Australian Progeny Testing
Although local progeny test results are not currently available to Australian breeders, progeny testing is internationally regarded as a ‘Rolls Royce’ system of performance measurement and – as noted - is the foundation tool of Japanese breed development. The disadvantage is the length of time required to achieve useable results. Only one Australian AI sire, Westholme’s Hirashigetayasu, can demonstrate performance figures relating to such testing.
Recent progeny testing mooted in the Australian Wagyu environment has emphasised a strict need for specific cohorts of progeny of the test sire (s) to be selected on the basis of identical lifetimes – from birth, through weaning and background to eventual slaughter. No local trials of this kind have been publicised.
Other Australian models for bovine progeny test programs are less rigorous. Herefords Australia is currently (August 2010) running a large progeny test program using member co-operators, detailed here. Similar co-operator progeny test programs have been commonplace in Australian dairy industry genetics development for many years.
Australian Pedigree Analysis (Japanese 16/16)
Pedigree assessment is a well-recognised and accessible predictive tool in global cattle breeding. On the basis of instant usability and low cost, we suggest that a Japanese model for pedigree assessment is currently the most accessible method for assessing all Australian FB Wagyu seedstock at a basic level and assisting in the prediction of breeding outcomes for operations of all sizes.
Many Australian breeders have been introduced to this evaluation by Hokkaido-based Japanese master breeder Mr Shogo Takeda. It has also been the foundation of sire specification for most cross-bred Wagyu buying at Australian feedlots for many years.
While Western pedigree analysis models address known heritable traits and can even be used to construct an EBV (Willis 1991), the Takeda approach differs by assessing the ‘mix’ impact of heritable influences from the different Japanese strains (original prefectural herds or genetic sub-populations) identifiable within the individual pedigree. Each contributes to a potential outcome and supplements understanding of likely actual parent contributions.
This type of combination analysis addresses the traditions of Japanese Black Wagyu breeding as described by Mr. Kenichi Ono, author of the authoritative ‘Japanese Top 100 Wagyu’ who suggests that successful breeding of Wagyu is to:
1. Understand the characteristics of each strain
2. Plan combinations to cover weak points of individual strains
3. Not over-emphasise one strain
From analysis of the balance of combinations, the 16/16 assessment can deliver a snapshot of the likely outcome of any joining in key traits including marbling, growth and milk production. Successful assessment is assisted by the relatively few superior sires available, all with successful progeny records.
16/16 analysis of representative bulls of the Australian Black Wagyu herd is available from this site here. (Click the 16/16 sublink).
Australian breeders can also study 16/16 analysis of Japan’s leading 2007 sires on this site here. (Select Top 10 FB Sires) These successful combinations can be informative.
(Ref: Willis, M.B. (1991) Dalton’s Introduction to Practical Animal Breeding. Blackwell Science. Oxford.)
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Australian BEEDPLAN EBVs
The globally successful BREEDPLAN EBV (Estimated Breeding Values) system marketed by ABRI at the University of New England in Australia, is embraced by many leading breed societies. It is strongly supported by the Australian Wagyu Association, by leading Australian breeders (including AWF participants) and the American Wagyu Association.
BREEDPLAN is founded on multi-generational capture of measurements which enable database engines to produce accurate predictive values (EBVs) for numerous heritable traits ranging from birth weight to maternal capabilities.
From every non-carcass perspective, AWA BREEDPLAN EBVs represent the best genetic evaluation of member FB Wagyu herds available in Australia and can only become more accurate and useful as more herds enrol.
The first Australian Wagyu GBP ‘Trial’ analysis was unveiled in late 2009, based on a small data set derived from 11 herds (see AWA Understanding EBVs here), which also enabled web-published AWA EBV values for animals in the broader (non-BREEDPLAN) Australian herd. These derived values for non-BREEDPLAN herds were withdrawn in July 2010. Prior to the withdrawal, a comparison of EBV predictions with actual registered animals indicated a high degree of accuracy in relation to important parameters such as growth.
