newsletter nuusbrief - Agricultural Research Council

Transcription

no/nr 101
ARC LNR
Excellence in Research and Development
Animal Production Institute
Diereproduksie-instituut
newsletter
nuusbrief
2012
National Beef Recording and Improvement Scheme
Nasionale Vleisbeesaantekening en -Verbeteringskema
COMMENTS / KOMMENTAAR ......................................................................... 2
KOMMENTAAR
Contents / Inhoud
NEWS ITEMS / NUUSBROKKIES ................................................................... 9
ARC Beef Star Performers Awards ................................................................................................... 9
Vleissentraal-ARC Special Performance Test Class .............................................................. 9
Farmer's Weekly-LNR Beste Elite Koeie Toekennings.......................................................... 10
GMP Basic-LNR Platinum Toekennings ................................................................................. 12
ABSA-ARC Emerging Beef Farmer of the Year Award.......................................................... 13
BIF Kongres ............................................................................................................................................ 17
Profile of a winner ................................................................................................................................... 21
Santa Gertrudis - Voerkraalwenners .................................................................................................... 23
SKEMASAKE
SCHEME MATTERS / SKEMASAKE .................................................................. 4
Vleisbeesverbeteringsdae/ARC Beef Cattle Farmer’s Days ............................................................... 4
Contemporary Group Guidelines for Phase C Testing ....................................................................... 7
BLUP NUUS
ARTICLES / ARTIKELS ................................................................................... 26
Praktiese bulbestuur ............................................................................................................................. 26
Reproduksie indeks - wat is dit? ........................................................................................................... 29
Breeding seasons for beef cattle ........................................................................................................... 31
The ABC of bull selection ...................................................................................................................... 36
Epigenetic changes and livestock production: facts or fiction ........................................................... 40
Let’s chat about feed efficiency ........................................................................................................... 42
Residuele voerinname (residual feed intake): Wat is die implikasies daarvan? .............................. 44
Prestasietoetsing voordele en gevare ................................................................................................. 46
Gebruik van Blup teelwaardes deur die kommersiële teler ............................................................ 51
Reproductive performance of the beef herd: Focus on the Village Cow ........................................... 53
NUUSBROKKIES
FAQ .......................................................................................................... 25
Inteling in beesteling ............................................................................................................................. 25
Compilers / Samestellers:
Dr Ben Greyling, Leslie Bergh, Frans Jordaan & Naomi Havenga
Design and printing / Ontwerp en drukwerk:
Asikhulume Pixart cc +27 12 661-9728
www.pixart.co.za
ARC LNR
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 .
ARTIKELS
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]
COMMENTS
COMMENTS KOMMENTAAR
Foreword / Voorwoord
Iemand het op 'n keer die opmerking gemaak dat jy 'n
absolute optimis moet wees om aan te hou boer. Ek dink
egter dit gaan oor baie meer as optimisme, en ook dat daar
nie 'n generiese wenresep op die mark is wat sukses kan
waarborg nie. Ek dink egter wat wel waar is, is die feit dat
die resep bepaalde bestanddele moet hê, soos 'n paar
knippies deursettingsvermoë en 'n onwrikbare vertroue in
die natuur. Hierdie is basiese bestanddele, of liewer
eienskappe, wat sal bepaal of jy wel sal suksesvol boer of
nie. Ten spyte van die afgelope jaar se uitdagings, het dit
tog baie goed gegaan met vleisbeesboere in die algemeen,
terwyl die jaar ook nie veel verrassings ingehou het nie.
Soos gewoonlik, en soos verwag, was die beskikbaarheid
en prys van voer en weiding van die vernaamste drywers
van vleispryse. 'n Paar noemenswaardige verwikkelinge
het egter wel gedurende 2012 plaasgevind, soos bv. die
verskuiwing van die nasionale databasis ( Intergis), vanaf
Bloemfontein na Hatfield in Pretoria. Die stelsel is ten volle
funksioneel en tot almal se beskikking. Die LNR se
dataredigeringspan het ook in hul nuwe kantore ingetrek in
Bloemfontein, vanwaar dienste tans gelewer word. Daar is
ook heelwat nuwe aanstellings en vakante poste gevul die
afgelope jaar op streeksvlak, veral ten opsigte van tegniese
personeel.
2
Die Vleisbeesverbeteringsprogram het in reaksie op
belangstelling en navrae vanuit die bedryf (van
kommersiële boer tot stoetteler) pasmaak dienste
ontwikkel ten einde aan die bedryf se behoeftes te voldoen.
Hierdie dienste sluit in wegings van diere met mobiele
skale, vaslegging en prossesering van prestasiedata,
kuddekonsultasies, die druk en interpretasie van verslae
en die druk van registrasie-sertifikate
namens
genootskappe, om maar 'n paar te noem. Om 'n tegnikus
op u plaas te kry en deur van die dienste gebruik te maak is
slegs 'n telefoon-oproep vêr, en dit alles teen uiters
bekostigbare fooie. Ons fokus ook sterker op persoonlike
inligting- en tegnologie-oordrag asook opleiding. Inligtingoordrag word ook bewerkstellig deur die publikasie van
populêre artikels in joernale, tydskrifte en nuusbriewe.
Hierdie uitgawe is weereens propvol artikels met nuttige en
bruikbare inligting vir die beesboer, geskryf deur plaaslike
kundiges sowel as oorsese kenners - geniet hom!
Namens die Vleisbeesverbeteringsprogram wil ek u 'n baie
geseënde Kersseisoen toewens, en mag die jaar wat
voorlê met voorspoed en vreugde gevul wees.
Indien u enige navrae het, kan u ons met graagte skakel: Dr
Ben Greyling, Leslie Bergh en Frans Jordaan – almal van
Irene (012 672 9052/9145/9085).
Foreword
Someone once made the remark that you should be an
absolute optimist to keep on farming. However, I think there
is a lot more to it than pure optimism, and that there is no
generic or magic recipe on the market that can guarantee
success. But I think what is true is the fact that the recipe
Dr Ben Greyling
Programme Manager: Beef Cattle Improvement
Programbestuurder: Vleisbeesverbetering
has to have certain ingredients, such as a few spoons of
perseverance and an unwavering trust in nature. These are
basic ingredients or rather attributes that will determine
whether you will prevail or not. Despite the challenges of
the past year, it had gone very well with beef farmers in
general, and 2012 also did not present many surprises. As
usual, and as expected, the availability and price of feed
and grazing were some of the main drivers of meat prices. A
few notable developments did however occur during the
past year, e.g. the relocation of the national database
(Intergis) from Bloemfontein to Hatfield in Pretoria. The
system is fully functional and available to everyone. ARC's
data editing team also moved into their new offices in
Bloemfontein, from where services are being provided. A
number of new appointments were also made and
vacancies filled during the past year on regional level,
particularly in terms of technical staff.
In response to inquiries and needs from industry (from
commercial farmers to stud breeders), the Beef
Improvement Program developed custom designed
services in order to meet their demands. These services
include weighing of animals with mobile scales, capturing
and processing performance data, herd consultations,
generation and interpretation of reports and printing of
registration certificates on behalf of breed societies, to
name but a few. To get a technician on your farm and
receive these services on offer is only a phone call away,
and also at very affordable fees. We also focus more
strongly on personal information dissemination and
technology transfer and training. Information dissemination
is also accomplished by the publication of popular articles
in journals, magazines and newsletters. This edition of our
newsletter is once again filled with articles with helpful and
useful information for the cattle farmer, written by both local
experts and authorities in their field from abroad - enjoy it!
On behalf of the Beef Improvement Program I would like to
wish you a very blessed Christmas season, and may 2013
be filled with prosperity and joy.
If you have any queries, please feel free to contact us: Dr.
Ben Greyling, Leslie Bergh and Frans Jordaan - all of Irene
(012 672-9052/9145/9085).
Tuli
Limousin
Afrigus
Ankole
Senepol
Boran
SA Beefmaster
Drakensberger
Beef Breeding in
South Africa
Pinzgauer
Angus
Braunvieh
2nd Edition
Charolais
Gelbvieh
CONTENTS
Hugenoot
2
PinZyl
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
SCHEME MATTERS SKEMASAKE
Vleisbeesverbeteringsdae
SCHEME MATTERS
Die LNR se Nasionale Vleisbeesverbeteringskema het
gedurende 2012 in verskeie streke suksesvolle
inligtingsdae aangebied, in samewerking met ons
gewaardeerde borge met wie ons graag 'n lang
suksesvolle pad wil stap. Die opkoms van telers by
boeredae het alle verwagtinge oortref en net weer die
belangrikheid van boeredae beklemtoon waar toepaslike inligting na die boer gekommunikeer word. In 'n Suid
Afrikaanse boerdery gemeenskap wat bestaan uit 'n
breë spektrum van telers is die Landbounavorsingsraad
beskikbaar vir ondersteuning en dienste teen gesubsideerde tariewe vir klein-skaal, kommersiële- en stoettelers.
Boeredae se programsamestellings was sodanig dat
interessante en toepaslike wetenskaplike lesings en
praktiese sessies aangebied is met die fokus op
verhoogde produksie en uiteindelik winste. Telers en
kommersiële boere
van die totale boerderygemeenskap het hul opwagting by 2012 se LNR
boeredae gemaak, wat weereens 'n bewys is dat hul 'n
behoefte het aan waardevolle en toepaslike inligting.
Die Wes-Kaap streek het in samewerking met Cedrich
Stoch 'n kommersiële boeredag gehad waar Leslie
Bergh se aanbieding “Ekonomiese voordele van
prestasietoetsing vir die kommersiële boer” baie
toepaslik was. Die dag is deur 122 kommersiële telers
bygewoon.
4
Die Vrystaat-streek het hul boeredag by die Glen
Landbou Kollege aangebied waar Leslie Bergh
dieselfde lesing aangebied het en Frans Jordaan 'n
toepaslike Blup lesing aangebied het wat weer goed
inskakel by die lesing oor prestasie toetsing. Dr. Balwin
Nengovhela het die Kaonofatso ya Dikgomo skema vir
klein-skaal telers verduidelik in sy aanbieding. Die dag is
deur 77 boere bygewoon. By die Glen bultoetssentrum is
terugvoer gegee deur Johan Malan oor die Santa
Gertrudis voerkraal/karkas proef waaraan 50 bulle
deelgeneem het om die mees ekonomiese karkas te
identifiseer, ook in aggenome idividuele voerinname. Die
bulle is ook tydens die afsluit van die proef deur 'n LNR
beampte geskandeer met 'n ultrasoniese klankskandeerder. Glen Taylor het gedurende 'n praktiese
sessie die funksionaliteite van die ideale teelbul
gedemonstreer en die telers het aandagtig geluister na
'n baie interessante aanbieding.
Die Noordwes streek het hul boeredag by Vryburg bultoetssentrum aangebied en was ook goed bygewoon
deur 53 telers. Heelwat stoet telers was teenwoordig en
Frans Jordaan
Dr Ben Greyling het weereens bevestig dat die Landbou
Navorsingsraad die mandaat het om namens die regering
die nasionale prestasie toetsskema te bestuur.
By al die boeredae het die borge geleentheid gekry vir
blootstelling asook om hul dienste en produkte te
bemark.
The ARC Beef Scheme presented farmer's days during
2012 in conjunction with our valuable sponsors and beef
farmers. The farmer's days were well attended and again
emphasized the importance of these information
sessions where much needed information is communicated to the farmer in such a way that it can be
implemented in their respective herds. Presentations
concentrated mostly on how to be more productive and
profitable.
Despite the fact that there were no “herd of the year”
awards on regional level we still managed to have very
successful and well attended farmer's days. Farmers
have a need for these information days to keep them
informed about new research information and technologies to be applied in their respective herds to
become more productive.
SKEMASAKE
ARC Beef Farmer's Days for 2012
same presentation and Frans Jordaan a Blup presentation with the title “How the commercial farmer can
increase productivity by using breeding values”. Dr
Baldwin Nengovhela presented Kaonofatso ya Dikgomo
which is the small scale farmer's beef scheme. The aim
for this scheme is to develop and “groom” farmers for the
National Beef Scheme.
The day was attended by 77 farmers and presented the
whole spectrum of breeders; small scale, commercial
and stud farmers. At the Glen Bull Testing center Mr
Johan Malan gave some feedback on the Santa
Gertrudis feedlot carcass trial where 50 Bulls competing
for the most profitable carcass and individual intake also
forms part of the trial. Real time ultra sound scanning
was also done on the live animals by an ARC official. Mr
Glen Taylor gave a very interesting practical on the
functional efficiency and character of a good breeding
bull.
In the Western Cape, with the cooperation of a stud
farmer, Cedrich Stoch, the ARC managed to have a very
successful information day. Leslie Bergh's presentation
was “Economic advantages of performance testing for
the commercial farmer”. The day was attended by 122
commercial farmers.
The Northwest region also had their very successful
farmer's day at the bull testing station at Vryburg and
was attended by 53 farmers. A number of stud farmers
also attended and Dr Ben Greyling again stated in his
presentation that the ARC has the official mandate from
government to manage and implement the National
Recording and Improvement Scheme. Dr Baldwin
Nengovhela presented the Kaonofatso ya Dikgomo
presentation and Frans Jordaan again the Blup
presentation.
In the Freestate region the farmers day was held at the
Glen Agricultural College and Leslie Bergh also did the
The sponsors had an opportunity to market themselves,
their products and their services.
5
ARC-Animal Production Institute
Die 2012 uitgawe van die
“Handleiding vir die gebruik van teelwaardes
in vleisbeesteling”
is nou 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 now 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
Contemporary group guidelines for Phase C testing
Leslie Bergh
ARC-Animal Production Institute, Irene
Breeders participating in central performance tests (Phase
C) should take note the following guidelines regarding
contemporary groups:
Bulls sent to Phase C should be weighed on the farm
(between 151 and 250 days of age) before they are
send to the Phase C centre.
Bulls send to Phase C should be evaluated together
with their contemporaries for weaning weight, i.e. do not
evaluate such bulls in a separate wean test or a
separate beef recording group. This is very important
for accurate breeding value estimations.
Breeders are recommended to enter at least three bulls
from the same weaning group. These bulls should be
the progeny of at least two sires of which at least one
sire is a link sire (a sire of which one or more sons has
previously been tested in a Phase C test).
Bulls tested post weaning on concentrates (e.g. Phase
C) should not be grouped together with pasture raised
bulls for 12- and/or 18 months tests.
Nuwe aanstellings by Vryburg
asook die gereelde staatmakers
7
Agter van links na regs: Benedict Sekwadi, Abia Sephanyo,
Tebogo Serapelwane, Melville Ferreira (Sentrumbestuurder), Kagisho Dichabe
Voor van links na regs: Ria Briers, John Makgaile, Juanita
Kriel, Skalk Humaletsile, Mosimanegape Basigi, Vivian
Mojanaga
Afwesig: Billyboy Taaibos, Gaereetse Samuel, Lasarus
Takgwe
NEWS ITEMS NUUSBROKKIES
2012 ARC Beef Star Performers Awards - 2012
The event kicked off with the well-known VleissentraalARC Special Performance Test Class for Phase C tested
bulls. This class was followed by the Farmer's Weekly-ARC
Elite Cow awards, the GMP-Basic-ARC Platinum Bull
awards and the ABSA-ARC Emerging Beef Cattle Farmer
of the Year awards which were presented in the West End
Theatre.
VLEISSENTRAAL-ARC SPECIAL
PERFORMANCE TEST CLASS
All the bulls that completed a standardised growth test
(Phase C1, C2 or C3) of the ARC's National Beef Recording
and Improvement Scheme between 1 January and 31
December 2011 and were awarded a Gold or Silver Merit
certificate, were considered for the class, provided they
had above-average performance on ADG, FCR and
weaning indices. Silver Merit bulls with indices below 100
for ADG and/or weaning do not qualify for this class. In
addition, only bulls with a minimum of 10 contemporaries in
Phase C qualified.
The following minimum standards, on a within-breed basis,
qualify a bull for this class:
Leslie Bergh
ARC-Animal Production Institute, Irene
Minimum average daily gain (ADG) index
100
Minimum feed conversion ratio (FCR) index
100
Minimum weaning index
100
Minimum scrotum circumference as per breed
standard
Approved by the Breeders' Society concerned after
inspection
Nominations for the class were done by the respective
breeders' societies from a list of bulls that qualified on the
above-mentioned standards. Only one bull per breed is
allowed for the class.
This class was presented the first time in 1979 and this year
was the 34th anniversary of this class. Including this year, a
total of 249 bulls from 17 breeds participated in the class.
This year's class was judged by three well known interbreed judges, Mr Martin Seyfferdt, Mr Koos Louwrens and
Jan de Jongh.
NUUSBROKKIES
The 2012 ARC Beef Star Performers Awards event was
held at the Spring Show on Tuesday, 4 September 2012.
The 13 bulls presented in Table 1 were nominated for the
2012 Vleissentraal-ARC Special Performance Test Class
by the respective breeders' societies. This year SA Stud
Book assisted the ARC to compile the list of bulls.
Congratulations to all these breeders!
Vleissentraal-ARC Special Performance Test Class
9
Front from left: Pan Lochner from Marken (Hugenoot), Nico Bouwer from Delareyville (Sussex), Gawie Roux from Ventersburg
(Drakensberger), Bokkie Bruwer (represented by Heinrich Bruwer from Vryburg; Brahman and Santa Gertrudis), Johannes Wasserman
from Carletonville (Afrisim), Paul Bester from Mooketsi (Pinzgauer, the overall winner), Anton Vos (Vleissentraal: Managing Director),
André Smit from Makwassie (Charolais), Joe Gates (represent John and Tracey Devonport from Grootvlei; Limousin), Pieter van Wyk
from Riversdale (Rooi Poenskop), Willem Naude and Gawie Naudé from Barkly-East; Braunvieh), JM Steyn from Bothaville (Angus),
Bertus Mong from Villiersdorp (Hereford) and Pine Pienaar (new owner), and me. Marinda van der Merwe (Vleissentraal: Marketing
Manager).
(Photo supplied by Charl van Rooyen)
TABLE 1: Vleissentraal-ARC Special Performance Test Class bulls – 2012
Breed
Bull ID
No
Afrisim
JJ 10 0024
Angus
Name
ADG
(g)
Adjust.
Shoulder/
Kg/Kg Ind. Hip* Height
(mm)
FCR
Ind.
Adjust. Adjust.
Body
Scrot.
Length Circum
(mm)
(mm)
Juwel of Africa, Carletonville
100
2 051 125
5,01
119
1 223
1 366
355
JMS 10 0597
Mr J M Steyn, Bothaville
111
2 451 126
4,89
119
1 295
1 561
332
Brahman
GBS 10 0009
BREEDER:
Mr Heinrich Bruwer, Vryburg
OWNER:
Rudi & Ada Lemcke, Ghanzi
100
1 673
121
5,71
107
1 219
1 394
231
Braunvieh
N 10 0027
Eduan Boerdery, Barkley East
115
2 093
117
4,95
118
1 192
1 458
372
Charolais
ACA 10 113
Mr A A Smit, Makwassie
113
2 093
100
4,4
117
1 214
1 375
336
Mr G W Roux, Ventersburg
106
1 989
115
5,49
114
1 151
1 396
336
108
2 246
120
4,43
122
1 298
1 477
309
Drakensberger GR 10 0268
NEWS ITEMS
Wean
Index
Hereford
BMH 10 003
BREEDER:
PP Mong Trust, Villiersdorp,
OWNER:
Hoogland Herefords, Ermelo
Hugenoot
SFF 10 1397
Pan Lochner Boerdery, Marken
102
2 038
122
5,71
103
1 229
1 404
338
Limousin
DL 10 0113
Devlan Limousin, Grootvlei
103
1 884
115
5.16
113
1 195
1 382
325
Pinzgauer
Z 10 0464
,Cappuccino Pinzgauer Stud,
Mooketsi
100
2 133
108
5,17
108
1 182
1 435
343
Vetkragga Boerdery, Riverdsdale
102
1 656
105
5,88
111
1 232
1 478
357
RH Cattle Company, Vryburg
100
1 760
101
5,25
112
1 155
1 356
329
Mr N J Bouwer, Delareyville
105
2 031
116
5,64
109
1 201
1 499
326
Red Poll
PVW 10 005
Santa Gertrudis RH 10 0008
Sussex
NJB 10 0014
Vleisbeesaantekening en -Verbeteringskema deelneem.
