What is BREEDPLAN?
BREEDPLAN is a modern genetic evaluation system for beef cattle. It offers the potential to accelerate genetic progress, tighten up breeding operations, improve productivity and increase prices for cattle sold for breeding and slaughter. BREEDPLAN has been implemented as the national beef recording scheme in Australia, New Zealand, Namibia, Thailand and the Philippines, and its use is also increasing in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Hungary, South America and South Africa. BREEDPLAN uses the world’s most advanced genetic evaluation system (based on Best Linear Unbiased Prediction (BLUP) technology) to produce Estimated Breeding Values (EBVs) of recorded cattle for a range of important production traits (e.g. weight, carcase, fertility).
What are EBVs?
An animal’s breeding value can be defined as its genetic merit for each trait. While it is not possible to determine an animal’s true breeding value, it is possible to estimate it. These estimates of an animal’s true breeding value are called EBVs (Estimated Breeding Values). EBVs are expressed as the difference between an individual animal’s genetics and the genetic base to which the animal is compared. EBVs are reported in the units in which the measurements are taken (e.g. kilograms for the weight EBVs). Thus a value of +12 kg for 400 day weight means the animal is genetically superior by 12 kg at 400 days compared with the genetic base of the relevant cattle population. On average, half of this difference will be passed on to the animal’s progeny.
Joining BREEDPLAN
If you would like to join BREEDPLAN, please contact the office by phone (02476 697222) or email (charlotte@charolais.co.uk), and we can set up your account for performance recording.
The Performance Recording financial year runs from the 1st January – 31st December and members are invoiced in March of the following year.
For members participating in the BREEDPLAN Genetic Evaluation system, the annual membership fee is £150 plus VAT for the first 10 breeding females. Thereafter £3 plus VAT per breeding female; to a maximum of £500 plus VAT.
The analysis of data (BLUP Run) submitted normally takes place around the beginning of each month and following the analysis a herd report would then be available for your herd. By default, these reports are made available to download from the “Download Files” section of your online account, however we can provide hard copies on request.
Further information and FAQs can be found on BREEDPLAN’s website:
https://breedplan.une.edu.au/help-centre/
Submitting Data
If you currently pay for your Society membership via Direct Debit, you will have the ability to enter weights directly onto your online account. Instructions on how to do this can be found here:
Alternatively, you may download weight forms from the “Download Files” section of your online account and return your completed forms to us.
Finally, if you prefer hard copies of these forms to be posted out to you, please contact the office to request this on 02476 697222.
If you do not currently pay for your Society membership via Direct Debit, you will unfortunately not have access to the online facilities, and you will therefore receive your weight sheets via post.
Once completed, please either scan & email the forms to charlotte@charolais.co.uk or post them back to us at The British Charolais Cattle Society, Avenue M, Stoneleigh Park, Kenilworth, Warwickshire, CV8 2RG.
Ultrasound Scanning
Live animal ultrasound scanning is a non-invasive technology that allows the beef producer to assess the carcase merit of an individual animal whilst still alive, as opposed to the collection of carcase data in the chiller. The carcase attributes commonly measured by ultrasound scanning include:
• Rump Fat Depth
• Rib Fat Depth
• Eye Muscle Area
• Intramuscular Fat
BREEDPLAN can analyse the scan performance from animals that are between 300 – 800 days of age when measured. The majority of animals are scanned as rising two-year-olds (i.e. around 600 days of age).
Ultrasound scan data for BREEDPLAN must be recorded by an accredited ultrasound scanning technician. A list of accredited scanners can be accessed here – please contact a scanner directly to arrange a visit to your herd.