekords. e. Wat dikwels op papier lyk na 'n verbetering in produksie, is niks meer as 'n selektiewe verbetering of verandering in sekere diere se omgewing nie. 3. Wat sal die gevolg wees as…? Ek die dier verkoop? Ek die dier behou? Ek hierdie koei weer 'n kans gee by die bul? Ek hierdie verandering maak in my bestuur? Ek hierdie verandering maak in my voervloei program? Hier moet nuut en strategies gedink word. Neem tyd om dit te doen, want 'n fout in 'n vleisbees onderneming kan jou duur te staan kom. BALANSEER DIE SOM Menige male het produsente wat hul swak kalfpersentasies wou verdedig die volgende stelling gemaak: “As ek net 50% kalfpersentasie het, is daar meer gras vir die koeie mét kalwers, en dus kry ek swaarder kalwers”. Kom ons analiseer hierdie punt: Kalf % Speengewig (kg) Prys (R/kg) Inkomste (Randwaarde) 90 80 50 90 50 215 215 268 161 161 15.00 15.00 15.00 15.00 15.00 R290,250 R258,000 R201,000 R217,350 R120,750 Volgens die Nasionale Vleisbees Aantekening- en Prestasietoetsskema (2011) is die nasionale speengewig 215kg. As ons 25% variasie op daardie syfer plaas, weeg die die swaar speenkalf 268kg, en die ligste 172kg. Kom ons wees nou eerlik met mekaar en erken dat, as daar net 50% kalwers is, weeg die speenkalwers nie 430kg nie (dubbel 215kg). Met ons koeikudde van 100 teelkoeie het kalf-persentasie en speengewig die volgende invloed op inkomste: Dit is baie interessant om te let dat die minimum speengewig teen 'n kalfpersentasie van 90% nog steeds meer inkomste lewer as 'n maksimum speengewig teen 'n 50% kalwing. Kalfmortaliteite van geboorte tot speen kan ook 'n groot invloed uitoefen op die hoeveelheid bemarkbare kalwers. Kalfmortaliteite tot speen moet nie hoër as 3% wees nie, en mortaliteite op verse tot 24 maande moet beperk word tot ongeveer 2% in totaal. Baie telers sal jou vertel hoerveel hul gekry het vir daardie bul wat verkoop is, of 'n speenkalf produsent hoeveel sy inkomste was per kalf. Ongelukkig word die som nie altyd gemaak van die totale kostes betrokke om bv. die diere te bemark nie, of wat die insetkoste van die groep kalwers was nie. Om ware profyt te bereken moet 'n akkurate bepaling gemaak word van die totale uitgawes wat natuurlik van die inkomste afgetrek moet word. Sukses begin met kennis, gebeur met die implementering van 'n plan en eindig met die regte resultate! VRYBURG BULLTESTING CENTRE Test Nr. Arrival Adaptation 1 14/01/14 16/01/14 2 11/02/14 13/02/14 3 11/03/14 4 Test Period TEST DATES 2014 Departure Born after 13/02/14 / 08/05/14 13/05/14 11/05/13 13/03/14 / 05/06/14 10/06/14 08/06/13 13/0314 10/04/14 / 03/07/14 08/07/14 06/07/13 01/04/14 10/04/14 08/05/14 / 31/07/14 05/08/14 03/08/13 5 13/05/14 22/05/14 19/06/14 / 11/09/14 16/09/14 14/09/13 6 03/06/14 19/06/14 1 7/07/14 / 09/10/14 14/10/14 12/10/13 7 08/07/14 17/07/14 14/08/14 / 06/11/14 11/11/14 09/11/13 8 12/08/14 14/08/14 11/09/14 / 04/12/14 09/12/14 07/12/13 9 16/09/14 18/09/14 16/10/14 / 08/01/15 13/01/15 11/01/14 10 14/10/14 16/10/14 13/11/14 / 05/02/15 10/02/15 08/02/14 11 11/11/14 13/11/14 11/12/14 / 05/03/15 10/03/15 08/03/14 12 09/12/14 11/12/14 08/01/15 / 02/04/15 07/04/15 05/04/14 45 ‘N BUL VIR R 295 ? Leon de Lange gaamslengte, veldikte en skrotumomvang, asook ultasoniese skandering vir karkaseienskappe Dit is die bestuursfooi wat Fase C toetsing die teler kos. Gedurende Fase C toetsing word eienskappe van ekonomiese en biologiese doeltreffendhied geevalueer en die teler word die volgende voordele gebied: Indien die prestasie en funksionele voorkoms goed is, kan die bul genomineer word vir die volgende: 24 uur toesig deur professionele personeel (veearts ingesluit) Prestasietoetsklas (LNR Nasionale Vleisbeesprestasie Toekennings, Pretoria Lente Skou) Arbeid vir 112 dae, wat behels die voeding, hantering en versorging van diere K.I. stasie Ontvang van groeitoetsresultate maandeliks Privaat semen verkope of aandele Vrye reklame,waar plaaslike en buitelandse besoekers jou bul sien tydens besigtiging by die toetssentrum Hoër verkoopswaarde van bulle (ingeligte kopers vereis prestasie-resultate en meriete-toekennings nl. goud, silwer, brons of sub-meriete) Neem van liggaamsmates soos skouerhoogte, lig- 20 LNR Diereproduksie-instituut; [email protected] Keuring deur die betrokke rasgenootskap Nasionale Rasveiling Prestasietoetsresultate verskaf waardevolle inligting omtrent die genetiese meriete van u bulle, en is 'n wetenskaplike hulpmiddel wat u met groot vrug kan gebruik in die seleksie van goeie genetika. Dit alles vir 'n bestuursfooi van net R295-00. 21 DNA FORENSICS IS THE KEY TO RESOLVING STOCK THEFT IN SOUTH AFRICA Ntanganedzeni Mapholi, Mmanaha Letuka, Mmahlaka Mashilo & Azwihangwisi Maiwashe ARC-Animal Production Institute, 012 672 9027; [email protected] Stock theft and poaching are a major challenge to livestock and game production in South Africa. This has an impact on the economy, affecting all sectors of the farming community, from the large commercial organizations to the stud breeders and extending to the rural farmers who may own one or two animals. Economic losses due to stock theft is estimated to be R750 million per annum. Figure 1 shows the estimated cost of stock theft in South Africa. As a result, the South African government through the South African Police Services (SAPS) has identified stock theft as one of the priority areas. A partnership has been established between the SAPS and the Animal Genetics Laboratory of the ARC-Animal Production Institute to address the challenge of stock theft through DNA technology. The agreement between the two organizations was established in 1996. According to the SAPS, approximately 45 000 cases of stock theft are reported per year, of which only about 8 000 cases go to court. More than 500 of the court cases, involving more than 3 000 exhibits, use evidence obtained from DNA analysis. About 95% of these cases are resolved and suspects are prosecuted. DNA technology is being used as an important forensic tool to combat stock theft in the country and is increasingly becoming a vital component of the criminal justice system. DNA-based technologies are widely used and accepted as a means of establishing individual identification, ownership, parentage verification, traceability and the species-origin of animal products such as tissue, blood and skin. Except for identical twins or clones, no two animals are genetically the same. This means that the DNA of an animal provides a fingerprint or unique identification of an animal. Only trace amounts of DNA is needed to establish the fingerprint of an animal. An important question however is how would this “mambo-jumbo” about DNA assist in resolving stock theft cases? It is simple: hair samples (a source of DNA) are collected from individual animals and stored in the laboratory as a reference sample. In the event that an animal is stolen and a trace of DNA is retrieved from the crime scene (e.g. where an animal was slaughtered) or from a meat sample of a stolen animal found in possession of a suspect, the sample is sent to the laboratory and DNA fingerprinted. If the DNA fingerprint of the reference sample matches that of a sample from the crime scene, it links the suspect to the crime scene or the crime itself and this evidence is used to put the perpetrator behind bars, hopefully for good. Even if there is no reference sample available, a conviction can still be secured by matching DNA from blood, blood stains, meat or other tissue found at the crime scene with blood on the suspect's clothes, tools he used or meat found in his possession. It is that simple - what a nifty technology!. FIGURE 1 Stock theft is estimated to cause losses of R750 million annually in South Africa (R250M recovered) by ISAG for animal forensics. The success of the DNA forensic service in combating stock theft relies heavily on the maintenance of the chain of custody process of forensic samples, i.e. the entire process from collecting samples from a crime scene to laboratory processing, analyses and report generation. To ensure adherence to the process, the ARC provides continuous training to SAPS personnel on an annual basis. The training focuses on aspects such as DNA sample collection, storage, documentation and dispatch of exhibits to the laboratory. The impact of the training is demonstrated by, amongst others, the quality of DNA exhibits that are brought to the laboratory by the SAPS. Stock theft has broader implications than just the loss of animals; it also negatively affects food security and biosecurity. Through the use of DNA marker technology we have