Die koeie word uit die Elite groep van die Beste
Produserende Koeie geïdentifiseer en hulle gemiddelde
TKP mag nie 400 dae oorskrei nie. Hierdie jaar het 1 280
koeie uit 15 rasse vir die Elite toekennings gekwalifiseer en
slegs een koei per ras ontvang die toekenning. SA
Stamboek het hierdie jaar gehelp om die lys van Beste
Produserende Koeie te identifiseer.
Hierdie toekennings is die eerste keer in 1979 gedoen en
hierdie jaar was die 34ste bestaansjaar van hierdie
toekennings.
10
A Pinzgauer is this year's winner of the Agricultural Research
Council (ARC) and Vleissentraal Special Performance Test Class
for bulls undergoing a Phase C test. His name is “Mister Zorro
Z10464” and belong to the Cuppucino Pinzgauer Stud of Bertie
van Zyl (Pty) Ltd in Mooketsi.
From left Messrs. Lucas Dinda (handler), Anton Vos (MD of
Vleissentraal), Paul Bester (Cattle Manager of the stud) and Dr.
Andrew Magadlela (General Manager of the ARC- API).
FARMER'S WEEKLY-LNR BESTE ELITE
KOEIE TOEKENNINGS
Farmer's Weekly, in samewerking met die LNRDiereproduksie Instituut, borg jaarliks die trofeë vir die
Beste Elite koeie binne elke ras wat aan die Nasionale
15 koeie (0,01%) van die totale aantal koeie wat aan die
Skema deelneem het hierdie jaar vir die toekenning
gekwalifiseer, 'n indikasie van hoe hoog die standaard is vir
die toekenning. Farmer's Weekly het oor die afgelope 34
jaar sedert 1979 'n totaal van 396 toekennings gedoen.
Om vir die Farmer's Weekly-LNR Beste Elite Koei
toekenning te kwalifiseer, moes die koei 'n Elite toekenning
ontvang gedurende die betrokke jaar. Verder word die koei
se reproduksie-prestasie, geboorte- en speengewig
teelwaardes, doeltreffendheidsindeks, retensie van haar
nageslag en aantal kalwers gespeen in ag geneem om die
wenner binne elke ras te identifiseer.
Die Farmer's Weekly-LNR Beste Elite Koeie vir 2012 word
gelys in Tabel 2.
Voor links na regs: Pierre-Andre Cronjé (Afrikaner); Pieter van Deventer, (Beefmaster); Bertus Mong (Hereford); Alita van der Walt
(Redakteur: Farmer's Weekly); Dr RD Bigalke (Kommersieel); Magiel Blom (Drakensberger); Cornelis Rautenbach (Tuli) en Dr Andrew
Magadlela (LNR-Diereproduksie Instituut)
Agter links na regs: Auvinus Martens (Nguni); Paul Bester (Pinzgauer); John Miller (South Devon); Gert Nel (Bonsmara); Piet Kilian
(Angus); Eben Smit (Charolais); Dr Pierre van Rooyen, namens Grey & Grey Landgoed (Gelbvieh).
(Foto verskaf deur Charl van Rooyen)
TABEL 2: Farmer’s Weekly-LNR Beste Elite Koeie toekenning – 2012
Ras
Naam
Koei ID
No
Speengewig
Geboorte gewig
Kal- Oud 1ste
Oud wers
TW (kg)
TW (kg)
Kalwing TKP Repr.
(jare) (n)
(dae) Indeks
(mnde)
Mat Akk
Dir Akk Mat Akk Dir Akk
Afrikaner
Mnr J M Cronje, Winburg
MC 05 0559
9½
8
31
359
114
1,2870
Angus
Mnr P J Kilian, Somerset West
WB 00 0012
12
12
24
355
120
-1,1386 0,7288
10,4081 13,7084
Beefmaster
Mnr P W van Deventer, Lichtenburg
AHA 01 0156
10
9
27
359
117
-0,5283 -0,2282
2,9078
8,1080
Bonsmara
Germar Bonsmaras, Bloemfontein
GJN 99 0036 12½
11
29
370
114
0,5290
0,4580
11,40 86
8,6080
Charolais
Mnr E Smit, Polokwane
ES 00 0021
11
9
35
364
111
0,2683
0,2183
6,6079
6,6081
Commercial
Dr R D Bigalke, Lindley
1372 00 0043
11
9
34
371
110
-
-
-
-
Drakensberger Mnr M C Blom, Middelburg
EMB 01 0184
10
8
36
363
110
1,8178
0,9671
1,5083
7,0074
Gelbvieh
Grey & Grey Landgoed, Ermelo
GG 03 0181
7½
7
30
372
112
-1,1781 0,0079
5,0078
1,6077
Hereford
PP Mong Trust, Villiersdorp
BMH 03 0023
8
8
24
351
121
0,5381
0,6480
10,5075
8,1076
Nguni
Mnr A E Martens, Groblersdal
AVM 96 0032
15
13
36
367
111
-0,3988 -0,11 89
2,2085
1,4087
Pinzgauer
Cappuccino Pinzgauer, Mooketsi
PGJ 03 0081
8½
7
32
370
111
-0,2581 -0,8579
2,6072
2,7077
Santa Gertrudis Mnr H B Louwrens, Kinross
JL 00 0188
11
9
35
367
110
1,6771 -0,0571
9,8083
0,6084
South Devon
Mnr J F Miller, Cathcart
JM 01 2204
10
8
36
367
116
0,5568
0,5973
6,3060
3,4071
Sussex
Mnr J T P van Zyl, Ladybrand
TZ 01 0164
10
8
32
374
111
1,9383
0,6482
14,7079
7,1081
Tuli
Mnr C J Rautenbach, Reitz
CR 00 0034
11
9
35
369
110
0,9883
0,4982
6,5078
7,9080
0,0771
12,4076
NUUSBROKKIES
Farmer's Weekly-LNR Beste Elite Koei Toekennings
7,0079
11
GMPBasic-LNR Platinum Toekennings
GMPBasic-LNR PLATINUM TOEKENNINGS
NEWS ITEMS
Om vir hierdie toekenning te kwalifiseer, moet bulle aan die
volgende vereistes voldoen:
Die bul moes 'n goue meriete toekenning gekry het in Fase
C (Fases C1, C2 of C3); en die moeder van die bul moes 'n
Elite toekenning gekry het voor of gedurende die jaar
waarin die betrokke bul 'n goue meriete toekenning
ontvang het.
Vir die 2012 GMPBasic-LNR Platinum toekennings is die
bulle wat Fase C toetse voltooi het vanaf 1 Januarie tot 31
Desember 2011 in aanmerking geneem. 'n Totaal van 163
bulle het gedurende hierdie tydperk vir 'n goue meriete
toekenning gekwalifiseer.
Die moeders van die 163 bulle is gekontroleer vir Elite
status. Van die 163 bulle het slegs 5 bulle se moeders die
Elite toekennings gekry en kwalifiseer vir die GMPBasicLNR Platinum toekennings.
Platinum toekennings is deur die LNR en GMPBasic aan die
eienaars van vyf bulle oorhandig. Hulle is van links mnre. Dirk
Badenhorst van Delareyville (Bonsmara, HOT 10 0167), Nick
Serfontein van Edenville (Bonsmara, NFS 10 0034), Gawie Roux
van Ventersburg (Drakensberger, GR 10 0252), Aggrey
Mahanjana (Uitvoerende Hoof van die Organisasie vir
Opkomende Rooivleis-produsente, NERPO), me. Rachelle
Cloete (GMPBasic), Albertus de Bod van Oudtshoorn
(Bonsmara, AT 10 0033), Chris Visser van Vryburg (Bonsmara,
CRV 10 0126), dr. Ben Greyling (LNR) en dr. Andrew Magadlela
(Algemene Bestuurder: LNR-Diereproduksie-instituut).
(Foto verskaf deur Charl van Rooyen)
Hierdie toekennings is die eerste keer in 1997 gedoen en
hierdie was die 16de jaar wat hierdie toekennings gedoen
is. Insluitende hierdie jaar is daar reeds 108 Platinum
toekennings gemaak.
Die vyf bulle wat vir die 2012 GMPBasic-LNR Platinum
toekennings gekwalifiseer het en die telers wat hulle laat
toets het word intabel 3 gelys.
TABEL 3: Die GMPBasic-LNR Platinum toekennings – 2012
BUL
Bul ID
12
Ras
Eienaar
Speen Ind
GDT Ind
VOV Ind
Gekorr. SO
CRV100126
Bonsmara
Skatkis Bonsmaras
129
106
111
320
HOT100167
Bonsmara
Badeveen Trust
101
111
110
360
NFS100034
Bonsmara
Sernick Bonsmaras
113
109
109
336
GR100252
Drakensberger
Mnr G W Roux
119
109
110
317
AT100033
Bonsmara
Ebenaeser Bonsmara Stoet
106
114
111
349
MOEDER
Moeder ID
EI970229
Geb. gewig
Oud (jaar)
Kalf(n)
Oud 1ste kalf (mnde)
12½
10
36
TKP (dae)
Speen gewig
Dir akk
Matakk
Dir akk
Matakk
387
1,0790
- 0.1388
7,2086
- 1,5090
HOT970237
14
12
31
378
2,1990
- 0,8189
21,4086
- 1,6090
NFS960366
GR990908
13½
11
10
9
34
35
428
376
0,8389
0,11 84
- 0,8088
0,4483
7,5085
1,9077
3,5089
7,6080
EI000031
12
9
29
406
2,6388
0,4785
19.1084
6,4087
Letjoba Mogashoa, Research Technician (KyD)
HISTORY & BACKGROUND
The ARC keeps refining the Kaonofatso ya Dikgomo
(KyD) Scheme in its quest to effectively serve and support
emerging farmers. Since 2007, when DAFF officially
declared KyD, the ARC Animal Production Institute has
invested funds and intellect to take the scheme to higher
levels. The scheme recently received funding from treasury
to hire nine more technicians and 36 interns, to be involved
in recording and improvement of the emerging herd.
The Scheme is currently run in eight provinces, namely
Free State, Kwazulu-Natal, Limpopo, Mpumalanga,
Gauteng and Northern Cape, Eastern Cape and North
West. Currently over 420 emerging farmers out of the 1532
participating in the Scheme have been registered on
Intergis. The aim of Kaonafatso ya Dikgomo is to assist
the emerging beef cattle farmers to adopt and apply the
available beef recording and improvement technology in
order to increase the productivity and profitability of their
herds. They will achieve this through 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.
scheme. This year the awards will be presented for the
tenth time at the ARC Beef Star Performers Awards
ceremony to be held at the Spring Show on 4 September.
The main highlight of the KyD scheme shows that the
participants have increased since the last financial year
2010/2011, when there were 1415 participants and in the
2011/2012 financial year there were 1532.
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
TABLE 1. The number of farmers serviced by province and
tenure type (N=1532)
Province
Communal
farmers
Eastern Cape
Free State
Gauteng
Limpopo
Mpumalanga
Northern Cape
North West
Kwa Zulu Natal
TOTAL
21
48
0
254
188
11
197
0
719
LRAD Privately Total
farmers acquired
48
25
89
6
192
77
19
69
161
151
49
0
8
12
0
68
0
652
220
122
89
268
392
88
284
69
1532
*indicate number of farmers participating in KyD scheme 2011/2012 with 420 registers in intergis
scheme. This year the awards will be presented for the
tenth time at the ARC Beef Star Performers Awards
ceremony to be held at the Spring Show on 4 September
IDENTIFYING THE WINNERS
All emerging farmers participating in the Kaonafatso ya
Dikgomo scheme are screened annually to identify those
who meet the requirements of the award. Eight provincial
finalists have been identified from the qualifying herds. The
gross margins for records and performance of the herd,
especially reproduction, are the most important
consideration in the selection of the national winner.
NUUSBROKKIES
ABSA-ARC Emerging Beef Farmer
of the Year Awards
For farmers to participate in the emerging farmer of the
year they should comply with rules and guidelines of
KyD scheme.
Animal Identification and General Management
Practices (PhaseA0) compulsory
Suckling Phase (Phase A2) compulsory
On-farm Recordings (Phase B) compulsory
On-farm performance tests (Phase D) (optional)
ABSA-ARC Emerging Beef Farmer of the Year Awards - 2012 Participants
13
The picture shows farmers who participated in the
ABSA-ARC Emerging farmers awards ( KyD scheme)
for 2012
From left to right ( front row): Mr Ernst Janovsky (ABSA),
Mr S J Tshoane (Gauteng Province), Mr & Mrs
Mooketsi (North-West Province), Mrs M E Moholo
(Free State Province), Mr Mahanjane (NERPO), Mr D.
Motiang (ARC-API)
Back row: Manaileng CPA Beef Project ( Limpopo
Province), Mr Mdaweni (KZN Province), Mr M Mhlonitshwa (Eastern Cape Province) Mr Judas Skhosana
(Mpumalanga Province) and Mr Mr KD Rattel (Northern
Cape Province) and Dr A. Magadlela (ARC-API).
Nuwe Intergis span
Conclusion
NEWS ITEMS
KyD is about empowering farmers through participation in
animal recording and improvement schemes. Empowered
farmers will show attitudes that reflect on their cattle
farming as a business venture. The scheme will continue to
monitor biological as well as non-biological aspects of
farming. The numbers from the emerging sector flowing
into the Intergis system makes it exciting times that are
about building bases for major improvements in the
performance of the emerging herd. The gross margins help
get the attention of individual farmer to herd performance.
The amount of new information generated from data
collected through KyD will continue to form a basis for more
intellectual investment and its impact which is invaluable
and warrants future support.
ARC LNR
Met die verskuiwing van die Nasionale databasis
(Intergis) vanaf Bloemfontein na Hatfield in Pretoria is
bekwame persone aangestel. Te danke aan dié mense
is die stelsel weer ten volle operasioneel en tot die
beskikking van alle betrokkenes in die veebedryf.
Voor: Albert Engelbrecht (kontrakteur), Victor Matjuda , Percy
Ramagoma
Agter: Saul van Wyk, Corrie van Zyl, Loyiso Vandoyi, Graham
Buchanan
The Intergis System is fully functional
It is with pride that we inform you that the INTERGIS System is fully functional and accessible to beef
and dairy farmers. In addition, the small stock system has also been reconfigured and uploading of
outstanding data is currently underway. The Small stock farmers will also have full access to the
INTERGIS system in a week's time or so. For more information visit the INTERGIS website at
www.intergis.agric.za
14
All participants in the National Beef and Dairy Improvement Schemes are encouraged to visit the
INTERGIS website and use the services that are available from the INTERGIS system.
The INTERGIS technical team is now focusing on enhancing the functionality of the system in order
to provide affordable world-class service to South African livestock farmers. Specifically, our
technical team is working on creating functionality within the INTERGIS system to allow data
exchange between INTERGIS and other livestock databases with the view of creating an everaccessible and secure storage system for the farmer's data. The ARC will continue to provide
relevant scientific research and technology leadership to ensure competitiveness of the livestock
industry. Your unwavering support is always appreciated.
The Agricultural Research Council is a premier science institution that conducts research with
partners, develops human capital and foster innovation in support of the agricultural sector.
Telephone: 012 427 9700 Fax: 012 430 5814 E-mail: [email protected]
Website: wwww.arc.agric.za
15
BIF Kongres
Gerrit van Zyl
Die bywoning van die 44ste BIF Kongres in Houstin Texas
was weereens 'n GROOT voorreg. Voordat ek terugvoer
gee oor wat ek daar geleer het, net 'n opregte dankie aan
die LNR en ABSA wat hierdie lewensdroom vir ‘n 2de keer
bewaarheid het.
So was ons by 2 Bonsmarakuddes van Bowen Ranches en
George Chapman. Daarna besoek ons die Lasater plase.
'n Onvergeetlike ervaring vir 'n hele dag. Ons word op
fantastiese Amerikaanse gasvryheid ontvang en bederf.
Ons sit vir ure rondom die etenstafel en filosofeer oor teling
en wat die familie gedoen het om so hoog aangeslaan te
wees in die hele wêreld. Dale en sy seun Alex kies hulle
woorde met versigtigheid om elke keer presies die regte
antwoord te gee. Man dit was sekerlik, wat boerdery
betref, die hoogtepunt van my hele lewe. Ek was soos 'n
spons en het probeer so veel as moontlik inneem as wat ek
kon.
Bonsmara Bul wat “brush” vreet
Houstin Texas is natuurlik 'n baie groot stad en ook 'n baie
ryk stad met al die olie magnate wat daar saamgetrek is.
Dit is pragtig in die suide van Texas en die weidings kan
sekerlik enige grootte dier akkomodeer.
Die kongres handel baie oor die invloed van Bos indicus op
die beespopulasie van die VSA. Hulle soek nog steeds na
die ideale oplossing vir die warmer suid-weste van Texas.
Ek het so stilletjies gedink die Bonsmara sal hulle 'n yslike
guns kan doen. Hierdie is Brahman “country” en daarom
hoor ons baie oor Brahman navorsing. As ek die kongres
moet opsom is dit die volgende:
Beeste moet optimaal presteer in hulle omgewing
Vrugbaarheid en vroegrypheid is uiters belangrik
Kalwingsgemak is on-onderhandelbaar
Sterk fokus op koei grootte en “mothering ability”
“Moderation” eerder as enige “extreme” is die mikpunt
NUUSBROKKIES
Omdat dit so vêr is en die reistyd lank is het ons dit weer
probeer die moeite werd maak en het daarom weer 'n paar
ekstra kuddes besoek terwyl ek daar was. Net ter
agtergrond: Dit is verskriklik droog in Texas en Colorado
vir 2 jaar al. Daar is regtig min oor en die diere vreet al die
sagte binne-dele van die Yucca plante of die blommetjies
van die doringagtige “brush” wat daar groei.
Een van die hoogtepunte van die kongres was 'n
demonstrasie rondom “stress free handling”. Geen kieries,
swepe of perde nie. Net een persoon wat met die druktegniek beeste hanteer. Ek het dit op die plaas probeer met
GROOT sukses.
Ook die besoek aan Chico Basin Ranch naby Colorado
Springs was 'n belewenis. Duke Phillips boer hier op 85000
akker staatsgrond wat hy huur vir 'n 20 jaar termyn. In die
wilde weste soos die flieks dit uitbeeld. Sy kudde van 2500
koeie is hoogs produktief en hy volg die Lasater filosofie
slaafs na.
Daarna woon ons die PCC veiling by. Hierdie is ons getuie
dat 400 jaaroud bulletjies in 3 ure verkoop kan word teen 'n
gemiddelde prys van $4000 stuk. Om te bie op die Internet
(lewendig) is aan die orde van die dag, so ook om te tender.
Reserwe-pryse word gepubliseer wanneer die opveil van
die bul begin. Daarna gaan dit met $250 inkremente op tot
die laaste kaart in die lug is.
