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| Selecting bulls to breed better dairy herds is set to become easier than ever,
with the release of the Good Bulls Guide in association with the August release
of Australian Breeding Values.
Produced twice a year, the Good Bulls Guide lists bulls by popular breeding
objectives such as type, longevity, mastitis resistance, production and profit.
Pick the table that reflects the needs of your herd with the confidence you
will be improving the genetic potential of your herd ... |
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| Patrick Glass is looking forward to using the Good Bulls Guide, a new tool to
simplify bull selection decisions.
He dairies with his wife Kerrie, and son Brendan at Gundowring in Victoria’s
north east. Their 384-cow autumn calving herd includes grade and registered
Holsteins in the name Kerrick Park.
Brendan, is an enthusiastic breeder who enjoys researching bulls and reviewing
catalogues to create a list of potential bulls suited to the herd’s breeding
objective ... |
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| Tasmanian dairyfarmers Trevor and Tanya Saunders believe they get the ‘best of
both worlds’ by using a combination of progeny test (PT) and proven bulls over
their herd: the PT bulls offer potentially superior genetics at a reasonable
price, while the proven bulls offer more reliable information to use in the
selection process.
The Saunders dairy at Scottsdale in north east Tasmania, milking 230 cows with
calving split equally between autumn and spring ... |
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| Dairy farmers interested in accessing some of the best genetics available at a
discounted price should consider including progeny test (PT) sires in their
bull selections.
Michelle Axford from the Australian Dairy Herd Improvement Scheme ADHIS)
explains that progeny test straws come from highly selected young bulls with
the potential to become the next generation of top sires, so they represent the
latest genetics ... |
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| ADHIS welcomes the news of the Victorian Government’s $1.2m investment into
improved dairy genetic testing.
The benefits from this DNA technology will be seen within the next few
lactations and for years hereafter, said Dairy Australia managing director Ian
Halliday.
The funding will double the amount of DNA information available on Australian
Holsteins, the nation’s predominant dairy breed ... |
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| Australian dairy farmers can choose from vast range of bulls to use over their
cows, including those bred here and overseas. In such a wide world of dairy
genetics, how do farmers compare the potential value of different bulls within
their own herd?
Michelle Axford from the Australian Dairy Herd Improvement Scheme explains that
Australian Breeding Values (ABVs) allow dairy farmers to compare bulls with
Australian daughters with bulls with overseas daughters ... |
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| When choosing which bulls to use over their herd, dairy farmers are urged to
use a team of bulls, ‘rather than putting all their eggs in the one basket’.
Michelle Axford from the Australian Dairy Herd Improvement Scheme (ADHIS)
explains that one of the reasons for the team approach is to enable the
inclusion of bulls with a range of reliability in the team.
“The results farmers can expect from different bulls depend to some extent on
the bull’s reliability,” she said ... |
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| Ray Kitchen is undoubtedly one of the country’s top dairy breeders, with his
Holstein herd, Carenda, rated equal number two with Trevor Henry from Maffra
for Australian Selection Index (ASI) in 2010. Carenda has a number of bulls
proven and successful on the commercial market.
Many Australian dairy farmers will be familiar with bulls bred by Ray and Donna
Kitchen. They include CSUP, Gravita, Coolhand, Yukon, Faraway, Grazer and
Fevola ... |
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| The Australian Profit Ranking (APR) in the April 2010 ABV Release has been
calculated using an updated formula which places more emphasis on daughter
fertility, survival and mastitis, compared to the previous APR.
The APR identifies traits of economic importance to the Australian herd and can
be considered the national breeding objective.
Breeding objectives, for an individual herd or the national herd need periodic
updates to account for changing milk prices and input costs ... |
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| ADHIS is an information organisation and since its first web presence in 1996,
the accuracy and functionality of the website has been very important.
From time to time, websites require some improvements to keep pace with current
technology. We are pleased to advise that ADHIS has ‘refreshed’ its website to
make it easier and faster for users to access information.
Soon, you will notice some changes to the website. In particular,
1 ... |
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| Genetic gain in Australian dairy herds is about to get a helping hand thanks to
genomics: the use of DNA data to assist in the calculation of ABVs to predict
the commercial performance of animals.
The technology provides the opportunity to make faster genetic progress by
using younger bulls with greater confidence than traditional progeny testing.
Michelle Axford from the Australian Dairy Herd Improvement Scheme (ADHIS) said
that using younger bulls can deliver improved genetics sooner ... |
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| The key to a successful breeding program for your herd is to have a clear
concise breeding objective.
This document "Developing a Breeding Objective" will help you achieve this
through answering a few simple questions and giving you a record of what your
plans are, to follow this year and into the future.
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| A breeding objective identifies the traits a farmer requires to improve the
profitability of their herd. It will stay fairly constant over several years.
In contrast, a breeding plan is a list of the tasks needed to be done this
season towards achieving the breeding objective.
