The Quest for the Best A - PowerPoint Presentation

Slide1

The Quest for the Best Animal: Genetics for the Future

Frikkie Neser & Michiel Scholtz

Slide2

The Dilemma with the Cattle Stud Industry :“The Stud world can afford to change the environment to suit their genetics. The commercial beef producer, on the other hand, can only afford to have the genetics that suit their environment”

Ian Lock – Hereford stud breeder

“A true genetic program, focussed on breeding, not feeding!”

” Ian Lock – Hereford stud breeder

Slide3

Factors that will drive future geneticsEconomy

ClimateEnvironmental ActivismConsumer PreferenceTechnology

Slide4

Economy:

Slide5

Current Fertility Situation

All stud breeds in performance recording: 76%Commercial herds in performance recording: 83%

Total commercial sector: 61%

Emerging sector: 48%

Communal sector: 35

%

NEED: defined breeding seasons, breeding objectives (scrotal circumference, days to calving)

Slide6

Income Potential for each scenario:

All Stud herds

Commercial with Performance

Commercial

Emerging

Communal

76%

81%

61%

48%

35%

R573 380

R 608 659R 467 541R 375 814R 284 087

Farm

size

1000ha

Stocking

rate

6ha/LSU

Cow

weight

520kg

Weaning weight

215kg

Weaner

price

R

33.00

Carcass price

R

47.00

Price of C grades

R 37.00

Slide7

Large

Medium

M/Small

Small

Cow weight

620

520

420

376

Calf

weight

240

215190165Number of cows8299114117

80 % Wean

R562 000R601 000R592 000R532 00070 % WeanR497 000R531 000R521 000R468 00060 % WeanR432 000R460 000R450 000R405 000

Profitability of different frame size at different levels of fertility

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M

M x L

M/S x L

S x L

(

MxS

)

xL

Cow weight

520

520

420

376480Calf weight215239226212256Number of cows

99

9911411710680 % WeanR601 000R653 000R680 000R650 000R721 00070 % WeanR531 000R574 000R595 000R568 000

R632 000

60 % Wean

R460 000R496 000R510 000R486 000R543 000

Profitability of different frame size at different levels of fertility

(5% direct & 10% maternal

heterosis

)

Slide9

Benefit of crossbreeding in South Africa

Increased cow productivity (Kg calf weaned / LSU) through properly designed crossbreeding systems:

Simmentaler x Afrikaner = 15%

Angus x Nguni = 21%

F1 Afrikaner cow: up to 49%

without

additional herd costs

through properly designed crossbreeding systems

, thereby

reducing the carbon footprint of beef production.

Slide10

Pure Breeds

Production per ewe mated

Total lambs weaned

Avg

weaning weight per lamb

(kg)

Total weight lambs weaned

(kg)

A:

Shropshire

0.80

23.0

18.4

B: Southdown

0.79

19.1

15.1

C: Hampshire

1.00

29.2

29.2

Mid parent value (¼ A + ¼ B + ½ C)

0.90

25.122.63 way cross (A x B) x C1.2527.534.4Heterosis, % above mid parent value+39+10+52Performance above best breed (%)+25-6+18

Heterosis

in a three breed

sheep cross

(Falconer, 1981)

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You shall keep My statutes. You shall not let your cattle breed with a different kind, …..

Leviticus 19: 19

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Climate

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Sceptics

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1910

1950

2018

The reality of climate change

Slide15

Predictions-Southern Africa

Temperature

Increases in average temperature of 1.5 to 2

o

C, ranging from 0.5 at seaboard to

6

o

C in eastern Namibia and western

Botswana

More

heat spells

Rainfall

General drier southern African region, except for central regions and Eastern Cape → wetter. Significant reduction of more than 40 mm/annum in the eastern parts of Limpopo and Mpumalanga, the south-western Cape and the Cape south coast.Variable rainfall

Slide16

DIRECT EFFECT OF CLIMATE CHANGE ON BEEF FARMING

Ambient temperature has the largest direct effect on beef cattle.

Normal

comfort zone between 4 and

24°C

High

temperatures:

decrease in feed intake in order to reduce digestive heat production

reduce grazing time (animals do not graze in hot midday hours)

sweating and water intake

increases

Slide17

Climate change will:Change type of vegetation

Change vegetation coverChange grazing patternsInternal and external parasites

Impact on how animals adapt to their environment and distribution

Some breeds may disappear or become hobby breeds

Work with nature in selection program

Select for reproduction and production under natural conditions

Slide18

ADAPTATION TO PRODUCTION ENVIRONMENTS

Differences in tolerance to heat between and within breeds.

Thus we can

select

to improve heat tolerance.

Slide19

Comparison of the weaning weights of Sanga sired calves and Angus/Simmental sired calves between the 2015/2016 and 2016/2017 seasons.

Season

Sanga sires

Angus/Simmental

sires

Afrikaner

Bonsmara

Nguni

Angus

Simmental

2015/2016

179

±26.6

161±20.7

172±31.0

176±43.3

166±14.8

Average

171

171

2016/2017

186±34.0

186±27.6

176±26.5204±36.9215±15.9Average1832102015/2016 – 12 heatwaves with 71 heatwave days2016/2017- 2 heatwaves with 7 heatwave daysEffect of heat waves on post weaning ADG:Angus and Simmentaler types – 17% decreaseSanga and Sanga derived types - 9% decrease

Slide20

Heat stress

Heat stress is a common cause of reproductive inefficiency. Semen quality decreases when bulls are exposed to high ambient temperatures.