Die toer na die kongres was weereens 'n wonderlike
ervaring. Ons besoek 2 top en gevestigde Brahman
kuddes in die dorpie Hungerford: Die Hudgins familie
asook V8 Ranch wat die “BIF seedstock producer of the
year” was. Die beeste is groot en die skou-gedagte is sterk.
PCC Veiling
17
Ek moet eerlik sê binne die konteks pragtige beeste. Wat
my die meeste beïndruk het, is hulle natuurlike weiding wat
maar eintlik klawer is. Assegaai klawer wat ek met moeite in
die vleie probeer vestig groei daar asof dit onkruid is.
Ons besoek ook die Wendt familie wat met Santas boer.
Hierdie 84 jarige oom is nog op en wakker en jaag nog met
die vierwiel motorfiets oral rond. Hulle paar die diere op 1214 maande en bedryf 'n baie suksesvolle besigheid in die
suide van Texas. Hierdie deel van Texas is asemrowend
mooi en die beeste lyk besonders. Tot ek hierdie gesien het,
het ek gedink die noorde is pragtig, maar hierdie deel wen
loshande.
Net weer aan die LNR en ABSA:
baie, baie dankie
Groete
Gerrit
GLEN Bull Testing Centre - Test dates 2013
Test Nr.
Toets Nr.
Arrival
Aankoms
Adaptation
Aanpassing
Test period
Toetsperiode
Departure
Vertrek
Born after
Gebore na
1
13-12-12
18-12-12
15-01-12/09-04-13
11-04-13
13-04-12
2
10-01-13
15-01-13
12-02-13/07-05-13
09-05-13
11-05-12
3
07-02-13
12-02-13
12-03-13/04-06-13
06-06-13
08-06-12
4
07-03-13
12-03-13
09-04-13/02-07-13
04-07-13
06-07-12
5
04-04-13
09-04-13
07-05-13/30-07-13
01-07-13
03-08-12
6
02-05-13
07-05-13
04-06-13/27-08-13
29-08-13
31-08-12
7
30-05-13
04-06-13
02-07-13/24-09-13
26-09-13
28-09-12
8
27-06-13
02-07-13
30-07-13/22-10-13
24-10-13
26-10-12
9
25-07-13
30-07-13
27-08-13/19-11-13
21-11-13
23-11-12
10
22-08-13
27-08-13
24-09-13/17-12-13
19-12-13
21-12-12
11
19-09-13
24-09-13
22-10-13/14-01-14
16-01-14
19-01-13
12
17-10-13
22-10-13
19-11-13/11-02-14
13-02-14
15-02-13
GLEN Bultoetssentrum - Toetsdatums 2013
18
Profile of a winner
(with recognition to the Sowetan)
WINNER: Top farming award winner Matshediso MolaleMooketsi with her husband Kabelo Mooketsi
Molale-Mooketsi said: "The experience I have gained in
this scheme will be worthwhile as I will continue to put it to
good use in unlocking my potential as a farmer.”
"I am also grateful to the Department of Agriculture and
Rural Development for presenting me with the opportunity
to become a successful commercial livestock farmer."
Molale-Mooketsi, who entered this competition for the first
time, started farming in 2008 with seven mixed-breed
cattle.
Today she is the proud owner of 89 Nguni cattle and 58
Bonsmaras and employs three permanent workers.
Congratulating Molale-Mooketsi on her achievement, the
North West MEC for agriculture and rural development,
Desbo Mohono, said this milestone was the result of
thorough planning, commitment and hard work.
"Seeing the beneficiaries of the department's farmer
support programmes demonstrating commitment to the
point of being recognised nationally is a great
encouragement to us.”
"This will also heighten the value we have attached to
developing subsistence beef farmers who are prepared to
do their part in livestock production and improvement
programmes," said Mohono.
Clifford Nkokou from Ganyesa in the Kagisano-Molopo
Local Municipality won the award last year.
- [email protected]
WES KAAP Bultoetssentrum - Toetsdatums 2013
Toets Nr.
Test Nr.
Aankoms
Arrival
Aanpassing
Adaptation
Toetsperiode
Test period
Vertrek
Departure
Gebore na
Born after
1
14-01-13
17-01-13
14-02-13/09-05-13
10-05-13
12-05-12
2
25-02-13
28-02-13
28-03-13/20-06-13
21-06-13
23-06-12
3
25-03-13
28-03-13
25-04-13/18-07-13
19-07-13
21-07-12
4
01-07-13
04-07-13
01-08-13/24-10-13
25-10-13
27-10-12
5
05-08-13
08-08-13
05-09-13/28-11-13
29-11-13
01-12-12
6
16-09-13
19-09-13
17-10-13/09-01-14
10-01-14
12-01-13
7
07-10-13
10-10-13
07-11-13/30-01-14
31-01-14
02-02-13
8
28-10-13
31-10-13
28-11-13/20-02-14
21-02-14
23-02-13
WESTERN CAPE Bull Testing Centre - Test dates 2013
NUUSBROKKIES
A 42-year-old female North West farmer has scooped
the Absa Agricultural Research Council National
Emerging Beef Farmer of the Year Award for 2012.
Matshediso Molale-Mooketsi, a Bonsmara and Nguni
cattle breeder from Lykso in the Greater Taung municipality,
beat eight other competitors on 7 September 2012 to pilot
the North West province to the top position.
Molale-Mooketsi is one of the province's Nguni Cattle
Development Project beneficiaries and owns the Barui
Farming Cooperative.
She outperformed other competitors from eight provinces
and positioned North West - for the second successive year
- as the best in the promotion of good livestock production
practices.
As the 2012 National Emerging Beef Farmer of the Year
Molale-Mooketsi will embark on an educational trip to
Texas in the United States in April-May 2013.
Texas is regarded as the cattle capital of the world.
The National Emerging Beef Farmer award was bestowed
on Molale-Mooketsi at the recent National Cattle
Championship awards held at the Pretoria Show Grounds.
Molale-Mooketsi is a member of the Kaonafatso Ya
Dikgomo Scheme, which is sponsored by the national
department of agriculture, forestry and fisheries in
partnership with the Agricultural Research Council.
More than 1,400 livestock farmers across the country are
members of the scheme.
The scheme seeks to support emerging beef farmers by
teaching them how to apply best livestock management
practices with a view to increasing their productivity and
profitability.
Molale-Mooketsi won because of "her proper recordkeeping, consistent participation in vaccination
programmes, good financial management practices and
self discipline".
21
Santa Gertrudis - voerkraalwenners
Johan Malan, Rasbestuurder, Santa Gertrudis
Die Santa Gertrudis telersgenootskap het in samewerking
met Molatek en die LNR 'n groep van 50 Santa Gertrudis
diere in voerkraal omstandighede gevoer.
Die projek se diere is voorsien deur telers uit die
Noordkaap, Vrystaat en Noordwes provinsies. Hulle het
bestaan uit bulletjies sowel as osse en is gekies uit die
2011 kalwer oes.
Hierdie voerkraal-projek (simulasie) het afgesluit op 2
November 2012. Die diere is by Glen individueel gehou en
vir 'n periode van 112 dae gevoer met 'n voerkraal rantsoen
wat deur Molatek geformuleer is, en deur Putter voere
gemeng is.
Boere het elkeen vyf diere ingeskryf vir hierdie projek en
die beste vier het eindelik deelgeneem aan die groepklas.
Die aanvangsmassa op 8 Junie 2012 was gemiddeld 227
kg.
'n Aanpassingsperiode van 34 dae is gebruik om die diere
gewoond te maak aan die elektroniese voerkrippe en
daarna is hulle gevoer vir 'n periode van 112 dae. Al die
diere is geslag op 6 November 2012 te Bloemfontein.
Die diere is hanteer asof dit in 'n voerkraal sou wees, met
die verskil dat elke dier se voer verbruik individueel bepaal
word met gespesialiseerde toerusting. Dit op sigself was
redelik uniek in Suid Afrika.
Hierdie projek het dan ook die unieke uitleg en resultate in
so verre dit moontlik is om elke dier individueel te monitor
ten opsigte van groei, voer doeltreffendheid en “Voerkraal
wins“.
Al die diere is verder ook op die hoef beoordeel ten opsigte
van hul skedes, bouvorm en kapasiteit. Die diere is ook
almal geskandeer deur die LNR vir vetdikte, oogspier
oppervlak asook marmering (binne-spierse vet).
22
Na slagting is elke dier ook aan die hak beoordeel en is al
hierdie inligting gebruik om eindelik diere aan te wys wat
as wenner bekroon sal word. Die dier en groep diere met
die beste voer doeltreffendheid/benutting (voermarge),
beste aan die hak, op die hoef en die beste voerkraalwins is
aangewys.
Boere het hul beste vier diere ingeskryf vir die kompetisie
en hierdie groep van 40 diere het die volgende resultate
behaal oor die voerperiode:
GDT
1.92 Kg
VOV
5.60 Kg
Beginmassa
274 Kg
Eindmassa
490 Kg
Gemiddelde uitslag % 60.84 %
Verdere inligting wat in die model gebruik is:
Speenkalfpryse met aanvang van projek R16.30
Werklike vleisprys behaal
Voerkoste
Totale voerkraal marge
R33.50 / Kg
R2.92/kg (aangekoop)
R1 318/dier
Die dier met die beste individuele syfer het 'n groei van
2.10kg behaal en 'n voeromset van 4.65 Kg. Hierdie
spesifieke dier se totale voerkraal marge was R2 319 vir
dieselfde periode. Die swakste marge was R282 en
beklemtoon maar net weer die feit dat die regte tipe dier vir
die voerkraal geselekteer moet word.
Opsomming
Die afronding van speenkalwers in 'n voerkraal bly altyd 'n
oorweging vir die beesboer, maar dit is uiters noodsaaklik
dat die regte kwaliteit dier gebruik word. Die prys van vleis
en die koste van voer moet deeglik bestuur word en, indien
diere met 'n swak voer doeltreffendheid gevoer word, kan
die resultaat slegte smake in die mond laat.
Die variasie tussen kalwers is so groot dat dit moontlik is
dat die een boer goeie winste kan maak in dieselfde tyd as
wat sy buurman groot verliese kan maak. Die seleksie van
kwaliteit kalwers en die identifikasie van 'n beesras met
goeie groei en voer doeltreffendheid eienskappe, is maar
die begin en einde van 'n suksesverhaal in die voerkraal.
Die Santas se prestasie in hierdie voerkraal proef het
bewys dat diere wat oor uitstekende groei en voer
benutting syfers beskik, en dan ook baie goeie uitslag
persentasies behaal, wel suksesvol gevoer kan word, ten
spyte van die hoë mielieprys. Hierdie diere het die vier
laaste weke voor slagting steeds 'n daaglikse toename
gehad van 2 kg en het almal A2 en A3 karkasse aan die hak
behaal. Die bekende aannames oor prys marges en voer
marges in die voerkraal kan nie buite rekening gelaat word
nie, maar die uitsonderlike eienskappe van die beesras,
kan die voerkraal-ervaring vir die boer bederf of bevorder.
Maak seker dat jou diere se groei en doeltreffendheid
eienskappe die beste is!
FAQ FAQ FAQ FAQ FAQ
Inteling in beesteling
Vraag:
dier homosigoties is vir daardie gene paar. Ongewenste
resessiewe gene kom dus te voorskyn deur inteling.
Is inteling 'n goeie of 'n slegte ding in beesteling?
Antwoord (Lesie Bergh):
Inteling verhoog die verhouding homosigotiese (identiese)
gene pare en verlaag die verhouding van heterosigotiese
gene pare. Die homosigoties gene pare mag wenslik wees
indien die betrokke gene wat die dier ontvang van elke ouer
lei tot beter prestasie. Die meeste diere dra egter ook
ongewenste gene wat gewoonlik verborge bly, tensy die
Die belangrikste nadeel van 'n hoë vlak van inteling is 'n
afname in die gemiddelde prestasie van diere vir verskeie
eienskappe, veral eienskappe wat verband hou met
reproduksie en kalf oorlewing. Dit beteken minder
nageslag wat beskikbaar is vir verkoop en kalwers met 'n
swakker prestasie.
Tensy dit baie versigtig benader word, weeg die gevare van
inteling veel swaarder as die voordele.
Toets Nr.
Test Nr.
Aankoms
Arrival
Aanpassing
Adaptation
Toetsperiode
Test period
Vertrek
Departure
Gebore na
Born after
1
08-01-13
10-01-13
07-02-13/02-05-13
07-05-13
05-05-12
2
05-02-13
07-02-13
07-03-13/30-05-13
04-06-13
02-06-12
3
05-03-13
07-03-13
04-04-13/27-06-13
02-07-13
30-06-12
4
26-03-13
04-04-13
02-05-13/25-07-13
30-07-13
28-07-12
5
07-05-13
16-05-13
13-06-13/05-09-13
10-09-13
08-09-12
6
28-05-13
13-06-13
11-06-13/03-10-13
08-10-13
06-10-12
7
02-07-13
11-07-13
08-08-13/31-10-13
05-11-13
03-11-12
8
30-07-13
01-08-13
29-08-13/21-11-13
26-11-13
24-11-12
9
10-09-13
12-09-13
10-10-13/02-01-14
07-01-14
05-01-13
10
08-10-13
10-10-13
07-11-13/30-01-14
04-02-14
02-02-13
11
05-11-13
07-11-13
05-12-13/27-02-14
04-03-14
02-03-13
12
03-12-13
05-12-13
02-01-14/27-03-14
01-04-14
30-03-13
VRYBURG Bull Testing Centre - Test dates 2013
BLUP NUUS
VRYBURG Bultoetssentrum - Toetsdatums 2013
25
Praktiese Bulbestuur
Inleiding
U bul is die belangrikste dier in u beesboerdery. Hy maak
slegs 3 - 4% van u kudde uit, maar hy dra geneties 50% by
tot elke kalf wat hy produseer. 'n Enkele bul kan 40 en meer
kalwers per jaar vir u lewer.
Hier volg 'n klompie praktiese wenke oor bulbestuur wat sal
bydra dat u die beste resultate kry van u teelbulle.
By aankoop:
1. Vra die verkoper vir die bul se stamboom sertifikaat met
teelwaardes, vrugbaarheidsertifikaat
en DNAsertifikaat. Indien dit nie onmiddellik beskikbaar is nie,
reël dat hy dit so gou moontlik vir u stuur.
2. Indien u en die verkoper beide BeefProTM gebruik,
versoek hom om vir u 'n elektroniese leêr (Dier Oordrag
Lêer) te stuur met al die bul se besonderhede wat u kan
intrek in BeefPro. Andersins, laai die bul se data van
Logix af en trek dit in u BeefPro in.
3. Maak seker die verkoper het al u besonderhede (naam,
adres, tel no, e-pos adres, en Stamboek lidnommer,
indien van toepassing) en versoek hom om die bul so
gou moontlik oor te dra op u naam.
Die nuwe bul op u plaas:
1. Indien die “nuwe” bul saam met “vreemde” ander bulle
vervoer word, is die ideaal om die bulle nie saam in
dieselfde kompartement op 'n trok te laai nie – veral nie
as hulle “los” staan nie – hulle kan vreeslik baklei op die
trok en die ondergeskikte bul kan ook nie wegkom van
die bakleier af nie. Laai dus vreemde bulle (selfs ook,
waar moontlik, bulle wat mekaar ken) verkieslik in
aparte kompartemente.
ARTICLES
26
2. Kontroleer tydens die aflaai van die bul of hy enige
beserings tydens die vervoer na die plaas opgedoen
het. Indien nodig, behandel hom onmiddellik.
3. Sorg dat die bul (veral as dit net een bul is) afgelaai
word in 'n veilige kamp (met goeie drade) saam met 'n
ander bees of twee om hom geselskap te hou. Skoon
water en goeie weiding (of goeie kwaliteit hooi of
ruvoer) sal hom dadelik meer rustig maak sodat hy
gouer gewoond raak aan die nuwe omgewing. Maak
seker hy kry die water. Laat die bul met rus vir ten
minste twee dae, maar hou elke dag 'n ogie oor hom om
seker te maak dat u onmiddellik enige probleem wat
mag opduik sal agterkom.
4. Indien dit onmoontlik is om die nuwe bul apart van
ander bulle te hou, maak dan seker die kamp is groot
genoeg sodat die jonger en ondergeskikte bul(le) kan
wegkom van die dominante bulle.
Arthur M. de Villiers, Arcadia Bonsmaras
Tel: +27 (0)58 913 2049 Sel: +27 (0)82 564 8912
E-pos: [email protected]
&
Leslie Bergh, LNR-Diereproduksie-instituut
Tel. +27 (0)12 672 9145, Sel +27 (0)82 801 2026
5. U kan u bul beperk of omvattend verseker en/of u kan
semen tap van die bul indien dit spesiale genetika is.
Indien u bulle inbring vanaf 'n siektevrye area na 'n area
waar siektes soos hartwater, rooiwater, galsiekte ens.
endemies is, verseker eerder die bul omvattend vir 'n
jaar.
6. Skakel die bul dadelik in by u normale dip-, doseer- en
inentingsprogram – ongeag van wat die vorige eienaar
gedoen het.
7. Indien die bul kragvoer gevoer is voor die veiling en/of
baie vet is, kry hom stelselmatig van die kragvoer af.
Gee hom byvoorbeeld die eerste week 8 kg/dag
kragvoer, die tweede week 4kg/dag, die derde week
1kg/dag saam met sy toekomstige lek ad lib en die
vierde week net sy normale lek. Vermy dit om die bul
onmiddellik van vol kragvoer na geen kragvoer oor te
skakel, aangesien dit sy korttermyn vrugbaarheid kan
benadeel.
8. As dit moontlik is, hou die nuwe bul weg van ander bulle
totdat hy by sy koeie kom, dit wil sê die bul behoort eers
vir 'n seisoen te werk voordat hy in die groter bultrop
geplaas word.
9. Onthou dat 'n bul wissel tussen 2 en 2½ jaar ouderdom.
Hy kan dus gewig verloor as hy moet aanpas in sy nuwe
omgewing, op gemiddelde weiding loop en nog moet
dek ook.
10. Die ideal is om die bul twee maande of langer voor u
dekseisoen begin reeds op die plaas te hê, om
sodoende voldoende tyd te hê om aan te pas in sy nuwe
omgewing en voedingstoestande.
Voor die dekseisoen:
1. Baie belangrik: Toets al u teelbulle drie tot ses weke
voor die dekseisoen begin vir vrugbaarheid en doen
skedewasse vir trichomoniase en vibriose. Uit 'n proef
waar 10 940 bulle getoets was vir geslagsgeskiktheid in
Amerika, was ongeveer 20% van die bulle nie geskik vir
gebruik nie. Normaalweg gaan u voor elke dekseisoen
ten minste 10% bulle “verloor”. Identifiseer hulle voor
die dekseisoen – die koste om dit te doen is baie minder
as die kalwers wat u gaan verloor omdat u dit nie
gedoen het nie. Toets selfs u “nuwe” bul ook – al is hy
verkoop met 'n vrugbaarheidssertifikaat – aangesien
die effek van die stress van die veiling, die vervoer na
2. Selfs in stelsels waar meerbulparings gebruik word is
dit noodsaaklik om semen evaluasie van die bulle te
doen, want dominante bulle met swak semen kan
jonger bulle met goeie semen weg hou van die koeie.
3. Gaan u bulle deur voor die dekseisoen vir algemene
gesondheid en kyk dat hulle struktuur normaal is en dat
hulle gang (loopvermoë) op geensins ongemaklik of
abnormaal is nie.
