Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
BulletinTHANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS
DANKIE AAN ONS BORGE
KOM
MERS I
ЁLE LED
E |
CO
MM
ERCIA
L MEM
BERS
BINNE IN
SIDE
N U U S B R I E F | N E W S L E T T E R
FEELS GOOD, DOESN’T IT?
WAAROM BONSMARA?
SELECTING GENETICS THAT FIT YOUR ENVIRONMENT
NATUURLIK GEPRODUSEERDE VLEIS, HARTVRIENDELIK EN UITERS GESOND
NEWS
LIFE ADVICE FROM AN OLD FARMER
HOW TO USE BREEDING VALUES TO SELECT BEEF CATTLE
VOORSITTERSBOODSKAP
1
2
5
9
15
17
18
22
J A N U A R Y 2 0 1 5
FEELS
GOOD,
DOESN’T I
T? To know that YOU are farming with the ideal
MOTHER BREED for Commercial breeders, which
gives you the following:
· Good adaptability· Fertile cows· Good re-conception· Excellent beef quality · Early maturity· Ease of calving
BULLETIN
1
Waarom Bonsmara?‘n Vraag wat beesboere
wat met Bonsmaras boer , maklik kan beantwoord is sekerlik: “Waarom met
Bonsmaras boer ?” ‘n Antwoord wat lank is … ‘n antwoord wat elke aspek van beesboerdery sal saamvat … ‘n antwoord wat maklik is om te gee en ‘n antwoord wat lekker is om oor te praat.
Mens sou sekerlik moet
afskop en verduidelik dat die Bonsmara ‘n eg Suid
Afrikaanse produk is wat hier ontwikkel is vir ons toestande. Dit
is ‘n beesras wat sy ankers uit die inheemse Afrikaner gevat het en toe met
die beste Europese vleisbeesrasse vermeng het. As bonus was die ontwikkelaars van die ras ook trotse Suid Afrikaners, waarvan sommige later wêreld bekend geraak het, as gevolg van hul werk met die ras. Die Bonsmara is ‘n unieke
vleisbeesras waarop Suid Afrikaners werklik trots op kan wees.
Die Suid Afrikaanse beesvleisbedryf is in heelwat opsigte baie anders as soortgelyke bedrywe in ander lande.
* Suid Afrika is nie ‘n gunstige landbougebied nie en is onderhewig aan periodieke droogtes, warm klimaatstoestande en talle parasiete.
* Voerkrale speel ‘n groot rol in die vleisbedryf in die sin dat
hulle boere die geleentheid gee om hul speenkalwers aan te koop en sodoende ruimte te laat om meer teelkoeie aan te hou.
*Baie verskillende omgewingstoestande kom voor oor Suid Afrika en dit is juis hier waar die Bonsmara by kan aanpas.
*Die Suid Afrikaanse verbruiker is gewoond aan top kwaliteit vleis en ook hier staan die Bonsmara op die voorpunt van lewering van hoë gehalte, sagte vleis.
Die Bonsmara is basies ‘n moederlynras wat goed presteer onder intensiewe en ekstensiewe toestande . Omdat dit ook ‘n medium raamgrootte bees is, is dit ook meer droogte bestand en verg laer instandhouding as grootraam rasse. ‘n Bonsmara koeikudde kan onder ekstensiewe toestande gedy en ‘n speenkalf lewer wat 45-50% van sy moeder se liggaamsmassa weeg.
Omdat die Bonsmara ‘n saamgestelde beesras is, bestaande uit 5/8 Afrikaner en 3/8 Hereford en Vleis Korthoring, is daar baie variasie binne die ras beskikbaar. Dit is dan juis hierdie variasie binne die ras wat kruisteling om basterkrag te verkry, onnodig
maak. Verpligte prestasie toetsing dwing telers om swak presteerders uit te skot. Telers, met die hulp van talle wetenskaplikes, is egter uiters bedag daarop dat nie net vir groei geselekteer word nie, maar dat ‘n fyn balans gehandhaaf word en dat die ras se raamgrootte en koeigewig nie verhoog nie.
In die voerkraal sal jy vandag oorheeersend Bonsmara en Bonsmara kruisbeeste sien. Die rede hiervoor is dat die ras goed aanpas in voerkrale, goeie groei lewer en die ideale grootte kwaliteit karkas lewer. Die eindproduk naamlik vleis word ast ware self bemark deurdat dit van ‘n Bonsmara afkomstig is. Geen foefies soos spesiaal gevoede rantsoene of streke vanwaar afkomstig is nodig by bemarking van Bonsmara vleis nie.
Prof Jan Bonsma, een van die ontwikkelaars van Bonsmara, het gesê dat aanpasbaarheid een van die belangrikste eienskappe by beesteling is. Dit is ook hier waar Bonsmara aan die voorpunt beesboerdery staan. In Suid-Afrika sien jy Bonsmaras in alle provinsies en streke. Jy sien Bonsmaras in die Kalahari, die Bosveld, Oos Vrystaat se Hoëveld, die Wes- en OosKaap, die Karoo en die Natalse Laeveld. Net waar jy reis deur die land sien jy Rooi beeste wei – Bonsmaras! Maar dit is nie net in Suid-Afrika waar hulle gedy nie. In Namibië groei die getal Bonsmaras met rasse skredes so ook in buurlande soos Zambië, Botswana en selfs die Demokratiese Republiek van die Kongo. Hoekom sou dit gebeur is die vraag? Omdat hulle aanpas … en ‘n aangepaste dier is gelukkig, gesond en kalf gereeld. Dit is egter nie net in Afrika waar Bonsmaras aangepas is nie maar groot kuddes gedy ook in Australië, Brasilië, Uruguay, Argentenië en Paraguay .