Correlation between relative humidity one month prior to the start of the breeding season and calving %: -0.95 (Bull fertility

?)

Correlation between minimum temperature and calving %: -0.35. (Cows were unable to cool down at night - lower conception rates and resorptions?)

Slide21

Heat Stress

The effect of weather patterns on growth of beef calves in a warm

climate

Correlation between BLUE values (”true environment”) for weaning weight and maximum seaonal temperature: -0.65

Temperature explains 42% of variation in weaning

weight (3 degrees difference)

Slide22

Feed intake and water intake is different between different breeds

Angus/Simmental – Eat only when its cool (Late afternoon and early morning ) – Gorge themselves –produce more heat

Afrikaner and Nguni smaller portions through the day (up to 15 times a day)

Nguni drink water to cool it self down

Afrikaner’s water intake does not necessary increase when it is hot

Slide23

Environmental

Activism

Slide24

Can

efficiency of beef production be improved?

US Beef productivity (1977-2007):

Beef carcass yield increased 22%

Age at slaughter reduced 21%

Total beef production increased 11%

Population decreased 5 million head

18% less manure

16% lower carbon footprint

Slide25

Advert on Sales Catalogue of Lee

Leachman

When will cattle convert

3.2->1

When pigs can fly

Slide26

Phase C Results1>2.28 kg

2.286 kg per day1>4.6kg2.061 kg per day

1>5.06

1.54 kg per day

Slide27

Phase C Results1>2.28 kg

Charolais2.286 kg per day1>4.6kg

Hereford

2.061 kg per day

1>5.06

Nguni

1.54 kg per day

Slide28

Changes in efficiency traits and cow productivity over 25 years

Type of trend

Wean

weight

Mat

cow weight

ICP

Cow

prod

Afrikaner

Phen

+20.4

-8.3

-19.7

18.3%

Bonsmara

Phen

+9.1

+17.5

-16.9

10.0%

Drakensberg

Phen

+1.7+8.5-34.014.2%NguniPhen-0.7-17.3-19.410.4%

Slide29

The effect of

a 5% change in

the

component

traits

on

cow

productivity and the MEFentericTrait% Change in trait% Change inCow Productivity

MEF

entericCalf weaning weight+5%+5.3%-3.5%Cow weight+5%-4.0%+2.6%ICP-5%

+7.3%-4.8%

Slide30

Improve beef production efficiency in South Africa

through

Improved fertility – current calving percentages

Improved cow efficiency – kg calf weaned /LSU

Post weaning efficiency – select for residual

traits,

feedintake

Effective crossbreeding

Slide31

Consumer Preference:

Slide32

Meat Quality:

Consumers became more sophisticatedDemand a better product

Serious

effort to improve meat quality through

selection

Tenderness

Marbling

Eye muscle area

Change the meat classification system to

a

grading

systemTraceability system should be put in place Select for temperament

Slide33

Eating quality vs Age

Slide34

Perceptions!

Australia: Toughest meat ever tested?BrahmanMost tender meat ever tested?

Brahman

Slide35

Genomics:

Slide36

Genomic selectionIs a statistical process where both phenotypic and genotypic information are combined to estimate a genomic breeding value (GEBV) for a

animalCurrently we use SNP

Will eventually be replace by whole genome sequencing

Slide37

Biggest benefits:

Difficult to measure traitsTraits measured late in lifeTraits measured in only one sexTraits that can only be measured when the animal is dead

Lowly heritable traits

Slide38

Finding True Genetic Merit10/5/2011

2011 NBCEC Brown Bagger Series-Session 1-Weaber

38

Dam EBV

Sire EBV

Progeny

Ped

. Est. EBV

Progeny TRUE

EBV

Mendelian Sampling Effect

Slide39

SA only imports genetic material (no exports)SA‘s contribution to world GEBV’s only phenotypes

Lack of phenotypes for fertility and difficult to measure traitsSmall populations

Lack of collaboration (local and international)

Building a reference population

Funding

Buy in of breeders

Challenges in Stud industry

Slide40

Challenges in Stud industryLimited use of AI

Not enough links (especially for internationals breeds)

Slide41

In The World of Genomics Phenotypes is King

Slide42

Red cow philosophyI don't advocate or have a preference for red cattle

Red cattle obtain on average between 10 – 15% higher prices at auctionsInterestingly in breeds where both black and red animals are available – breeders will tell you that the black animals outperform the red. They, however, still prefer the red.

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Simbra

Bovelder

Senepol

Angus

Brangus

Beefmaster

Slide50

Bonsmara

Slide51

Breeders tend to select for the same traits in the different breeds

Unintentionally for the same genes as wellAfter time breeds tend to resemble it’s other

Breeders should guard against losing the identity of their breeds

Slide52

Summary

Changing times both scary and excitingDue to global warming, animals will have to adapt to:

higher temperature,

lower nutritional value of grasses,

expansion of diseases

Balancing genotype with the production environment is crucial

Selection aims of Stud breeders should be inline with commercial farmer

Adaptability and fertility

Slide53

GeneflowLarge herds > More scope for selection

Large amounts of variation within breedsFacilitate quick changes to suit physical and economical environment as well as consumer demands

Enhance by genomic selection

More

Crossbreeding

Sire- and dam lines

Contract crossing

Consumer preference will become more important in future

Slide54

Thanks