In other words, genomic testing young bulls — using a sample of its DNA — is providing an accurate prediction of its genetic merit and the future performance of it’s daughters.
Genomic bulls were first ranked according to DataGene’s Balanced Performance Index in 2019 which means this year (2023) is the first opportunity for these bulls to become proven as they only now have daughters milking within various Australian herds.
This confirmation about the accuracy of genomics is nothing new for DataGene extension officer Peter Williams, but he said this finding was further validation for the earlier adopters of genomics and evidence for those who are yet to explore the technology.
“The Australian dairy industry has made a substantial investment — through DataGene, Dairy Australia and DairyBio — to ensure the reliability of genomics, so dairy farmers and their breeding advisors can select bulls and heifers with confidence,” Mr Williams said.
“Breeding is a long-term business, decisions we make today shape our future, and that’s why we must have the right breeding tools to make the best and most accurate decisions.”
The April 12 ABV release showed:
- Ten of the top 20 genomic Holstein bulls in 2019 are now within the top 20 proven bulls;
- The number one Holstein genomic bull in 2019 — Boghill Glamour Persuade — is now the number one proven bull in April 2023;
- The top six genomic Jersey bulls in 2019 are now within the top 10 proven Jersey bulls;
- The number one genomic Jersey bull in 2019 was the number one proven Jersey bull for two years (2020 and 2021); and
- The April 2023 number one proven Jersey bull was number six on the genomic Jersey list in 2019.
Mr Williams said genomic testing was 80 per cent reliable.
The other 20 per cent is split between bulls that performed better than their genomics predicted and those that performed worse.
“I liken genomics to the start of a footy season when you are selecting your top four teams,” Mr Williams said.
“With genomics, your top four may not be one to four, but you can have confidence that they will be inside the eight and playing finals.”
Of the Australian dairy farmers who use genomics, most use it to test their females.
This information then determines which females they retain and what ones they breed to sexed semen or beef.
But Mr Williams said bulls were “the pinnacle” of proof when it came to genomic testing.
“With females, there are only ever a limited number of calves from each animal, and you can never be totally sure how much the performance of that female is influenced by her environment,” he said.
“For example, a heifer could have great genomics, but she breaks her leg or gets pneumonia, it may not be her fault that she doesn’t have a productive life. But with bulls, they are used across many herds, in all different regions, and they are used in volume.
“The science really gets tested in the bull sphere and it has proven its value to the Australian dairy industry many times over.”
For more information, visit: www.datagene.com.au