managed to resolve the identity of lost or slaughtered livestock, verified paternity in ownership dispute cases and also the species-origins of a variety of meat products. The impact that DNA technology is making in South Africa can be seen in an increased conviction rate of stock thieves and poachers. The technology has become an important tool to the SAPS in their endeavours to combat the hideous crime of the theft of animals, and the Animal Genetics laboratory has been rendering a service to the SAPS for more than a decade now in this regard. The laboratory is also obliged to stay abreast with developments in this field and as such is continually upgrading its equipment and refining the methods used to suit the purpose of application. The ARC-Animal Production Institute located in Irene, Pretoria boasts with a state-of-the-art Animal Genetics Laboratory and a team of scientists and technicians that perform forensic DNA analyses of exhibits submitted by the SAPS. Efficient operation of the laboratory ensures a good turnaround time for processing and reporting of the results to the SAPS. The Animal Genetics Laboratory is also a member of the International Society of Animal Genetics (ISAG) and uses DNA markers recommended 47 Genetic improvement benefits commercial producers GENETIC IMPROVEMENT Dr Michael Bradfield Agri BSA, [email protected] Introduction In most species genetic progress can occur at a rate of 3-5% per trait per annum and is cumulative. This rate of progress is easily achievable in the diary, pork and chicken industries. Despite environmental constraints, this rate of progress is also achievable in the beef industry in Southern Africa and the value would be worth many millions of rand to our industry. However, to become a leader in Africa (if not the world) the red meat industry has in the field of animal breeding, in my opinion, three main challenges; The first is getting our commercial producers to understand the potential monetary value that modern breeding methods can add to the genetic potential of their herd and how it translates into financial gain. The second challenge is for our Stud Industry to move away from using only old fashioned methods for the selection of superior Seedstock. Here I am talking about using purely visual assessment to determine an animal's genetic worth. A recent talk in South Africa by a French delegation alluded to the fact that in many parts of Europe the role of Societies is being diminished because many Societies cannot demonstrate the benefits of selection for economically important traits to their commercial clients. France for example, has over 3.8 Million beef cows in which over 70% of the commercial beef herds are performance recorded. If the Stud industry is not recording you cannot realistically expect commercial producers to buy genetic material from the Stud Industry. This is even more pertinent in the dairy industry. My experience is that the Societies in the world that are large role players (i.e. registering more than 50 000 registrations per year) have all moved towards recording as the basis for genetic improvement. Societies that do not honestly and sincerely take on the new scientific methods for selecting superior animals will simply become hobby breeds. Finally, the challenge to have the courage to trust and use the modern breeding technologies. Traits that determine profit in a commercial enterprise The question should be directed to the commercial cattle producer. As far as I am aware companies such as Vleissentraal pays for slaughter weight and slaughter out percentage. I know of no commercially focused abattoir that pays for cattle that have simply passed a visual appraisal test. The rationale for selecting on weight is simple: FIGURE 1 Simbra genetic trend for weaning weight. Note, this is the genetic component. 2004. There are thus many producers like Mr Engelbrecht selecting cattle on EBV's in this breed. Mr Engelbrecht has significantly increased the genetic component for weaner weights since selecting on EBV's. Most important, is the benefit to his commercial clients. The ability of a cow to produce a calf every year has a huge economic benefit to the commercial producer. This ability is also under genetic control and can be measured. The challenge for genetic evaluations systems is that a complete cow inventory system has to be kept. If producers only record those cows that have calved, the important information is missing i.e. it is the non-calvers that have to be identified to provide genetic information on the bulls. This is probably the largest challenge for the Stud Industry in most of Southern Africa. Whilst most Stud producers claim to select for fertility the progress is in fact compromised because bulls do not have the required data. As important, is the fact that the bull carries as many positive genes for fertility as does the cow. If a commercial producer buys a bull without fertility EBV's, no genetic progress for fertility will be made in that herd. A large education program is required in Southern Africa to record fertility properly. The impressive gains made in fertility can be demonstrated using a Brahman herd such as that of Mr Alf Collins (Fig 2) Farmers can easily record weight. Weight gain is heritable, and Many cattle are sold by weight so heavier cattle make more money. 48 Figure 1, in red, gives the genetic trend for Mr Willem Engelbrecht, a businessman from the Cape Province, and compares it to the rest of the breed. The first point to note is the impressive genetic gains made by the Simbra breed since FIGURE 2 Genetic trend for fertility (days to calving) for Brahman herd of Mr Alf Collins. FIGURE 4 A visual demonstration of the difference between genetics and environment. ? ? FIGURE 3 The top and bottom ranked Brahman animals on Eye Muscle Area. from CBV in Australia. He has literally improved the genetics by the equivalent of 6 calving days. Alf points out what happened to his genetic trend when bulls were chosen that had no EBV for fertility (as was the case in the period 19911994). Finally, commercial producers are rewarded if an animal has a good versus poor retail yield. This trait can also cost effectively be measured using Real Time Ultrasound. Figure 3 lists the top and bottom bulls ranked on Eye Muscle Area for Brahman in Namibia as an example. The difference between the top and bottom bull is 7.2 cm2 and a retail yield of 3.1% and if selected for would result in significant gains over time as it is cumulative. In Summary, Table 1 shows the traits that can be evaluated in most genetic evaluation systems. TABLE 1 between genetics and environment. For a Stud breeder, your herd profile and genetic trend should be your most valuable document. As a professional Stud farmer you are also in the business of training your commercial clients of your breeding goals and to provide an understanding of how this technology is used in your herd and the benefits accrued to the client. How to maximise genetic gain across many traits All master breeders know that the commercial industry needs a balance of growth, fertility, carcass, docility and conformation and so they select across all these categories of traits together with beef tenderness and feed intake where appropriate recording systems are available. Economic Selection Index Traits Evaluated in BREEDPLAN® Growth Fertility Carcase Other Birth Weaning Yearling Final Mature Cow Maternal Growth Scrotal size Days to Calving Gestation Length Calving Ease Carcase Weight Eye Muscle Area Rib Fat Depth Rump Fat Depth Intramuscular Fat % Meat Yield % Docility Feed Intake Flight time Shear force Conformation Standard Traits FIGURE 5 A visual demonstration of the difference Specific Traits Genetics and environment It may be obvious to most that the feed given to a bull (or cow) does not get inherited by the progeny as per the illustration below. Whilst the fellow in the illustration (Fig 4) gained a lot of muscle in the gym this added muscle does not get inherited by his children. Similarity, a bull (Fig 5) fed a lot of feed does not pass this added benefit to the progeny. An EBV on your catalogue is the best predictor of an animal's genetic worth that modern animal breeding can provide. Adding more traits to the selection of animals may be fine for master breeders who spend virtually every waking hour wrestling with the challenge of how to breed the perfect animal. However, the more EBVs that are calculated the greater the potential for confusing the commercial bull buyer. For this reason most livestock industries