Frequently asked questions
For breeders
1. What is multibreed beef genetic evaluation?
Multibreed beef genetic evaluation involves the establishment of an industry wide, national genetic evaluation platform that enables the genetic merit of animals to be compared both within and across breeds. It will deliver new selection tools, including Australian Cattle Breeding Values (ACBVs), Australian Cattle Genomic Values (ACgVs) and Australian Cattle Genetic Profiles (GenProfiles).
2. Why is multibreed genetic evaluation being established?
Multibreed genetic evaluation is the next evolution in the beef genetic evaluation ecosystem and is being developed to enable the direct comparison of genetic merit across breeds, while maintaining the ability to compare animals within breeds. It provides improved selection tools for commercial and seedstock producers, supports faster rates of genetic gain, and establishes a common industry language for describing the genetic credentials of cattle.
3. Which breeds will be included?
Two beef multibreed genetic evaluations are initially being established, with one evaluation incorporating tropical breeds (TROPBEEF) and one incorporating temperate breeds (TEMPBEEF).
Initial breeds targeted for inclusion in the TROPBEEF evaluation include Belmont Red, Braford, Brahman, Brangus, Charbray, Droughtmaster, Santa Gertrudis, Tropical Composites and Ultrablack.
Initial breeds targeted for inclusion in the TEMPBEEF evaluation include Angus, Beef Shorthorn, Blonde d’Aquitaine, Charolais, Devon, Hereford, Limousin, Murray Grey, Red Angus, Shorthorn, Simmental, Speckle Park, Salers, South Devon and Wagyu.
4. Why are there separate genetic evaluations for the tropical and temperate breeds?
The establishment of the TROPBEEF and TEMPBEEF genetic evaluations reflects the data currently available from major research projects where the performance of different breeds have been compared head-on-head under the same environmental conditions. Most notably, these research projects have included the Repronomics projects, where major tropical breeds were compared head-on-head, and the Southern Multibreed Project, where major temperate breeds were compared head-on-head.
5. When will multibreed evaluations become available?
The establishment of multibreed beef genetic evaluation is in a research and development phase. Once the research and development phase is complete, the TROPBEEF and TEMPBEEF evaluations will be made available for industry review and consultation, before progressing to commercialisation. At this stage, the TROPBEEF genetic evaluation is scheduled for commercial release in November 2027, followed by the TEMPBEEF genetic evaluation in November 2028.
6. Will multibreed genetic evaluation replace BREEDPLAN?
No. The national, industry wide multibreed genetic evaluations will continue to utilise BREEDPLAN analytical software and are simply the next evolution in the beef genetic evaluation ecosystem. Single breed BREEDPLAN evaluations will continue to be available if breed associations wish to maintain a within breed genetic evaluation for their respective breed.
7. How are multibreed genetic evaluations different from BREEDPLAN?
BREEDPLAN primarily enables the genetic merit of animals to be compared within a breed, whereas multibreed evaluation enables direct comparison across breeds as well. Multibreed evaluations will complement existing BREEDPLAN services rather than replace them. They will also provide new genomic tools and commercial selection opportunities that are not currently available through traditional single-breed evaluations.
8. What new tools and traits will become available under multibreed beef evaluations?
Multibreed evaluations will deliver a suite of new selection tools, including Australian Cattle Breeding Values (ACBVs), Australian Cattle Genomic Values (ACgVs) and Australian Cattle Genetic Profiles (GenProfiles). Multibreed evaluations will also provide a platform for a range of new breeding values, for traits such as methane emissions, female reproduction, carcase value, structural soundness, fertility, adaptation, immune competence and mature cow resilience. Many of these traits have traditionally been difficult or expensive to measure on a large scale. Their inclusion will provide producers with new opportunities to make genetic progress in areas that directly influence productivity, profitability and sustainability.
9. Will multibreed genetic evaluation reduce the accuracy or usefulness of breeding values?
Initial research involving the Brahman, Santa Gertrudis and Droughtmaster breeds showed that the accuracy of breeding values increased when the data from each breed was consolidated into a multibreed genetic evaluation. The increase in accuracy was highest for traits with less data, and when breeds are more closely related genetically. Further research will now be undertaken during the research and development phase to assess the impact on the accuracy of breeding values in other breeds. Multibreed genetic evaluation aims to enhance, rather than reduce, the usefulness of breeding values.