Die Bonsmara is beslis die “Ras vir alle redes”
BULLETIN
3
B – Brandmerk ‘n Bul wat ‘n B brandmerk op sy regterskouer het is die
toonbeeld van die ras se standaarde en waardestelsels .
O – Optimum produksie Bonsmara kalwers se geboortegewig is ongeveer 35kg terwyl die gemiddelde speengewig 235kg is.
N – Nuwe denke Bonsmara telers in samewerking met van die voorste Wetenskaplikes is voortdurend besig met nuwe denke oor verbetering van die ras .
S – Standaarde Bonsmara SA het streng standaarde waaraan elke dier moet voldoen om op die nasionale kuddeboek te kan bly.
M – Meduim grootte Bonsmara is ‘n medium grootte ras wat minder onderhoud verg.
A – Aanpasbaarheid Bonsmaras pas enige plek in Suid- Afrika aan.
R – Rooi Die Bonsmara is n rooi bees en beesboere in Suid-Afrika het ‘n voorkeur vir rooi kleur beeste.
A – Afkoms Die enigste ras ter wêreld wat kan spog met ‘n stamboom van ontwikkeling en afkoms .
Bonsmara – Jou toekoms is verseker !!!
4BULLETIN
Selecting Genetics that Fit Your EnvironmentMatt Spangler, Ph.D., UNL Associate Professor and Beef Genetics Extension Specialist
Science, or rather advancements in science, allow for new or revised tools to aid in selection and management of beef cattle. It’s not hard to think of examples; artificial insemination protocol and the accompanying products (CIDRs, MGA, etc.), implants and feed additives, EPDs, economic selection indexes,
genomic tools, and yes, crossbreeding strategies. These tools and strategies were developed through science. Cow sense is the ability to use science to improve the profitability of the respective beef centric enterprise. To adopt and correctly use science requires not only knowledge of the particular tool, but also detailed knowledge of the production environment and marketing goals.
If we focus on genetic tools and strategies, there are a few main ones
that come to mind: Crossbreeding, EPDs, selection indexes, and DNA technology. Crossbreeding, I would argue, makes economic sense for every commercial producer. However, the breeds utilized and the structure of the mating system will vary not only by region but also by individual herds. The identification of environmental constraints (feed availability, climate) and marketing goals dictates the breeds that go into a crossing system. This is the cow sense part. Understanding these factors allows a producer to take full advantage of the science of heterosis Expected Progeny Differences have been available to beef cattle producers for decades and are the fundamental backbone of genetic improvement. However, correct utilization of them requires knowledge of environmental constraints and production goals. Most seedstock
producers know the frustration of having advised clientele relative to bull choice only to see said client leave the sale with the exact opposite of what they really needed.
BULLETIN
5
There are a few good examples of this misuse of science, and thus poor cow sense. Research has shown that
cows with the genetic propensity to milk heavily require more nutrients year round, not just when
they are milking. The National Research Council (NRC) data shows that a cow
who produces 25 lbs. of milk at peak lactation requires 10% more feed
energy than a cow producing 15 lbs. of milk at peak lactation.
To see a 10% difference in feed energy with regards
to mature weight it would require
moving from a 1,000 lb.
cow to a 1,200
lb. cow, or a change of
200 lbs. of body weight. We know that
selection for increased yearling weights has led to
larger mature cows that are more expensive to maintain.
Moderating mature cow size and selecting for an optimal window of milk
production is beneficial when it comes to cutting costs regardless of your production environment.
However, in limited feed environments females with high maintenance energy requirements may also have
difficulty maintaining an acceptable body condition score and rebreeding. Nugent et al. (1993) determined that with limited nutrient availability, breeds with a high genetic potential for milk production had longer anestrous periods which lead to lower conception rates during a fixed breeding season. Another misuse of science is related to the choice of economic selection indexes. It is absolutely critical to fully understand the intended use (production goals) that are assumed by an index before you use them to select herd bulls. A great example is $B (Beef Value). This index a very useful terminal index. However, it would be an exceptionally poor choice for those who retain replacement heifers and sell calves at weaning. Understanding how selection tools, such as economic index values, fit your production goals takes cow sense. There have been several lethal genetic defects that have been uncovered in the past few years. And there will be more identified in the future. Luckily, genomics has allowed for the development of tools to identify carriers. Is it safe for you to use a carrier bull? This takes detailed knowledge of your own cowherd and the risk of the cows being carriers themselves. The answer is not the same for everyone. Another very beneficial use of genomics is for paternity assignment. Many commercial producers turn out large cohort groups of bulls, with only the knowledge of what their EPDs were on the day they were purchased. However, we know that some are actually better than what their low accuracy EPDs suggest and others are worse. So what can you do when all bulls were supposed to be calving ease and during calving season you end up having to pull some calves. You could paternity test the problem (large birth weight) calves, identify the problem sire(s) and only use them on cows the next year.
6BULLETIN
Kies BONSMARA vir ’n gesogte speenkalf
8
Koop gebrandmerkteBonsmara Bulle…en deel in die voordele van jarelange seleksie vir na-speen groei , aanpasbaarheid, temperament, vroeë geslagsrypheid en vrugbaarheid.