have moved towards the concept of weighting the traits for their importance to a particular production system delivering to a specific market and from this outputting an economic index. An economic index is also called a selection index and is not to be confused with the old fashioned ratios-indexes that simply compare animals on a scale of 100 within a contemporary group. This means that buyers who purchase high Rand or Dollar index animals for that particular production systems can expect to improve their profitability. The concept that one index fits all breeds or that one index fits all breeders within a breed is nonsense. For example, the Brahman breed in Namibia has developed the Namibian Extensive Rangeland Grassfed Index that is customizable. The Simbra has three indexes: 49 GENETIC IMPROVEMENT Namibian/South African Simbra self replacing Grassfed (NAGFmod) South African Simbra self replacing Feedlot (SRFL2) South African Simbra self replacing weaner (Srw2) The Extensive Rangeland Grassfed Index estimates the genetic differences between animals in net profitability per cow joined for a commercial herd. The Index is aimed at a high fertility, self-replacing (keeping replacement and breeding progeny) commercial cross bred herd with good carcass characteristics. Calves are weaned at 7 months and then kept on natural pastures (veldt) to be slaughtered at around 30 months and 460 to 500kg steer live weight. Significant emphasis is placed on sale weight (600 days EBV), calving ease, cow weaning & survival rate and carcass traits. Replacement females are generally sourced from within the herd and daughters are largely retained in the industry for breeding. The Simbra SRFL2 Index is aimed at a herd breeding oxen to turn off at 11 months of age in the South African feedlot environment. Replacement females are selected from within the herd. There is some emphasis on calving ease and maternal traits while finishing oxen at around 430 kg live weight (225 kg carcass weight) using a pasture based production system supplemented with extra rations during the finishing phase. The initial costs for the indexes were developed from a 3 year PhD study by Dr Johan Kluyts and specifically looks at the South Africa market. The following bar graph (Fig. 6) shows the key economic traits that are important in the Namibian Brahman selection index. The different trait emphases reflect the underlying profit drivers in a commercial operation targeting the domestic supermarket trade. FIGURE 7 The different emphasis that has been placed on each EBV within this selection index. countries record performance on insufficient traits to allow the development of economic indexes to be meaningful. This denies these breeds access to the very next mate selection tools that would allow them to accelerate genetic progress because those tools all require the availability of economic rand or $ Indexes. Providing good recording systems across a range of traits must be the first priority of any modern performance recording scheme. Making Genetic Progress Genetic Progress is achieved when the 'average genetic value of the offspring (eg. Your current calves) is higher than the average genetic value of the previous generation (from which the parents were selected)'. The formula is: R = S x h² L Where: R = Response to Selection S = Selection Differential h² = Heritability L = Generation Length Selection Differential (Fig. 8) is the difference between the animals selected for breeding and the average of the population from which they were selected. The greater the selection differential, the higher the response to selection (R). Recording the full range of traits appropriate to your breeding objectives will help increase the selection differential and the accuracy of selection. Heritability (h²) is the proportion of the superiority or inferiority of a FIGURE 6 The key economic traits that are important in the Namibian Brahman selection index. Considering the genetic relationship between the key profit drivers and the EBVs that are available, the bar graph in Fig 7 illustrates the different emphasis that has been placed on each EBV within this selection index. The sign indicates the direction of the emphasis. For example, greater 600 Day Weight EBVs, smaller cows and shorter Days to Calving (better reproduction) EBVs are favoured. Unfortunately, many beef cattle breeds across many 50 Animals S Selection Differential S Average Index Value FIGURE 8 Selection Differential is the difference between the animals selected for breeding and the average of the population from which they were selected. trait that is passed on to progeny. The higher the heritability the higher the Response to Selection (R). Generation Length (L) is the average age of the parents (sires and dams) when their progeny are born. The lower the Generation Length (L) the higher the Response to Selection. It is not easy to reduce L in less-intensive production systems. Hardiness, adaptability and conformation There is often a discussion between producers about the terms hardiness, adaptability and conformation. Often this discussion is held with reference to the value of performance recording. My colleague, Peter Massman defines hardiness as "the ability to survive and produce under stressful conditions such as poor feeding (drought), unfavourable temperature (heat or cold), high humidity, long distance walking or high parasite infestation".Adaptability is defined as "the ability of an animal to adjust and thrive in a new environment or production system. This is measured by a good constitution, growth, reproduction and optimal level of functioning". Finally conformation is defined as "the symmetry, size and shape of the various body regions relative to each other or the general appearance of the animal in terms of satisfying the observer's appreciation of what is a desirable appearance". Many of these elements are identified within a contemporary group of animals. An animal that has the best growth amongst his peers is usually the hardy animal that is well adapted to that particular environment. The important concept is that ALL animals are initially only compared within a contemporary group where a group is defined as all animals born within the same herd, year, sex and season. Selecting for performance is thus a good indirect measure of hardiness and adaptability. Conformation can be measured by structural assessment but requires the whole contemporary group to be assessed. . Incorporation of Gene Markers in EBVs Background When the Wright brothers started experimenting with heavierthan-air flying machines it has to be said that while their approach was innovative it was very crude by today's standards. But as we relax in the comfort of an A380 on an international flight we all owe a little to the Wright brothers for daring to dream about a new way to travel. The development of genomics in the beef industry is not too dissimilar from the early attempts to fly. The early results have been underwhelming but the pace of discovery is accelerating and so we can look forward to being able to access much better products in the near future. GeneSTAR® was introduced in 2000 as a single-marker test for marbling. By 2006 Catapult Genetics provided a 12marker panel. This included: 4 markers for marbling. 