WHY PERFORMANCE RECORD?

Performance recording is a tool available to all breeders to help you with your management decisions and better marketing of your stock for sale.

Recorded data is becoming increasingly important to purchasers of cattle at the bull sales and private sales.

How do EBVs help in the selection of bulls

they take into account the performance of the bull’s relatives as well as its own performance.

they allow you to compare bulls on the basis of how they will breed (breeding value) rather than how well they have been fed.

they can be used to accurately estimate progeny performance for specific traits and to predict the outcome of breeding programmes.

they identify genetic differences for “hard to see” traits such as milk and marbling.
they report differences in units of commercial value eg. carcase weight, retail beef yield.

Pedigree and commercial breeders are placing increasing importance on EBVs when making buying decisions. While they still place importance on the look of the animal, they are realising that they require the back up of the performance figures.

This trend is shown in the analysis of the sale prices at Perth February 2008

The cost of performance recording is still very reasonable at £125 which includes the first 5 breeding cows, thereafter £3 per cow. Scanning is around £150 per visit which includes up to 25 animals (contact the scanner for a quote).

The British Simmental Cattle Society will refund £75 on your first scanning cost providing a minimum of 3 animals are scanned, a check weight and scrotal measurement is taken.

As you can see from the difference in the sale averages above, can you afford not to record? What do I need to do?

Record all young stock, both bulls and heifers (the good, bad and indifferent). Weight record at birth, weaning and yearling. (200 and 400 days) Scan at 12 to 15 months.

How to get started with A.B.R.I. Breedplan – Contact the Simmental Society office on Tel: 02476 696513 or Contact Pedigree Cattle Services, Pedigree House, 6 Kings Place, Perth PH2 8AD - Tel: 01738 622478 Email barbara@breedplan.co.uk