Identifying such animals for purchase has become a scientific procedure. Hanging over a rail at an auction, selecting animals that look good to your eye and come from a breeder you respect is just too subjective a process in a time when farms need to be run as businesses. "You have to have solid proof that the animal you're buying has the traits you're looking for," says Standard Bank's Free State Agricultural manager, Danie Retief.
"You, therefore, need an industry body that has the global credentials and credibility to certify animals as having at least a 70% probability of giving you the results you need. As that industry body, SA Studbook plays a fundamental role in keeping livestock farmers viable."
Today, SA Studbook uses the latest in business intelligence and genomics technologies to predict the genetic performance of pedigreed animals with an accuracy that helps farmers justify the cost of buying them.
This process also significantly shortens the period for which a farmer must plan for improvements in his output. Before genetic science and livestock evaluation were applied in this way, a breeder and his potential clients in the agricultural community would have to wait up to a decade to see what sort of progeny any given animal produced and what its performance was in terms of producing milk or meat.
Now, based on the latest techniques and genomic analysis on a given population of 1,000 or more measured and recorded animals, it is possible for SA Studbook to predict efficiency, for example, based on traits such as effective feed conversion or meat quality, etc. for a single member of that population from the day it is born, by simply doing a genomic analysis of a hair sample of the animal.
"Although these technologies have been in use in Europe and the United States for a few years, this is a new approach for South Africa," says Retief. "SA Studbook has begun working with its member breeder associations to collect data for the required population numbers for the breeds concerned. It could take a few years to get that kind of statistical coverage with big enough numbers of measured and recorded animals on all the breeds covered by SA Studbook.
"The point is, however, that SA Studbook is at the forefront of modern animal breeding techniques and, therefore, so are South African breeders and the farmers to whom the breeders supply pedigreed animals."
Even when it was first founded, in 1905, long before measuring and genetic analysis were invented, SA Studbook served as the foundation on which livestock breeders and farmers could base forward-looking business decisions. Initially, its records (mainly pedigree) of purebred animals were contained in 30 printed volumes. From 1953, the information was consolidated onto index cards.
In the 1980s, computerisation of the data and SA Studbook's processes began and has been continuously updated to keep pace with international best practice. SA Studbook's database and procedures for registration and certification of South African animals are now accepted internationally. To achieve this, data and system integrity is vital, and for monitor purposes, SA Studbook attained accreditation for all its systems and services through ICAR (International Committee for Animal Recording).
This has opened up new markets overseas for its members, as breeders globally seek to improve the genetic traits of their animals.
Today, SA Studbook consists of 63 animal breeders' societies focused on the breeding and genetic enhancement of cattle, sheep, goats, pigs, horses, and dogs, as well as, recently, wildlife. It also has 79 entries for breeds of other species for which there are no societies yet. As part of protecting and promoting those interests, SA Studbook has formed close links with similar bodies in Europe, Australia, and America, and maintains a close reciprocal liaison with those in Southern Africa. It verifies the pedigrees and other information related to imported animals.
SA Studbook general manager, Dr Pierre van Rooyen, says that the breeding of purebred animals is more competitive now than it has ever been, as science and technology have enabled breeders to produce almost identical characteristics from one animal to another. "Whereas livestock farmers are in the business of selling meat or milk, livestock breeders are in the business of selling genetics. To be profitable, they must be able to prove that the genes they breed for are running true and that they will deliver better performance than those of their competitors.
"So, one of the services we offer in addition to our original mandate of keeping records of pedigrees and recording and publishing credible performance and genetic merit is to render technical, scientific, and advisory services to our members and other interested parties. In this way, we partner with breeders in continuously improving production efficiency for their customers, the livestock farmers."