4 markers for feed efficiency, and 4 markers for tenderness. At that point a range of interested parties agreed to work together in the 'SmartGene for Beef' project to determine the effect of the various markers on phenotype and how gene markers could be combined with phenotype to produce marker-assisted EBVs. The database available to the project was substantial - DNA samples from around 12,000 animals for which phenotypic records existed, were available. They were tested for 12 markers. The results for tenderness markers in Bos Indicus cattle showed the greatest promise. By October, 2008 the methodology to combine pedigree, performance and DNA records to provide a marker-assisted EBV for tenderness which was labelled Trial Shear Force EBVMs was developed (Fig. 9). Pedigree Trial Shear Force EBV Ms and flight time Performance Information Shear force Flight time Gene Markers FIGURE 9 Information used to calculate Trial Shear Force EBVMs. The results that have recently come out of the substantial R2 Billion Australian Beef CRC project have shown that each country will need its own "Reference Population" with which it will validate its own results. The Reference population is also required to create the prediction equations required for each population. Whilst the increase in accuracy is somewhat limited, there will be some advantages for the selection on especially younger bulls. Many Southern African producers have already selected animals using DNA markers and can expect some improvement in traits such as Meat Tenderness. Across-country genetic evaluations Across-country genetic evaluations have been in production for many societies for decades. This is still a rapidly developing field because the advantages to participants are both obvious and substantial: By increasing the number of cattle evaluated: - Accuracy in EBVs/EPDs calculated is increased. - There is a better chance of finding elite performers. Breeders can directly compare cattle across country borders. Breeders can have confidence in using genetics from another country. Breeders can benchmark their own herd's genetics to other genetics around the world. Genetic progress of the breed can be accelerated where breeders use the best genetics from an international gene pool i.e. they can increase the Selection Differential. The research and development phase involved for international evaluations are: 51 GENETIC IMPROVEMENT Complete re-estimation of adjustment factors and genetic parameters for all countries. Matching of all common animals, often a huge task Revise analytical software to handle country-specific trait definitions, adjustment factors and heritabilities. The benefits of these evaluations are huge. For example, sires which had small sets of progeny in particular countries now have a combined progeny set of several thousand animals providing very accurate EBVs or EPDs. An ambitious research project has been a trial Global Evaluation for the Hereford breed. This involved the data for eleven countries in a test evaluation which was released in 2008. In this model, a full set of EBVs/EPDs are produced for each trait analysed for each country. Conclusion In summary, the challenge to the commercial industry in Southern Africa is to buy bulls based on proven performance. My colleague, the previous CEO of Taurus and well respected cattle judge in South Africa, Dr Nico Schutte, believes that no animal should be visually assessed without a proper performance record. Commercial producers should purchase bulls from Stud clients whom have their financial interest at heart. The practice of simply looking at a bull before a sale and paying top dollars belongs in the dark ages. Engage with producers whom are more interested in making you money than selling you a pretty bull. Your enemy is tradition and all those that preach the old methodologies of selection using only the "eye". They are the ones holding you back. The challenge to the Stud Industry of Southern Africa is to make a concerted effort to measure traits of economic importance. Start with a proper female inventory and properly recorded culls. Scan your young heifers and bulls. Finally, take the effort to educate your commercial client of the genetic value of an animal. Southern Africa is an amazing part of the African continent with a well-established cattle and sheep industry. Use your resources wisely and continue to educate yourselves of the world's best scientific practices. IRENE BULTOETSSENTRUM 52 Toets Nr. Aankoms Aanpassing 1 27-11-13 28-11-13 2 13 -01-14 3 TOETSDATUMS 2014 Toetsperiode Vertrek Gebore na 26-12 -13/ 20-03 -14 26-03-14 30-03-13 14 -01 -14 11 -02 -14/ 06 -05-14 09-05 -14 15-05 -13 05-02 -14 06-02 -14 06-03 -14/ 29 -05-14 11-06 -14 09 -06 -13 4 03-03 -14 04-03 -14 01-04 -14/ 24-06-14 30 -06-14 03-07 -13 5 02-04 -14 03-04 -14 01-05 -14/ 24-07-14 30-07-14 03-08 -13 6 05-05 -14 06-05 -14 03-06 -14/ 26-08-14 08-09 -14 05-09 -13 7 11-06 -14 12-06 -14 10-07 -14/ 02-10 -14 08-10 -14 12 -10 -13 8 30 -06-14 01-07 -14 29 -07-14/ 21-10 -14 27-10-14 01-11 -13 9 30-07-14 31 -07-14 28-08-14/ 20-11 -14 26-11-14 01-12 -13 10 08-09 -14 09 -09 -14 07-10 -14/ 30-12 -14 06-01 -15 10-01 -14 11 08-10 -14 09-10 -14 06-11 -14/ 29 -01-15 06-02 -15 10 -02 -14 12 27-10-14 28-10-14 25-11-14/ 17-02 -15 21-02-15 01-03 -14 Waarin lê die SUKSES VAN STOETTELING? Dr Joggie Briedenhann en Pieter Visagie [email protected] FORMULEER 'N WETENSKAPLIKE, KORREKTE EN VOLHOUBARE TELINGSFILOSOFIE. PAS DIT TOE EN WEES TROTS OP JOU DIERE. SUKSES VOLG OP HARDE EN SLIM WERK EN GEE DIE LUS OM TE BOER, SELFS IN MOEILIKE TYE. As jy 'n prentjie in jou kop probeer kry van “moeilike” boerdery omstandighede, kom ek plaas dit vir jou op die kaart! Ons boer met Bonsmaras in Namibië, 23 km suidoos van Stampriet, op die plaas Hartebeestloop. Die jaarlikse gemiddelde reënval is slegs 170 mm en ons reënseisoen is besonders kort. Ons kry basies al ons reën gedurende Maart en April. Daaglikse somer temperature is meerendeels oor die 40° C en ryp is algemeen in die winter. Drakrag is 1 GVE op 35 hektaar gedurende gemiddelde reënjare. Tans beleef ons een van die strafste droogtes nòg en het bykans geen reën gehad gedurende die vorige reënseisoen nie. Nieteenstaande al die dinge en omstandighede, ons boer nog steeds, ons boer nog steeds lekker en God dank, ons boer nog steeds suksesvol! ONS MARK Die Namibiese mark is baie meer gediversifiseerd as die Suid-Afrikaanse mark, wat grotendeels op 'n speenkalfproduksie stelsel baseer is. Namibiese boere beoefen ook osproduksiestelsels wat op die uitvoermark gerig is. Baie min akkerbou word gedoen en die boere is grotendeels op vleisproduksie aangewese om die boeke te laat klop. Hulle is dus oor die algemeen goed opgelei, ingelig en boer baie goed onder ekstensiewe toestande. Hulle ken beeste! Hartebeestloop moet dus vir beide die speenkalf- en os produsent voorsiening maak. Bogenoemde inligting gee klaar 'n idee van die Hartebeestloop telingsfilosofie – daar is geen ruimte vir “fancy points” of teel van “mooi” beeste nie. Hier is slegs plek vir hoogspresterende diere wat uitstekend aangepas is vir 'n strawwe omgewing. Dit maak sin om die wetenskap en omgewing bymekaar te bring. Die wetenskap van veeteling en veral BLUP teelwaardes, word gebruik om die eienskappe wat die omgewing kan onderhou, optimaal te kry. Net so word die kennis van die omgewingstoestande gebruik om die eienskappe wat nie deur die omgewing bevorder word nie te beperk. Raamgrootte is 'n eenvoudige voorbeeld. Deur streng seleksie toe te pas oor baie jare is bepaal dat koeigewig van 480 – 500 kg die optimum is by ons. Seleksie vir groter raamtipe asook swaarder volwasse gewig - hetsy deur op BLUP teelwaardes te selekteer of voedingstoestande te verbeter - is nie ekonomies volhoubaar oor die langtermyn nie. Dit bring my by 'n ander belangrike punt – ons boer om optimale inkomste te verdien. Daarom moet die wetenskap en omgewing mekaar so komplimenteer dat optimale winste in die boerdery gegenereer kan word. Ons is stoettelers, maar op 'n jaarlikse basis word al ons diere verreken na kommersiële pryse. Dit beteken dat alle diere se geldwaardes aangepas word na die pryse wat tydens die betrokke jaar vir soortgelyke kommersiële diere betaal is. Byvoorbeeld - al die speenkalwers word verreken na die gemiddelde speenkalfprys vir die jaar en alle bulle word verreken na ons nasionale uitvoer abattoir, MEATCO, se slagprys vir 450kg osse met 'n uitslagpersentasie van 60% en AB gradering. Ons gebruik dan hierdie data om te toets of die Hartebeestloop kudde optimaal winsgewind is onder kommersiële toestande. Dit is een ding om te sê dat 'n stoetkudde soos 'n kommersiële kudde bestuur word en 'n ander om te bewys dat dit as 'n kommersiële kudde ook ekonomies suksesvol is. 54 Tipiese bul vir speenkalfproduksie stelsel WAT VEREIS ONS MARK? Belangrik is om altyd jou mark goed te lees! Gebruik dan die wetenskap van veeteling om te teel wat die mark soek. Dit is ook van belang om die prysstruktuur van die speenkalfkopers te verstaan en te weet watter tipe diere hulle soek. Namibiese telers moet Meatco se prys struktuur, gradering, ekstra premies en ideale karkas goed verstaan. Ons kommersiële kliënte is afhanklik hiervan vir optimum inkomste. Alle afgekeurde Hartebeestloop bulle word ook by Meatco geslag en sodoende weet ons presies of die karkasse kwalifiseer vir 'n optimum inkomste vanaf Meatco. Dit is tot die produsent se voordeel dat Meatco sekerlik van die mees volledigste slagstate (propvol inligting oor die karkas) verskaf. Beide die speenkalfkoper en Meatco is ons kliënte en hulle behoeftes word deel van ons teeldoelwitte, waar moontlik. WAT SOEK ONS KLIËNTE? Uitgebreide marknavorsing het gewys dat die volgende eienskappe as belangrik beskou word deur ons kliënte: 1. Kalfgemak 2. Reproduksievermoë, Groeivermoë