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Geneticist Dr Dave Johnston<\/strong> has a goal for every bull sold across Australia to be backed by an Estimated Breeding Value.<\/p>\n As Principal Scientist at the University of New England\u2019s Animal Genetics and Breeding Unit, he sees this as how the beef industry\u2019s genetic analysis powerhouse \u2013 BreedPlan \u2013 can reach its peak potential and deliver the game-changing genetic gains it was built for.<\/p>\n This is where repronomics research comes into play.<\/p>\n Playing the long game<\/p>\n Repronomics research has been ticking away for almost 15 years, to improve reproduction in the northern beef herd.<\/p>\n Dave Johnston<\/p>\n To date, genetic data from 12,000 calves \u2013 sired by 400 bulls from key tropical breeds \u2013 has been recorded and analysed for 20-30 traits.<\/p>\n The latest project aims to extend the focus to enable northern cattle producers to leverage both within-breed and, importantly, across-breed genomic selection for a large number of production, reproduction and welfare traits.<\/p>\n This functionality will be added to BreedPlan in the coming years.<\/p>\n \u201cWe want producers to be able to compare EBVs across breeds because currently, a +20 for 200-day weight in a Brahman is not comparable with a +20 in a Santa Gertrudis,\u201d Dr Johnston said.<\/p>\n Female reproduction hurdles<\/p>\n Honing female reproduction has been a challenge \u2013 particularly for northern cattle producers with large, widely dispersed herds.<\/p>\n The days to calving EBV has been the go-to trait for many breeders. Despite being a useful tool, its low heritability, combined with lower levels of recording, has spurred researchers to look further afield into other reproduction traits to help accelerate genetic gain among tropical breeds.<\/p>\n Researchers decided it was time to shift the focus.<\/p>\n Quicker gains<\/p>\n There are two female reproductive traits closely linked to a cow\u2019s ability to maintain the sought-after yearly calving cycle and lifetime reproductive performance:<\/p>\n \u201cHeifer age of puberty, in particular, is highly heritable, which makes it easier to accelerate reproductive improvements in a herd,\u201d Dr Johnston said.<\/p>\n \u201cThe shorter the lactation anoestrous interval, the more likely the cow will get back in calf within 80 days of calving \u2013 which is essential to establish and maintain an annual calving system.\u201d<\/p>\n Targeting bulls<\/p>\n Dr Johnston recollects times past when many sales catalogues would list bulls without EBVs.<\/p>\n \u201cThese days, several sales mandate the provision of genetic information on sale animals. If genotyped with a high-density DNA chip, the profile can be put into the BreedPlan genomic evaluations to generate EBVs on these sale bulls. This gives producers greater access to the genetics they\u2019re introducing into their herds,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n In preparation for upcoming spring bull sales, he expects to see a sharp increase in the number of bull tissue samples sent away for DNA analysis. This information will be fed back into BreedPlan and be ready in time for those keen to develop more targeted breeding strategies over the coming year.<\/p>\n Accuracy reduces risks<\/p>\n Repronomics research continues to deliver increased accuracy in many traits \u2013 for example Brahman days to calving EBV accuracy has improved by 23 percent.<\/p>\n Dr Johnston encourages producers to make use of these tools for genetic gain and avoid buying bulls based on visual inspection alone.<\/p>\n \u201cWithout an EBV you\u2019re taking a chance that you\u2019ll get a good bull. If you buy a genetically undesirable bull, it could take years to breed his genes out of your herd,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cEBVs remove a lot of this risk and hopefully you\u2019ll buy a bull with the right combination of traits for your environment and market. It\u2019s about being able to predict the genetic merit and ultimately increase profitability.\u201d<\/p>\n Nature and nurture<\/p>\n Visual inspection can\u2019t identify many of the traits associated with profitability such as calving ease or female reproduction. Growth traits should be genetically selected, as visual inspection only gives potential buyers part of the bigger picture of an animal\u2019s potential.<\/p>\n \u201cYou might be able to see growth or muscling but they could also be significantly influenced by the environment, such as high levels of feeding,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cProducers should focus on genetics and management strategies in tandem. If you don\u2019t provide an adequate environment, you won\u2019t see the benefits of the genetics you\u2019ve purchased.<\/p>\n \u201cNutrition, weaning, supplementation and health treatments all contribute to an animal\u2019s expression of its genetics. In many cases, for marbling genetics to be fully realised, the animal will need to be sent to a feedlot.\u201d<\/p>\n Three steps to get set for bull sales<\/p>\n Collect catalogues and make a list of bulls whose EBVs:<\/p>\n When inspecting bulls, consider:<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/dr-dave-johnston.jpg\")
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