Genetic improvement is a long-term investment
Meat & Livestock Australia October 9, 2023
Genetics is a long-term investment. A bull will (usually) be used for multiple mating seasons, and his influence can impact the herd for many years through the retention of his daughters and granddaughters.
Genetic improvement is permanent, cumulative and long-lasting. Genetic gains are typically small but add up over generations. For example, a 1% genetic improvement per generation becomes a 10% gain over 10 generations.
Consequently, it is important that you select animals with the appropriate genetics for your production system (your breeding objective(s)). It may require multiple generations to undo a poor genetic selection decision. We will explore breeding objectives in more detail in Module 2: Breeding Objectives (COMING SOON).
Key message
Genetic improvement is permanent, cumulative and a long-term investment for livestock operations.
The animal selection decisions made today will influence a herd for generations to come.