en Aanpasbaarheid Hierdie eienskappe is nie in prioriteits volgorde gelys nie. Vir die doel van die artikel is die eienskappe só geplaas dat dit maklik lees en op mekaar volg. 1. Kalfgemak Kalfgemak is nie onderhandelbaar onder ekstensiewe toestande nie. Die kostes verbonde aan kalwingsprobleme onder hierdie toestande is te groot – roofdiere is die enigstes wat hierby baat! Hartebeestloop doen al 8 jaar lank pelvismetings vir beide verse en bulle. Die data word verwerk in pelvisindekse in groepsverband en maak deel uit van die seleksieproses vir vervangingsverse en veilingsbulle. Vanaf 2002 tot 2012 is bogemiddelde reënjare beleef en verse is vroeg gepaar. Kalfprobleme is merkwaardig verminder oor die tydperk deur die meet van pelvisse. Kalfgemak is verseker een van dié belangrikste eienskappe wat ons wil oordra na die kliënt! Op Hartebeestloop word bulle ook deesdae beskryf in 'n aparte “Boere Katalogus” onder “Bouvorm vir Kalfgemak”. Dit is dié een eienskap waar visuele evaluasie groot meriete het veral m.b.t. tot beenstruktuur, breedte deur die borsvloer en té prominente skouerknoppe. Daar is nog ander visuele kenmerke ook wat van belang is in evaluering van “Bouvorm vir Kalfgemak”, maar is te veel om hier te noem. Marknavorsing het uitgewys dat meeste boere nie die amptelike katalogus van die genootskap genoegsaam verstaan om 'n ingeligte besluit te neem oor bulevaluering nie. Op Hartebeestloop is 'n “Boere Katalogus” saamgestel wat die probleem aanspreek. Lees gerus op die webtuiste www.bonsmara.com na meer oor die “Boere Katalogus”. Dit is een van die vele produkte wat Hartebeestloop aanbied om aan die mark se behoeftes te voldoen. Geboorte massa is van kritiese belang vir die ekstensiewe Namibiese boer. Ons moet dus geboorte massa beperk terwyl nog steeds vir goeie groei geselekteer word. Die geboorte massa gemiddeld van die “os bul koeigroep” waaruit meeste van ons os-bulle geteel word, is 0.8 kg wat net 2% hoër is as ras-gemiddeld. Ons beperk dus geboorte probleme terwyl nog steeds goeie groei verkry word. 2. Reproduksievermoë, Groeivermoë en Aanpasbaarheid Reproduksievermoë van Hartebeestloop kudde: Ouderdom met Eerste Kalf (28 maande) Tussenkalfperiode (385 dae) Tussenkalfperiode tussen laaste 2 kalwers (371 dae) Reproduksie is die heel belangrikste eienskap vir ekonomiese sukses. Koeie moet dus eers suksesvol reproduseer voordat daar vir spesifieke eienskappe geselekteer word. Daar word addisionele druk op reproduksievermoë geplaas deur streng veilingvereistes aan bulmoeders te stel. Bulmoeders met 'n Reproduksie Indeks onder 90 en TKP bo 450, se nageslag word nie op die Hartebeestloop veiling toegelaat nie. Die Namibiese bulkoper diskrimineer teen bulmoeders met swak reproduksievermoë. Groeivermoë en Aanpasbaarheid Reproduksie, groeivermoë en aanpasbaarheid loop hand Variasie in raamgrootte en volwasse gewig aan hand en kan nie werklik van mekaar geskei word nie. Die artikel moet ook so gelees word. Groeivermoë in die Namibiese konteks beteken nie net voorspeense groei nie. Daar word baie klem op naspeense groei geplaas vir die uitgroei en bemarking van osse direk vanaf die veld. Ons standpunt is dat 'n goeie speenkalf gewoonlik ook 'n goeie os word. Afhangende van die weiding en wisselkoers (Meatco se uitvoermarkte oorsee) sal boere osse produseer totdat die speenkalfprys 66% en meer van die Meatco os-prys gaan. Eers dan word dit meer winsgewend om speenkalwers vir die voerkrale te produseer. Speenkalfproduksie stelsel Vir kliënte wat met speenkalwers boer, selekteer ons bulle uit vrugbare, medium raam koeie wat sonder probleme kalf en sterk speen direk en speen maternale eienskappe het. Teelwaarde indekse word gebruik om teeldoelwitte te beskryf. Ons teeldoelwit vir die “speenkalf bul koeigroep” is soos volg: EIENSKAP TEELWAARDE INDEKS TEELWAARDE Geboorte Direk Speen Direk Naspeen Teelwaarde Volwasse massa Speen maternaal 100 105 – 115 100 – 110 95 – 105 110 – 115 0.58 13.2 – 18.4 15.5 – 21.8 0 – 12 6.1 – 7.6 Os produksie stelsel Namibiërs doen goed deur 24 maande oue osse direk van die veld te bemark. Naspeense groei is van kritiese belang vir 'n os-boer om die verlangde teikenmassa en vetheidsgraad te bereik. Daar word ook baie van kruisteelstelsels gebruik gemaak om verlangde teikenmassas te behaal. Ons selekteer om ongeveer 10% bo rasgemiddelde naspeense groei uit die os-bulle te kry. Die SA Stamboek teelwaarde indekse wys dat die Hartebeestloop “os bul koeigroep” se gemiddelde naspeen teelwaarde van 22.6 kg, 10% bo ras-gemiddeld is. Raam grootte en Volwasse massa bly die 2 kritiese faktore om te beheer wanneer bulle vir os-produksie stelsels geteel word. Alhoewel 'n os ordentlik moet uitgroei op die veld, moet sy susters wat op die plaas agterbly nie te groot word nie. Ons poog dus om nie volwasse massa met meer as 10% te verhoog in die strewe om vir goeie naspeense groei te selekteer nie. Die “os bul koeigroep” se volwasse massa teelwaarde is 13 kg, dit is net 6% hoër as rasgemiddeld. Ons is dus as't ware besig om die groeikurwe te knak. 55 Ons teeldoelwit vir die “os bul koeigroep” is soos volg: EIENSKAP TEELWAARDE INDEKS TEELWAARDE Geboorte Direk Speen Direk Naspeen Teelwaarde Volwasse massa Speen maternaal 95 – 100 105 – 110 105 – 115 100 – 110 105 – 115 0.58 – 1.19 13.2 – 15.4 105 – 115 6 – 17 4.7 – 7.6 Aanpasbaarheid Aanpasbaarheid is koning onder ekstensiewe boerdery toestande. Goeie reproduksievermoë en groeivermoë is nie moontlik as diere nie aangepas is vir die omgewing nie. Dit is ook nie ekonomies volhoubaar om te probeer om aanpasbaarheid in te voer nie! Strategiese lekaanvulling op die veld is die ideale boerdery praktyk vir die Namibiese boer. BLUP teelwaardes maak tot 'n mate voorsiening vir aanpasbaarheid. Diere sal byvoorbeeld nie na wense groei in 'n groeitoets op die veld as hulle nie aangepas is nie. 'n Groot deel van die Namibiese bulmark is osprodusente en dit maak dus sin om 'n ekstensiewe groeitoets van 270 dae op die veld te doen. Hulle osse groei uit op die veld en dit is wenslik om ook ons bulle se groei op die veld te toets. Dit is ons filosofie om tyd te spandeer aan die eienskappe wat ekonomiese waarde toevoeg vir die kliënt. Op Hartebeestloop kombineer ons 'n ekstensiewe groeitoets op die veld met die Veldbultoets van Veldbul Suidelike Afrika. Dit plaas ons in die unieke posisie om Bulle tydens ekstensiewe groeitoets op die veld groeidata aan die registrerende instansie te verskaf om akkurate BLUP ontledings te doen. Sodoende kan ons (i.s.m. Veldbul Suidelike Afrika) aanpasbaarheid in al sy fasette op die veld toets. Hartebeestloop het ook 'n eie waardestelsel waarvolgens die diere se prestasies tydens die Veldbultoets bereken word, en dit is spesifiek gerig op die kliënt se behoeftes. ONS LOS JOU MET DIE GEDAGTE Vir ons staan die wetenskap nooit vêr weg nie! Dit vorm 'n integrale deel van ons telingsfilosofie. Na al die jare sien ons nog steeds die meriete van die geweeg en gemeet! Om af te sluit, daar is een gedeelte van die Hartebeestloop besigheidsfilosofie wat ek graag wil uitlig: “Suksesvolle besighede verstaan die mark, suksesvolle boerderye pas aan by die natuur en verstaan die mark.” CEDARA FASE C BULTOETSSENTRUM 56 Toets Nr. Aankoms Aanpassing 1 01-01-14 08-01-14 2 29-01-14 3 Toetsperiode TOETSDATUMS 2014 Vertrek Gebore na 05-02-14/30 -04-14 07-05-14 01-05-13 05-02-14 05-03-14/ 28-05-14 04-06-14 29-05-13 26-02-14 05-03-14 02-04-14/25 -06-14 02-07-14 26-06-13 4 26-03-14 02-04-14 30-04-14/23 -07-14 30-07-14 24-07-13 5 23-04-14 30-04-14 28-05-14/20 -08-14 27-08-14 21-08-13 6 28-05-14 04-06-14 02-07-14/24 -09-14 01-10-14 25-09-13 7 25-06-14 02-07-14 30-07-14/22 -10-14 29-10-14 23-10-13 8 30-07-14 06-08-14 03-09-14/26 -11-14 03-12-14 27-11-13 9 27-08-14 03-09-14 01-10-14/24 -12-14 31-12-14 25-12-13 10 24-09-14 01-10-14 29-10-14/21 -01-15 28-01-15 22-01-14 11 29-10-14 05-11-14 03-12-14/25 -02-15 04-03-15 26-02-14 12 26-11-14 03-12-14 31-12-14/25 -03-15 01-04-15 26-03-14 WORLD CONFERENCE ON ANIMAL PRODUCTION (WCAP) in Beijing, China Frans Jordaan The 11th WCAP of 2013, held in Beijing China from 15 to 20 October, was organized by the World Association for Animal Production (WAAP) and the Chinese Association of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine (CAAV) and was attended by researchers from around the world. This conference, which is held once every 5 years, is a premier event on the animal production calendar, and the theme of this year's conference was “Animal, People & Environment in Harmony for Progress”. The primary objectives of the conference were to provide an opportunity