‘n Bonsmara bul:• is geregistreer by SA Stamboek
• het prestasiemeting ondergaan
• is goedgekeur deur Bonsmara Keurders
• is gebrandmerk met ’n B op die
regterskouer
Met ‘n stewige 230-240kg speenkalf wat die beste prys beding, bring die Bonsmara
’n nuwe dimensie tot die mees ekonomies-belangrike fases in die vleisketting.
Bonsmara kalwers is ideaal vir die voerkraal. Weens jarelange seleksie vir groei en VOV kan Bonsmara kalwers winsgewend gevoer word.
Bonsmara kalwers is gesog vir die gebruik in ‘n “backgrounding” en/of osstelsel. Bonsmara verskalwers dien as ideale vervangingsverse en vroulike diere is uiters gesog om te gebruik in enige suiwer- of kruisteelprogram.
Rooivleis word al vir ‘n geruime tyd die sondaar vir hartkwale en kanker gemaak. Dit het veroorsaak dat die rooivleis
wat vandag op winkelrakke in Suid-Afrika verskyn, aansienlik maerder teenoor die rooivleis van 30 jaar gelede is. Die verbruik van witvleis het ook dramaties toegeneem in die verbruiker se soeke na gesonder vleis. Baie interessante navorsing uit die VSA bring feite na die tafel wat duidelik toon dat ons vir jare reeds die ware sondebok miskyk. Voorstaanders van vet vleis verwys gereeld na hoe oud ons voorvaders geword het, ten spyte van ‘n hoë inname van rooivleis en veral vet rooivleis. Wie is dan nou reg en wie is verkeerd?
1. DIE GESKIEDENIS VAN ROOIVLEIS
Geskiedkundig is rooivleis wêreldwyd vir eeue hoofsaaklik op natuurlike weiveld geproduseer. Die gebruik van graan in die
afronding van diere het eers in die 1950’s op groot skaal in die VSA en ongeveer in die 1970’s in Suid-Afrika begin plaasvind. Die koms van
voerkrale in die VSA het gelei tot vetter beesvleis op markte. Saam met die vetter beesvleis het hartverwante siektes toegeneem soos wat ‘n groter
persentasie van rooivleis vanaf voerkrale die mark betree het.
Die konneksie van vet rooivleis met hartaanvalle het daartoe gelei dat medici wêreldwyd
NATUURLIK
GEPRODUSEERDE
VLEIS, H
ARTVRIENDELIK
EN UITERS G
ESOND
(Deu
r: Riaa
n Dam
es, B
esturen
de Dire
kteur, B
EST FARMER SA,
consu
ltatio
n@bestfa
rmer.
co.za
, Vryb
urg, . Te
l. 002
7842
7386
66, 0
0264
8183
6375
7)
BULLETIN
9
gewaarsku het dat vet rooivleis die kanse op hartaanvalle dramaties verhoog. Terminologie soos hoë cholesterol het algemene gebruikstaal geword. In die VSA en res van die wêreld het medici ‘n lae vet diet verkondig. Daar is ook aanbeveel dat vetinnames liewer uit poli-onversadige vette byvoorbeeld plantaardige olies moet bestaan. Versadigde vette soos afkomstig van rooivleis, botter en melk is as sondebokke vir hoë cholesterol uitgekruit en sogenaamde “beter plaasvervangers” in die vorm van “margarien”, “lae-vet melk”, hoender en varkvleis is voorgehou as die beter alternatief. Ten spyte van die navolging van ‘n dieët baie laag in versadigde vette en hoër in plantaardige vette, het geen noemenswaardige verlaging in hartaanvalle in die VSA en Suid-Afrika die afgelope 50 jaar plaasgevind nie. In die VSA het die voorkoms van kanker en diabetes egter verhoog soos wat daar wegbeweeg is van ‘n dieët hoog in versadige vette na ‘n dieët laag in versadige vette en hoog in plantaardige vette en koolhidrate afkomstig van verwerke graan.
2. DIE ONTMASKERING VAN DIE WAARHEID RONDOM SOGENAAMDE “GEVAARLIKE VET” EN SOGENAAMDE “GESONDE VET”.
Daar is vroeër geglo dat vet vet is, met ander woorde enige dieët hoog in vet is as ongesond beskou. Daar is egter later bevind dat ‘n dieët vry van vet die risiko tot kanker verhoog. Latere navorsing het toe getoon dat alle vet nie gelyk is nie en dat die sogenaamde essensiële vetsure wat nie deur die menslike liggaam vervaardig kan word nie, noodsaaklik vir ‘n gesonde lang lewe is. Die voordele van Omega-3-vetsure is reeds lank bekend, na aanleiding van die lae hartvatsiekte voorkoms onder volke met ‘n hoë inname van vis, hoofsaaklik afkomstig uit ons oseane. Daar is twee noodsaaklike vetsure waarsonder ons liggame nie kan funksioneer nie, naamlik Omega 6 vetsure en Omega 3 vetsure. Die verhouding waarin hierdie twee essensiële vetsure voorkom, is bepalend vir die gesondheid van mense. Die ideale verhouding blyk 2:1 te wees. . ‘n Hoë inname van Omega 3-vetsure hou geweldige gesondheidsvoordele vir mense in, onder andere verlaging in die”LDL” (slegte) en verhoging in die HDL (goeie) cholesterol. Die hoë voorkoms van Omega 3- vetsure in seevis, is afkomstig van die groen plankton in die see wat deur vis as voedselbron gebruik word. Navorsing in die VSA het
getoon dat die ideale verhouding van 2:1 tussen Omega 6 en Omega 3-vetsure in feitlik alle groen plante voorkom, maar veral in natuurlike veld(Kyk fig 1, “grass-fed cattle”)
ESSE
NTI
AL
FAT
CO
MPA
RIS
ON
Fig 1.(Data for both graphs comes from G.J. Miller, “Lipids in Wild Ruminant Animals and Steers.” J. of Food Quality, 9:331-343, 1986.)
