Herd management
The Marellan herd is run under strict commercial conditions. Functionality is backbone of our cow herd, if they are not functional, they go. We have a no excuses policy, we believe in forgiving people NOT cows. Cows that don’t calve unassisted or fail to go in calf whilst lactating are culled from the breeding programme. Fertility is an absolute in our selection process. Cows with non-functional udders and bad temperaments are not tolerated. We believe that genetic progress is achieved through both the utilisation of the most superior genetics available, and a strict culling process. Selection pressure is one of our most valuable tools. Rather than breed stud cattle that are ‘wrapped in cotton wool’, want to use environmental selection pressure to make our cattle even more industry relevant. As stud breeders we believe that our selection pressure must be harder than our clients, to help ensure that our bulls provide genetic gain for their new owners.
We utilise a host of objective and subjective measurements to access our cattle including; BreedPlan, Tick Magnet Scores, Udder Scoring, Coat Scoring, Birth Weight and Birth Weight Shape Scoring and structural and maturity pattern assessments. Our performance data is all submitted to BreedPlan and as well as converted to peer group ratios. We weigh virtually every calf born and believe that ACTUAL peer group birth weights are the cornerstone of performance recording. Without actual birth weights it is virtually impossible to establish which individuals break the birth/growth rate curve. Clients can be assured that when they purchase a bull from Marellan the hard decisions have already been made, so that long term commercial viability and profitability is ‘built in’. We always aim for the ‘next generation’ to be the best generation.
Tick Magnet Scores
Now that we are in central QLD, we are more committed than ever to ensuring that our cattle can work within the environment. “East End” is in Tick country, so we are very conscience of the need to select Shorthorn Cattle that have the lowest possible tick burden. Our “Tick Magnet Score” is our way of comparing tick burdens of different cows. Even at this early stage, it is obvious that our herd has a big variation in tick burden. This score is being used heavily in our selection process, in determining culls and elite donor females to be used in Embryo Transfer programs. We will have some photos to share at Beef 2015 for those that are interested.
Birth Shape Score Explanation
Marellan Shorthorns is absolutely committed to performance recording from Birth (& gestation). We believe that performance recording without actual birth weights is simply guesswork. Since the late 1990's we have endeavoured to weigh 100% of our calves at birth. This has been done at considerable expense, but in the end it has allowed us to make considerable genetic progress for our herd and our client's herds. Over time we have recorded more and more information. Peer group birth weights combined with a methodical approach to assessing birth shape provide us with a clearer 'Day One' picture, allowing us to 'Cull the Culls' and propagate the superior animals. The more we can identify birth/growth curve benders, the more performance we can get out of heifers’ first calves.
Click below to download PDF Document
We utilise a host of objective and subjective measurements to access our cattle including; BreedPlan, Tick Magnet Scores, Udder Scoring, Coat Scoring, Birth Weight and Birth Weight Shape Scoring and structural and maturity pattern assessments. Our performance data is all submitted to BreedPlan and as well as converted to peer group ratios. We weigh virtually every calf born and believe that ACTUAL peer group birth weights are the cornerstone of performance recording. Without actual birth weights it is virtually impossible to establish which individuals break the birth/growth rate curve. Clients can be assured that when they purchase a bull from Marellan the hard decisions have already been made, so that long term commercial viability and profitability is ‘built in’. We always aim for the ‘next generation’ to be the best generation.
Tick Magnet Scores
Now that we are in central QLD, we are more committed than ever to ensuring that our cattle can work within the environment. “East End” is in Tick country, so we are very conscience of the need to select Shorthorn Cattle that have the lowest possible tick burden. Our “Tick Magnet Score” is our way of comparing tick burdens of different cows. Even at this early stage, it is obvious that our herd has a big variation in tick burden. This score is being used heavily in our selection process, in determining culls and elite donor females to be used in Embryo Transfer programs. We will have some photos to share at Beef 2015 for those that are interested.
Birth Shape Score Explanation
Marellan Shorthorns is absolutely committed to performance recording from Birth (& gestation). We believe that performance recording without actual birth weights is simply guesswork. Since the late 1990's we have endeavoured to weigh 100% of our calves at birth. This has been done at considerable expense, but in the end it has allowed us to make considerable genetic progress for our herd and our client's herds. Over time we have recorded more and more information. Peer group birth weights combined with a methodical approach to assessing birth shape provide us with a clearer 'Day One' picture, allowing us to 'Cull the Culls' and propagate the superior animals. The more we can identify birth/growth curve benders, the more performance we can get out of heifers’ first calves.
Click below to download PDF Document
| birth_shape_score_explanation.pdf |
