Genomics has been assisting Fleurieu Peninsula dairyfarmer Wes Hurrell to make herd management decisions, based off the DNA profile of his heifers.
Speaking at a DairySA on-farm workshop, Mr Hurrell, Torrens Vale, said when selecting a calf his first choice would probably be to pick the biggest one but genomic testing saw things he could not.
This insight has allowed him to ensure he keeps the best stock on-farm, with the rest heading to the export market.
"I rank the heifers and sort them according to their Balanced Performance Index and the heifers which don't reach the cut off point will be destined for overseas," he said.
He said an example was a six-month-old heifer that ranked 463 on its BPI, an indication it would produce $463 extra dollars per lactation, compared with an average cow.
"Production wise after two lactations she did 11,500 litres or 28 kilogram in 305 days - she was built pretty right," he said.
Being provided with the data from genomics means dairyfarmers are able to make more informed decisions on which heifers to sell
- Rob Cooper
Mr Hurrell says without the insight of genomics, it was very likely farmers were sending at least some of the top 10 per cent of their herd to overseas markets.
He said there were other insights to the testing.
"We had one genomic test come back with progeny of a bull we had never ever used, never even bought the semen so I got them to recheck it and it was correct but I had never used it," he said.
"It went back to the reseller, putting a straw in the wrong goblet.
"Progressively as we move through the herd they are also parentage tested against the dam as the testing builds to the profiles of the cows."
Also contributing to the on-farm workshop was retired dairyfarmer Rob Cooper, Tamworth, NSW, who works for DataGene to help farmers understand data sets from genomics.
He said genomic testing helped farmers save money on rearing costs by not rearing heifers that were unlikely to perform.
"Being provided with the data from genomics means dairyfarmers are able to make more informed decisions on which heifers to sell," he said.
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"You will be able to significantly fast-track the genetic improvements within your herd and have better clarity on herd management.
"It will also allow you to verify parentage with semen vials and clarify pedigree histories."
Genomics captures a full prediction profile on each calf, its production, fertility and type.
On the report is the future performance in the herd, against Australian Breeding Values, as well as the BPI.
The genomic result produces an index that is in line with the individual farmer preferences, such as increased protein, fertility and cell count, with this expressed in dollar units.
The report will compare the tested heifer with the average heifer, ranked as a zero BPI.
A heifer with a 350 BPI is a heifer that should return $350 more income once feed and herd costs have been accounted for.
DairySA reported in the past 12 months the number of genomic tested heifers across the state has more than doubled with this growth expected to climb until it is routine practice on most farms.
Mr Cooper said genomic testing cost about $50 per heifer but when compared with the costs of rearing a heifer that wouldn't perform, it was well worth the investment.
Demo shows ease of data collection
A GENOMICS tissue sampling collection was demonstrated at a recent DairySA workshop at Torrens Vale.
The opportunity to see the process in real-time was provided when Rockwella worker Teagan Stewart demonstrated taking a genomic sample from a two-day-old calf.
When the National Livestock Identification System tag is about to be inserted, the DNA is punched from the ear into the tissue sampling unit, which has a barcode on the box along with the tube.
In some genomics kits, the NLIS tag is provided to align with the genomics - others note the tag number down against the tube in the box of samples.
Many dairyfarmers will collect samples when the calves are born, others will wait until weaning.
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