10. What industry consultation was undertaken when deciding to establish multibreed genetic evaluation?
Multibreed genetic evaluation is the result of long-standing industry demand that has been identified through genetics reviews, industry consultation processes and strategic planning activities since the 1990s, and it has been consistently supported as a priority by the National Livestock Genetics Consortium. Approximately $40 million of R&D investment since 2016 in projects such as Repronomics and the Southern Multibreed Project has removed technical barriers and made the establishment of multibreed genetic evaluation possible.
For breed societies
1. Will participation in multibreed genetic evaluation be mandatory?
No. Participation in multibreed genetic evaluation will remain a choice for breed associations. Single-breed BREEDPLAN evaluations will continue to be available for breed associations that wish to maintain them.
2. Why are breed societies being asked to provide data?
Breed associations, as custodians of the data included in the single breed, BREEDPLAN genetic evaluation for their respective breed, are being invited to make this data available to support the development and validation of robust multibreed genetic evaluations. Inclusion of data from their single breed, BREEDPLAN genetic evaluation will best position breed associations to review the selection tools being generated from the multibreed genetic evaluations, and decide whether to maintain the current single breed BREEDPLAN genetic evaluation for their respective breed, and/or whether they would like to participate in multibreed genetic evaluation on an ongoing, routine basis.
3. Does multibreed present a risk to the future of breed associations and their business model?
No. Breed societies who elect to participate in the national, industry wide multibreed genetic evaluations will continue to play an important role in the delivery of genetic evaluation services to their members. Multibreed genetic evaluation is intended to enhance the services available to breeders, not disrupt the role or business model of breed associations.
4. Will multibreed genetic evaluation mean there will be no breeds, or prevent individual breeds from being recognised and rewarded within the supply chain?
No. Breeds will continue to be recognised and valued within the beef industry. Multibreed genetic evaluation simply provides an additional framework for comparing genetic merit across breeds, while maintaining the existing ability for breeders to select animals within a single breed.
5. Will multibreed genetic evaluation replace current single breed genetic evaluations?
No. While it is envisaged that multibreed genetic evaluation will remove the need to also conduct single breed genetic evaluation, single breed BREEDPLAN genetic evaluation will still be available to breed associations who would like to maintain an evaluation for their breed. Following the research and development phase, multibreed breeding values will be published alongside existing single breed BREEDPLAN EBVs during a review and consultation period, allowing breed associations and their members to decide whether to maintain the current single breed BREEDPLAN genetic evaluation for their respective breed, and/or whether they would like to participate in multibreed genetic evaluation on an ongoing, routine basis
6. What happens if a breed association elects not to make the data available from the single breed, BREEDPLAN genetic evaluation for their respective breed to the development of multibreed genetic evaluation?
Where a breed association chooses not to participate, interested breeders will have the opportunity to participate directly in the development of multibreed genetic evaluation, and once commercialised, access multibreed genetic evaluation services.
7. Will data provided to multibreed genetic evaluation be provided to third parties, such as genomic companies or multi-nationals to support genomic tools for commercial or composite cattle?
No. During the research and development phase, licence agreements restrict the use of contributed data to the development of the multibreed genetic evaluation. Existing intellectual property ownership and rights remain unchanged, and data cannot be used for purposes outside the agreed terms in the license agreement. While arrangements for the commercial delivery of the multibreed genetic evaluations are still under development, it is envisaged similar terms will apply to participation in multibreed genetic evaluation as to the terms that apply to the existing single breed BREEDPLAN genetic evaluations.
8. How will multibreed genetic evaluations be governed?
The governance arrangements for industry wide, national multibreed genetic evaluation are currently under development. It is envisaged that multibreed genetic evaluations will be supported by a governance framework that includes industry representation, scientific peer review and stakeholder consultation. The BREEDPLAN & Sheep Genetics Technical Committee and BREEDPLAN Advisory Committee are likely to play key roles in the governance framework, along with regular stakeholder engagement activities.
9. How will multibreed genetic evaluations be commercialised?
The commercial delivery pathway for multibreed genetic evaluation is currently under development, with further announcements anticipated shortly. Details relating to service delivery, pricing and participation arrangements will be available as part of the review and consultation process prior to commercial release.
10. Who will own and manage the resulting intellectual property?
Existing intellectual property rights in data contributed to the multibreed evaluation remain with the original data owners. Arrangements relating to the ownership and management of any new intellectual property generated through the multibreed evaluation program are currently being developed and will be communicated as part of the commercialisation process.