Uncertainties are limited to key carcass EBVs, such as that for IMF (still provided on some AWA registered sire listings – see TF 147 Itoshigefuji here) which reflect the “TRIAL” nature of the AWA October 2009 report and also suggest the Trial IMF EBV is unique to Wagyu.
In the most important test: with actual carcass results in hand for AWA database-listed/EBV-published animals, we were unable to co-relate these to the specific BREEDPLAN carcass predictions for the same animals. Generally, actual carcass MRB from higher growth/yield sires was erroneously under-predicted by the IMF EBV.
‘Understanding EBVs’ explains that the carcass IMF EBV values are not validated against real carcass data and can only be based on early-life (500 days) ultrasound scanning, which ‘may/possibly’ be accurate as a predictor. This is not a minor difficulty if IMF EBVs are taken as prime selection indicators.
Further, a thorough search of extensive journal literature back to 1991 reveals no validated scientific model for accurate terminal IMF prediction through similar use of stand-alone ultrasound, nor any mention of any breed society employing ‘stand-alone’ ultrasound to establish breeding values for IMF (EG: without a prior carcass data foundation). A 2009 expert journal review of beef ultrasound’s state-of-the-technology is available here. Author Prof. J.K. Bertrand is a leading US academic and researcher in this field- here.
The final point of confusion in relation to the Trial IMF EBV is its presentation within individual animal charts. Unlike growth EBV charts, the IMF EBV chart is unspecific as to the animal’s age (at scanning). There is no chart-level indication as to whether the value is presented as predictive of slaughter IMF (830-900 days). The chart then offers an accuracy prediction (ACC) of over 90% for some sires. Users are not alerted to the important ‘EBV’s Explained’ qualifications that limit current ultrasound application to early-life/low IMF live animal situations; explain that no validation has been made against any actual carcass; and indicate that it is not known whether the early-life scan is predictive of final IMF in Wagyu. This situation could be simply clarified.
Given possible significant error in arguably the most important single EBV indicator, and the potential detriment to an overall progeny result, we would be selecting for marbling and carcass attributes on the basis of real carcass data and pedigree analysis ahead of any current IMF EBV.
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Genetic Marker Analysis
Picture: Month old fullblood calves at first muster
DNA marker analysis is widely used in the Japanese Wagyu industry for predicting genetic diseases – one of the most accurate applications of DNA technology. Similar disease tests are now available for Australian Wagyu breeders through NSW Industry and Investment’s Elizabeth Macarthur Research Institute in Camden, NSW and through the AWA office.
An excellent snapshot of the general usefulness of gene marker application can be found at Marker Assisted Selection in Cattle, University of California, Davis. Experts here recommend that genetic marker application should be closely integrated with EPD (or EBV) data and other observed performance indicators. DNA marker tests are seen as an incremental tool, not a replacement.
The potential complexity of breeder decision making using these complementary technologies, with clear illustrations of typical trade-offs, is detailed in DNA Technologies, a chapter from a sire selection text also published by UC, Davis.
In both Australia and the United States, independent assessment is available for developers of predictive DNA technologies in animal breeding and the technology underwent a comprehensive scientific review in 2008, after which major parties published a joint statement. The statement is available at the Australian Beef CRC website here. A more detailed PDF summary can be downloaded here, note marbling results on page 3.) Extensive research development continues, up-to-the-minute information about which can be accessed at the Pfizer and Prescribe sites below - covering two DNA predictive product ranges that have been widely used in Australian Wagyu production:
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GeneStar , marketed by Pfizer Animal Health, is a world-leading Australian-developed technology for genetic marker assessment in cattle, targeting DNA influencing meat tenderness, marbling and feed efficiency predictors. Substantial enhancements to the program were announced in July 2010. Previous Australian Beef CRC reviews of Pfizer GeneSTAR technology are available here.
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Specific to Wagyu, Japan-based Prescribe Genomics offers tests to identify markers influencing growth, marbling, and fat composition.
Source: Meat & Livestock Australia, 2008 Click for larger picture
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