A breeding plan should be practical, cost effective, manage risk and adjusted
each season ... |
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| Buying semen straws is a bit like grocery shopping, especially when finances
are tight, says Jenny Hurrell who runs the breeding program for the family’s
750-cow, year round calving dairy herd.
Knowing your products and prices is the key – to both the grocery shopping and
semen purchases, according to Mrs Hurrell.
A passionate dairy cow breeder for 30 years, Mrs Hurrell farms with her
husband, Michael, and son, Ben, at Comboyne on the mountain plateau inland from
the NSW mid-coast ... |
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| The latest set of Australian Breeding Values (ABVs) has been released by the
Australian Dairy Herd Improvement Scheme (ADHIS) to help dairy farmers make
decisions for the coming breeding season.
ABVs provide an objective measure of the genetic merit of dairy sires for a
variety of traits including production, workability, health and physical
traits. Animals can be compared against each other or against the current
average of their breed ... |
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| Finding the best bulls available for a breeding program is now much easier with
this week’s release (8 July) of the free Selectabull tool on the Australian
Dairy Herd Improvement Scheme’s (ADHIS) website.
Selectabull lets farmers create a clear breeding objective and find bulls to
meet the farm’s objective.
Dairyfarmers can access Selectabull by visiting the ADHIS website at
www.adhis.com.au and registering a password which gives them free access to the
Selectabull functions ... |
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| Finding the best bulls available for your breeding program is easier than ever
with the release of the web-based Selectabull tool on the ADHIS website.
The new-look Selectabull lets farmers create a clear breeding objective and
find published bulls that are best for their business. Bulls can be ranked
according to the Australian Profit Ranking or a more customised index.
Dairyfarmers can access Selectabull by visiting the ADHIS website at
www.adhis.com ... |
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| Many dairy farmers are closely examining all input costs, to trim already lean
budgets in response to reduced milk prices.
Michelle Axford, from the Australian Dairy Herd Improvement Scheme (ADHIS) has
a number of suggestions for cutting breeding costs without compromising genetic
gain.
“On average, AI is more profitable than bulls. Without spending anymore money,
AI will continue to contribute more profit to herds through improved
replacement heifers,” said Mrs Axford ... |
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| Trevor and Tracy Henry have always said that breeding cows with better genetics
is a profitable strategy. Throughout the years their selection decisions have
been focused on breeding cows with high genetic merit, with their herd now
ranked 11th in the country based on its Australian Selection Index (ASI).
The Henrys milk a 500-cow, split-calving herd on their property, Wilara, in
Victoria’s Macalister Irrigation District ... |
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| The two most important determinants of a dairy bull’s genetic merit for
profitability are milk production and survivability.
And although many people express the desire for long lasting cows, few identify
the Survival ABV as part of their selection process.
Survivability – or longevity as many people call it – refers to a bull’s
ability to produce daughters that last in the herd for many lactations ... |
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| The Australian Dairy Herd Improvement Scheme (ADHIS) has appointed Adam Daniel
to the newly created position of Project Officer – Genetics Learning Package.
His role will be to encourage dairy farmers to make better use of Australian
Breeding Values (ABVs) through communication and training programs.
Mr Daniel said he was excited about taking up the new position which offered
the opportunity to make a real difference to the way ABVs are used in dairy
businesses ... |
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| The latest genetic trends and production statistics for Australia’s national
dairy herd have just been released in the 2008 Australian Dairy Herd
Improvement Report, published jointly by the Australian Dairy Herd Improvement
Scheme (ADHIS) and the National Herd Improvement Association of Australia
(NHIA).
Allan Burgess, ADHIS Chairman, said the trends, based on data collected through
herd recording, reflect some dramatic changes in the industry ... |
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| Artificial insemination (AI) beats natural joining hands down. Recent research
shows that a dairy cow bred by AI is on average, $53 more profitable every year
than it’s naturally bred counterpart. For a 400-cow herd, that’s an extra
$21,000 pure profit every year!
This is the finding by Mekonnen HaileMariam and Mike Goddard at the Victorian
Department of Primary Industries, who used national herd recording data to
quantify the value of AI to dairy business profitability ... |
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| Victorian dairy farmers Leanne and Bill Verboon know that breeding and profit
go hand in hand, which is why they select bulls rated in the top 50 for
Australian Profit Ranking (APR).
“We see breeding as the foundation for long term business viability. Pasture
management and herd nutrition have an immediate and temporary impact on milk
production and farm profitability. But breeding is permanent and long term,”
said Mrs Verboon who manages the breeding program for their 320-cow herd ... |
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| Breeding decisions have a fundamental impact on dairy business productivity,
with genetics contributing about 30% of annual per cow production gains.
Michelle Axford from the Australian Dairy Herd Improvement Scheme explains that
genetic gain is the silent achiever in dairy businesses.
