Individual Animal
The most accurate method available to identify the true parentage of an animal
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Individual Animal uses DNA testing to identify and accurately record an animal to the correct sire.
In most cases clients will use Tru-Parent to confirm or verify the parentage of an animal with incomplete or inaccurate herd records prior to their first mating; to be certain they are making the right decisions based on accurate results.
Inaccuracies in herd records can stem from errors in recording, identification and mis-mothering. Accurate recording at calving time can be a nightmare, so issues with recording are very common errors. Work in Sire Proving Scheme (SPS) herds saw an average calf recording error of 15% (with some herds in the 40% and above range). Further work in commercial herds estimates average calving errors (especially in larger herds) at 20% and above.
One of the issues resulting from inaccurate or incomplete herd records is for AB bred animals whose birth date does not match its mating dates. The problem arises for future matings as these animals do not have the correct sire recorded and inbreeding may result.
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What Individual Animal can do for you
Accurately recording an animal to sire using Individual Animal means:
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You get more accurate records and a true Breeding Worrth (BW) rating for AB bred animals to increase your herd’s capital value
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Allows you to make breeding, selling and culling decisions supported by accurate herd records
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Confirm parentage if a calf is born in between two close matings or born outside the normal gestation period
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Ensures non-AB animals are not kept
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Ensures your herds future inbreeding is reduced and provides you with control over the genetic make-up of your herd
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Realise a better sale price for your animals
The true value of Individual Animal
Helps you avoid the costs of inbreeding
Inbreeding problems can cost up to $1000 per animal in lost production over the life of a two-year-old entering the herd, including losses in milksolids, longevity and fertility.
Animals at risk are those with uncertain or unknown parentage. Individual Animal verifies the animal’s uncertain or unknown sire to avoid the chance of inbreeding.
Helps you to maximise the true value of your herd
If your herd profile shows animals with ‘unofficial parentage’ you can benefit from Individual Animal DNA testing to accurately complete your herd records and realise the true value of your herd.
Highlighted Animals:
1. Parentage confirmation by DNA
2. Parentage cannot be verified
3. Parentage to this sire is uncertain
4. No recorded Sire
Animals with (+, #, blank) receive only an average BW.
Don’t let these animals stop you from realising your herd’s true value.
Helps increase your herd’s recorded genetic merit
Animals that have no recorded sire are assigned an average BW (100 points), which is probably lower than the animal's true BW. Verify the parentage of your animals to an AI sire with Individual Animal and you could realise a BW increase of at least 30 points per animal.
Gives you better information for making your farming decisions
It costs an estimated $800 to rear an animal from birth to calving. It is unprofitable to rear and breed from animals that do not have the best performance indicators. If you know the correct parentage of the animal you will understand its true BW to make better, more informed breeding, culling and selling decisions.
Gives you increased accuracy for your herd ancestry records
Individual Animal DNA analysis is the most accurate method available to verify parentage; giving you peace of mind knowing you are keeping and breeding only the best animals. Individual Animal ensures the animals you are purchasing are what they are said to be.
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