for animal scientists from around the globe to share research experiences in their respective fields of expertise and interest. The most recent research findings and developments in the different fields of animal production were thus also presented at the Conference. The ARC-Animal Production Institute was well represented at the conference, and included Prof. Michiel Scholtz (Specialist Researcher: Animal Breeding and Genetics), Mr. Frans Jordaan (Chief Technician: Beef Cattle Improvement), Ms Olga Makina (Researcher: Animal Breeding and Genetics) Mr. Dan Motiang (Acting Senior Manager: Rangeland and Nutrition) and Dr. Florence Nherera (Senior Researcher: Dairy Nutrition). These ARC officials presented their research findings in the form of oral presentations and posters. As the president of the South African Society for Animal Science, Prof. Scholtz represented South Africa at the World Association for Animal Production. The South African Society for Animal Science (SASAS) is a member of WAAP and as the current President of SASAS, Prof. Scholtz also attended the two General Assembly meetings of the WAAP. The WCAP is renowned for being one of the largest in the world, and was attended by approximately 2 000 ARC - Animal Production Institute, [email protected] registered delegates, of which more than 500 were foreigners. In addition, 300 students and visitors were also invited to attend the conference. The first WCAP held dates back exactly 5 decades, making it also one of the oldest conferenceevents in the world. The organizing committee of the WCAP, through its initiatives to support budding researchers, also provided financial support to 15 young scientists and 20 graduate students, and Ms. Makina from the ARC-Animal Production Institute was one of the privileged to receive such support. The opening ceremony and welcome reception was held on the evening of 15 October and the actual Conference started the following day, ending on the 19th of October. The 20th of October was reserved for delegates to take part in the respective technical tours presented. The Conference hosted three plenary sessions in the mornings on days 1, 2 and 4, during which 12 invited papers were presented. The first paper was a very interesting paper which gave an overview of the history of livestock production in China, whilst the other papers focused on issues that are of international importance. The latter included research that focus on the global need for food production to feed the ever increasing human population (from both small scale and intensive/industrialized production), enhancing the productivity of small scale farms, mineral status of extensive production environments, animal genetic resources, challenges and opportunities in animal feed and nutrition (nutri-genomics), Genetically Modified Organisms or GMO's in animal agriculture, animal behaviour, climate change and the demand for animal protein, management of food safety and lastly the carbon footprint of livestock production. Parallel sessions were presented during the afternoonsessions and posters were on view during extended tea breaks. On day 1 there were 11 concurrent parallel sessions, including one on “Woman Scientists Forum” during which Ms. Makina from the ARC-Animal Production Institute made an excellent presentation. A total of 54 senior scientists were invited to present papers during the parallel sessions. In total, approximately 1 100 contributions were made (including oral and poster presentations) from 54 countries. Truly a conference of gigantic proportions! 57 Ultrasoniese Skandering van Beeste Frans Jordaan LNR-Diereproduksie-instituut, Tel. 012-672 9085, E-pos: [email protected] LTRASONIESE SKANDERING Wat is ultrasoniese klank? Ultrasoniese klank is klankgolwe wat beweeg teen 'n frekwensie wat die menslike oor nie kan hoor nie. Die menslike oor kan klank hoor teen frekwensies van tussen 20 en 20 000 hertz. Ultrasoniese klank beweeg teen frekwensies bokant 20 000 hertz en wel teen tussen 1 en 10 Megahertz. Dis interessant om te weet dat in die natuur gebruik vlermuise ultrasoniese klank teen 'n frekwensie van 25 000 tot 500 000 Megahertz (Widmer, 1993) vir navigasie asook om hul prooi te op te spoor. word vanuit Nederland ingevoer en ons tegnici word tans op hierdie masjien geakkrediteer. Ultrasoniese klankgolwe word deur die skan-deerder gegenereer en deur die dier se liggaam gestuur wanneer die skandeerder teen die dier se liggaam gedruk word. Omrede die digthede van die verskillende weefsels variëer, word die klankgolwe terug weerkaats teen verskillende snelhede en 'n beeld vorm wat wat op die monitor vertoon word. Gedurende ultrasoniese skandering beweeg die klankgolwe deur die dier se sagte weefsel en die spoed waarteen dit beweeg word beinvloed deur die digtheid van die tipe karkasweefsel, byvoorbeeld vet, spier of been. Vir karkas evaluering word normaalweg 'n frekwensie van ongeveer 3.5 Megahertz gebruik. Om die ultrasoniese klank te genereer word 'n skandeerder (“transducer”) gebruik en 'n video-skerm lê die beelde vas. Dit is in beginsel dieselfde tegniek wat gebruik word om dragtigheid- en swangerskapondersoeke by diere en mense te doen. Die beelde wat gegenereer word wanneer die beeste geskandeer word, word uiteindelik geïnterpreteer as vetdikte in millimeter, oogspiergrootte (oppervlak in vierkante centimeter) en intra-muskulêre vet, ook bekend as marmering of binnespierse vet. Wie doen ultrasoniese skanderings? Ultrasoniese skandering van lewende diere is reeds 'n algemene praktyk in verskeie lande asook SuidAfrika. In Suid-Afrika word die diens al 'n geruime tyd deur die Landbounavorsingsraad (LNR) aangebied asook deur ander instansies, soos Breedplan. Omrede die LNR die mandaat het om namens die Suid-Afrikaanse regering die Nasionale Veeverbeteringskemas te bestuur, word die dienste aangebied, soos bv. ultrasoniese skandering, teen 'n gesubsideerde tarief aangebied wat dit natuurlik baie bekostigbaar maak. Die LNR is ook 'n onpartydige en geakkrediteerde instansie wat betref die insameling van betroubare en akkurate data. Tegnici word op 'n drie-jaarlikse basis getoets en geëvalueer om akkuraatheid en herhaalbaarheid te bepaal vir akkreditasie. Die akkreditasie vereis dan ook dat die diere geslag word en die metings met fisiese metodes herhaal word op die karkas om sodoende die akkuraatheid en herhaalbaarheid van 'n tegnikus te bepaal. Waarmee word ultrasoniese skanderings gedoen? Die LNR gebruik tans die Aquila Pro Vet masjien (Fig. 1) wat bestaan uit twee komponente, naamlik die skandeerder (ASP18) en die monitor. Die apparaat 58 FIGUUR 1 Die Aquila Pro Vet ultrasoniese skandeerder Waar word metings op dier geneem? Spesifieke posisies op die dier se liggaam is geïdentifiseer as skanderingspunte. Meting van onderhuidse vetdikte oor die ribbes word tussen die 12de en 13de rib van die dier geneem, driekwart op die ronding van die oogspier vanaf die middel van die rug. (Figuur 2). Meting van onderhuidse vetdikte oor die kruis word geneem tussen die 3de sakrale werwel en die sitbeen. Die oogspier-grootte (oppervlak) word ook tussen die 12de en 13de rib geneem deur 'n “dwarssnit” van die oogspier met die skandeerder te neem. Die buitelyn van die oogspier word bepaal deur van die beeld op die monitor gebruik te maak en daardie area word gebruik om die oogspier-oppervlak te bereken (Figuur 3). Die spesifieke area op die dier waar die skandering gedoen word, word vooraf met 'n jel of olie gesmeer om te verseker dat goeie direkte kontak gemaak word tussen dier se vel en skandeerder. Dit verhoed moontlike steurnisse en sodoende word 'n beeld met maksimum kwaliteit verseker. Watter diere kan skandeer word? Jong bulle asook verse kan skandeer word. Die 3 2 LTRASONIESE SKANDERING 1 FIGUUR 3 Deursnit en die buitelyne van die oogspier. FIGUUR 2 Plasingspunte vir skandering: 1 – Oogspiergrootte en -onderhuidse vet oor die ribbes, 2 – Oogspier marmering, 3 – Onderhuidse vet oor die kruis Breedplan stelsel vereis dat diere tussen 300 en 800 dae ouderdom geskandeer word. Dit is baie belangrik dat diere oor voldoende vetneerlegging beskik by skandering om te verseker dat dat daar voldoende variasie beskikbaar is en metings akkuraat gedoen kan word. 'n Dier sal eers onderhuidese vet neerlê voordat binnespierse vet (marmering) neerlegging sal plaasvind. Om meetbare marmering moontlik te maak moet 'n dier verkieslik minstens 5 mm onderhuidse vet hê. Met die oog op akkurate genetiese evaluasies en teelwaardes, is dit is baie belangrik dat die normale riglyne ten opsigte van kontemporêre groepe (bestuursgroepe) ook toegepas word vir diere wat geskandeer word vir karkaseienskappe. Slegs diere in dieselfde kontemporêre groep moet saam skandeer word en vergelyk word met mekaar. 