AmBreed launches world first in genetics
June marks not only the start of a new farming year, but the launch of new breeding technology that New Zealand farmers are the first in the world to benefit from.
The first ever teams of bulls proven through genome-wide mapping technology is now available through AmBreed New Zealand.
Known as inSire the genomic technology provides farmers with faster genetic gains than progeny testing, and may even replace the traditional sire proving schemes long the mainstay of dairy production genetics.
The ability to compare a bull’s DNA pattern to the pattern of known desirable traits is at the heart of inSire Genomic Selection technology. It improves the reliability of predicted breeding values to 50%-65% depending on the trait, up from 35% using parent averages.
With the rapid advance of technology and mapping techniques, this is expected to offer further lifts in reliability within only a few years.
Traditional sire proving programmes have relied upon time and observation to determine the potential of a bull’s offspring, whereas genomic selection enables a snapshot to be taken of a bull’s genetic make up. It identifies those patterns of his DNA that indicate the probable inheritance of desirable traits.
To get a bull’s semen to market as a proven sire would normally take five years, but inSire bulls will marketable in less than half this time.
The Genomic Selection technology allows those bulls with the most beneficial traits to be identified early on in their lives, whilst eliminating those bulls that are likely to disappoint before they even produce any offspring.
“inSire effectively propels the rate of genetic gain through AmBreed putting these sires of identified higher genetic value into the market within two years, rather than five,” said Phil Beatson.
While genomic selection will increase the rate of genetic gain, it will also help farmers manage risks involved in breeding programmes where undesirable traits are inherited.
The risk for farmers using bulls with under 75% reliability has also been minimised by bundling them into teams of six, each with a specific focus on efficiency, performance or ease of care.
“The result of bundling is we have a team with a minimum reliability of greater than 90%, so the risk of a poorer than expected breeding outcome is minimised.”
He said when Genomic Selection was combined with sexed semen, another AmBreed technology now available, it was a highly powerful means to put the accelerator on a farm herd’s progress and create a more profitable herd.