10BULL
ETIN
Daar is verder gevind dat die verhouding van Omega 6:Omega 3 vetsure in grane so hoog as 14:1 kan wees(kyk fig 1 “grain fed cattle”) wat direk gekoppel word aan ‘n dramaties verhoogde kans vir hartvatsiektes, diabetes en kanker. Dit verklaar die verhoging in die hartvatsiekte toestande wat in die VSA en Suid-Afrika voorgekom het met die ontsaan van die voerkraalbedryf en die geweldige groei in die witvleisproduksie in beide lande. Die vet van hoender en varkvleis wat hoofsaaklik op graan geproduseer word bevat ook die ongewensde verhouding van oormatige
hoeveelhede Omega 6-vetsure, wat direk verbind word met hartvatsiektes, kanker en diabetes.
Meer as 90% van alle beesvleis en feitlik 100% van alle varkvleis en hoendervleis wat vandag in Suid-Afrika bemark word, is afkomstig van voerkrale en intensiewe boerderye waar graan meestal meer as 70% van die dieët uitmaak en bevat gevolglik die “nadelige” verhouding van Omega 6:Omega 3 vetsure. Navorsing elders in die wêreld het verder getoon dat presies dieselfde tendens by melk en hoendereiers voorkom, dit wil sê melk en eiers afkomstig van graandiëte bevat ook die nadelige verhouding van omega 6:omega 3 vetsure.
3. NATUURLIK GEPRODUSEERDE VLEIS, MELK, EIERS - DIE GESONDSTE KEUSE!
Uit figuur 2 is dit duidelik dat die totale vetinhoud van veldgeproduseerde beesvleis aansienlik laer teenoor graan geproduseerde beesvleis en selfs hoendervleis is.
TOTA
L FA
TFig 2. Data from J. Animal Sci 80(5):1202-11
BULLETIN
11
Fig 3: Data from: Smith, G.C. “Dietary supplementation of vitamin E to cattle to improve shelf life and case life of beef for
domestic and international markets.” Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado 80523-1171
Navorsing het getoon dat veldgeprodseerde vleis, eiers en melk ‘n 4x hoër vitamien E inhoud teenoor graangeproduseerde vleis het(Fig.3) Vitamien E voorkom kanker, hartvatsiektes en gee ‘n verlenge raklewe aan vleis omdat Vitamien E ‘n baie goeie antioksidant is. Veldgeproduseerde eiers, vleis en melk is ook aansienlik hoër in karoteen wat die “donker geel” kleur aan die eiergeel en vet afkomstig van veldgeproduseerde eiers, vleis en
melk verleen. Karoteen is ‘n voorloper van vitamien A wat goeie sig bevorder en ook ‘n baie goeie anti-oksidant is.
Dieselfde navorsing het getoon dat natuurlike veldgeproduseerde vleis die rykste bron van “CLA”
GR
ASS
FED
BEE
F FO
UR
TIM
ES
HIG
HER
IN
VIT
AM
IN Etot dusver bekend, is. “CLA” is een van die sterkste kankervoorkomende middels. Daar is bevind dat die voorkoms van borskanker by vroue met ‘n hoë inname van “CLA” tot 75% laer was tenoor vroue met ‘n lae inname van “CLA”.
Verder bevat veldgeproduseerde vleis 2-6x meer omega-3-vetsure teenoor graangeproduseerde vleis. Navorsing uit die VSA toon dat ‘n dieët wat hoog in omega-3-vetsure is, die kanse vir hartaanvalle met 50% verminder, die kanse vir senuweesiektes en kanker verlaag en ook bydra tot laer bloeddruk.
Fig 4: Data from: J Animal Sci (1993) 71(8):2079-88. Uit grafiek 4 is dit duidelik dat die persentasie omega-3 vetsure in vleis dramaties daal wanneer diere vanaf ‘n velddieët na ‘n voerkraalrantsoen(graan) oorskakel.
12BULL
ETIN
Fig5: Diez-Gonzalez, F., et al. (1998). “Grain-feeding and the dissemination of acid-resistant Escherichia coli from Cattle.” Science 281, 1666-8.)
NU
MB
ER O
F E-
CO
LI T
HAT
WO
ULD
SU
RVIV
E IN
OU
R D
IGES
TIV
E TR
AC
T
Daar is ook met Amerikaanse navorsing vasgestel dat daar ‘n 10x laer E-coli(‘n bekende bakterie wat siektes van die spysverteringstelsel veroorsaak) oorlewing in die mens se spysverteringskanaal voorkom wanneer vleis wat op veld geproduseer is, geeët word teenoor graan geproduseerde vleis(fig 4). Dit wil sê die kanse op siektes van die spysverteringstelsel neem dramaties af indien veldgeproduseerde vleis geeët word.
