Purchasing the right genetics is key to herd performance

The 2024 Top Studs report takes the hard work, and the guesswork, out of finding the best-performing studs in Australia.

Ben McGlynn has been part of the northern beef industry for 20 years and he’s spent a decade managing large-scale commercial breeding businesses. He’s currently the general manager of the northern region for Paraway Pastoral Company, an organisation that owns and operates vast sheep and cattle enterprises.

Mr McGlynn oversees nine breeding and growing businesses across Queensland and he’s passionate about breeding and genetics – a passion that has led him to be an active member of multiple research and development trials and committees.

Last year, he used the first ever Top Studs report to help him assess and compare the genetic profiles of seedstock sources in the Australian beef industry.

Compiled and published by Bush AgriBusiness – a specialist business offering consulting, analysis and training to the north Australian beef industry – Top Studs has been developed for commercial beef producers. It brings together objective and independent information to help producers identify and assess potential seedstock sources that will improve their herd and bottom line.

“Top Studs is a valuable tool for assessing the genetic profile of various studs and their key genetic traits. It will help with industry-wide adoption of procurement based on data as it has a simple approach for analysing different studs and breeds,” Mr McGlynn said.

“In my own experience, being very disciplined in our approach to bull procurement, we’ve been able to improve certain traits whilst maintaining a balanced breeding herd. Having the ability to make data-driven decisions allows for increased genetic gain without sacrificing key aspects of production, such as fertility and calving ease.”

Top Studs 2024 is the latest initiative from Bush AgriBusiness, experts in supporting pastoral businesses to boost their intellectual, environmental and financial capital. With deep expertise in advisory services and business management, Bush AgriBusiness also produces publications and resources for commercial producers, such as the Australian Beef Report.

Bush AgriBusiness Managing Director, Ian McLean, said Top Studs launched online last year to support commercial producers and to remove some of the complexities and challenges of choosing the right seedstock to grow their operation.

“The bull you buy this year will still have daughters in the herd in 15 years’ time. Choosing the right seedstock source has a lasting impact on your herd’s production and performance,” Mr McLean said.

“If a business sources their genetics from a stud that is making genetic improvements, they can improve the productivity of their business over time. They can take their herd forward and combat rising costs and other industry challenges. The gains are cumulative and compounding.

“Top Studs gives commercial producers confidence that they’re making the best objective selections for their bull purchases by comparing the genetic profile and progress, over time, of potential seedstock sources.

“It’s an objective and independent resource for profit-focused commercial producers to find out where they can source the genetics that will take their herd forward.”

To be included in the Top Studs report, studs must meet three criteria. They must:

• Use the world-leading genetic evaluation system, Breedplan;
• Register at least 50 bulls a year on Breedplan; and,
• Demonstrate selection indexes above the breed average.

The 2024 Top Studs report features 200+ studs and 14 breeds including Angus, Belmont Red, Brahman, Brangus, Charolais, Droughtmaster, Hereford, Limousin, Murray Grey, Red Angus, Santa Gertrudis, South Devon, Speckle Park and Wagyu. It uses Breedplan selection indexes and estimated breeding values and compares genetic traits across studs, such as pregnancy, growth, fertility, carcase, temperament and feed.

Each trait is represented in a bar graph and is colour-coded according to the category, making it easy to compare the genetic profile of each stud and to create a shortlist of potential seedstock sources.

The data used in this year’s Top Studs report is based on the 2022 drop data within Breedplan, so Ian said it is applicable to bulls currently coming to market.

“Top Studs saves commercial operators a lot of time – it delivers the information they need in an easy- to-understand format. It objectively identifies the best potential genetic sources to suit a commercial operator’s specific breeding objectives and to improve their bottom line,” Mr McLean said.

“The industry is going through a challenging time. Interest rates and costs have increased while beef prices have come back a little. Producers need to do whatever they can to improve the productivity and efficiency of their business and genetics is a vital lever to help commercial operators increase margins and performance.”