Important Updates from February Board Meeting
Dear Members,
At the beginning of February, the ABCA Board of Directors had a 2 day in person meeting in Toowoomba.
During the meeting the Board did a tour of the current Neogen lab in Gatton and worked with Melinda Strasburg, Neogen Sales Rep to continue to strengthen the relationship between Brangus & Neogen. The Board has requested the lab investigate options for the Brangus Bundle to be optimum value for Brangus Breeders while continuing to build the SNP profiles needed for Single Step Analysis. The ABCA office is working on Neogen tours being available to members, if this is something you are interested in, please email the office.
The meeting also provided an opportunity for the Board to have a 5-hour session with a Strategic Plan facilitator, the Board worked on identifying key inputs, key outcomes and a strategic plan to continue the breeds growth and dominance in the industry. Using the outcomes/results map created during the session a Strategic Plan document will be drafted and once finalised will be shared with Brangus members and key stakeholders.
Important updates from the Board Meeting for members are as follows:
MALES BEING TRANSFERRED TO STUD BREEDERS
The board moved the following regulation be added:
Registered males requiring transfer of ownership to another Stud Breeder must have a Brangus DNA Bundle completed prior to transfer.
This regulation will increase the integrity of the Breed and assist in minimising the pedigree changes required. The DNA testing and transfer is the responsibility of the member selling the animal and charges will be applied to the seller.
DNA REQUIREMENT FOR SOCIETY SALES
The board moved that:
All registered animals (males & females) will now require a Brangus DNA Bundle to be COMPLETED PRIOR to nomination for Society Sales.
In 2020 & 2021 the requirements for Roma & Rockhampton Brangus Sales were that registered bulls required a Brangus DNA Bundle be requested prior to nomination. The update to requiring the Brangus DNA Bundle be completed prior to nomination will allow the sale catalogues to have results printed and provide potential buyers information prior to sale day and not rely heavily on the Supplementary Sheets for DNA results.
Increasing the requirement from registered bulls to all registered animals will raise the integrity for both the male and female sections of the sales.
Members potentially selling registered animals at Roma and/or Rockhampton this year are encouraged to submit DNA on sale animals
NOW. No exceptions will be made to the condition and animals that do not meet the DNA requirements will be entered and sold as herd animals.
CONDITION SCORE REQUIREMENTS FOR SOCIETY SALES
The Board moved that:
Animals being sold at Society sales must have a minimum condition score of 3.
This will ensure that Society sales maintain reasonable presentation of animals being sold.
FEMALES EXHIBITED AT BEEF, ROYAL & FEATURE SHOWS
The Board moved that the following regulation be added:
Females being exhibited as in calf at Beef Australia, Royal & Feature shows, must be accompanied by a positive PTIC Vet Certificate. Females exhibited without a PTIC result will be considered empty.
This regulation will help ensure that the show ring reflects the integrity and transparency of the Association’s Herd Book.
PEDIGREES FOR COMMERCIAL BULLS BEING SOLD AT SOCIETY SALES
The Board moved that:
Commercial bulls being sold at Society Sales will only have one line of pedigree in the sale catalogue.
This will provide a visual difference between Registered & Commercial bulls in sale catalogues assisting commercial buyers in understanding the difference. This will also minimise the possibility of sale catalogues containing incorrect data.
HORNED ANIMALS
The Board moved that the following regulation be added:
Horned Brangus animals are ineligible for registration or enrolment.
The above has been outlined the ABCA’s Standard of Excellence for a number of years but the Board recognised a need for the Regulations to clearly outline the ineligibility of horned Brangus animals. Horned Brangus animals may only be added to the database as Commercial and can not be sold at Society sales or shown.
Horned Brahman males and females already registered with the Australian Brahman Breeders' Association Limited may be enrolled as parents.
DNA REQUIREMENTS FOR FEATURE SHOWS - REMINDER
Previously passed by the Board is the following:
All animals exhibited at Beef Australia & Brangus Feature Shows in Junior or Senior classes must have the results of a Brangus Bundle DNA test recorded.
Members planning on exhibiting animals at 2022 Brangus Feature Shows are reminded that the Brangus Bundle DNA test must be completed prior to the show. To allow for sufficient testing time and to avoid the disappointment of not being able to exhibit, members are encouraged to submit samples for testing urgently.
The ABCA Board of Directors have considered members correspondence, professional advice and industry feedback when making these decision which will help navigate and grow the Breed.
If you would like to table suggestions for the Boards consideration please send written correspondence to:
Tessa Pearson, ACBA CEO
PO Box 814, Armidale NSW 2350
tessa@brangus.com.au