Die laer oorlewing van die E-coli afkomstig van veldgeproduseerde vleis word aan die hand van die hoër rumen PH (grootpens suurheid) verklaar, wat op minder suurheid in die grootpens by diere met ‘n grasdieët teenoor diere met ‘n graandieët dui. Die E-coli in die suurder omgewing met ‘n graandieët bou dan ‘n natuurlike weerstand teen die suurder rumen omgewing op en wanneer dit in die mens se spysverteringskanaal beland, waar die suurheid van die maagsap normaalweg die E-coli tot op aanvaarbare vlakke moes dood, vind daar ‘n groter oorlewing van E-coli plaas en kan meer spysverteringsprobleme opduik.
BULLETIN
13
Dit is baie duidelik dat die gesondheid van mens en dier bepaal word deur wat geeët word en hoeveel stress hanteer moet word. Die hoë direkte inname van graanprodukte en indirekte inname
via graan geproduseerde vleis deur die mens, kan uitgesonder word as die vernaamste voedsel gebasseerde oorsaak van
hartvatsiektes, diabetes, siektes van die spysverteringstelsel en ‘n verhoogde risiko vir kanker. Die grootste gedeelte
van melk, vleis en eiers wat vandag op die Suid-Afrikaanse mark en wêreldmark beskikbaar is, het
die “nadelige verhouding” van omega 6: omega 3 vetsure.
Die geweldige klem op hoër vleisproduksie is verantwoordelik vir
hierdie scenario. Daarmee saam word hormone, antibiotika en ‘n klomp ander
anorganiese produkte gebruik om die produksie nog verder te verhoog. Dit lei uiteindelik to vleis, eiers
en melk met ‘n laer voedingswaarde teenoor natuurlik geproduseerde produkte. Verder word die omgewing
met residue van anorganiese stowwe besoedel en uiteindelik onstaan daar ‘n bose kringloop van besoedeling en word die
gesondheid van die mens meer en meer benadeel.
Daar is voldoende bewyse dat natuurlike voedselproduksie die
vermoë het om kweekhuisgasse vas te lê. Elders in die wêreld word tot ‘n 100% premie vir natuurlik geproduseerde melk, vleis en eiers betaal as gevolg van die geweldige gesondheisvoordele van laasgenoemde.
Die algemene waarneming dat ons oupas en oumas minder met hartkwale en kanker teenoor vandag se mense gesukkel het, ten spyte van ‘n baie hoër inname van vet rooivleis, was dus al die tyd in die kol. Die plaasbotter en vet rooivleis, direk vanaf die veld was toe al die tyd baie hoog in Omega 3-vetsure, vitamienE en C, karoteen, “CLA” en vry van hormoonresidue en met E-coli wat nie weerstandbiedig teen natuurlike maagsap was nie. Dit verklaar presies waarom ons oupas en oumas nie nodig gehad het om hartomleidings en allerhande mediese behandeling te ondergaan ten einde hulle in staat te stel om 80 jaar oud te word nie.
In die volgende uitgawe sal gekyk word na boerderybeginsels om natuurlike, gesonde vleis te produseer en die uitwerking daarvan op die omgewing.
4. ‘N MENS IS WAT JY EET!
Veldgeproduseerde beesvleis, die keuse vir ‘n langer lewe!
5. VERWYSINGShttp://www.eatwild.com en 14 bladsye wetenskaplike verwysings op hierdie webwerf verkrygbaar.
14BULL
ETIN
NEWS |
NUUS
The new Bonsmara website is the talk of the town!
Visit the website by clicking on the link below or by scanning the QR code with your smart phone:
www.bonsmara.co.zaLet us know what you think:
Die nuwe Bonsmara webwerf is op almal se lippe.Besoek die webwerf deur op die skakel hieronder te
kliek of die QR kode met u slimfoon te skandeer:www.bonsmara.co.zaOns hoor graag wat julle dink:
CLICK CLICK! | KLIEK KLIEK!
2015 BONSMARA SALE DATESRemember to visit our website to view 2015
Sale dates and sale catalogues!!
BONSMARA VEILINGSDATUMSOtnhou dat die 2015 veilingsdatums en veiling katalogusse op die Bonsmara webwerf beskikbaar is.
2015 ANNUAL FUNCTIONS
The 2015 Annual Functions will once again be held at Nampo Park, Bothaville.
THURSDAY • 19 MARCH 201508h45 till 13h00 The Red Event
14h00 National Sale
2015 JAARLIKSE FUNKSIES
Die Nasionale Veiling en Rooi Geleentheid vind weer by Nampopark, Bothaville plaas.Donderdag • 19 Maart 201508h45 tot 13h00 Die Rooi Geleentheid14h00 Nasionale Veiling
BULLETIN
15
BONSMARA TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT
Bernard Burger and Louis Steyl joined Bonsmara SA in January 2014 as Consultants in Training and
Development. They are proud to help and
visit commercial farmers, stud breeders, schools,
colleges and universities across the country.