4. Spuit die bulle twee maande voor die dekseisoen
Vitamien A en Minerale (Multimin + Se + Cu). Embamin
en Embavit (word deur die bek gedoseer) is ook
handelsname wat gebruik kan word. Hierdie
behandeling kan herhaal word na ongeveer twee
maande.
5. Die bulle se kondisie behoort altyd 2,5 - 3,5 uit 5 te
wees. Oorvoeding ly tot swaar, onfikse en lomp bulle
wat se semen ook gewoonlik onder standaard is. Vet
aanpakking in die nek van die skrotum is nadelig en lei
tot swak termoregulering en gevolglik swak semen.
6. Ondervoeding kan ook 'n probleem wees, maar
gewoonlik neem libido eers af voordat semengehalte
negatief beïnvloed word. Indien bulle effens skraal is,
begin om hulle byvoeding te gee twee maaande voor
die dekseisoen begin. Dit kan wissel van 'n
produksielek tot 5 - 10kg konsentraat per bul per dag.
7. Ent die bulle twee maande voor die dekseisoen begin
teen stywesiekte en vibriose.
Gedurende die dekseisoen:
1. Observasie van u bulle, veral jong bulle, gedurende die
dekseisoen, maar veral die eerste week of twee, is baie
belangrik. Kyk of sulke bulle dekbehendig is en ook of
hulle libido (dekdrang) het. Jong bulle is aanvanklik
onervare maar binne 'n paar dae behoort hulle
dekbehendig te wees. Daar is gewoonlik 10% bulle met
geen of swak libido – identifiseeer hierdie bulle en
skakel hulle uit.
2. In meerbulparings troppe, sit ouer en jonger bulle
saam, nie bulle wat almal ewe oud is nie, om bakleiery
tot die minimum te beperk. Gebuik minstens 3 - 4 bulle
per 100 koeie. Vir ons werk dit om een volwasse bul en
twee jong bulle per 75 koeie te gebruik. In enkelbul
dektroppe behoort 30 - 40 koeie per volwasse bul vir
drie maande toegedeel te word.
3. Goeie observasie behoort gedoen te word gedurende
die dekseisoen om dadelik te weet as bulle siek of
beseer is. Indien 'n bul 'n koors reaksie gehad het as
gevolg van rooiwater, galsiekte, knopvelsiekte, driedae-stywesiekte, ensovoorts, sal sy semen heel
waarskynlik dood wees en dit kan twee maande (en
selfs langer) neem voor hy weer vrugbaar is, aangesien
spermatogenese (die produksie van nuwe semen)
ongeveer 65 dae neem. Vervang onmiddellik so 'n bul.
Vrotpootjie gedurende die dekseisoen moet dadelik
behandel word, want dit is 'n baie pynlike toestand en
die bul sal nie dek voordat die vrotpootjie gesond is nie.
Behandel so 'n bul met 'n langwerkende antibiotika. Kyk
dat u bulle gesond bly gedurende die dekseisoen.
4. Let veral ook op vir beserings (veral op heup-, been-,
klou- en penis beserings asook geswelde testikels) as
gevolg van bakleiery of ander redes. Sulke beserings
kan 'n bul moontlik ongeskik maak vir dekking vir die res
van die dekseisoen. Vervang onmiddellik 'n siek of
beseerde bul en plaas hom in 'n hospitaalkampie naby
die huis. By meerbulparings troppe, vervang die bul,
indien moontlik, met 'n bul van ongeveer dieselfde
ouderdom.
5. Hou rekord van die koeie wat gedek word (bulnommer,
koeinommer en dekdatum). Ongeveer 60% koeie
behoort beset te raak in hulle eerste siklus. Indien meer
as 40% koeie weer op hitte kom na hul eerste siklus (21
dae), is daar moontlik 'n probleem en moet dit so gou as
moontlik geïdentifiseer en reggestel word. Indien die
probleem in 'n spesifieke enkelbulparing trop voorkom,
vervang onmiddellik die bul. Indien die probleem in 'n
spesifieke meerbulparing trop voorkom, mag dit
moontlik wees dat 'n dominante bul onvrugbaar is of 'n
ander probleem het. Probeer om daardie bul te
identifiseer en vervang hom onmiddellik.
6. Dektroppe behoort nie langs mekaar te loop nie. Bulle
baklei deur die draad en 'n bul met goeie libido sal deur
'n gewone draad heining breek na 'n koei op hitte. Met
twee jaar oud en jonger bulle kan nog 'n kans gevat
word as die heining baie goed is.
Na die dekseisoen:
1. Honger die bulle uit in aparte sterk krale vir drie tot vier
dae (sonder kos of water). Neem die bulle dan een-een
na die “bulkamp” waar goeie weiding en skoon water
vrylik beskikbaar is. Bulle behoort in hierdie
omstandighede te vergeet van die koeie en ook meer
lus te wees vir vreet as om te baklei. Die bulkamp moet
ook veilig wees sonder te veel klippe, slote en gate.
Daar moet ook genoeg spasie wees vir bulle om vir
mekaar pad te gee.
2. Die ideaal is om bulle twee-twee (een ouer en een
jonger) in 'n kamp te plaas en nie almal saam in een
kamp nie. Veral waardevolle bulle behoort apart gehou
te word. In die praktyk gebeur dit egter dat bulle tussen
dekseisoene saam gegooi móét word en die eienaar
kan dan nie veel meer doen as oë toeknyp en hoop vir
so min as moontlik beserings nie.
27
ARTIKELS
en aanpassing by sy nuwe tuiste sy vrugbaarheid op die
kort termyn kan beïnvloed.
3. Die bulkamp kan veilig gemaak word deur
dubbelheinings (3 meter uit mekaar) te span teen die
kante waar daar ander beeste langsaan loop.
Elektriese heinings kan ook help, alhoewel meer
nasorg nodig is.
4. Maak voorsiening vir genoeg vreetspasie by die
lekbakke of wanneer beperkte aanvulling gedoen word,
aangesien bulle meer baklei en 'n groter “persoonlike”
ruimte nodig het. Tussen 0.5m en 1m vreetspasie per
bul behoort voldoende te wees. Omgedopte vragmotorof trekkerbande is goeie lekbakke – dit is
onvernietigbaar en kan ook nie die bulle beseer as hulle
baklei nie.
5. Wanneer daar met die bultrop gewerk word, maak
seker dat al die bulle nie in 'n bondel gejaag (vasgedruk)
word nie, aangesien hulle gewoonlik baklei onder sulke
omstandighede. Bulle wat mekaar vir maande aanvaar
het, kan skielik begin baklei as hulle rondgeskuif word –
sogenaamde “verplasings gedrag”.
6. Moenie bulle almal saam met die melkkoeie of 'n ander
koei laat loop tussen die dekseisoene nie. Die bulle kan,
deur almal dieselfde koei te dek, mekaar besmet met
geslagsiektes.
Algemene opmerkings:
1. Vir elke tien bulle wat u gebruik is dit raadsaam om een
reserwe bul te hê vir bulle wat siek of beseer mag word
of vir ander redes vervang moet word gedurende die
dekseisoen.
2. Bulle van die meeste mediumraam rasse kan alreeds
so vroeg as op 14 maande ouderdom gebruik word
indien hulle ten minste 420kg weeg, hul skrotumomtrek
ten minste 340mm is en hulle semen positief getoets is.
Sulke jong bulle behoort 10 – 20 koeie in drie maande te
kan dek.
3. Normaalweg kan bulle gebruik word tot op tien jaar
ouderdom. Ouer bulle kan ook gebruik word, maar dan
moet spesiale observasie gedoen word om te kyk of die
bulle nog goed werk.
4. Volwasse bulle van mediumraam rasse weeg ongeveer
800 - 1000kg, dit wil sê ten minste 1,5 tot 2 GVE. Hou dit
in gedagte by die grootte van u bulkamp.
5. Geniet u bul – in 90% van die gevalle behoort u geen
probleem te hê nie.
EAGLE’S VIEW TU LI STUD & COMMERC IAL HERD
Veld reared yearling bulls for sale
—grow your stud bull yourself
Contact: Edith Galpin, Kenton on Sea, Eastern Cape 0829403971
[email protected]
18
SON OF GNC08 18 @ 175 days, 211 kg
GNC08 18
HERD SIRE
Reproduksie indeks - wat is dit?
Tradisioneel is daar basies drie (onafhanklike) direkte
kriteria om die reproduksie van koeie te evalueer, nl.:
Ouderdom by eerste kalwing (OEK);
Leslie Bergh
LNR-Diereproduksie-instituut, Privaatsak X2, Irene,
0062 Suid-Afrika
Tel. +27 (0)12 672 9145, Sel +27 (0)82 801 2026,
Tussenkalfperiode (TKP); en
Die Reproduksie Indeks (RI) is gebore uit 'n behoefte aan 'n
gesamentlike syfer waarmee koeie op hul totale
reproduksie geëvalueer kan word. Die RI neem die OEK en
gemiddelde TKP in ag, sodat koeie met byvoorbeeld 'n
relatief hoë OEK maar lae gemiddelde TKP direk vergelyk
kan word met koeie met 'n relatief lae OEK maar hoër
gemiddelde TKP.
Deur die RI te gebruik, kan koeie met verskillende OEKs en
gemiddelde TKPs direk vergelyk word, bv. 'n koei wat
gekalf het op 36, 48 en 60 maande ouderdom, sal dieselfde
RI hê as 'n koei wat gekalf het op 30, 48 en 60 maande
ouderdom. Let asseblief daarop dat die RI se standaard
van vergelyking gebaseer is op die gemiddelde
reproduksie prestasie (OEK en gemiddelde TKP) van alle
koeie (ongeag ras) wat deelneem aan die Nasionale
Vleisbeesaantekening en -Verbeteringskema.
Wat betref DSLK, sou dit die ideaal wees om DSLK ook in
aanmerking te neem in die berekening van die RI sodat die
RI die totale reproduksie prentjie van 'n koei kan gee. Dit
sou egter beteken dat, in die berekening van die RI, die
ouderdom van die koei by laaste kalwing vervang moet
word met die koei se ouderdom op datum van berekening.
Dit skep egter weer ander probleme, aangesien die RI
waarde dan afhanklik sal wees van die tydstip wanneer die
RI berekening gedoen word, byvoorbeeld:
As die RI berekening datum binne die kalfseisoen is,
kry die koeie wat reeds gekalf het (d.w.s. lae DSLK)
goeie RI'e, terwyl die koeie wat nog nie gekalf het nie
(d.w.s. hoë DSLK) swak RI'e kry;
As die RI berekening datum net na die somer
kalfseisoen is, kry die koeie wat in die somer
kalfseisoen gekalf het (d.w.s. lae DSLK) goeie RIe,
terwyl die koeie wat in die winter kalfseisoengekalf het
(d.w.s. hoë DSLK) swak RIe kry.
Vir hierdie rede word DSLK nie in ag geneem by die
berekening van die RI nie.
By embrio skenker koeie word spoelings in ag geneem in
die berekening van gemiddelde TKP en die RI, mits die
betrokke spoeling(s) op rekord is op Logix/Intergis. Dit
word gedoen deur die TKP wat volg op 'n spoeling uit te sluit
uit die berekening van die koei se gemiddelde TKP en die
RI. Op hierdie manier word verseker dat die RI van embrio
skenker koeie nie negatief beïnvloed
word deur 'n verlengde TKP as gevolg
van 'n spoeling nie.
By eerste aanvaarding diere is die
presiese geboorte-datum
en/of
historiese aantal kalwers vóór opname
van die koei op Logix/Intergis,
gewoonlik nie beskikbaar nie. Daarom
word in die berekening van die RI slegs
die koei se gemiddelde TKP (van
kalfdatums op rekord op Logix
/Intergis) in ag geneem in verhouding
met die standaard TKP wat gebruik
word in die formule. OEK word dus nie
in ag geneem in die berekening van die
RI by eerste aanvaarding koeie nie.
Die reproduksie indeks is dus 'n
maklike en vinnige manier om die
reproduksie prestasie (OEK en
gemiddelde TKP) van 'n koei in een
syfer te evalueer.
29
ARTIKELS
Dae sedet laaste kalwing (DSLK).
Breeding seasons for beef cattle in South Africa
Leslie Bergh
ARC-Animal Production Institute, Private Bag X2,
Irene, 0062 Suid-Afrika
Tel. +27 (0)12 672 9145, Cell +27 (0)82 801 2026,
Introduction
Breeding season management is a very important tool to
optimise the reproductive performance of a breeding herd
and the pre-wean growth rate of calves. Breeding (and
calving) season management is therefore one of the most
important management decisions influencing the profit
margin of a beef cattle enterprise.
Disadvantages of breeding throughout the
year
The disadvantages of calving through the year will become
clear when the advantages of breeding seasons are
discussed later. The main disadvantages of breeding and
calving through the year are:
The inefficient use of summer pastures and the higher
need of expensive winter supplements;
The aim with breeding season management
It is difficult to effectively select for fertility;
The aim of a breeding season is to get the maximum
number of females pregnant in a relatively short period, as
cost-effective as possible, for calving during a period most
favourable for:
Re-conception of the cows;
Calf survival; and
Pre-wean growth of the calves.
Routine management practices cannot be consolidated;
The major factor governing the ideal breeding season
is nutrition.
Best breeding season
The best breeding season is one that makes optimum use
of the cheapest source of high quality feed, namely
summer grazing.
The main consequences of a breeding (and calving)
season that starts too late, are:
Calves are born too late and are too small to utilize their
dams' high milk production on peak summer pastures.
This results in lower weaning weights.
Calves are born later in the summer season and,
because of the higher nutritional level of the cows at that
stage, this result in higher birth weights and
consequently a higher incidence of distocia (difficult
calving).
The main consequence of a breeding (and calving) season
that starts too early is that the cows calve too early, i.e. too
long before adequate summer grazing is available. The
result is a loss of too much condition and consequently a
lower re-conception rate.
The ideal calving time is more or less 6 - 8 weeks before
adequate green grazing can be expected.
It complicate feed flow planning; and
Performance testing and marketing cannot be done
effectively.
Higher costs for pregnancy tests, etc. due to more visits
by the vet.
Advantages of breeding seasons
The advantages of breeding seasons are:
The optimal utilization of the peak production period of
the natural pastures:
-
The best paddocks can be allocated to the breeding
herd, resulting in a better condition of the breeding
herd and subsequently in a higher conception rate;
-
Females can be mated at optimum condition and
weight, resulting in a higher conception rate;
-
The period of peak nutritional requirements of the
cows (6 - 14 weeks after calving) can be coincided
with the peak production of the natural pastures,
resulting in cows maintaining their condition, and
subsequently in a higher conception rate and,
secondly, calves with higher weaning weights;
-
The pre-wean growth period of the calves coincides
with peak production of natural pastures resulting in
higher weaning weights;
The period of low nutritional requirements of the cows
(after weaning of their calves) coincides with the period
of low production of the natural pastures (during winter).
Less supplementation is therefore needed during
winter;
31
ARTIKELS
Optimal reproductive performance is of paramount
importance for the success of a beef cattle enterprise.
Reproductive performance is mainly influenced by:
Nutritional status;
Genetic merit;
Health status (especially venereal diseases); and
Breeding management.
Cost-effective strategic supplementation of breeding
cows is possible;
It simplifies feed flow planning;
It simplifies routine management practices, e.g. dosing,
pregnancy diagnosis, calving observation,
identification, inoculation, dehorning, castration,
weighing, weaning, etc. With single sire mating,
breeding groups have to be kept separate for only a
short period of the year;
Calving season(s) can be coordinated with other
farming arms activities, e.g. planting and harvesting;
Attention can be focused on the breeding herd during
the breeding and calving season(s);
Performance testing can be done more effectively
because calf groups are larger and more uniform
regarding age variation;
Marketing can be more effective because:
-
Calf groups are larger and more uniform regarding
weight and age;
-
Non-pregnant cows can be marketed before winter
in a good condition;
ARTICLES
The primary principle is to choose a time of the year at
which the cows reach optimum condition for breeding. This
time is usually about three months after the month of the
highest rainfall. For a summer breeding season the best reconception is achieved if cows calve about one month
before to about one month after the first effective rains have
fallen. (E.g. if the first effective rains in a specific area
usually fall in October, cows should calve from September
to November. This implies that the breeding season should
be from 15 November to 15 February.
If no breeding seasons exist on a particular farm, the
current calving pattern of the herd can be used as a
guideline. Determine in which three consecutive months
most calves are born and use this to determine the
optimum time for a breeding season.
In general, breeding seasons in drier regions (where the
rain usually starts later in the season) should be later than
in wetter regions (where the rain usually starts earlier in the
season). Table 1 gives a guideline in this regard.
TABLE 1:
Time of the year guidelines for a three month
summer breeding season for some regions in South Africa
Selection for fertility is easier and more effective
because:
Region
Breeding
season
Calving
season
-
Sub or infertile females can easily be identified;
Eastern Highveld
Nov - Jan
Aug - Oct
-
Sub or infertile bulls and/or bulls lacking libido can
easily be identified;
Western Highveld
Dec - Feb
Sept - Nov
High rainfall Bushveld
Jan - Mar
Oct - Dec
-
Non-pregnant females can be culled early, i.e.
directly after the pregnancy diagnosis; and
Low rainfall Bushveld
Feb - Apr
Nov - Jan
-
Cows that will calve late in the season (and have the
highest risk not to conceive the next breeding
season) can be identified.
Disadvantages of breeding seasons
32
Which time of the year?
The disadvantages of breeding seasons are few:
The bull requirements are marginally higher than for
through the year breeding;
The bulls have to be kept in separate paddocks, away
from the cows, during the non-breeding periods of the
year; and
The flow of weaner calves to be marketed is not spread
throughout the year.
Please note: The following guidelines and recommendations
are applicable to a summer rainfall region and should be
adapted accordingly for a winter rainfall region.
The availability of planted pastures, crop residues, silage,
etc. and synchronization with other farm activities (e.g.
planting and harvesting) should also be considered when
deciding on the specific breeding period.
One or two breeding seasons?
The main advantages of two breeding seasons per annum
are:
Bulls can be used more effectively;
Cows that skip and which are not culled, can be mated
again sooner – they will skip only six months and not a
full year; and
It facilitates the mating of heifers at 18 months of age vs.
the normal 24 months of age.
The main disadvantages of two breeding seasons per
annum are:
The temptation not to cull cows that have skipped,
because they can be bred again within six months. This
practice will result in a lower reproduction rate;
It requires higher management inputs, because all
routine management practices need to be done twice
per year.
A winter breeding season should only be considered if:
Sufficient feed of a high quality (e.g. crop residues) is
available at low cost during winter; and/or
Heifers need to be mated at 18 months of age because
they become too fat at 24 months of age.
Advantages of a summer breeding season
Except for breeding heifers at 18 months of age (in winter),
a summer breeding season usually is better than a winter
breeding season, because:
Cows are normally in a good condition during midsummer, resulting in higher conception rates;
The period of the peak nutritional requirements of the
cows coincides with the peak production period of
natural pastures (summer), resulting in higher weaning
weights; and
The period of the low nutritional requirements of cows
(after weaning) coincides with the low production period
of natural pastures (winter), resulting in less
supplementation needed during winter.
Disadvantages of a summer breeding season
The internal and external parasite load is high during
the pre-wean phase of the calves, which could result in
lower weaning weights if they are not inoculated and/or
dipped;
The growth rate during the period directly after weaning
(winter) is low; and
Summer droughts may result in lower conception rates
due to the poor condition of the cows in the breeding
season.
Advantages of a winter breeding season
Excess crop residues and hay can be utilized optimally;
The parasite load is lower during the pre-wean phase of
calves, possibly leading to higher weaning weights; and
The growth rate during the period directly after weaning
(summer) is high.