'n Bestuursgroep kan gedefinieer word as' n groep diere wat in dieselfde jaar en seisoen (soortgelyke ouderdom) gebore is, op dieselfde plek (dieselfde kudde of plaas), van dieselfde geslag en wat dieselfde bestuur is vanaf geboorte tot die tyd van weging of meting. Die Breedplan stelsel vereis dat diere in 'n kontemporêre groep maksimum 45 dae mag varieer in ouderdom. Vir doeleindes van genetiese koppelings tussen groepe, is dit belangrik dat kontemporêre groepe moet bestaan uit die nageslag van ten minste twee vaars en een van die vaars moet ook gemete nageslag in 'n ander kudde hê. (Terloops, so 'n vaar word genoem 'n “koppelvaar”). Wat is die voordele van ultrasoniese skanderings? Die groot voordeel is dat sekere karkasdata versamel kan word sonder om betrokke diere te slag. Dit is natuurlik baie goedkoper as om nageslag van 'n bul te slag en die metings op die karkasse te doen. Dit beteken ook dat bulle wat vir teling aangewend word, se genetiese potensiaal vir sekere karkaseienskappe reeds op 'n jong ouderdom bekend is. Navorsing het getoon dat hierdie karkaseienskappe oorerflik is, met ander woorde die bul kan sy karkaseienskappe geneties oordra na sy nageslag. Potensiële teelmateriaal kan geskandeer word sonder om diere te slag en op grond van hierdie data kan seleksie besluite geneem word. Oogspieroppervlak is 'n goeie aanduiding van die vleisopbrengs van 'n karkas en hierdie eienskap is redelik tot hoog oorerflik, wat beteken dat redelik akkurate genetiese voorspellings met behulp van teelwaardes gemaak kan word. Diere binne kontemporêre groepe, wat direk met mekaar vergelykbaar is, sal variasie toon ten opsigte van die metings en sal 'n aanduiding wees van diere wat bogemiddeld is in groepverband. Marmering (binnespierse vet) verhoog die sappigheid en geurigheid van vleis. In baie oorsese lande (Amerika, Australië, Europa, ens.) speel marmering 'n baie belangrike rol in vleisgradering en klassifikasie. Tans word marmering ongelukkig glad nie in ag geneem in die Suid-Afrikaanse vleisklassiefikasiestelsel vir beesvleis nie. Navorsing het ook getoon dat die korrelasie tussen vetdikte en marmering baie laag is, met ander woorde daar kan geselekteer word vir marmering sonder om noodwendig onderhuidse vet te verhoog. Diere wat marmering toon met beperkte onderhuidse vet kan binne 'n ras identifiseer word. Verbruikers diskrimineer te veel teen onderhuidse vet en sulke karkasse se gradering sal negatief beïnvloed word en derhalwe sal die diere met goeie marmering maar met beperkte onderhuidse vet meer gewens wees. Namate beskikbare karkasdata akkumuleer vir 'n spesifieke ras, sal dit meer akkurate genetiese analises moontlik maak en sal meer akkurate teelwaardes beskikbaar wees vir seleksie doeleindes. Navrae Navrae met betrekking tot die ultrasoniese skandering van diere asook die verwerking en interpretasie van karkasdata en teelwaardes kan gerig word aan beamptes van die Nasionale Vleisbeesaantekening en -Verbeteringskema van die LNR asook Breedplan SA . Geakkrediteerde LNR tegnici: Jurgen Hendriks Vrystaat : 084 304 3904 Tebogo Serapelwane Noordwes : 083 711 2224 Erick Joosten: Gauteng, Limpopo, Mpumalanga : 082 204 2379 Stephen Rasebotsa - Gauteng, Limpopo,Mpumalanga : 082 701 9636 Tinus Viljoen – Wes Kaap: 072 470 8386 Tegnici sal wel ook in streke beskikbaar wees naaste aan hul huidige standplase. 59 A perspective on legislation aimed at combatting stock theft in South Africa Gerhard Schutte; RPO, [email protected] Stock theft stripped the South African economy of more than R500 million during the 2012/2013 period, with cattle taking by far the largest chunk of the knock. This scourge threatens both the commercial farming sector as well as the emerging farming sector in most of the country. Aspects that are not always considered is the impact that stock theft has on job security of workers and the dependence of people on their livestock for food and economic survival. The National Stock Theft Forum is adamant that all role players in the livestock industries should play an active role in combatting this crime. Animal identification is one of the problems that are central to the theft of animals, and the Stock theft Units of the South African Police Services (SAPS) have been instructed to strictly enforce the Animal Identification Act, (Act 6 of 2002) and the Stock theft Act, (Act 57 of 1959), all of which make the marking and identification of animals compulsory. All buyers of livestock have to comply with these acts as from 1 January 2014. A zero tolerance approach will also be imposed by the SAPS in this regard. Research has shown that since the adoption of the Animal Identification Act, (Act 6 of 2002), stock theft has decreased significantly. The Animal Identification Act (Act No. 6 of 2002) stipulates the following: 1. All owners of cattle, sheep, goats and pigs must keep an identification register with the registrar of livestock identification. 2. Each owner must mark his/her animals according to the prescribed method. All cattle, sheep, goats and pigs whose identification became obscure or invisible, must be re-marked/identified in accordance with legal prescriptions. 3. No person shall, within 14 days after the date on which he or she became the owner of an animal, may sell, barter, give away or in any other manner dispose of any animal to another person, unless he or she provides that person with an animal identification; or after 14 days from the date he or she became the owner of an animal, sell, barter, give away or in any other manner dispose of that animal, unless such animal is labelled in the prescribed manner with the identification of the owner, to the recipient person. Often buyers of livestock such as farmers, speculators, stock-auctions, feedlots and abattoirs are unknowingly involved in the trade of stolen animals since they do not ensure that the livestock they purchase comply with the provisions of the law. During these transgressions of the law heavy penalties in the form of fines are imposed, sometimes even resulting in the prosecution of the guilty party. 60 One of the benefits of the legitimate branding/marking of animals is that it acts as a physical deterrent against theft since it has been shown that unmarked animals run a higher risk of getting stolen. Legitimate identification is also vital for positive proof of ownership, and hence it aids the effective policing of theft and the recovery and even tracking of lost or stolen animals It is important to note that it is illegal to use an animal marking or brand mark that is not registered; or allow an animal to be marked with an identification mark without authorization of the owner of such mark; marking an animal or allow it to be labelled in an un-prescribed manner; marking an animal or allow it to be marked with an identification mark which is registered in the name of a person that is not the owner of the animal or marking/branding an animal with a mark that is not a prescribed identification mark with respect to the group of animals to which it belongs. Registered (pedigree) animals are marked with marks awarded by the particular Breeder's Society. The Breeder's Society will also prescribe the method of identification (e.g. branding or tattooing). Registration certificates issued by the Breeder's Society should also accompany registered animals that are sold at public auctions. The law has certain requirements regarding the age of marked animals. Cattle must be marked at the age of six months, but can also be tattooed at the age of one month. Cattle must be branded by the age of their first pair of permanent incisors. Sheep must be tattooed at the age of one month. It is an offense if: Someone is a marking operator but fails to keep a register Have in his or her possession an animal that is not marked in accordance with, or in a manner permitted by law An identification mark on an animal is changed, defaced or obliterated An animal is sold to any person in if the identification mark of the animal has been altered, defaced or cancelled An animal with a cut-off ear is sold to any person Any person found guilty of one of more of these offenses may be liable to a fine or imprisonment for a period not exceeding six months, or to both a fine and imprisonment. The Stock theft Act, (Act 57 of 1959) also controls the movement of livestock, and it specifically stipulates that: It