FEBRUARY 2010 News Letter (Click on title to download)
Breedplan Australia
In 2001 there were a group of NZ Breeders joined the Australian Breedplan recording scheme. These were the Rotokawa, Te Maewa, Te Wai-iti, Woodlands and our own Tapuwae herd.
In August 2002 we had our first group analysis done. Our herd had 80 cows, 45 heifer calves and 34 bull calves analysed. Because we had in the past used common AI sires the accuracy of EBV’s were reasonably high at 60 to 70 % Even with this accuracy there has been movements in EBV’s as the accuracy % has increased. You also get a printout of the average for the breed and your herd on the traits analysed, birth, 200 day milk, 200 day growth, 400 day growth, and 600 day growth.
After our day with Russell Priest on 29th November 2009, I have found these averaging figures far more useful than before. Not only does this tell you where your herd compares to the rest of the Australian Herd but is a useful tool for future use.
As an example – Breed average birth weight 2008 was 1.7. If I were to mate a bull and cow with a birth weight EBV of 1.7 you could expect the offspring to be average weight at birth. Any increase in the EBV for birth you would expect to compromise our easy calving claims. 200 & 400 day weights are an indicator of the animal to grow at an early age. These are also very important for our breed as an indicator of early maturity.
600 day weight is also an indicator of early growth but also has a relationship to the animal’s mature size. This EBV would be of more importance if you wish to breed Terminal Sires, than if you are breeding a Maternal Dam Herd. (Read more)
AUGUST 2009 News Letter (Click on title to download)
Hi Folks,
Thanks to all of you who were able to make our AGM at the Towai Tavern. We may not have the membership of the past years but what we lack in numbers we make up for with enthusiasm. I found the meeting most positive and I thank you all for that. We have a good team spirit.
The following weekend we attended the Association AGM at Matakawau. One of the most noticeable observations was the lack of members who have been breeding Devons for any length of time. Only about 6 members who would have been Devon Breeders pre 2000 were present.
There are going to be major changes to the way our Assn. is heading. I wish the council that are charged with making these changes all the best. These councillors need all the support of not only Assn. Members but also our Club Members, some who have been breeding Devons for 40 plus years.
We are enjoying a good spell of weather for the last week or so. This has made feeding out a lot easier, also a lot less wastage. For the last week the cows have been able to wander off the feed pad after been locked on there since weaning in the middle of June. As usual they have put weight on. 56 cows being fed 1 ½ or 2 bales of baleage and 75litres of molasses a day. I intend to continue to feed them until most have calved. Calving starting 2nd week of September. (read more )
Old News Letters