Disadvantages of a winter breeding season
The cows are normally in a poor condition at breeding,
resulting in lower conception rates;
The period of the peak nutritional requirements of cows
does not coincide with the peak production period
(summer) of natural pastures; and
The period of low nutritional requirements of cows (after
weaning) does not coincide with the low production
period of natural pastures (winter); therefore more
supplementation will be needed for the cows to keep a
good condition.
How long?
A breeding season should not be longer than 90 days.
Taking 285 days as the average pregnancy period of cattle,
a cow must conceive within 80 days after calving to calve
the next year at the same time. [365 – 285 (Pregnancy) = 80
days]. Therefore, a breeding season of 75 - 80 days is
better than 90 days. The ideal is a 65 day (3 estrus cycles)
breeding season for lactating cows and a 45-day (2 cycles)
for heifers & dry cows. To achieve a high conception rate in
a short breeding season, aspects such as the nutritional
status and condition of the cows should be at an optimum
level.
How to start with a breeding season
There are four steps to be followed in the decision process,
namely:
1st step: Decide on one or two breeding seasons
per year;
2nd step: Decide on the best period(s) during the
year;
3rd step: Decide on the implementation strategy,
namely gradual or immediate; and
4th step: Decide on the implementation process.
For immediate implementation, the following process is
recommended:
Remove all bulls from the breeding herd at the end of
the planned summer breeding season;
Do pregnancy tests on all cows and heifers 2 - 3 months
after the bulls have been removed;
Cull or sell all the non-pregnant cows and heifers, OR
transfer these females to a winter breeding season;
If the non-pregnant females were transferred to a winter
breeding season, do pregnancy tests again and cull all
the non-pregnant females. Transfer the pregnant
females to the summer breeding season OR continue
with the winter breeding season.
For gradual implementation, it is recommended to start
with a longer season and shorten it each year by 1 – 2
weeks, until the desired breeding period is reached. The
breeding season should be shortened by moving the
starting date forward (not the end date back). Let's say the
ultimate breeding season should be from 15 Dec - 28 Feb
(2½ months), then one could start for example with a four
months breeding season and shorten it as follows:
33
ARTIKELS
Contemporary groups will be smaller, because the
annual calf crop will be spread over two seasons; and
1st year: 1 Nov - 28 Feb
(4 months)
2nd year: 15 Nov - 28 Feb
(3½ months)
3rd year: 1 Dec - 28 Feb
(3 months)
4th year: 15 Dec - 28 Feb
(2½ months)
The following process is recommended:
Remove all bulls from the breeding herd at the end of
the planned summer breeding season;
Do pregnancy tests on all cows and heifers 2 - 3 months
after the bulls have been removed; and
Cull or sell all the non-pregnant females.
Breeding seasons for heifers
The management of heifers and first parity cows is a very
critical aspect in order to achieve a high conception rate in a
herd. The reason is that these females, while going through
pregnancy and lactation, still have to grow. To enable them
to do this and to re-conceive, they will require sufficient
amounts of high quality feed.
Weight, body condition and growth rate are the primary
indicators when deciding when heifers can be mated.
These factors are much more important than the age of the
heifers. The ideal is to breed heifers as soon as possible
after they reached sexual maturity. Sexual maturity is
usually reached when a heifer reaches about 60 – 65% of
her expected mature weight. For medium frame cows with
an average mature weight of 500kg the target weight of
heifers for breeding is therefore about 300 - 325kg. The
target weight at the end of the summer season (for a
summer breeding season) is about 85% of expected
mature weight.
34
If heifers become too heavy and/or too fat to be mated at 24
months of age, mating them at about 18 months of age
during a second (winter) breeding season should be
considered. This option will put even more stress on these
young heifers and should only be considered if sufficient
good quality pastures and/or crop residues, hay or silage
are available for the heifers during the winter following
calving. Insufficient nutrients during this period will certainly
results in a low re-conception rate.
It is always a question what to do with the first parity cows
that calved during winter at an age of around 2½ years.
There are basically two options, namely:
ARTICLES
Transfer them to the main breeding season by waiting
an extra six months before they are mated again. This
gives them additional time to recover before the next
breeding season, resulting in a higher re-conception
rate; OR
Mate them immediately to calve again during the winter
at an age of 3½ years. This practice will eventually lead
to two full breeding seasons.
Another management practice to be considered is to start
the breeding season of heifers 4 - 6 weeks before the cows'
breeding season. Again, this gives them a longer time to
recover before the next breeding season, resulting in a
higher re-conception rate. It is also advisable to use a
higher percentage of bulls when breeding heifers,
especially during the first 21 days of the breeding season.
Also consider to put a teaser bull with the heifers nine days
before the intact bull is introduced. The teaser bull will
stimulate the heifers to ovulate.
The breeding season of heifers should ideally be 45 - 65
days to put higher pressure on selection for fertility. Higher
selection pressure can also be applied by the practice of
over-mating. This practice implies that up to 50% more
heifers than needed for replacement are mated, making it
possible to retain only the pregnant ones in the breeding
herd.
AI and breeding seasons
There are three common practices of managing AI in
breeding seasons, namely:
The first option is to AI for the first third of the breeding
season, and then introduces follow-up bulls for the last
two-thirds of the breeding season. With this practice,
the target is to get 60+% cows pregnant from AI.
The second option is to synchronise the cows and/or
heifers, AI for one estrus cycle and then introduce
follow-up bulls.
The third option is to only use AI. This is the highest risk
practice of the three and should only be considered if
the nutrition, management and AI practices are at a
very high level.
Bull/female ratio guidelines
Important factors to consider when deciding on the
bull/female ratio are:
The libido of the bull to be used;
The age and experience of the bull; and
The environmental conditions during the breeding
season e.g. paddock size, visibility, physical
obstructions, poor grazing, long distances to water, dry
& hot weather, etc.
The following are general guidelines for different bull ages,
but should be adapted considering the above-mentioned
factors.
2 year old bulls:
20 - 25 cows
3 year old bulls:
25 - 30 cows
4+ year old bulls:
30 - 40 cows
Single vs. multiple-sire matings
With single-sire matings (one bull with a group of cows) the
risk of low conception rates are much higher, due to a bull
that may be infertile or has a weak libido. Multi-sire matings
(a few bulls together with a group of cows) can, to some
extent, compensate for individual bulls that are infertile or
have a weak libido and thus reducing the risk. However, if
the dominant bull is infertile or sub-fertile, he will cover most
of the cows and it may still result in low conception rates.
Low fertile bulls with good libido may also lead to low
conception rates due to exhaustion of their semen
reserves.
Where multi-sire matings are done, it is important to make
use of bulls that are least likely to fight to ensure that
precious time and energy is not wasted and also to limit
injuries of the bulls. Put for example two younger bulls with
an older (dominant) bull. Certain subordinate bulls will also
be tolerated by dominant bulls.
Note:
Parentage determination (especially in stud breeding
herds) is an important factor to consider when follow-up
bulls are introduced directly after AI or when multiple sire
breeding groups are used.
Related aspects to consider
Other aspects not directly related to breeding seasons, but
which should be considered in the quest for high
conception rates, are:
Condition scoring of cows to monitor target conditions
(on a 1 - 5 condition score – 1 = very thin, 5 = over fat):
2.5 - 3.0 at mating
3.5 at mid-pregnancy
3.0 at calving
Breeding soundness examining of bulls (physical and
semen) before the breeding season starts.
Animal behavior monitoring during the breeding
season.
Pregnancy diagnosis of cows.
Post-partum anoestrus.
Proper record keeping of all reproduction events and
activities.
35
The ABC of Bull Selection
The basis of any selection process is clear breeding
objectives and a well-considered breeding strategy. This
applies not only to the stud breeder, but also to the ordinary
beef cattle farmer. Without clear breeding objectives and a
well-considered breeding strategy, it is virtually impossible
to do any meaningful selection. Without clear breeding
objectives the bull buyer can easily become ensnared in
the plentiful information and aids that are currently
available or he could lapse into unimportant detail. This can
lead to the bull buyer forgetting to select for what is really
important, namely the function of a bull.
Let's look at the basic functions of a bull and how to use
these principles in choosing the right bull, taking into
account your specific breeding objectives.
Why is bull selection important?
The selection of breeding bulls is very important because:
Choosing a wrong bull can be a very costly mistake over
the long term, as a bull's daughters remain in the herd
for 10 years and even longer after the bull was no longer
used.
Bulls in a breeding herd are only 3-4% of the number of
breeding animals, but contribute genetically 50% of
each calf.
87% of the genetic composition of a calf is determined
by the bulls that were used in the last three generations
in the herd.
Up to 90% of the genetic improvement in a herd or
breed occurs through bull selection.
The function of a bull
Everything that is expected of a good bull can be
condensed into three basic functions, namely:
Firstly:
ARTICLES
36
To sire progeny.
Secondly: To sire progeny that are suited to the
environment, production system, breeding
system and market requirements.
Thirdly:
To sire genetically superior progeny, taking into
account your specific breedingobjectives.
To discuss each of these functions and the specific traits
that influence them, does not fall within the scope of this
article. Without going into the details and reasons, we will
look at each of these three functions, the features that are
important to each of them and the main components or
selection criteria that needs attention for each of these
traits.
1. TO SIRE PROGENY
This is undoubtedly the single most primary function of a
bull, and must always take precedence in selection. If there
Leslie Bergh
ARC-Animal Production Institute, Private Bag X2,
Irene, 0062, South Africa
Tel. +27 (0)12 672 9145, Cell +27 (0)82 801 2026,
E-mail: [email protected]
is any doubt whether a male can perform this function, he
should certainly not continue to be considered.
Traits that should receive attention are:
Fertility
Testicles
-
No genetic abnormalities (e.g. hypoplasia)
-
Adequate size (use the scrotum circumference
breeding value or, if not available, the actual
measurement)
-
Normally formed and no swelling or hardening
-
No excessive fat deposition in the neck of the
scrotum
-
Well developed epididymus
Mother's reproduction record
- Age at first calving and Inter-calving breeding
values (where available)
-
Age first calving
- Average inter-calving period
-
Reproduction index
Secondary male characteristics
-
Masculinity (looks like a bull, not an ox or heifer)
-
Darkening (depending on hair colour) and
coarser hair on the head, neck and forequarter
Semen test for fertility
Libido
Tests can be done but is impractical and very
expensive
Libido has no correlation with scrotum circumference
Libido has a high correlation with pregnancy rate
Walking ability
Legs and joints
-
No functional abnormalities (e.g. bandy or xlegged)
-
Strong pasterns
-
No excessive straight or sickle hocks
Hooves
-
No excessive outgrowth
-
No rotation inside or outside
Radiation
-
Adequate heel depth
-
-
Covering ability
-
Especially excessive straight hocks are
undesirable because they limit flexibility during
coverage
Hooves
-
Pay attention to damaged or deformed hind
hooves which can cause pain during coverage.
Sheath
-
Not too long or fleshy
-
Controllable
-
Opening not overly big
-
No prolaps of the prepuce
2. TO SIRE PROGENY THAT SUIT THE:
Environment
Production System
Breeding System
Market Requirements
The correct choice of breed type (e.g. Sanga, indicus,
continental, combination of the above) and frame type
(size) is critical in selecting a bull that will breed progeny
which fits into your particular environment, production
system, breeding system and market requirements. Note
that there is a lot of variation within a breed or breed type
and it should certainly be taken into consideration and used
in the selection process.
Environment
Climate (Heat and humidity tolerant)
-
Smooth coat
-
Adequate skin surface
Ticks and other parasites
-
Movable skin
-
Smooth coat
Quantity and quality of pasture
-
Scarce and/or poor quality: Medium to small
frame bulls are more suitable.
-
Abundant and good quality: Big frame bulls may
be considered, but medium or small frame bulls
are equally suitable.
This is a very important aspect, especially in light of the fact
that the bull's daughters should produce and reproduce
under these circumstances. In most extensive conditions
medium to small frame type bulls are more suitable.
Shoulder height and mature weight breeding values are
good criteria for comparing frame size within a specific
breed. (Please note that breeding values are not directly
comparable between breeds).
Production System
Finishing on veld: Large frame/late maturing bulls
are not suitable. Medium to small frame bulls are
suitable.
Finishing in feedlot: Large or medium frame bulls
are more suitable. (Please keep the appropriate
frame type of replacement heifers in mind – see the
next item).
Breeding System
Pure breeding: Medium to small frame bulls are
more suitable.
Crossbreeding:
-
Terminal crossbreeding (all progeny – heifers
and bulls/oxen are sold): Large frame bulls are
suitable to obtain optimum benefit from the
system.
37
ARTIKELS
Legs and joints
Full shin pigment – particularly exposed and
sensitive areas like around the eyes
-
Two- or three-breed rotational crossbred
systems (breed own replacement heifers):
Large frame/late maturing bulls are not suitable.
Medium to small frame bulls are suitable.
Market Requirements
Carcass size: The SA market discriminates against
too light (lighter than approximately 200kg) and too
heavy (heavier than approximately 260kg) A-class
carcasses. For this, medium frame bulls are the
most suitable. Large frame/late maturing bulls can
be used if the progeny are finished in a feedlot, but
are generally not suited to produce A-class
carcasses with sufficient fat cover (classes A2 and
A3) from pastures.
Meat Quality: There are significant genetic differences between breeds for meat tenderness – the
most important meat quality trait for the SA
consumer. Especially with branded beef it can be
used to obtain better prices.
3. TO SIRE SUPERIOR PROGENY
Although this function of a bull is very important, it is not the
primary criterion and is often over-emphasize at the
expense of the above mentioned two functions, especially
the function to sire progeny. One reason for this may be
because the traits involved in this function (e.g. growth rate)
are relatively easy to measure, medium to high heritable
and breeding values are readily available.
Particularly due to these facts, fast breeding progress can
be made and should be positively used in the selection of a
bull. When available, breeding values (rather than
performance testing indexes) should be used, because
they give a more accurate indication of an animal's real
genetic merit. The secret is to use these breeding values in
balance with other important traits' properties involved in
the first two functions of a bull.
38
Hereditary defects, for example:
Crooked face
Undershot jaw
Hypoplasia of testicles
Absence of epididymus
Criptorchidism
Prolaps of the prepuce
ARTICLES
Spastic paresis
Deformed teats (highly heritable - look at bull's
mother)
Ease of calving
Birth Weight
-
Most important factor in difficult calvings
-
Birth weight breeding values within breed
context and taking into account the actual
average birth weight of the breed.
Birth weight ratio ( calf weight as % of cow weight)
Conformation and bone structure (fine/coarse)
Weaning weight
Weaning weight breeding values
-
Weaning direct (Pre-wean growth)
-
Wean maternal (Maternal ability)
Weaning index (where breeding values are not
available)
-
Bull's weight
-
Average of mother's calves
-
Other relatives
Mother's cow efficiency (205 day weight of calf / cow
weight0.75), breeding value or index
Feed conversion efficiency
Feed conversion ratio (FCR) breeding value or
index
Kleiber ratio (ADG / weight 0.75) breeding value or
index
Growth ability
Average daily gain (ADG) index or breeding value
(post-wean growth potential)
12 months weight breeding value or index (Pre and
post-wean growth potential)
18 months weight breeding value or index (Pre and
post-wean growth potential)
Carcass traits
Some carcass traits (subcutaneous fat deposition, eye
muscle area, intramuscular fat deposition or marbling) can
be measured directly on the living animal by means of real
time ultrasonic sound scanning (RTU). Using this data,
predictions can be made on some other important carcass
traits, namely:
Relative marbling and index (for a constant
subcutaneous fat thickness)
Carcass red meat percentage and index
Muscle percentage and index
Kilogram muscle yield in the carcass
Meat Quality
As already mentioned, tenderness is the most important
meat quality trait for the SA consumer. Unfortunately, meat
tenderness data is seldom available for young bulls, since it
can not be measured directly on the living animal. It can be
predicted by means of genetic markers through DNA
analysis. The only other method to determine is by means
of progeny testing, but it takes a long time and is an
expensive process.
In the current SA beef classification system and associated
price structures there is in general not really incentives to
select bulls for meat quality, except possibly in branded
beef. (By the way, in certain countries, e.g. the USA,
Canada and Australia, marbling is an important quality
characteristic).
CONCLUSION
Bull selection need not be guesswork – there are many
tools available to make an informed decision when buying
bulls.
Step number one is to buy your bulls from a reputable
breeder who does performance testing on his animals, e.g.
by participating in the ARC's National Beef Recording and
Improvement Scheme. At least it ensures that an informed
decision can be made depending on the available
performance test data and breeding values.
Step number two is to use the available information
purposefully and in a balanced way in the selection
process, with the emphasis on the function of a bull and
taking into account the objectives of the breeding herd.
39
Temperament
Time and effort of handling
Maintenance of facilities
Risk of injury to humans and animals
Performance in the feedlot
Meat quality
If you need assistance with the interpretation and use of
performance test data and breeding values, contact your
local ARC-Animal Production Institute regional office or Mr.
Leslie Bergh at 012 672 9145 or 082 801 2026 or e-mail
[email protected].
ARTIKELS
The temperament of an animal affects the following:
Epigenetic changes and livestock production: facts or fiction
Kan die omgewing 'n dier se genetika oornag
verander? Dit is waaroor die begrip “epigenetika”
gaan. Alle veranderings in die funksie van die DNA
(die boustene van alle lewe) sonder dat die DNA
volgorde verander, word epigenetika genoem. Dit
het 'n ander fenotipe (voorkoms / prestasie) tot
gevolg sonder dat die DNA verander het. Hierdie
veranderinge word deur omgewingsfaktore
beinvloed en kan ook na die nageslag oorgedra
word. Die hongersnood in Nederland in 1944 het
die eerste getuienis van epigenetika by die mens
na vore gebring. Kinders van swanger vroue wat
aan die hongersnood onderwerp was, was kleiner
en meer vatbaar vir sekere siektetoestande.
Verbasend genoeg is hierdie effekte ook na die
kinders van hierdie kinders oorgedra. Aangesien
beide melk- en vleisproduksie deur omgewingsfaktore beinvloed kan word, mag dit moontlik wees
om epigenetika te gebruik om produksie te
manipuleer. Dit mag moontlik wees om “sagte
genetika” of epigenetika te benut om die volgende
generasie diere aan te pas by spesifieke
omgewings. Hierdie proses gaan vinniger wees as
konvensionele Mendeliese genetika, wat 'n stadige
proses is. Huidige teelprogramme neem nie
epigenetika in ag nie.
40
All alterations in DNA function without alterations in DNA
sequence are referred to as epigenetics. These include
events associated with differentiation and development as
well as changes associated with gene expression and the
expression of different phenotypes (appearance) and are
mediated through a variety of mechanisms. These
modifications are also influenced by environmental factors
independently of DNA sequence and the induced changes
can be transferred transgenerationally in cell lines of
complex organisms, including livestock.
Epigenetics can be described as the study of molecular
mechanisms by which the environment controls genetic
activity and provides a means of understanding how
environmental factors may result in heritable changes in
gene expression. A modern definition of epigenetics is
“Collective heritable changes in phenotype that arise
independent of genotype”.