“Some dairy farm decisions such as pasture management and nutrition have an
immediate but temporary impact on milk production and farm profitability ... |
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| May 2008
ADHIS is pleased to announce the appointment of Gert Nieuwhof as Geneticist /
Team Leader with ADHIS / Department of Primary Industries (Victoria).
Originally from the Netherlands Gert has had many years involved with genetics
and genetic evaluation of sheep, beef and pigs. Gert has also conducted genetic
research in dairy cattle having spent time at Wageningen Agricultural
University where he completed his Masters and at the USDA Animal Improvement
Programs Lab in the US ... |
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| Andrew Holloway has a very clear vision of what he aims to achieve through the
breeding program for his 290-cow herd.
He dairies with his brother, Stephen, near Allansford in Victoria’s South West.
While Stephen looks after the pastures, machinery and bookwork, Andrew focuses
on herd management, including the breeding program.
“For about the past four years our main breeding objective has been to improve
longevity and avoid inbreeding,” said Andrew ... |
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| Head: Latest ABVs now available
The Australian Dairy Herd Improvement Scheme (ADHIS) has released its latest
set of Australian Breeding Values (ABVs) to help dairy farmers make objective
decisions about sires to use over their herds.
The April 2008 ABV release brings three significant improvements that will
simplify bull selection for farmers: new expression of non-production ABVs, a
new average and new timing of ABV release ... |
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| The first proof for young bulls will be more reliable, with the release of
Australian Breeding Values (ABVs) twice a year from now on, in April and
August.
The Australian Dairy Herd Improvement Scheme (ADHIS), which releases ABVs,
introduced the new timing to enable ABVs to be based on more up-to-date data,
which makes the proofs more reliable ... |
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| The selection of proven bulls will become simpler thanks to a new method of
expressing some Australian Breeding Values (ABVs). Non-production ABVs for
traits such as Cell Count, Milking Speed and Chest Width will be described as a
percentage more or less than the base (average) of 100.
Farmers who consider non-production traits when making bull selections will
notice a difference in the numbers included in a proven bull’s proof ... |
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| 19 November 2007
ADHIS is pleased to announce the appointment of Michelle Axford to the newly
created position of Project Leader - Genetics Learning Package.
Michelle brings considerable experience in education and extension including a
strong knowledge of genetic improvement to the role ... |
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| The Australian Dairy Herd Improvement Scheme (ADHIS) is a wholly owned
subsidiary of Australian Dairy Farmers (ADF) delivering independent genetic
evaluations to the dairy industry.
At its recent meeting the ADF Board made new appointments to ADHIS Board of
management. The new ADHIS Board consists of Allan Burgess, Peter Aldridge, Ian
Carkeek, John Harlock, Ivan Jones, Stewart McRae and Stuart Tweddle.
The appointment of the new Board marks the commencement of a new era for ADHIS ... |
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| Daniel Abernethy has taken up his position as Executive Officer of the
Australian Dairy Herd Improvement Scheme (ADHIS). He will also carry the title
of Australian Dairy Farmers Limited (ADF) Policy Officer. Daniel replaces
Robert Poole who was ADHIS Executive Officer for the past 6 years. Robert has
been appointed Deputy CEO and Policy Director for ADF ... |
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| The first official Australian Breeding Value's (ABV's) were released 20 years
ago in 1983.
Since that time, the dairy industry has invested about $10 million into funding
ADHIS for an estimated net return of $200 million. Accordingly, ADHIS is
considered one of the most successful dairy industry projects in history.
Many people have been part of this success.
To mark the 20th anniversary, ADHIS announced they would hold a dinner in
Melbourne, on Monday night the 18th August 2003 ... |
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| Following a recommendation from the Advisory Committee, the ADHIS Board has
announced industry codes for the genetic defect known as Complex Vertebral
Malformation (CVM).
AB companies are requested to inform ADHIS of bulls with known CVM status so
that this can be coded on the ADHIS NASIS file. This file is then available to
all semen resellers and dairyfarmers ... |
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| In October last year ADHIS and the Victorian Department of Natural Resources
and Environment arranged for a major funding project for Victorian dairy herd
improvement. It involved a rebate to Victorian herd improvement centres to tag
cows using the National Livestock Identification Scheme (NLIS) approved tag.
The funding ended on 31 May 2001.
Consequently, Victorian centres offered to tag cows at no cost to the farmer ... |
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| Explanation of the PI
By Daniel Abernethy and Dr. Kevin Beard
The Production Index (PI) is a measure of the merit of a cow based on her
performance in the current lactation, compared to other cows of the same breed
in the same herd. It is an estimate based solely on the cow's own performance.
It is not a genetic measure – it does not predict the performance of her
progeny ... |
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| In February 2000, ADHIS will change of base from which production traits are
reported. The ABV base has not been changed since ABVs began in 1982. The
updated base will be the average ABV of cows born in 1995. Changing the base
is necessary to adjust for genetic trends over time. Under the new base, the
genetic merit of all cows and bulls can be compared to a more modern group i.e.
cows born 1995 ... |