For more information, please feel free to send an email to Bernard or Louis:
[email protected]@bonsmara.co.za
BONSMARA OPLEIDING EN ONTWIKKELING
Bernard Burger en Louis Steyl het in Janurie 2014 by Bonsmara SA as konsultante in opleiding en ontwikkeling aangesluit.Hulle is trots om kommersiële boere, stoettelers, skole, kolleges en universiteite regoor die land te besoek en van hulp te wees.Vir meer inligting, stuur gerus ‘n epos na Bernard of Louis:[email protected]@bonsmara.co.za
ONS WIL VAN JOU HOOR | WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU
Visit us | Besoek ons 118 Henry Street
Westdene | Bloemfontein
Reach us | Bereik ons www.bonsmara.co.za
051 448 6084
Email us | Epos [email protected]
16BULL
ETIN
* Your fences need to be horse-high, pig-tight and bull-strong.* Keep skunks and bankers and lawyers at a distance.* A bumble bee is considerably faster than a John Deere tractor.* Words that soak into your ears are whispered...not yelled.* Meanness doesn’t just happen overnight.* Forgive your enemies. It messes up their heads.* Do not corner something that you know is meaner than you.* It doesn’t take a very big person to carry a grudge.* You cannot unsay a cruel word.* Every path has a few puddles.* When you wallow with pigs, expect to get dirty [and that’s not always bad].* Most of the stuff people worry about ain’t never gonna happen anyway.* Don’t judge folks by their relatives.* Remember that silence is sometimes the best answer and that sometimes doing nothing is the best action.* Live a good, honorable life. Then when you get older and think back, you’ll
enjoy it a second time.* Don’t interfere with something that ain’t bothering you none.* Timing has a lot to do with the outcome of a rain dance.* If you find yourself in a hole, the first thing to do is stop digging.* Sometimes you get, and sometimes you get got.* The biggest troublemaker you’ll probably ever have to deal with watches you from the mirror every mornin’.* Always drink upstream from the herd.* Good judgment comes from experience, and a lotta that comes from bad judgment.* Letting the cat outta the bag is a whole lot easier than putting it back in.* If you get to thinking you’re a person of some influence, try ordering somebody else’s dog around.
* Live simply. Love generously. Care deeply. Speak kindly...and Leave the rest to God.
Life advice from an Old Farmer
How to
use b
reeding va
lues
to sel
ect b
eef c
attle
BULLETIN
17
Introduction
If you have only started to breed beef cattle, you might have found breeding values overwhelming. Some breeds receive up to 18 breeding values. What do they mean, and are some more important than others? Selecting animals on breeding values are in fact quite easy, once you
know how. The key is to do your homework before you select animals.
How to
use b
reeding va
lues
to sel
ect b
eef c
attle
Helena
Thero
n, SA Stud
Book,
Pretori
a Office
Some things you need to know about genetics :
There is a saying: ‘Good feeding can hide bad breeding’, which is very true. You
can not eyeball an animal and decide what his genetics are. If he has been fed well, he will look
good, but he can be genetically inferior. This implies that he –and his progeny - will need a lot of food and
care to look good. It therefore makes more sense to buy an animal that is genetically superior, as it will be more profitable.
Its superiority will also be transmitted to its progeny. The general idea is to rather breed animals that are suitable for your environment, not to continually change the environment to suit the animal, as this
can be a very costly exercise. Using adapted animals is also the right thing to do from an animal welfare point of view.
The reason why we need to look at breeding values to know how the bull will breed is because the effect of
the environment, and feed, is so important. The only way to ‘get the environment out’ is the
scientific way, which entails performance measurements under controlled
circumstances and complete pedigree recording. If you don’t do performance measuring properly, your animals will not get usable breeding values. So if you buy stud animals, it should be from a breeder that does performance measurement on his animals, and knows and understands breeding values.
Another important factor is that genetic change is a long term venture: The effect of the bulls that you buy today, will still be felt in the herd for years to come. If he is a good choice, his daughters will become your herd cows, and part of your profit, of the future. So don’t buy a lucky packet bull: one you don’t know anything about, but you are hoping for the best. Even if the bull you buy is not perfect, if you know about his shortcomings, you can manage it by using him on suitable cows.
Breeding ValuesBreeding values are also expressed as indexes, which are very easy to interpret and use. The average breeding value index of live animals in the breed is set to 100. So above 100 means the animal is better than breed average. A value of for example 120 for weaning weight means a calf that has the genetic potential of 20% heavier than the average calf. Breeding value indexes indicate genetic potential, and
18BULL
ETIN
Table 1: Example of 6 Bonsmara bulls for sale in a sales catalogue.
Nr
DIRECT CALF TRAITS DAUGHTER TRAITS GROWTH EFF. REP MEASURE-
MENTSProgeny
Birth Weight
Progeny Wean Weight
Ease of Calving
Milk prod.
Mature Weight
Post Wean Weight
Daily Gain
Feed Conv
Height & Length
Breeding Value Indexes
Birth DirAcc
Wean Dir
Acc
Birth MatAcc
Wean MatAcc
Mat WgtAcc
Post Wean
Acc
ADG
Acc
FCR
Acc
SC
Acc
Hgt
Acc
Lgt
Acc
Wgt kg Wgt kg Ind kg kg kg365dInd
540d Ind
Ind Ind (mm) (mm) (mm)
1
94 105 99 84 85 103 88 87 101 86 92 A1.24 12.8 0.08 -0.6 -10.0 17.8 29 -25 8.3 -7 4 B81 75 65 67 43 57 50 17 53 53 52 C37 224 100 112 107 - - - - - D
2
111 89 90 106 78 89 76 67 82 88 82-0.68 5.4 0.46 5.1 -17.0 8.0 -26 7 -2.5 -6 -6
80 73 62 63 23 47 33 8 36 37 3631 181 91 98 97 - - - - -
3
86 109 94 111 110 110 110 104 107 106 1172.13 15.2 0.29 6.5 17.0 22.9 123 -51 11.7 6 2781 74 54 65 38 58 45 17 49 50 4640 229 108 98 97 - - - - -
4
97 110 91 110 104 113 116 111 107 123 1120.90 15.5 0.39 6.2 11.0 25.3 148 -63 11.9 18 2380 70 62 61 38 50 45 23 40 40 4836 238 108 108 109 - - - - -
5
97 100 106 107 105 100 107 104 108 110 1090.96 10.3 -0.22 5.3 12.0 15.9 110 -51 12.4 9 2081 73 62 63 34 47 45 23 45 40 4536 197 101 101 96 - - - - -
6
102 109 85 108 90 106 107 100 91 104 1170.34 14.8 0.64 5.8 -4.0 19.8 111 -46 2.3 5 2881 74 55 65 43 55 45 17 43 48 4735 258 108 91 106 - - - - -
how heavy it will actually be, is determined by the amount of feed it gets. However, it you have two calves, one with an index of 120 and another with an index of 80 on the same farm, the 120 one will definitely be the heaviest. A lower birth weight is generally more desirable, as birth weight is the most important cause of difficult births. So an index for birth weight of above 100 indicates a lighter calf.
