Shorthorn Beef SBTS

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Shorthorn SBTS officer
Mr. Christian Duff
Ph: (02) 6773 2472
Email: christian@sbts.une.edu.au

About SBTS

Southern Beef Technology Services (SBTS) is a joint initiative of Meat and Livestock Australia (MLA), the Agricultural Business Research Institute (ABRI) and Breed Societies that run the majority of their cattle in Southern Australia.

SBTS provides the members of participating breed societies with technical support that enables them to maximise their understanding and use of the different genetic technologies that are available. For example, BREEDPLAN, BreedObject Selection Indexes, Internet Solutions, TakeStock and DNA based technologies.

 Background/History

The SBTS project commenced in March 2005 following a Strategic Planning workshop conducted by the Australian Registered Cattle Breeders Association (ARCBA) in August 2004. At this workshop, members of ARCBA identified the declining level of beef cattle technical services available in southern Australia as a major area of concern. In particular, the retirement of Brian Sundstrom (national coordinator of BREEDPLAN field services at the time), the reduction in technical support offered by a number of the major Breed Societies and the decline in funding for DPI beef extension highlighted the need for the development of an effective field support program. In response, MLA, ABRI and 15 Breed Societies combined to develop SBTS.

In association with Tropical Beef Technology Services (TBTS), SBTS provides a truly national extension program for genetic technologies for the Australia seedstock beef industry.

 Services

SBTS delivers a range of services to the beef industry in Southern Australia. These services include:

Technical Support: SBTS provides day to day technical support to beef producers in Southern Australia.

  • Beef producers are able to access technical support regarding any of the genetic technologies that are available. This support is in the form of both phone and email consultation supplemented by farm visits.
  • Technical liaison is provided to the Councils and Technical Committees of the participating Breed Societies.
  • Technical assistance is available to other service providers in the beef industry (eg. agents, scanners, veterinarians).

Workshops: Workshops are held routinely to give members of the beef industry the opportunity for tuition in the application of the different genetic technologies that are available. Regular webinar presentations are also run to supplement the workshop program.

Property Visits: On property cosultation is available for producers with specific queries and needs. The property visits provide a valuable opportunity for beef producers to gain advice regarding issues that are relevant to their individual operation.

A range of other activities are also provided by SBTS such as technical notes, support material at major events and technical articles for BREEDPLAN publications.

Importantly, SBTS also acts as a valuable feedback mechanism to the BREEDPLAN development team in the Animal Genetics and Breeding Unit and the operational team in ABRI.

SBTS Webinars

  • Genetics for Reproduction – The Female Influence
  • Genetics for Reproduction – The Male Influence
  • Relationship between Body Composition and Calving Rate
  • Effect of Genetic Differences in Fat & Net Feed Intake on Efficiency of Weaner Production
  • The Beef CRC DNA Test for Growth, Feed Efficiency, Carcase & Reproductive Performance
  • The Australian DNA Test for the Polled Gene
  • DNA Technology – Understanding the Basics
  • Utilising DNA for Parentage Verification
  • Managing Genetic Conditions with DNA
  • Utilising DNA to Change Type Traits
  • Improving Production Traits with DNA
  • Assessing the Cost Benefit of DNA Technology
  • Performance Recording with BREEDPLAN
  • Understanding and Recording Information for the Birth Traits
  • Understanding and Recording Information for the Weight Traits
  • Understanding and Recording Information for the Carcase Traits
  • Understanding and Recording Information for the Fertility Traits and Docility
  • Understanding the Newer EBVs and Incorporation of DNA Information into BREEDPLAN
  • Small Herds : Obtaining Effective Results from BREEDPLAN
  • New Australian DNA Test for the Polled Gene

Click here to download a webinar

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About Shorthorn

The Shorthorn breed is truly unique, from their distinctive roan colour, to their rich breed history and most importantly, the wonderful community of breeders, there is nothing else quite like a Shorthorn.

The key to the Shorthorn breeds advantage lies in their balanced genetic profile, driven by market participation that has been developed and refined, after more than 200 years of genetic selection under Australian conditions.

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