Breeding Program Design Initiatives

This paper highlights an example of a seedstock operation practically implementing technologies to improve the genetic advancement of its herd and the profitability of its clients. Gaining access to technology is just one side of the coin, using it to its best potential is the other. The Te Mania Angus breeding program makes extensive use of BREEDPLAN and related technologies and is very focused on breeding seedstock that are the right genetics for the commercial beef supply chain. In 1995 Team Te Mania was created to help give the seedstock operation commercial focus while building client loyalty. Team Te mania is a partnership of some 36 herds mating 16,000 commercial Angus females annually. Benefits to commercial members include access to very high genetic merit sires at moderate prices and in return the Te Mania seedstock operation receives direct feedback on commercial herd requirements and the scope to conduct a sophisticated progeny test program. Te Mania Angus has one of the fastest rates of genetic improvement when analysed by TakeStock, using an array of resources available to design and conduct a very effective breeding program. The result is that young sires with the Te Mania prefix are high indexing with high accuracies at a young age.