Note that although above 100 indicates the more desirable
direction, it does not imply that all breeding value
indexes should be maximum. For some traits, e.g. birth weight and mature weight, average is in fact the most desirable.
Another fact that should be kept in mind, is that traits are connected to one another, meaning you should not select on one trait only. Selecting only for maximum weaning weight for example, will increase both birth weight, which will cause difficult births, and mature weight, causing large framed cows that can be inefficient under certain circumstances.
BULLETIN
19
Table 1: Example of 6 Bonsmara bulls for sale in a sales catalogue.
Nr
DIRECT CALF TRAITS DAUGHTER TRAITS GROWTH EFF. REP MEASURE-
MENTSProgeny
Birth Weight
Progeny Wean Weight
Ease of Calving
Milk prod.
Mature Weight
Post Wean Weight
Daily Gain
Feed Conv
Height & Length
Breeding Value Indexes
Birth DirAcc
Wean Dir
Acc
Birth MatAcc
Wean MatAcc
Mat WgtAcc
Post Wean
Acc
ADG
Acc
FCR
Acc
SC
Acc
Hgt
Acc
Lgt
Acc
Wgt kg Wgt kg Ind kg kg kg365dInd
540d Ind
Ind Ind (mm) (mm) (mm)
1
94 105 99 84 85 103 88 87 101 86 92 A1.24 12.8 0.08 -0.6 -10.0 17.8 29 -25 8.3 -7 4 B81 75 65 67 43 57 50 17 53 53 52 C37 224 100 112 107 - - - - - D
2
111 89 90 106 78 89 76 67 82 88 82-0.68 5.4 0.46 5.1 -17.0 8.0 -26 7 -2.5 -6 -6
80 73 62 63 23 47 33 8 36 37 3631 181 91 98 97 - - - - -
3
86 109 94 111 110 110 110 104 107 106 1172.13 15.2 0.29 6.5 17.0 22.9 123 -51 11.7 6 2781 74 54 65 38 58 45 17 49 50 4640 229 108 98 97 - - - - -
4
97 110 91 110 104 113 116 111 107 123 1120.90 15.5 0.39 6.2 11.0 25.3 148 -63 11.9 18 2380 70 62 61 38 50 45 23 40 40 4836 238 108 108 109 - - - - -
5
97 100 106 107 105 100 107 104 108 110 1090.96 10.3 -0.22 5.3 12.0 15.9 110 -51 12.4 9 2081 73 62 63 34 47 45 23 45 40 4536 197 101 101 96 - - - - -
6
102 109 85 108 90 106 107 100 91 104 1170.34 14.8 0.64 5.8 -4.0 19.8 111 -46 2.3 5 2881 74 55 65 43 55 45 17 43 48 4735 258 108 91 106 - - - - -
In Table 1 the information of 6 bulls in a sales catalogue is shown. The Breeding Value Indexes of the bulls (for example Row A) and the accuracy of the breeding value (row C) is used in the selection of bulls. The accuracy indicates the amount of information
available for breeding value estimation. If it is above 80%, the breeding value is based on lots of information, while below 30% it is not very reliable, and may change a lot as new information is used for breeding value estimation. Row B can
also be used, but it indicates breeding values, which are not as easy to interpret as the breeding value indexes. The information in row D only indicates if the animal was measured for a specific trait. It can not be used for any selection
whatsoever, as it reflects mainly the environmental effect and not the genetic effect.
How to use breeding valuesIf for example you want to buy a breeding bull on breeding values, you need to follow a few simple
steps. The first and most important is to know what you want. What you want is mainly determined by three factors: What do you want to do with the bull’s calves, how much feed do you have
and what is the genetics of your cows.
What do you want to do with the calves? For example, you can sell some of the calves as weaners to a feedlot, or you can breed replacement cows for
your older cows that are leaving the herd. If you intend to sell stud bulls, you should realize that it is a very specialized area, and you need to study performance
measurement and breeding values in depth. Only the best bulls should become stud bulls. Having said that, as we will see, not all bulls need to be the same to be best.
How much feed do you have? The amount of feed determines the frame size that will do best. If you have lots of good quality feed at a reasonable price, larger framed animals will probably be more
profitable. If the animals are going to be extensively kept on the veld, medium framed animals will probably be better. If conditions are very harsh, smaller framed ones might be even better, but then rather choose a
smaller framed breed, so that selected animals are well adapted and strong and small framed, not small framed because they are poor.
