SAC Research

To develop software to enable beef producers to choose the most appropriate breeds and replacement system for their enterprise.

To develop a maternal breeding objective and to produce tools to select bulls for that objective.

BREEDS Software - Choosing the most suitable breed or cross

One of the most important tools to come out of this research has been the innovative BREEDS (Beef Replacement Enterprise Evaluation Decisions Support) software, which helps beef producers make the appropriate choices about suckler cow replacement strategy.

Many traits contribute to the overall profitability of the beef production enterprise and there are many beef cattle breeds available to British farmers. Identifying the most suitable breed or breeds is not an easy task.

A database of the performance characteristics of the main beef producing breeds was developed combining information from scientific literature and breed characteristic data collected by Signet. The database is used by the BREEDS software.

Four main alternative strategies can be investigated with the BREEDS program:

• Sourcing replacement beef x dairy heifers from the dairy herd.

• Breeding pure-bred suckler beef herds.

• Rotational crossing using two or three breeds.

• Using composite/synthetic maternal beef breeds.

The program evaluates and predicts changes from the user’s current beef enterprise economic performance and profitability, following changes of breeds and replacement breeding systems.

Further details can be obtained from your local SAC/ADAS/MLC Signet beef specialist.

EBV development - Choosing the best animals for breeding

Estimated Breeding Values (EBVs) are widely used to select individual beef animals with desirable growth and meat attributes. However, as a result of this research new EBVs) for maternal traits will be available soon. The traits of primary importance are reproductive success, age at puberty, longevity, maternal weaning weight, maternal calving ease and cow weight.

A new economic selection index (Maternal Production Value), comprised of four sub-indexes, has been developed in order to allow producers to assess the impact of a bull being used to breed replacement heifers:

Maternal Production –

• Maternal Ability – reproductive and maternal ability plus longevity 

• Cow Size - puts a cost on the maintenance feed cost of cows.  

• Calving - as current Calving Value sub-index     

• Growth/Carcass - as current Beef Value sub-index.

As a result of research by SAC and partners, up-to-date advice and decision support tools are available to allow beef producers to:

• choose the most appropriate breeds or crosses for their beef system.

• choose the best replacement policy.

• select the best individual animals to breed replacements.

Those contemplating changes to the structure and breed make-up of their beef enterprises in the light of CAP Reform may find the BREEDS software particularly helpful.