To summarize, epigenetics is chemical modifications of the
DNA/chromatin which cause changes in phenotype
(appearance) or gene expression and it:
Is influenced by environmental factors
Can be inherited
1
M M Scholtz 1,2 & J P van Zyl1
ARC-Animal Production Institute, Private Bag X2, Irene, 0062,
2
South Africa;University
of the Free State, PO Box 339,
Bloemfontein, 9300, South Africa
The first evidence of transgenerational epigenetic
Epigenetic mechanisms play a major role in phenotypic
diversity in response to environmental conditions. Even
though the many molecular mechanisms involved are
being studied and clarified, applications in livestock
production are still rare. Traditional breeding focus on
Mendelian inheritance and involves long term breeding
programmes. However, both genetic and epigenetic
controls influence genetic expression and should be taken
into account when formulating breeding programs for
changing environmental conditions. Knowledge of
epigenetic controls in the diverse environments should
allow for more effective control and management of such
effects. Taking control of genetics, independent of
Mendelian inheritance, can move future breeding beyond
simple breeding programs and provides new management
and nutritional tools to enhance productivity. This can be
done by using the environment and management to define
epigenetic controls, as well as nutritional interactions. This
brings about the concept of “flash evolution”. The challenge
is therefore to use “soft” or epigenetic inheritance to fine
tune the next generation faster to novel environments than
the slow reactivity of Mendelian or “hard inheritance”.
Note: This research is financially supported by RMRD SA
(Red Meat Research and Development South Africa) and
THRIP (Technology and Human Resources for Industry
Programme).
Inheritance in humans results from the Dutch famine in
1944. Children of pregnant women exposed to the famine
intrauterine were smaller than average and more
susceptible to health problems. Poor maternal nutrition
during gestation resulted in restricted growth of the fetus
and increased susceptibility to disease in later life.
Surprisingly, some of these effects remained in the children
of these children.
An interesting example of the effect of imprinted genes in
farm animals that has been known for thousands of years is
the two kinds of offspring with differing appearance and
characters in crosses between horses and donkeys,
depending on which species is the father. One gets mules
when the mother is a female horse and the father a male
donkey; and hinnies when the mother is a female donkey
and the father a male horse.
In beef cattle, ten carcass quality traits were found to be
influenced by imprinting, contributing between 8 and 25%
of the total additive genetic variance.
evident that signals that may result in epigenetic
modification during this, or during the early neonatal period,
have a significant impact on the life of the animal.
Epigenetic mechanisms play a major role in phenotypic
diversity in response to environmental conditions. Even
though the many molecular mechanisms involved are
being studied and clarified, applications in livestock
production are still rare. Traditional breeding focus on
Mendelian inheritance and involves long term breeding
programmes. However, both genetic and epigenetic
controls influence genetic expression and should be taken
into account when formulating breeding programs for
changing environmental conditions. Knowledge of
epigenetic controls in the diverse environments should
allow for more effective control and management of such
effects. Taking control of genetics, independent of
Mendelian inheritance, can move future breeding beyond
simple breeding programs and provides new management
and nutritional tools to enhance productivity. This can be
done by using the environment and management to define
epigenetic controls, as well as nutritional interactions. This
brings about the concept of “flash evolution”. The challenge
is therefore to use “soft” or epigenetic inheritance to fine
tune the next generation faster to novel environments than
the slow reactivity of Mendelian or “hard inheritance”.
Note: This research is financially supported by RMRD SA
(Red Meat Research and Development South Africa) and
THRIP (Technology and Human Resources for Industry
Programme).
41
ARTIKELS
Environmental factors impacts on production traits such as
milk production through cell signaling and epigenetic
mechanisms and the influence of epigenetic mechanisms
on milk production traits are of interest. Understanding the
extent and scope of these mechanisms could provide
opportunities to enhance milk production and mastitis
resistance through manipulation of the environment whilst
in utero or by manipulating early life nutrition.
It is postulated that environmentally induced epigenetic
information transmitted via the egg and sperm
fundamentally acts as a form of pre-programming. If the
survival of the parents was influenced or restricted by
environmental factors, the offspring are pre-programmed
with the information required to enable it to survive in a
similar unfavourable environment. However, if the
environment is different from the predicted one, the
mismatch may result in maladaptation.
Animal tradition is a different form of epigenetics and is
acquired by the animal through a learning process, e.g. by
observing a parent or parental influence. Mothering ability
in livestock is of critical importance to the survival of the
young and is included in many performance recording
programmes. The extent to which this and other
behavioural traits in livestock are influenced by epigenetic
factors requires further investigation. The main question is:
“are the maternal traits we are selecting for under genetic or
epigenetic control”?
Many of the epigenetic influences on livestock production
occur during the prenatal period, which is a particularly
sensitive period with regard to epigenetic programming. It is
Let’s chat about feed efficiency
Conversion of feedstuffs into food animal tissues is the
essence of livestock production. The more efficiently this
process occurs, the more sustainable livestock production
becomes. An additional benefit of increased efficiency is
increased production of highly nutritious food for people,
from a finite resource.
Ratio measures of efficiency have seen long-standing use
in livestock production and the animal sciences. For
example, feed conversion ratio has been and continues to
be used widely to select for efficiency. However, these ratio
measures suffer theoretical defects that make them less
than desirable. Alternative “residual” measures of feed
efficiency have been suggested to overcome these
defects. However, combining feed intake and growth to
calculate a single measure of feed efficiency does not add
additional information to that which can be obtained directly
from the component traits. Here, data arising from Phase C
testing of Bonsmara bulls are used to illustrate some of the
differences. Records from Bonsmara bulls that were tested
between 1989 and 2001 were used. The data set consists
of the individual feed intake and weights of 3 331 bulls.
ARTICLES
42
This study was concerned with three primary traits:
average daily feed intake (DFI), average daily gain (ADG),
and mid-test metabolic body weight (MBW). From these
data, phenotypic values for residual feed intake (RFI), p
residual gain (RDG),
p and residual intake and gain (RIGp)
were calculated. Residual feed intake is feed actually
consumed expressed as a deviation from it expected intake
based on its size and growth rate. Residual gain is growth
rate expressed as a deviation from its expected growth
based on its feed intake. Residual intake and gain is a
harmonization of RFI and RDG. Breeding values were
predicted for each of these phenotypes, treating each of
them as those they were a measured trait. In addition, a
multiple-trait mixed model analysis was conducted to
estimate breeding values for the three primary traits. From
the estimated breeding values for MBW, ADG and DFI, the
breeding values for RFI, RDG, and RIG were also
predicted.
Means and phenotypic standard deviations (in
parentheses) of MBW, ADG, and DFI were 79.7 (4.19)
kg0.75, 1.74 (0.22) kg/d, and 10.4 (0.95) kg, respectively.
Phenotypic correlations among these traits were 0.50,
0.50, and 0.58 for MBW and ADG, MBW and DFI, and ADG
and DFI, respectively. These correlations indicate that bulls
that are heavier and grow more rapidly also tend to eat
more feed. Thus, these data exhibit the well-recognized
antagonism between the desire to reduce feed intake thus
decreasing cost of production and to increase growth thus
increasing the amount of product produced and reducing
the time taken to produce it.
In these data, heritability estimates for MBW, ADG, and DFI
Michael MacNeil,
ARC-API, Irene and Delta G, Miles City, Montana, USA
were 0.38, 0.25, and 0.37, respectively. Thus, any of these
traits can be changed individually by selection on their
estimated breeding values. Estimates of the genetic
correlations among these traits were 0.79, 0.54, and 0.66
for MBW with ADG, MBW with DFI, and ADG with DFI,
respectively. It should be noted that these estimates are all
highly consistent with published values from several other
studies. Practically, what they mean is that genetically
heavier and faster growing animals will tend to eat more
feed. This is the antagonism to be broken in order to
improve efficiency and the estimated correlations were not
so large as to make this challenge infeasible. The desired
endpoint is faster growing animals that consume less feed.
Turning to the efficiency measures, it is clear that RFI and
RDG may provide for quite different rankings of candidates
for selection as correlations of the rankings of animal
evaluated with both statistics were moderately negative. To
arrive at a weight constant endpoint, selection for RDG
would reduce feed used by reducing the number of days for
which maintenance requirements are met, and RFI would
reduce feed used by directly reducing daily consumption. If
either is to be used as a selection criterion, a decision must
be made whether candidates that have superior
performance when provided an average amount of feed or
candidates that eat less to achieve average performance
are preferred. In the former case RDG would be the
criterion of choice and in the latter case RFI would be the
criterion of choice. Combining RFI and RDG to form RIG
appears to provide an effective harmonization of both
efficiency measures, since correlations of the ranking of
animal based on RIG with their corresponding ranks based
on either RFI or RDG were consistently favorable.
Use of EBV for evaluation of candidates for selection is
preferable to use of phenotypes due to the greater
accuracy of EBV for predicting genetic merit. Relative to the
residual phenotypes, single-trait EBV are more accurate as
a result of their including and properly weighting
information from related animals. In addition, animals
without an own phenotype for efficiency may thus be
evaluated. In fact, some of the related animals lacking
observed phenotypes have evaluations equivalent in
accuracy to those of animals with records. Further gains in
accuracy can result from multiple-trait evaluation of the
primary traits with subsequent prediction of efficiency EBV.
These gains result from the value of MBW and ADG as
indicator traits useful for predicting DFI. With prior
calculation of phenotypic residual measures of efficiency,
this opportunity may be substantially negated. Therefore,
use of the primary traits, metabolic body weight, average
daily gain and feed intake, and subsequent prediction of
breeding values for efficiency is recommended.
Reliance on indicator traits alone will not facilitate breaking
the genetic antagonism between intake and performance.
It is important to recognize that the most desirable animals,
with respect to efficiency, will be outliers to the general
bivariate relationship of intake and performance.
Therefore, measurement of both phenotypes in Phase C
tests will be essential to identification of bulls most likely to
sire highly efficient progeny. However, please understand,
the preceding discussion is not intended to imply advocacy
for selection based on any single biological trait, or in this
case efficiency measure.
Breeders are advised to make selection decisions based on
carefully constructed breeding objectives and selection
indexes. Here, the discussion has been limited to aspects
arising from consideration of feed intake and growth in this
process. Indexes that include the primary traits, as opposed
to those that include efficiency measures seem
straightforward, potentially necessitate genetic evaluation
for fewer traits, and have economic values that are more
transparent.
Residuele voerinname / Residual feed intake
Wat is die implikasies daarvan?
The common measure of efficiency is feed conversion ratio
or feed efficiency. However, efficiency is highly associated
with growth rate, leading to an increase in mature size,
which in turn increases the maintenance cost of the
breeding herd. It has been shown that residual feed intake
(RFI) is independent from growth rate and mature weight,
leading to the reduction of feed intake without affecting
growth performance or mature size. Studies have shown
that low RFI cattle produce less methane. The difference in
RFI and methane production in high and low RFI animals
cannot be explained by the difference in feed intake alone.
Possible reasons could be digestion of feed, protein
turnover and overall tissue metabolism, activity,
thermoregulation and growth. In order to calculate RFI it is
necessary to measure individual feed intake of animals.
The cost and difficulty in measuring RFI makes the trait a
strong candidate for marker assisted selection. However
the South African feedlot industry prefers certain minimum
growth rates and carcass weights, which may not be
achieved through selection for RFI alone. A trait such as
residual growth rate should also be investigated and these
two may be candidates for use in a simplified selection
index by farmers.
44
Doeltreffendheid word tradisioneel gemeet as die
verhouding van die hoeveelheid voer gevreet in
vergelyking met die gewigstoename van die dier en word
uitgedruk as voeromset verhouding (voerinname
/gewigstoename) of die invers naamlik doeltreffendheid
van voerverbruik (gewigstoename/voerinname). Hierdie
maatstaf is hoogs gekorreleerd met groeitempo. Seleksie
vir doeltreffendheid sal dus groeitempo in jong diere
verhoog. Dit kan egter ook tot 'n betekenisvolle toename in
volwasse koeigewig en 'n verhoogde voerinname van die
koeikudde lei, wat 'n negatiewe effek op die totale
produksiestelsel kan hê.
ARTICLES
Residuele voerinname (RVI), ook bekend as netto
voerinname (Engels: residual feed intake or net feed
intake) is die verskil tussen 'n dier se werklike inname en
die verwagte (voorspelde) inname gebaseer op die dier se
gewig en groeitempo oor 'n spesifieke tydperk. In
teenstelling met die tradisionele doeltreffendheidsmaatstawwe, is RVI feitlik ongekorreleerd (onafhanklik)
van groei- en gewigeienskappe.
'n Lae RVI waarde dui op 'n meer doeltreffende dier en
verskeie studies het gevind dat die oorerflikheid daarvan
tussen 0.28 en 0.57 varieer. Daar kan dus vir RVI
Prof Michiel Scholtz en Jurgen Hendriks
LNR-Diereproduksie-Instituut en
Universiteit van die Vrystaat
geselekteer word. Sodanige seleksie sal lei tot 'n verlaging
in inname sonder dat groeitempo of koeigrootte
noemenswaardig beïnvloed word. Totale kuddedoeltreffendheid sal dus verbeter word.
In 'n seleksie eksperiment vir lae RVI, het die
metaanvrystelling tussen lae en hoë RVI osse met tot 28%
verskil, wat gelykstaande is aan 16 100 liter minder
metaanvrystelling per jaar per os. Die verskille in RVI en
metaanproduksie tussen hoë en lae RVI diere kan nie net
verklaar word deur die verskille in voerinname nie.
Moontlike addisionele redes mag vertering van die voer,
proteïenomset, totale weefselmetabolisme (mitochondriale funksie, liggaamsamestelling, IGF-1 en kortisol
vlakke), aktiwiteit, termoregulering en groei insluit.
Lae RVI diere is geneig om voer beter te verteer as hoë RVI
diere. Die korrelasie tussen RVI en droeë material vertering
is in die omgewing van 0.33. Metaboliese verskille tussen
hoë en lae RVI diere kan toegeskryf word aan verskille in
liggaamsamestelling en metaboliese prosesse. Daar is
positiewe korrelasies met tussen RVI en metabolieseerbare energie vir onderhoud, sowel as tussen
metaboliseerbare energie vir onderhoud en proteïenomset, wat tot 'n indirekte verwantskap tussen RVI en
proteïenomset lei. Proteïen vorming in lae RVI diere is
dieselfde as in hoë RVI diere, maar die afbreek van
proteïen in lae RVI diere is minder, wat dus tot 'n “proteïen
wins” lei.
Dit bleik dat mitochondriale funksie ook 'n rol speel in RVI.
Hierdie funksie word beinvloed deur beide die dier se
genetika en die voer wat hy kry. Ongeveer 90% van
sellulêre energie word deur aktiewe selle in die lewer, niere,
spiere en brein geproduseer. Die feit dat RVI met
mitochondriale funksie geassosieer word dui op 'n
verwantskap met metaboliese doeltreffendheid.
Lae RVI beeste het effens minder liggaamsvet en meer
liggaamsproteïen as hoë RVI beeste. Daar is verskille van
tot 21% in hitteproduksie tussen lae en hoë RVI diere
gerapporteer, terwyl tot 10% van die verskille in RVI in
groeiende kalwers deur verskille in fisiese aktiwiteit
verklaar kan word.
Die Suid-Afrikaanse voerkraalbedryf het sekere voorkeure
vir minimum groeitempos en karkasgewigte, wat nie
noodwendig aangespreek sal word deur slegs vir RVI te
selekteer nie. Net soos RVI bereken kan word, kan
Residuele Daaglikse Groeitempo (RDG) ook bereken
word. RDG word uitgedruk as á afwyking van die
groeitempo wat verwag word gebaseer op die dier se
inname. 'n Hoë RDG dier is dus op 'n dier wat vinniger groei
op 'n gegewe hoeveel voer as wat verwag word.
seleksie vir RVI en RDG geplaas gaan word, maak dit die
volle benutting van die bultoetssentrums in Suid-Afrika
soveel belangriker.
Die oplossing sal waarskynlik wees om beide RVI en RDG
by seleksie in aanmerking te neem en die twee eienskappe
kan in 'n vereenvoudigde seleksie indeks ingesluit word vir
toekomstige gebruik deur telers.
NOTA:
Indien daar 'n behoefte is om RVI (en RDG) te bepaal moet
die individuele voerinname van die diere gemeet word. As
gevolg van die koste en moeite om RVI en RDG te meet, is
dit goeie kandidate vir merker ondersteunde seleksie. Tot
dusvêr kon daar egter nie werklik geskikte merkers gevind
word nie. Weens die verwagte klem wat in die toekoms op
1. Dit is belangrik om ook die artikel oor “Let's chat about
feed efficiency” deur Dr. Michael MacNeil, wat in hierdie
Nuusbrief verskyn te lees.
2. Hierdie navorsing word finansieël ondersteun deur
RMRD SA (Red Meat Research and Development
South Africa) en THRIP (Technology and Human
Resources for Industry Programme).
CEDARA Bull Testing Centre - Test dates 2013
1
Arrival
Aankoms
Adaptation
Aanpassing
Test period
Toetsperiode
Departure
Vertrek
Born after
Gebore na
2-01-13
9-01-13
6-02-13/1-05-13
8-05-13
2-05-12
2
30-01-13
6-02-13
6-03-13/29-05-13
5-06-13
30-05-12
3
27-02-13
6-03-13
3-04-13/26-06-13
3-07-13
27-06-12
4
27-03-13
3-04-13
1-05-13/24-07-13
31-07-13
25-07-12
5
24-04-13
1-05-13
29-05-13/21-08-13
28-08-13
22-08-12
6
29-05-13
5-06-13
3-07-13/25-09-13
2-10-13
26-09-12
7
26-06-13
3-07-13
31-07-13/23-10-13
30-10-13
24-10-12
8
31-07-13
7-08-13
4-09-13/27-11-13
4-12-13
28-11-12
9
28-08-13
4-09-13
2-10-13/25-12-13
1-01-14
26-12-12
10
25-09-13
2-10-13
30-10-13/22-01-14
29-01-14
23-01-13
11
30-10-13
6-11-13
4-12-13/26-02-14
5-03-14
27-02-13
12
27-11-13
4-12-13
1-01-14/26-03-14
2-04-14
27-03-13
CEDARA Bultoetssentrum - Toetsdatums 2013
45
ARTIKELS
Test Nr.
Toets Nr.
Prestasietoetsing - wat is die voordele en gevare?
Inleiding
Prof. Jan Bonsma se slagspreuk “Om te meet is om te
weet” of in Engels “Man must measure” is vandag nog net
so waar as 50 jaar gelede. Daarom glo ek dat
prestasietoetsdata en teelwaardes 'n uiters waardevolle
hulpmiddel is in seleksie, teling en bestuur van vleisbeeste.
Ek wil graag glo dat alle beesboere my oortuiging deel
maar, as dit wel die geval is, dan vra ek myself die vraag
waarom daar steeds baie beesboere – selfs stoettelers! – is
wat in hierdie moderne eeu nie prestasietoetsing doen in
hul kuddes nie. Hier volg 'n paar van die redes (of is dit
verskonings?) wat deur boere geopper word waarom hulle
nie prestasietoetsing doen nie:
Hulle dink hulle kan met die oog – dit wil sê sonder
rekords, prestasietoetsdata en teelwaardes – goeie en
swak produseerders in 'n kudde identifiseer. Hulle is
met ander woorde nie oortuig dat prestasietoetsing
enige waarde het vir seleksie, teling en/of bestuur van 'n
kudde nie.
Hulle dink dis te veel werk, met ander woorde dat die
tyd, geld en werk om rekords te hou en diere te weeg vir
prestasietoetsing nie die voordele daaraan verbonde
regverdig nie.
Voordat ons bogenoemde verskonings en persepsies
besweer, kom ons kyk net eers wat prestasietoetsing eintlik
is. Eenvoudig gestel, is prestasietoetsing 'n seleksie-,
telings- en bestuurshulpmiddel om die doeltreffendheid en
winsgewendheid van beesvleisproduksie te verhoog.