is a criminal offense for any person to be in possession of animals or animal products of which there is a reasonable suspicion that it was stolen The South African Society for Agricultural Technologist (SASAT) held their annual congress at The Kedar country Lodge, Conference Centre & Spa, Rustenburg North West. The congress was held from 17 – 20 September 2013 and Mr, M.N. Ferreira, bull test centre manager at Vryburg, presented a poster entitled “The effect of year and season on the feedlot performance of Simmentaler bulls in a warm and arid area.” Mr. Ferreira won the first prize for the best poster presentation. Someone who in any way, except at a public sale, obtain stolen livestock or stolen animal products from someone else or have in his or her possession and not being able to provide reasonable grounds for its acquisition from the person from whom it was acquired or received, or that that person is duly authorized by the owner to dispose of it, is guilty of an offense. When someone is charged with an offense, the onus rests on him to prove that it was not his intention to steal Documentation pertaining to the identification of an animal should accompany an event during which an animal is sold, exchanged or disposed of in any manner Somebody obtaining such an identification certificate must keep it in his possession for a period of at least one year. No person shall drive or transport livestock or animal products of which he is not the owner, on or along a public road unless he is in possession of a certificate of removal from the owner or duly authorized agent on behalf of the owner. The Fencing Act (no. 31 of 1963) is another act combatting of stock theft. Under the Fencing Act a person is guilty of an offense if: He or she opens a gate or leave it open; or finding it open passing through, and not closing it. He or she passes through a gate or climbs through a fence without the consent of the owner or lessee of the land on which such fence or gate is located. He or she deliberately damages or removes a fence or a gate. The National Stock Theft Prevention Forum supports the abovementioned legislation and requests that all livestock owners, traders, feedlots, auctioneers and abattoirs comply with it in the best interest of industry. The following stakeholders are currently represented on the National Stock Theft Forum: 1. Producers: the National Wool Growers Association (NWGA), the National Emerging Red Meat Producers' Organisation (NERPO), the national Red Meat Producers' Organisation (RPO), the nine provincial RPO's, Agri SA, TLU SA, the South African Pork Producers' Organisation (SAPPO), the Milk Producers' Organisation (MPO) and the South African Feedlot Organisation (SAFA). 2. State departments: the National Department of Agriculture, the Registrar of Animal Identification, Veterinary Services, the Department of Correctional Services, the National Prosecuting Authority, the SAPS (encompassing 81 stock theft units countrywide), the SA National Defense Force and the SA Red Meat Abattoir Association. 61 REAL TIME ULTRASOUND SCANNING ACCREDITATION Frans Jordaan ARC - Animal Production Institute, 012-672 9085, [email protected] Erick Joosten Jurgen Hendriks Phillip Strydom Tebogo Serapelwane Stephen Rasebotsa Petrus Maritz Tinus Viljoen The importance for being accredited for real time ultrasound (RTU) scanning must not be underestimated. Scanning data will be used to generate breeding values or form part in selection indexes relating to carcass characteristics, which in turn will be used in selection criteria. It is thus of utmost importance to ensure that a quality standard is maintained in order to safeguard the reliability of scan data. The National Beef Recording and Improvement Scheme (Beef scheme for short) of the Animal Production Institute at Irene, as an independent institution mandated by government, recently completed an accreditation test for technical staff, following the protocol as stipulated in the rules & guidelines of the Beef Scheme of the ARC. The accreditation test involved taking repeated measurements on a group of twenty bulls. Angus- Nguni cross animals were identified for the test and one group of animals were fed in the feedlot prior to the accreditation to ensure variation in condition which is very important during such an exercise. During the accreditation all animals were scanned twice by each person and on also on two consecutive days to establish the repeatability of measurements taken. Measurements that were taken on these animals included fat deposition on the rump as well as the rib (between the 12th and 13th rib), eye muscle area and the intra-muscular fat in the eye muscle. (See article on RTU for the specific areas scanned on the animal). What is also important to note is that the technicians were accredited on the Aquila Pro Vet machines which are used to scan animals on-farm as well at the central bull testing stations. All twenty animals were subsequently slaught-ered at the abattoir of the Animal Production Institute and Dr. Phillip Strydom and his team assisted with the actual measurements on the carcasses. Dr. Frikkie Calitz and Nicolene Thiebaut of the Biometry Unit of the ARC performed the statistical analyses on the data collected. By completion of the excercise five ARC employees and one person from Namibia were accredited for RTU scanning. The accredited technicians are as follows: Jurgen Hendriks, Erick Joosten, Petrus Maritz (Namibia), Stephen Rasebotsa, Tebogo Serapelwane and Tinus Viljoen. These technicians are available country-wide and four machines are currently used by the Beef Scheme to service the different provinces of South Africa. Future plans include expanding the service to neighboring countries and also to purchase more advanced scanning equipment in the near future to meet the demands of industry. Any farmer interested in the service, which is by the way subsidised by government, can contact the Beef Scheme at ARC-API at Irene (012 672 9087; 012 672 9085). Jurgen Hendriks Jurgen Hendriks, is vanaf September 2013 aangestel as die nuwe bulstal bestuurder op Glen. Jurgen is 'n boerseun en 'n boorling van Bloemfontein. Hy het grootgeword in die bosveld en het sy skoolloopbaan voltooi in Louis Trichardt. Tans boer hy deeltyds saam met sy pa naby Bandelierkop met 'n kommersiele kudde, en dis vanwaar hy sy groot liefde vir beesboerdery ontwikkel het. Jurgen het sy landbou-graad aan die Vrystaat Universiteit verwerf in Vee-, Wild- en Weidingkunde, waarna hy sy honneurs graad in teling gedurende 2012 verwerf het. Tans is hy ook deeltyds besig met 'n M.Sc. studie in teling wat handel oor netto voer inname. Hierdie studie is natuurlik baie toepaslik vir sy werk wat betref Fase C- en RVI toetse. 63 KONTAKBESONDERHEDE LNR-VLEISBEES AANTEKENING- EN VERBETERINGSKEMA Naam Dienste E-pos adres Kontaknommer Selnommer Ben Greyling (Dr.) Frans Jordaan Programbestuurder Blup Navrae Tegniese komitees Koordinering van dienste [email protected] [email protected] 012 672 9052 012 672 9085 079 874 6875 079 889 4091 Konsultasies Fase C/RVI Toetse Fase A,B,D Ultrasoniese skandering Beefpro [email protected] Faks: 021 809 3583 021 809 3327 072 470 8386 Konsultasies Fase A,B,D Beefpro [email protected] Faks: 041 404 7211 041 404 7210 082 537 1487 Konsultasies Fase C/RVI Toetse Ultrasoniese skandering Fase A,B,C,D Fase C/RVI Toetse [email protected] Faks: 051 447 6179 051 861 1175 0843043904 Fase C/RVI Toetse Beefpro Konsultasies Fase A,B,C,D Ultrasoniese Skandering Fase A,B,D [email protected] 051 861 1175 051 861 1175 Faks: 053 927 4333 053 927 4335 084 506 0068 [email protected] 053 927 4335 083 711 2224 [email protected] 079 090 7881 Konsultasies RVI Toetse Fase A,B,C,D Fase C/RVI Toetse Fase D [email protected] 053 927 4335 Faks: 033 355 9423 033 355 9441 [email protected] 033 355 9441 083 232 4234 Konsultasies Fase C/RVI Toetse Keurings Beefpro Konsultasies Fase A,B,D Ultrasoniese skandering Keurings Beefpro/Herdmaster Fase A,B,D Ultrasoniese skandering Beefpro [email protected] Faks: 012 672 9202 012 672 9326 0822922273 [email protected] 012 672 9092 0822042379 [email protected] 012 672 9120 082 701 9636 Wes Kaap Tinus Viljoen Oos Kaap Sakkie van der Merwe Vrystaat Jurgen Hendriks Thuthukani Hlangu Lerato Maboa Vryburg Melville Ferreira Tebogo Serapelwane Benedict Sekwadi KZN Johan Binnedel Freek Botes Irene Leon De Lange Erick Joosten Stephen Rasebotsa [email protected] [email protected] * RVI – Residuele Voerinname Toetse * Ultrasoniese Skandering (Tegnikus is geakkrediteer deur LNR) 64 083 799 6600