What are the genetics of your cows? Are they perhaps the wrong frame size, or do not have enough milk (you can see that in their breeding values), or perhaps you are looking for a bull to use on your heifers. Are they pedigree animals or
crossbred cows? If they are pedigree animals, they will have breeding values, and you will know with much more surety what their genetic abilities are.
20BULL
ETIN
Set up a breeding goalUse the above to decide what type of bull will be best on your farm. Let us say for example we need the following 3 bulls:
Bull 1: A bull with good growth to use on a group of crossbred cows, that will be grazing the camp at the river with the good grass, as well as some crop rests. The calves will all be sold to a feedlot. A large framed bull with good growth will therefore be best. Important breeding value indexes are Weaning Weight, Average Daily Gain (ADG) and Feed Conversion Ratio (FCR), which should all be as high as possible. Post wean weight, Mature weight and Height and Length also giving indications of the general frame size that the bull will breed. On the genetic evaluation report, the Growth Value will summarize all these values into a single value, which makes selection easier. From Table 1, Bull 4 will be best. Bull 3 is also
suitable, but his Birth weight Breeding Value Index is too low. (A low birth weight index indicates a heavy calf at birth, which is
undesirable). Bull 4’s birth weight and weaning weight is much better than Bull 3’s.
Bull 2: A bull to use on Bonsmara pedigree cows that do not have any particular problems. They will be on the veld all year. The heifer calves will be used as replacement cows in the herd, or sold as such, while the bull calves out of the superior cows will be sold as stud bulls. A bull with average or slightly above average growth will be ideal. Once again the growth breeding values are important, but should not be as high as possible, but closer to 100. It is now important to also look at Birth Weight and Milk as well as the reproduction breeding
value indexes AFC (Age at first calving) and ICP (intercalving period). The Cow Value, which combines all the important breeding values into one value, will give a quick indication of how suitable the animal is to breed cows. (AFC, ICP and the Cow Value are not on the sales catalogue, only in the genetic evaluation report that all stud breeders receive once a year). From Table 1, both Bulls 5 and 6 will be suitable, although Bull 6 will be the better choice, since birth weight, weaning weight and mature weight is a very favourable 102, 109, 90, indicating a curve bender, against Bull 5’s 97, 100, 105 indicating a little bit too heavy at birth in relation to average at weaning and above average at maturity.
Bull 3: A bull to use on heifers that are to be mated to calve at 2 years. The bull should therefore not have a high breeding value for birth weight, so as to ensure easy calving. The calves should however still be profitable, i.e. have enough growth in them to be either sold to the feedlot or to be used as replacement heifers. A bull with Breeding Value Indexes for both Birth Weight and Weaning Weight above 100 is ideal. In Table 1, for example, the best bull when selecting only on the best value on Birth weight, would be Bull 2, but he breeds small calves with little growth. Bull 6 will be a much better choice: although birth weight index is above average (smaller), weaning weight is also above average (heavier), and this calf can be retained in the herd or sold.
In conclusionAs can be seen from the above, different types of bulls are suitable for different types of cows and circumstances. It is also possible to find a custom bull to your cows, with the aim to improve the calves. As inbreeding should also be kept at a minimum, it is usually easier to use a mating program to fit bulls to cows based on breeding values.
BULLETIN
21
BONSMARA SA SÊ DANKIEOns bedank elkeen vir hul bydrae tot Bonsmara SA se sukses in 2014 en sien uit om die nuwe jaar saam ieder en elk aan te pak.
Die Bonsmara kantoor sal gesluit wees vanaf 19 Desember 2014 tot 5 Januarie 2015.
Seëninge Kiewiet FerreiraBONSMARA SA SAYS THANK YOUThank you for contributing towards Bonsmara’s success in 2014. We look forward to working together in the new year.
The Bonsmara Offices will be closed between 19 December 2014 – 5 January 2015.
VOORSITTERSBOODSKAP | MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIRMAN
Dit is met dankbaarheid en erkenning aan ons Hemelse Vader vir ń geseënde 2014 vir die Bonsmara Genootskap en die Ras in geheel. Ons het soveel meer bygekry-- ń Hele aantal nuwe stoet telers; meer kommersiële telers wat ons veilings en boerdae bygewoon het; personeel uitbreidings om ons diens in die veld onder ons kommersiële telers
ook uit te brei; en boonop ń hoër gemiddelde prys vir ons diere in vergelyking met verlede jaar. Ons kan ongetwyfeld net ons seëninge tel.
ń Groot geleentheid vir ons Genootskap vanjaar was die viering van ons 50 ste bestaansjaar. Weereens kan ons ons seëninge tel en met dankbaarheid ons voorgangers se visie en insette loof om die Bonsmara tot die grootste ras in die land te ontwikkel en uit te brei. Netso is ons dankbaar vir die kommersiële telers se ondersteuning van die Ras.
At the end of a wonderful year we also approach a new year and Christmas. Christmas is always a time of joy - especially when we think of Christ’s sacrifice. It is also a time of relaxation and a pleasant time spent with the family.
This is a time when one can consider one’s priorities, balancing of the good and the bad of the previous year and make new plans, setting new objectives.
May the peace and inner happiness which the Christmas message offers us every year, bless you richly in the year of 2015.
BONSMARA SA ANNUAL SALE & RED EVENT19 MARCH 2015 | NAMPO PARK | BOTHAVILLE
Now that’s a bull come see for yourself .. .
0 5 1 4 4 8 6 0 8 4 | i n f o @ b o n s m a r a . c o . z a | w w w. b o n s m a r a . c o . z a
So reg in JOU kraal!