Prestasietoetsing behels meer as net die weeg van diere
op sekere ouderdomme. Dit is die evaluasie van al die
ekonomies belangrike eienskappe vanaf bevrugting tot
bemarking. Die reproduksieen speenkalffase is by verre
die belangrikste fase, aangesien die eienskappe wat
ekonomies die belangrikste is in die produksiesiklus,
naamlik vrugbaarheid, gemak van kalwing, moederseienskappe, voorspeense groei en koeidoeltreffendheid,
hier geëvalueer word. Die groei-, voeromsetdoeltreffendheid en ander eienskappe wat naspeen geëvalueer
word, is ook belangrik, maar sekondêr tot eersgenoemde
eienskappe.
Hulle dink prestasietoetsing behels slegs om jong bulle
in amptelike groeitoetse (soos Fase C of Fase D) te
toets.
Hulle dink dat prestasietoetsing dieselfde is as
prestasieseleksie, m.a.w. hulle dink as jy 'n sekere
eienskap toets, beteken dit jy moet die beste presteerders vir die betrokke eienskap selekteer.
Die Nasionale Vleisbeesaantekening en -Verbeteringskema (die Skema) van die Landbounavorsingsraad asook
die Vleisbees Produksie-aantekening van SA Stamboek
maak voorsiening vir die volgende fases:
Hulle dink dat prestasietoetsing diere groter en/of
minder aangepas en/of minder funksioneel maak.
Hulle verstaan nie prestasietoetssyfers en teelwaardes
nie en skram daarom daarvan weg of kraak dit selfs af.
Hulle dink dat genomiese teelwaardes die nodigheid vir
prestasietoetsing gaan uitskakel.
ARTICLES
Wat is prestasietoetsing?
Prestasietoetsing kan dus so eenvoudig wees soos om alle
diere in jou kudde op een of ander metode (bv. oorplaatjie
en/of brandmerk) te merk, elke kalf se nommer, geslag en
geboortedatum en sy moeder se nommer aan te teken by
geboorte en alle kalwers te weeg wanneer hulle gespeen
word (ongeveer 7 maande ouderdom). As jy vir bietjie meer
kans sien, weeg ook die koeie wanneer hul kalwers
gespeen word en weeg die verse (en bulle, indien hulle nie
verkoop is of in 'n ander fase getoets is nie) op 18 maande
ouderdom. As jy vir nog meer kan sien en jou bestuurstelsel
dit toelaat, kan jy kalwers ook weeg by geboorte (binne 3
dae na geboorte).
Hulle – veral bekende stoettelers wat hoë pryse vir hul
diere kry op grond van hul naam in die bedryf – is bang
dat prestasietoetsing en teelwaardes gaan wys dat hul
diere eintlik nie so goed is as wat mense tans glo hulle is
nie.
46
Leslie Bergh
LNR-Diereproduksie-instituut, Privaatsak X2, Irene,
0062 Suid-Afrika
Tel. +27 (0)12 672 9145, Sel +27 (0)82 801 2026,
Hulle – veral stoettelers – glo dat kopers nie belangstel
in “syfers” (prestasietoetsdata en teelwaardes) nie en in
elk geval nie bereid is om meer te betaal vir diere met
goeie “syfers” nie.
Reproduksie- en Kuddetoetsing (Fase A): Hierdie
fase is die basis van prestasietoetsing en ook by verre
die belangrikste fase, aangesien dit die fase is waar die
eienskappe wat ekonomies die belangrikste is in die
hele produksieproses, geëvalueer word. Hierdie
eienskappe sluit in reproduksie (vrugbaarheid), gemak
van kalwing, moederseienskappe, voorspeense groei
en koeidoeltreffendheid. Fase A is die enigste fase van
die Skema wat verpligtend is om aan deel te neem.
Op-die-plaas naspeense toetsing (Fase B): In
hierdie fase word die naspeense groeitempo van jong
verse, bulle en osse onder normale plaastoestande
geëvalueer deur middel van hul gewigte op 12- en 18
maande ouderdom.
Sentrale prestasietoetse (Fase C): In hierdie fase
word jong bulle direk na speen onder intensiewe
(voerkraal) toestande getoets by 'n sentrale
toetssentrum. Individuele voerrinname word gemeet
om voeromsetdoeltreffendheid te kan evalueer.
Op-die-plaas prestasietoetse (Fase D): In hierdie
fase word jong bulle na speen op die plaas getoets in 'n
gekontroleerde toets. In Fase D toetse kan jong bulle –
volgens die teler se keuse – onder intensiewe(voerkraal), semi-intensiewe- (byvoorbeeld op
aangeplante weiding) of ekstensiewe (natuurlike
weiding) toestande getoets word.
in te lig oor die interpretasie en korrekte gebruik van
prestasietoetsdata en teelwaardes, die kopers baie
meer geneë is om duurder te betaal vir diere met goeie
teelwaardes. Onthou: “'n Goeie bul is selde te duur; 'n
swak bul is altyd te duur”.
Prestasietoetsdata voorsien waardevolle reproduksieen produksie-inligting en statistieke op 'n nasionale
basis aan telersgenootskappe en die industrie
aangaande die prestasie van verskillende rasse,
produksie onder verskillende toestande, ens. Hierdie
inligting stel produsente onder andere in staat om
hulself te meet (“benchmark”) teen ander telers, rasse,
ensovoorts.
Die Gevare en Feite rakende Prestasietoetsing
Die voordele wat prestasietoesing het vir die beesboer en
die breër bedryf, is kortliks die volgende:
Die belangrikste voordeel van prestasietoetsdata is dat
dit 'n objektiewe seleksiehulpmiddel is vir die
identifisering van ondoeltreffende diere vir uitskot en
doeltreffende diere vir teling. Dit beteken verhoogde
doeltreffendhied van produksie deur genetiese
verbetering met minimum ekstra insette. Verhoogde
doeltreffendheid sal lei tot hoër winsmarges vir jou
boerdery- onderneming en uiteindelik vir die hele
bedryf.
‘n Aspek wat dikwels nie na waarde geskat word nie, is
dat prestasietoetsdata waardevolle bestuursinligting
verskaf om bestuurpraktyke te monitor en aanpassings
te doen waar nodig. Dit sluit in weiding- en
voedingsbestuur, parasiet- en gesondheidsbestuur,
seleksie- en telingsbestuur, ensovoorts.
Prestasietoetsdata en stamboominligting is onontbeerlik vir die beraming van teelwaardes deur die
gebruik van gesofistikeerde BLUP tegnologie. BLUP
het die verdere voordeel dat genetiese tendense van
kuddes en rasse oor jare bepaal kan word. Hierdie
inligting maak dit moontlik om genetiese vordering
binne 'n kudde en ras akkkuraat te evalueer en
teeldoelwitte en -strategieë aan te pas soos en
wanneer nodig.
Prestasietoetsdata en teelwaardes is 'n waardetoevoegende bemarkingsinstrument. Die meeste (veral
ingeligte) kopers is bereid om meer te betaal vir diere
met prestasietoetsdata en gepaardgaande teelwaardes wat aan hul behoeftes voldoen, aangesien
sulke inligting die diere spesifiseer (omskryf) en
vertroue skep in die genetiese meriete (teelwaarde)
van die die betrokke diere. Terloops, dit is opmerklik dat
by telersgenootskappe waar prestasietoetsing
verpligtend is en daar moeite gedoen word om kopers
Kom ons kyk, met bogenoemde as agtergrond, kortliks na
die feite betreffende 'n paar van die algemeenste
wanpersepsies wat bestaan oor prestasietoetsing:
By die meeste ekonomies-belangrike eienskappe is
daar variasie tussen diere. Hierdie variasie is tot 'n
mindere of meerdere mate oorerflik.
Die meeste ekonomies belangrike eienskappe by
vleisbeeste is betreklik maklik en goedkoop meetbaar –
sommige weliswaar meer akkuraat en makliker (soos
gewig) as ander (soos voerinname).
Omdat daar meetbare genetiese variasie is vir die
meeste eienskappe wat ekonomies belangrik is, kan
die boer vir sulke eienskappe selekteer. 'n Kudde of 'n
ras kan dus deur seleksie en teling geneties verander
word.
Prestasietoetsing is nie so baie werk as wat boere
geneig is om te dink nie. Met basiese rekordhouding
van geboorte inligting en speengewigte van alle
kalwers kan die doetreffendheid van seleksie al
drasties verhoog word en kan waardevolle
bestuursinligting verkry word.
Daar is afdoende bewys dat reproduksieen produksie
eienskappe soos vrugbaarheid, groeivermoë en
koeidoeltreffendheid nie akkuraat geëvalueer kan word
met die oog nie. In sekere gevalle (byvoorbeeld
speengewig) kan die uiterstes aan weerskante van die
skaal wel met die oog raakgesien word, maar selfs dan
is dit nie juis akkuraat nie. Die ligte kalf kan byvoorbeeld
lig wees omdat sy moeder 'n eerstekalf-koei is, nie
omdat hy geneties swak is nie. Die swaar kalf se
moeder was moontlik 'n skoukoei wat gevoer is. Sonder
rekordhouding, weging of meting van diere en
wetenskaplike verwerking van die data, is seleksie van
diere grotendeels raaiwerk.
Plaaslike en internasionale navorsingstudies het bewys
dat die verhoging in wins wat verkry kan word deur
47
ARTIKELS
Voordele van Prestasietoetsing
prestasietoetsing te doen baie hoër is as die kostes
daaraan verbonde. Die grootste uitgawe om
prestasietoetsing te doen is waarskynlik die aankoop
van 'n beesskaal. Nou ja, 'n beesboer wat dink hy kan
klaarkom sonder 'n beesskaal, moet ernstig besin of hy
in die regte bedryf is.
is seker die beste eienskap om aanpasbaarheid mee te
evalueer. Prestasietoetsing, spesifiek van reproduksieeienskappe, kan dus juis gebruik word om aanpasbaarheidseienskappe te evalueer. Bosluisweerstandbiedendheid is 'n baie belangrike aanpasbaarheidseienskap wat meer aandag behoort te geniet.
Die doelgerigte genetiese verandering van 'n bevolking
diere ('n kudde of ras) deur meting, seleksie en teling is
'n doeltreffende en goedkoop metode om die
doeltreffendheid van produksie te verhoog. Boonop is
dit permanent.
Onthou dat ongeveer 90% van die totale energieverbruik in 'n speenkalfproduksiestelsel vir die
onderhoud van jou teelkudde gaan. Self as die
naspeense groei- en afrondingsfase bygereken word,
gaan steeds 75% van die totale energieverbruik van die
produksiestelsel vir onderhoud van jou teelkudde. Om
die winsgewendheid van jou kudde te verbeter, is dit
dus nodig om elke koei wat nie dragtig is nie, wat 'n
dooie kalf het of 'n ligte kalf speen vroegtydig te
identifiseer en uit te skot. Onthou: Onproduktiewe koeie
en verse kos jou baie geld – raak vroegtydig ontslae van
hulle.
Die eienskappe wat in die reproduksieen
kuddetoetsfase (Fase A) geëvalueer word, naamlik
vrugbaarheid, gemak van kalwing, moederseienskappe, voorspeense groei en koeidoeltreffendheid, is die kern van prestasietoetsing en daarom is dit
by verre die belangrikste fase van prestasietoetsing.
Die toetsing van bulle in Fase C en D is opsioneel en
sekondêr tot Fase A.
Vrugbaarheid moet altyd die nommer een eienskap
wees en daar behoort nooit kompromieë aangegaan te
word ten opsigte van hierdie eienskap nie. Indien te
veel klem op ander eienskappe geplaas word ten koste
van vrugbaarheidseienskappe, soek jy vir seker
moeilikheid – die soort wat jou baie geld gaan kos –
ongeag watter hulpmiddels jy gebruik in jou seleksie en
teelplanne.
ARTICLES
48
Baie van die negatiewe persepsies rondom
prestasietoetsing is die gevolg van 'n gebrek aan
duidelike teeldoelwitte by telers. [Jy ken mos die storie
dat as jy nie weet waarheen jy op pad is nie, jou kanse
100% is om daar te kom]. Net soos met enige ander
hulpmiddel kan prestasietoetsindekse en teelwaardes
ook verkeerd gebruik word. Maar dan moet mens
oppas dat jy nie die baba met die badwater weggooi nie.
Dit is mos nie die hulpmiddel se skuld nie as jy (of jou
adviseur/konsultant) die hulpmiddel verkeerd gebruik
nie? Maak dus seker jy is goed ingelig oor die
interpretasie en gebruik van prestasietoetsdata en
teelwaardes en luister ook na die regte mense (met die
nodige kennis, ervaring en insig) as jy hulp soek met die
gebruik van teelwaardes by seleksie en teling.
Prestasietoetsdata en teelwaardes is nie die alfa en
omega van teling nie en moet doelgerig en op 'n
gebalanseerde wyse gebruik word in kombinasie met
ander hulpmiddels, veral voorkomsnorme wat op
funksionele doeltreffendheid gegrond is. Dit help tog
nie om 'n bul te teel wat teen 2.5kg per dag kan groei,
maar hy kan nie loop nie! Verder is dit ook baie
belangrik dat jy sal seker maak dat jou prioriteite reg is
wanneer dit kom by seleksie.
Aanpasbaarheid is 'n eienskap wat nie maklik gemeet
kan word nie, maar vrugbaarheid of reproduksietempo
Die verhoging van produksie per hektaar deur die
genetiese verbetering van 'n kudde kan nie geskied
sonder prestasietoetsing en die seleksie van
individuele diere nie.
Prestasietoetsing en teelwaardes as sulks maak nie
beeste groter en minder doeltreffend nie. 'n Dier se
genetiese samestelling verander nie deur dit bloot te
weeg of meet, te prestasietoets en 'n teelwaarde te
bereken nie. Dit is eers as seleksie in 'n spesifieke
rigting plaasvind dat die genetiese samestelling van 'n
bevolking (byvoorbeeld 'n ras of kudde) verander word.
Die blote meting van 'n eienskap en berekening van
teelwaardes beteken nie dat 'n mens blindelings in 'n
spesifieke rigting moet selekteer vir daardie eienskap
nie. Meting van 'n spesifieke eienskap (byvoorbeeld
volwasse gewig) word soms juis gedoen om te
kontroleer dat dit nie verander nie.
Die dier met die hoogste meting of teelwaarde is nie
noodwendig die beste of mees gewenste dier nie. Die
gewensde dier hang onder meer af van jou
teeldoelwitte, kwaliteit en kwantiteit van die beskikbare
voeding, klimaat, teelstelsel en produksiestelsel.
Alhoewel daar positiewe genetiese korrelasies bestaan
tussen onder andere geboortegewig, groeitempo en
volwasse gewig, is hierdie korrelasies nie 100% nie. Dit
beteken dat dit moontlik is om groeitempo geneties te
vehoog sonder om noodwendig geboortegewig en/of
volwasse gewig te verhoog.
“Hoe groter, hoe beter” is eenvoudig nie waar nie.
Groter beeste sal nie noodwendig die produksie per
hektaar verhoog nie. In teendeel, as gevolg van die
positiewe genetiese korrelasies tussen sekere
eienskappe, waarsku ons altyd dat seleksie vir
groeitempo of liggaamsgewig altyd met beperkings op
geboortegewig, volwasse gewig en skouerhoogte
gepaard moet gaan om te verhoed dat daar indirek
geselekteer word vir groter diere.
reproduksie-tempo deur onder andere tussenkalfperiode
(TKP) gemeet en speengewig deur die 205-dae gewig.
Gewig of groeitempo is nie die belangrikste eienskappe
by vleisbeeste is nie. Vrugbaarheid (vroeë en gereelde
kalwing) is ekonomies gesproke by verre die
belangrikste eienskap by vleisbeeste. Daarom moet dit
altyd voorrang kry by seleksie. Terloops, seleksie vir
vroeë geslagsrypheid is 'n baie doeltreffende metode is
om vir vrugbaarheid te selekteer.
In Figure 1 en 2 word die tendense in gemiddelde 205-dae
gewig en TKP aangedui vir alle kuddes wat aan die Skema
deelneem.
Wat se Vordering is Moontlik?
Die twee belangrikste eienskappe wat die biologiese
doeltreffendheid van 'n vleisbees onderneming beïnvloed
is reproduksie-tempo en speengewigte. In die Skema word
220
205 DAE GEWIGTE (kg)
210
200
190
180
170
160
08
06
04
20
20
02
20
00
20
98
96
20
19
19
92
94
19
90
19
88
19
86
19
84
19
82
19
80
19
78
19
76
19
74
19
72
19
19
19
68
70
66
19
64
62
19
19
19
19
60
150
JAAR
Figuur 2:
Nasionale gemiddelde tussenkalfperiode
(TKP) van kuddes wat deelneem aan die Skema
460
450
TKP (Dae)
440
430
420
410
08
20
07
06
20
20
05
20
04
20
03
02
20
20
01
00
99
20
20
98
19
19
97
19
96
95
19
19
94
19
93
92
19
91
19
19
90
89
19
88
19
19
87
19
86
85
19
19
84
83
82
19
19
81
19
19
80
19
79
78
19
19
77
76
75
19
19
74
400
JAAR
Summary
Performance testing is, simply said, a selection, breeding
and management tool to increase the efficiency and
profitability of beef production. It is alarming that in these
modern times there are still some cattle farmers who are
not doing basic record keeping and performance testing of
their herds. Most of the reasons for not doing basic record
keeping and performance testing are based on
misconceptions and ignorance. By supplying cattle farmers
and breeders with the true facts to address these
misconceptions and ignorance, illustrating to them the
value and benefits of performance testing and making them
aware of the dangers and how to avoid it, it is hoped that
every cattle farmer will be convinced that cattle farming
without performance testing is less profitable and not
sustainable.
“Be not afraid of moving slowly;
be afraid only of standing still”.
49
ARTIKELS
As gevolg van die groot rol wat voerkrale speel in die
voorsiening van beesvleis aan die Suid-Afrikaanse
verbruiker, is dit belangrik om, bo en behalwe diere se
prestasie onder veldtoestande, ook diere se prestasie
onder voerkraal toestande te toets en geneties te
verbeter om sodoende vleis meer kostedoeltreffend te
produseer. Die probleem is egter dat die speenkalfprodusent meestal nie 'n premie kry vir prestasiegetoetsde, kwaliteit kalwers nie. Dit is egter 'n
onderwerp vir 'n ander keer...
230
19
BLUP teelwaardes word wêreldwyd reeds vir 'n paar
dekades aanvaar en gebruik as die mees akkurate
metode om die genetiese meriete van diere te voorspel.
Teelwaardes word beraam op grond van diere se
prestasiemetings, verwantes en deesdae ook
genomiese inligting. Hoe meer metings daar is op 'n
dier en sy verwantes, hoe meer akkuraat kan die dier se
teelwaardes voorspel word. Die wetenskap van
genomika hou groot moontlikhede in om teelwaardes
meer akkuraat te voorspel, veral by jong diere (sonder
nageslag), vir eienskappe wat moeilik of baie duur is om
te meet (bv. voeromsetdoeltreffendheid) of wat eers
laat in 'n dier se lewe gemeet kan word (bv.
melkproduksie van 'n bul se dogters). Wat egter baie
belangrik is om te besef, is dat prestasietoetdata en
verwantskappe tussen diere (stambome) uiters
noodsaaklik is om genomiese inligting (SNPs) te
gebruik om diere se teelwaardes meer akkuraat te
voorspel.
Figuur 1:
Nasionale gemiddelde 205 dae gewig van
kuddes wat deelneem in die Skema
19
Vrugbaarheid word nie net deur voeding en
liggaamskondisie bepaal nie. Faktore soos voeding,
liggaamskondisie en geslagsiektes speel wel 'n groot
rol by vrugbaarheid, maar daar is wel genetiese
variasie tussen diere en daar kan doeltreffend
geselekteer word vir diere wat geneties vrugbaarder is,
veral binne kudde verband waar alle diere aan
dieselfde voeding en bestuur onderworpe is. Daar is
talle wetenskaplike studies en praktiese voorbeelde
wat hierdie stelling korrek bewys.
