Neogen network opens new international markets for Palgrove

Neogen’s global network is opening new international market opportunities for leading Australian cattle stud, Palgrove.

Neogen Australasia’s genomic analysis draws on reference population data from around the world, including the American Angus Association (AAA) and the International Brangus Breeders Association (IBBA).

Connecting these data sets is not only bolstering the accuracy of genomic predictions for Australian Angus, Brangus and Ultrablack breeders, it has opened the way for Australian seedstock to be officially recognised in American genetic evaluation systems.

“Now we’ve got that data and pedigree linkage included in the Angus and International Brangus systems, there’s certainly the potential and opportunity for US breeders to buy some of our genetics now,” Palgrove General Manager Ben Noller said.

“Working with Angus Australia and the International Brangus Breeders Association gave us access to huge amounts of data and as soon as we got that linkage through to both of those programs through Neogen and its genomic analysis of all that background reference population, it gave us some real accuracy.

“It also gave us access to a few more traits that we didn’t have before, with the US system having traits for pregnancy and fertility, plus fertility indexes, which we certainly felt were really important, particularly here in Australia and the push in northern Australia for improving fertility in those northern herds.”

Palgrove is arguably Australia’s premier stud, with an unrivalled record in the show ring and paddock to palate competitions.

With a herd of more than 6500 registered cattle spanning Angus, Brangus, Ultrablack and Charolais, Palgrove produces 1000 bulls each year from its breeding properties in northern NSW and southern Queensland.

The broad range of end markets for their clients’ breeding programs – from grass finished through to feedlot, from domestic to export – means a balanced approach to genetic selection is required.

“Some of our bulls go out to clients producing cattle for the organic system; we’ve got other clients producing for the feedlot systems and grass-fed programs,” Mr Noller said.

“So there’s a fair mix there that our genetics go into, but I guess they’re all looking for similar traits that improve profitability across that supply chain.

“In the paddock they are obviously looking for that weight gain, and fertility is a big driver there, but also in the feedlot as well as they have to yield and have carcass quality. So that balance is quite tricky to achieve.”

Palgrove added genomics to its suite of genetic selection tools two years ago, with the benefits now starting to flow through thanks to the ability to make more informed decisions earlier in the life of the breeding animals.

“I think it will take us a bit more time to see the full benefits come through but it’s certainly allowed us to make better decisions and see some of the variance within our own herd,” Mr Noller said. “It is allowing us to select those bulls and match up females a little bit better for certain traits and balance them out.

“To be able to have this genomic information for our clients to verify that we’re moving forward in the genetics we’re selling to them, is important for us to stay at the top of the game and continue to supply them with genetics that that are improving the profitability in their commercial programs.”