Graphs
Chart 1 & 2 – Source: ALC “Gundaroo”, Nebo QLD
Chart 3 – Source: ALC “Gundaroo”, Nebo QLD
Chart 4 – Source: May Downs
Control vs Out of Control
The cow herds at “Gundaroo” are divided into specific groups based on their ability to conceive early in the season, usually with no rain, regardless of the nutrition.
These cows are all lactating for the duration of the mating period, starting 1st October, every year. It has been an observation of ours that a percentage of our cattle have the superb trait of rapid rebreed combined with perfect uterine survival (a highly heritable genetic trait) and we aim to mate them exclusively to bulls descended from families with similar traits. We draft the herd monthly at calf tagging date into mating groups identified as C1 to C3.
By using a policy of mating large groups of females with multiple sires and DNA parentage testing, we intended to highlight both sires and dams with the greatest desire and ability to mate successfully.
Reproduction Speed and Adaptation are the major profit drivers in a beef herd. ALC cattle have inbuilt qualities of fast fleshing, rapid growth, and naturally gentle disposition. No drenches, no tickicides, and no fly sprays are used at ALC. Adaptation and resistance to a range of stressors is heritable and attractive to our strategies. Our cost of production is low, and kilograms per hectare are optimised. We are searching for truly adapted genetics, and are finding them. We are using the best tools that modern science can deliver and applying it with the principal of “survival of the fittest”, only to retain cattle that deliver year in year out.
Chart 5 – Source: ALC “Gundaroo”, Nebo QLD
Benefits Of The Breeding Program
Chart 6 & 7 – Source: ABRI Breedplan
Days to Calving EBV
Cows that calve late in the season or fail to calve are penalised in Brahman Breedplan. At ALC all cows retained must wean a calf every year. They must also conceive (while lactating) by 14th December every year. Even if a calf is lost by misadventure, wild dogs, or anything else, ALC cows are killed for beef. We require total accountability, and 100% returns of progeny.
Lower, or negative Estimated Breeding Values (EBV’s) are preferred indicating shorter days to calving for the sires daughters (Source: National Beef Recording Scheme, Brahman Group Breedplan).
ALC has developed a strong management and selection plan for multiple years, identifying factors that contribute to accelerated reproduction and stronger DTC EBV’s.
We have measured speed of re-breed, puberty threshold, calving interval, age at first calving, number of calves, speed of growth, dry season gain, wet season acceleration, as well as good temperament, and fleshiness.
Chart 8 & 9 – Source: ABRI Breedplan
Scrotal EBV
We measure scrotal circumference on every male calf at ALC on a monthly basis from 400 to 600 days of age. We do this to determine what animals are hitting puberty at what age. You can see ALC Scrotal EBV’s are far superior to the breed and are continuing in a positive direction.
Chart 10 – Source: ABRI Breedplan
Growth EBV’s
High growth comes at a cost. At ALC, our focus is on low cost of production. Moderate growth with high fertility has shown to be the right mix to achieve maximum profitability.
Chart 11 & 12 – Source: ABRI Breedplan
Jap Ox & Live Ex $ Index’s
Profitability, driven by fertility.
All Sires at Gundaroo in 2023 average in the top 1% in the Brahman Breed for Central Production $ Index, top 5% for Scrotal Size EBV, Days to Calving EBV, as well as Live Ex Dollar Index and top 10% for 600 day growth EBV.