BREEDPLAN and Murray Grey Cattle Australia

Genetic evaluation for beef cattle Australia and Worldwide

Murray Grey BREEDPLAN is the genetic evaluation system currently adopted by the Murray Grey Beef Cattle Society.

BREEDPLAN is the world’s most widely used genetic evaluation system for beef cattle. BREEDPLAN EBVs take the guesswork out of selection decisions by providing beef producers with an objective assessment of an animal’s genetic potential. It offers the potential to accelerate genetic progress, tighten up breeding operations, improve productivity and increase prices for cattle sold for breeding and slaughter.

BREEDPLAN has been available since 1984 and over 60 separate BREEDPLAN evaluations have been developed, representing over 14 million animals, almost 40 beef cattle breeds and at least 100 breed associations distributed across 14 countries. A BREEDPLAN genetic evaluation is currently performed for the Murray Grey breed and includes animals from Australia, New Zealand, United States, Canada and the United Kingdom. Within the Murray Grey evaluation, EBVs are published on individual Murray Grey animals for 17 different traits. These traits include:

• Calving Ease Direct (%)
• Calving Ease Daughters (%)
• Gestation Length (days)
• Birth Weight (kg)
• 200 Day Weight (kg)
• 400 Day Weight (kg)
• 600 Day Weight (kg)
• Mature Cow Weight (kg)
• Milk (kg)
• Scrotal Size (cm)
• Days to Calving (days)
• Carcase Weight (kg)
• Eye Muscle Area (sq cm)
• Rib Fat (mm)
• Rump Fat (mm)
• Retail Beef Yield (%)
• Intra Muscular Fat (%)

More information about BREEDPLAN

Selection Indices

Murray Grey selection indices are calculated for four production systems and markets, namely, Supermarket, Heavy Grass Fed, Vealer Terminal and Northern Terminal.  These indices relate to typical commercial herds that utilise Murray Grey genetics in Australia.

Vealer Terminal Index ($) – Estimates the genetic differences between animals in net profitability per cow joined for a typical crossbred commercial herd using Murray Grey bulls to target vealer production.  Vealers are finished on grass and marketed at 430 kg live weight (average 225 kg HSCW and 9 mm P8 fat depth) at 12 months of age.  Daughters are NOT retained for breeding and so no consideration is given to maternal traits.

Supermarket Index ($) – Estimates the genetic differences between animals in net profitability per cow joined for a typical Murray Grey commercial herd targeting production of steers for the domestic supermarket trade.  Selected heifers are retained for breeding and thus maternal traits are of importance.  Steers are either finished on grass, or grain fed for 70 days, and marketed at 470 kg live weight (average 260kg HSCW and 12mm fat) at 15 months of age.  In response to industry feedback a premium is placed on marbling.

Heavy Grass Fed Steer Index ($) – Estimates the genetic differences between animals in net profitability per cow joined for a typical Murray Grey commercial herd targeting pasture finished steers for heavier grass fed markets.  Selected heifers are retained for breeding and thus maternal traits are of importance.  Steers target 620 kg live weight (330 kg HSCW and 14 mm P8 fat depth) at 24 months of age.  In response to industry feedback a premium is placed on marbling.

Northern Terminal Index ($) – Estimates the genetic differences between animals in net profitability per cow joined for a typical commercial herd using Murray Grey bulls over cows containing some Bos Indicus content.  Steers target 550 kg live weight (300 kg HSCW and 10 mm P8 fat depth) at 27 months of age.  In response to industry feedback a premium is placed on marbling.

More information on the use and development of the Australian Murray Grey Selection Indexes

At The Murray Grey Society we also promote crossbreeding and the benefits of the Greyman bulls Australia.