The Breedleader Course Outline

Don Nicol of Brisbane-based company Breedlink Pty Ltd developed this 3-Day course in conjunction with Wayne Upton, breeding specialist with the Animal Genetics and Breeding Unit at UNE Armidale, NSW. Don and Wayne have extensive and specialised knowledge of beef breeding technologies and their usage and at least for the first two years, will be the training deliverers of this high performance course. They will travel around Australia to deliver the course to seedstock businesses, at convenient locations.

Aims of the Course:

The aim of the course is to train owners and decision-making personnel of beef seedstock businesses who are users of Group BREEDPLAN, to use advanced genetic tools with greater precision.

Participants will gain a greater understanding of the standard $Indexes produced by their breed and where applicable will be trained to develop customised $Indexes to meet their clients’ needs. Further, trainees will be introduced to the strategic use of AI and ET and new technologies such as DNA marker tests and mate allocation techniques e.g. TGRM (Total Genetic Resource Management), to speed up genetic change in their herd.

Participants will be exposed to the soon-to-be released software program called TakeStock® (developed by AGBU and marketed by ABRI as part of BREEDPLAN). TakeStock® allows BREEDPLAN users to measure key performance indicators for genetic change within their own businesses and benchmark these against the breed.

The ‘Gene Revolution’ will create a new range of tools for seedstock producers in future. The course takes a practical and in-depth look at the use of DNA technologies. These technologies are moving at great speed and the course will deal fully with current knowledge and will discuss likely future developments.

Implicit in the course goals is that you are able to assess the appropriate $Index for your client system. Then, if you have the right index, how you can crank up the genetics in your herd.

Learning Outcomes:

At the completion of the course the trainees will be capable of developing better breeding objectives for their herd, to implement changes in their herd breeding design, plus optimally use of genetic tools and reproductive techniques to better target genetic gains for profitability.

Participants will also be capable of interpreting the TakeStock® report of their herd’s genetic progress and understand the importance of the key performance indicators (KPI’s) and summaries presented. They will have benchmarked their herd's genetic change against breed average and made decisions about possible changes to their own program.

Based on that knowledge and with enhanced skills generally on advanced genetic tools they will be better able to manage directional change in their seedstock business.

Training Methods:

The training methods include illustrated talks, group sessions, practical exercises, debates and brainstorming sessions.

Where will your herd be in 5 years time?

BreedLeader is designed specifically for owners and managers of seedstock herds with a history of performance recording and a desire to make genetic improvement.  The course is V.E.T. accredited. The course will be delivered in all states of Australia.

It goes much further than BREEDPLAN Basics and deals with the critical decisions of managers and key personnel for a seedstock herd of today and tomorrow.

Upcoming Courses

Location	Dates	Status
Armidale, NSW	To be confirmed	Register your interest now
Albury/Wodonga	To be confirmed	Register your interest now
Brisbane, Qld	To be confirmed	Register your interest now
Adelaide, SA	To be confirmed	Register your interest now
Melbourne, Vic		Course Completed
Perth, WA		Course Completed

You will become more competent in the following skills:

• Genetically benchmark your herd with TakeStock® both now and in the future
• Designing a breeding program
• Understanding the factors affecting genetic change
• Quality control of performance recording
• Sourcing the right Genetics
• Choosing the best $Index for your breeding program
• Deciding how much AI and ET to use
• Understanding where DNA tests can take us in future
• Planning a future genetic improvement strategy

Trainers: Don Nicol and Wayne Upton, both recognised nationally and internationally as being at the forefront of the practical and field aspects of breeding and genetics. See Trainers

Method: Group discussions, lectures, brainstorming and simulations ~ Practical exercises and quizzes to enhance understanding ~ Evaluation of your herd's data and reports such as TakeStock®.

Want to know more? Email us at info@breedleader.com.au, or call 07 3378 3146.