Die gemiddelde speengewig van kalwers gebore in 2007
was 49kg swaarder as die gebore in 1960. Die gemiddelde
TKP van koeie wat in 2007 gekalf het is 29 korter as die TKP
van koeie wat in 1974 gekalf het.
Gebruik van Blup teelwaardes deur die kommersiële teler
'n Paar basiese teeldoelwitte is:
1) Vrugbaarheid.
2) Maksimum groei tot op speen en selfs daarna vir die
voerkraal.
3) Teel van verse vir vervangings in sy koei kudde.
'n Teeldoelwit is die eindpunt – dit wat 'n teler wil bereik.
Seleksie kriteria is die kenmerke waarvoor geselekteer
moet word om die teeldoelwit te bereik. In die geval van
vrugbaarheid is die seleksie kriteria (dit waarvoor
geselekteer moet word) skrotum omtrek, kalfinterval en
ouderdom by eerste kalwing. Vir maksimum groei tot op
speen is die klem op speengewig en melkproduksie soos
gemeet deur die Blup teelwaardes vir speen direk en speen
maternaal.
Blup teelwaardes kan sinvol gebruik word vir regstellig
(korrektiewe parings) in die kudde, bv. lae melkproduksie of
om sterk punte in jou kudde nog verder te verbeter.
Vir elke teeldoelwit kan unieke bulle met gewenste
teelwaardes vir spesifieke seleksie kriteria met behulp van
Blup identifiseer word wat onmoontlik is deur slegs visuele
beoordeling sonder teelwaardes. Dis wel moontlik om na
gelang van die vader en moeder se prestasie, ook 'n keuse
te maak; maar teelwaardes is 'n voorspelling van hoe die
bul sal teel en 'n aanduiding van hoe sy nageslag sal
presteer.
Alhoewel daar op 'n veilingskatalogus teelwaardes verskyn
vir byna elke meetbare eienskap; is daar drie basiese
teelwaardes om altyd in ag te neem by bul seleksie. Dit is
die teelwaardes vir geboorte direk, speen direk en speen
maternaal.
Hieronder word 'n paar gevalle bespreek hoe
teelwaardes toe gepas kan word:
1) Maksimum groei – Hoë teelwaardes vir geboorte direk
en speen direk. Daar bestaan 'n hoë korrelasie tussen
geboorte gewig en speen gewig wat beteken 'n groot
kalf by geboorte behoort ook swaar te speen. Die bul se
nageslag sal natuurlik verkieslik almal vir die voerkraal
bestem wees en die bul sal nie aangewend word om
verse te dek nie. Die teler moet egter ook bedag wees
op moontlike kalfprobleme. Ook genoem 'n bul vir
terminale gebruik.
2) Vervangings verse – Geboorte direk rondom ras
gemiddeld en bogemiddeld op speen direk en speen
maternaal indien moontlik. Speen maternaal is ook
belangrik omrede dit 'n aanduiding is van
melkproduksie en belangrik is in die koei kudde vir
swaar speen kalwers.
In hierdie geval sal gebalanseerde teelwaardes
belangrik wees omrede 'n goeie balans van ekonomies
belangrike eienskappe in die koei kudde vasgelê moet
word.
3) Indien 'n teler bewus is van 'n tekortkoming in sy kudde
bv. Lae melkproduksie sal die logiese keuse wees om 'n
bul te identifiseer wat sterk is op speen maternal, maar
sonder om heeltemal in te boet op die ander
eienskappe.
51
4) Indien die teler reeds goeie groei tot op speen het in sy
kudde (dus bogemiddelde teelwaardes speen direk,
maar hy wil geneties nog verder verbeter, moet hy altyd
'n bul wat 'n beter teelwaarde het as sy vorige kudde bul
vir speen direk aankoop vir gebruik.
5) Vrugbaarheid kan deur die gebruik van kalf tempo en
skrotum omvang teelwaardes verbeter word. Skrotum
omvang is byvoorbeeld 'n aanduiding van die
vrugbaarheid van 'n bul. Ander inligting soos die tussenkalf periode van die bul se moeder is ook waardevolle
inligting.
ARTIKELS
Indien die kommersiële teler geregistreerde bulle koop,
kan hy deur middel van Blup teelwaardes, sy bulkeuse
baseer op voorkoms sowel as die genetiese vermoë van 'n
bul. Dit is maklik om deur middel van voeding 'n bul se
genetiese tekortkominge weg te steek. Afhangend van sy
teeldoelwitte, kan die kommersiële teler deur middel van
Blup teelwaardes, 'n ingeligte besluit neem van hoe hy die
bul in sy kudde kan aanwend om sy doelwitte te
verwesenlik. 'n Teler het op 'n dag besef nadat hy 'n mooi,
groot bul teen 'n “winskoop” gekoop het, het hy ook begin
kalwers trek! By nadere inspeksie van die teelwaardes, het
dit aan die lig gekom dat die bul 'n teelwaarde van +3.5 kg
op geboorte direk het. Die ras gemiddeld was op daardie
stadium +0.5 kg. Die bul se teelwaarde was 'n hele 3 kg
bokant ras gemiddeld, maar dit was onmoontlik om met die
blote oog te sien of die bul groot kalwers gaan gee of nie.
Onthou teelwaardes is die gedeelte van 'n dier se prestasie
wat oordraagbaar is na sy nageslag. Die prestasie van 'n
dier wat toegeskryf word aan goeie voeding kan nie na sy
nageslag oor gedra word nie; omrede dié prestasie toe
geskryf word aan bestuur en nie noodwendig goeie
genetika nie. Die ideal is natuurlik goeie genetika en goeie
bestuur!
Frans Jordaan
LNR-Diereproduksie-instituut, Privaatsak X2, Irene, 0062
Suid-Afrika
Tel. +27 (0)12 672 9085, E-pos: [email protected]
Om teelwaardes prakties en so eenvoudig
moontlik toe te pas is die volgende belangrik;
1) Teelwaardes is altyd in dieselfde eenheid as die meting
m.a.w. indien speen gewig in kilogram gemeet word is
die teelwaarde ook in kilogram.
2) Die maatstaf waarteen 'n teelwaarde gemeet moet
word om te sien of dit goed of swak is, is altyd die ras
gemiddeld vir 'n spesifieke eienskap wat baseer is op
die lewende diere in die ras en verskyn ook op die
veilingskatalogus.
4) Bekom die veilingskatalogus so lank moontlik voor die
dag van veiling en maak 'n kortlys van bulle wat inpas by
die verlangde teeldoelwitte. Op die dag van die veiling
sal die teler nie geïntimideer voel deur 'n klomp syfers
nie, want hy het reeds 'n kortlys van moontlike bulle in
gedagte en hoef slegs visueel 'n keuse te maak.
5) Onthou 'n mooi bul het nie noodwendig gewenste
teelwaardes nie. 'n Bul met gewenste teelwaardes kan
egter ook 'n mooi bul wees.
3) Teelwaardes kan positief of negatief wees en vir 'n
eienskap; soos geboorte direk kan 'n negatiewe waarde
“beter” wees as 'n positiewe waarde.
Indien u enige verder inligting rondom die toepassing van
teelwaardes verlang kan u Frans Jordaan kontak by die
Nasionale Vleisbeesskema van die LNR.
Tel. 012-672 9085 [email protected]
IRENE Bultoetssentrum - Toetsdatums 2013
Toets Nr.
Test Nr.
ARTICLES
52
Aankoms
Arrival
Aanpassing
Adaptation
Toetsperiode
Test period
Vertrek
Departure
Gebore na
Born after
1
28-11-12
29-11-12
27-12-12/21-03-13
26-03-13
30-03-12
2
07-01-13
08-01-13
05-02-13/30-04-13
06-05-13
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IRENE Bull Testing Centre - Test dates 2013
Reproductive performance of the beef herd Focus on the Village Cow
Dr Baldwin Nengovhela & Prof TL Nedambale
In South Africa reproductive rates of the emerging sector
are estimated to be at 40% since 1990 (Tapson, 1990) and
continues to be cited as this average or lower values
(Langa, 2012). The reproductive performance of the
commercial sector is also cited to be in decline (Schutte,
2012). The importance of fertility in beef cattle enterprises
is well understood by individual farmers and support staff
like extensions officers, scientists, veterinarians etc. It is
quoted that reproduction impacts profit of cattle farming five
times more than animal growth, ten times more than
carcass traits (Bergh, 2012). It was also cited that 10%
increase in reproduction leads to 8% increase in profit
(Bergh, 2012). South Africa as a country in cattle business
loses R720 million to R1 billion weaner market to Namibia.
In 2011, South Africa imported about 200 000 weaners from
Namibia and could be importing more from Botswana if
there was no blockade of live exports by that country's
government.
The emerging herd is estimated to be having 5.7 million
cattle. Assuming 30% of the 5.7 million cattle are heifers
and cows of mating weight and age. Therefore the
emerging herd may be composed of 1 710 000 breeding
animals. If only 40% of these animals are calving every
year then the herd could be contributing 684 000 weaners
but another statistic says of these 50% do die before
weaning. If this herd could increase its reproductive
performance by 10% in 2013 and reduce its pre-wean
mortality to below 10%, there could be a significant
increase in number of weaners for the local market. If the
improvement trend can continue there can be a significant
growth in the beef industry and the country can be a major
exporter of grain fed beef to Africa. The challenges we have
as a country is that we don't have systematic ways to
support and resolve production and health issues within
our agricultural industries including the beef industry. We
still have disease like CA, Trichomoniasis, Brucellosis,
From right: Prof LT Nedambale (ARC);Dr S Ntutela (ARC);Dr EL Matjuda
(ARC); Vho Makhadzi T Bele (farmer); Dr B Gumede (TIA); P Maruping (TIA);
M Mphaphathi (ARC);RE Madamalala (Farmer)
ARC-Animal Production Institute, Private Bag X2, Irene, 0062,
South Africa
vibriosis, TB and frequent outbreaks of FMD. Interestingly,
there are still a number of cows and heifers that cycle
without a bull to mate them. There are a lot of dysfunctional
bulls that are expected to mate successfully with cows and
heifers. Moreover, in this sector cows and heifers get sick
for extended period but never get treated and are underfed
and mal-nutrition. In addition, there are many cows and
heifers that live exposed to large loads of external and
internal parasites. Yet the country spends large budgets on
institutions and directorates that support beef cattle
farming. We also spend large amounts controlling diseases
outbreaks. As a country in cattle business, we need to focus
on issues that leverage the cattle industry. This article is
about focusing on the village cow as a leverage point for the
South African beef industry. It also acknowledges and
appreciates the Technology Innovation Agency (TIA) on
large investment made to focus on improving village cattle
from April 2012 to March 2015.
Perfect Cow
The village cow is the most neglected animal in South
Africa. It is neglected by emerging producers, support staff
and policy makers in the country. With all the neglect the
village cow is proving to be a perfect cow that with a bit of
support could be more productive. The concept of a 'perfect
cow' is highly debated amongst scientists as well as
farmers. The perfect cow has changed with time, and
progress has been made to get cows that fit production
systems. A perfect cow must meet a long list of merits on
traits that affect profitability of beef businesses. Hyde
wrote the following points that most animal professionals
and farmers should concur with, and it is worth restating as
is
(i) 'As a replacement heifer with little supplement feeding,
the perfect cow should have reached puberty in time to
produce the first calf by the age of two years.' This is an
acceptable practice according to many breed societies.
Heifers are found to conceive at six weeks breeding
period if they have reached a critical mating weight,
which is about 60% of the mature weight . (ii) 'Every
year it should conceive at the first opportunity to breed,
calf unassisted and then wean healthy and vigorous
calves. It should provide adequate maternal care,
produce adequate levels of high quality colostrum and
milk to support calf growth but remain consistent with
the nutritional environment'. Any deviation from this
performance standard is very costly to a beef
production enterprise . A cow performing within this
standard is being efficient therefore a cow should calve
every year while in the herd. Most village cows struggle
to calve every year but there is a good number that do
53
ARTIKELS
Introduction
even under very harsh environments. To maintain high
reproductive performance levels of more than 85%, the
herd needs a high selection pressure. Emerging
farmers do not put any pressure on the village cows
thus we have a good number that skip a year or two.
Farmers need to strive for high herd reproductive
efficiency. Elements of reproductive efficiency other
than calving percentage of 95% to 100%, include
calving patterns in which 65% of the cows, calf in the
first three weeks, 25% in the second of three weeks,
and the rest in the third three weeks: the calving spread
should be only nine weeks. Even without practicing a
breeding seasons, emerging farmers should selecting
against animals that calf outside nature's best time to
calf – when there is feeds for cows to supply milk to
calves and also regain their condition. This affects profit
in the sense that the number of calves sold had heavier
weights; lowered production costs (no feeding costs)
and gets better prices because uniform packages
attract buyers.
(iii) 'The cow should be structurally sound with udders and
teats small enough to nurse a newborn calf'. Beef cow
are generally run on vast extensive areas, and thus
most calves are born far from the farmers' supervision;
therefore, calves have to start suckling on their own to
meet the nutritional needs. Calves also need colostrum
to develop their immune systems against diseases
prevalent in the area.
(iv) 'The cow should be an easy keeper and be able to
efficiently convert available feedstuff into the energy
required for maintenance, breeding, pregnancy and
lactation'.
ARTICLES
54
(v) 'It should be tolerant of heat, cold, humidity, solar
radiation, high altitude and be resistant to disease and
parasites'. Scientists and farmers have progressed in
breeding cows for specific production systems and
ecological regions with the help of nature and natural
selection.
(vi) 'It should have good temperament- not too fearful of or
hostile to humans but be protective of her calf from
predators and strangers'. There are very few beef
rangelands in the world without predators, especially
those that prey on young calves, thus there is a need to
select animals with maternal instincts to protect their
offspring. Temperament is known to be highly heritable
and thus selection for good temperament is a normal
practice in beef herds.
(vii) 'She should contribute to her calf's genetic merit for
acceptable growth rate, feed efficiency, carcass, meat
quality and adaptability. The cow just like the bull,
contributes half of its genes to the offspring. Even
though it has less herd influence, the cow still has some
influence on the herd's future performance. Cows
should be selected on genetic merits (Genomic EBv or
EBV). The village cow is still not genetically evaluated in
South Africa despite over 50 years of beef improvement
schemes. The growth in Kaonofatso ya Dikgomo
through treasury funding for 2012 to 2015 is an
opportunity to get a village cow genetically evaluated.
There is a need to evaluate the available technologies
that could realise genetic evaluation of the village cow,
not just the traditional quantitative way.
Invest in the village cow
Village cows manage to give birth to calves with very limited
investment made on them. The investment refers to
financial as well as intellectual. Intellectual in a sense that
there are no publications that focuses on village cows in
South Africa and thus no special knowledge is develop on
how best to keep them productive. In villages we come
across cows that lived and reproduced for 15 to 18 years
and this valuable genetics just leaks out of the national
herd. The need for cheap rapid-test kits for diseases
diagnosis, pregnancy testing and reproductive
abnormalities that are village farmer user friendly are
needed to support this cow. In some beef enterprises
management practices issues such as estrus
synchronization, artificial insemination, embryo transfer,
pregnancy diagnosis, reproductive track scoring, flushing
and body condition scoring are norms but not easily
accessible under village farming condition. There are
several practices that are to be done by veterinarians only
in a country where they are very scarce. So there is a need
to short-circuit some of these needs through kits
development. There is need to think new and differently on
how best to support the village cow.
Beef Profit Partnerships (BPP) - Australian Centre of
International Agricultural Research Investment.
A soft technology approach was used in a project titled BPP
from 2001 until 2006 which resulted in improvement of
calving percentage to 61%. This was just based on making
farmers realize issues affecting reproductive performance
of their village cows and advise that they should act on it.
From Right: Prof TL Nedambale & Dr MA Magadlela
From Left: Genevieve Davis (TIA). Helen Mapeka (ARC),Anemerie Hattingh
(TIA);Mmamose Seloane(TIA), Brigitte Binneman (TIA)
The processes used in that project got farmers and their
support staff to look at the situation around their cows'
reproduction and identify actions that need to be taken to
resolve low reproductive performance. Things that
emerged at the time were shortages of bulls which resulted
in high cow to bull ratio; one herd had CA and inbreeding.
The process was good at revealing the problems and
facilitating that the farmers resolve them.
investment on how to fully exploit the potential of the village
cow, which will in the long-term impact the performance of
this herd. It will be sad if by 2020 and 2040 the herd will be
cited to be producing at the same levels as in 1990 and
2012.
TIA Investment
TIA invested money to have at least 2200 village cows in
eight provinces evaluated and put through assisted
reproductive program that includes embryo transfer (ET)
and artificial insemination (AI) following synchronization.
This is a huge project on village cow that brings in
reproductive physiologists, animal health, animal
geneticists and technology adoption teams to ensure that
the cow in the village gets studied while realizing the
expected outcome of improvement in calving percentage.
Nine months of facilitating the process to reach the cows
exposes the challenges that relates to the design of the
support systems in the country. Those tasked to support the
village cow, seem not having shared understanding on how
it should be done. In this project, village cows are screened
for reproductive disease, their reproductive tracts are
evaluated and body conditions are scored. The village bulls
are evaluated for their functional efficiency and their semen
collected and evaluated by computer assisted sperm
analyzer- Sperm Class Analyzer® system. More
sophisticated video cameras and computers are
continuously being developed that provides automatic
sperm motility, velocity analysis and captured an image that
was previously infeasible. Cows found to be in poor body
conditions are given a series of multivitamin and
multiminerals supplements. The level of hands-on activity
in this project around the village cow is likely to result in the
significant increase in the calving percentage in these
herds.
References
Bergh, L. 2012. ARC-Glen Farmers Day, Held on the 26th of
September 2012, Glen Agriculture College, Bloemfontein, South
Africa
Green, RD. Field, TG, Hammet, NS, Ripley, BM & Doyle, SP
1999, 'Can beef cattle satisfy customer's demands in the 21st
century?', Proceedings of the Association for Advancement of
Animal Breeding and Genetic, vol. 13, pp. 17-43.
Hyde, L. 2001, The Perfect Cow: Future Selection Tools for Cow
Size & Fleshing Ability, viewed 22 November 2012.,
http://www.nalf.org/pdf/2010/sep3/2001sum.pdf>.
Tapson, DR. 1990, 'A socio-economic analysis of small-holder
cattle producers in Kwazulu', PhD thesis, Vista Un Tapson, DR
1990, 'A socio-economic analysis of small-holder cattle
producers in Kwazulu', PhD thesis, Vista University.
Simela, L. 2012. The South African Emerging |Producers:
Challenges and options for the future. Proceedings of the Agri
Benchmarks Beef and Sheep Global Forum. |Held at Pretoria on
June, 21, 2012
Schutte, 2012. Agribenchmark Proceedings of the Agri Benchmarks Beef and Sheep Global Forum. Held at Pretoria on June,
21, 2012
Wheaton-Smith, 1957, Breeding better cows, Dairy Farmers
Books Ltd, Ipswich.
55
A village cow is a resource that South Africa with its stocks
of knowledge and technologies need to fully exploit. A
village cow should be considered the leverage point for
interventions that expect to grow the beef industry in South
Africa. There is a need for a long term strategy and
ARTIKELS
Conclusion

newsletter nuusbrief - Agricultural Research Council

Transcription

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