Participating herds will have their two-year-old heifers DNA tested (genotyped) and classified for free and have the option to test young female calves at a discount. They also receive a year’s free subscription to the HerdData app and early access to DataGene’ s reports and tools under development.
To be eligible, herds need to be regularly herd-testing and recording information such as calvings, joinings, sires and dams, pregnancy test results and health events such as mastitis.
DataGene chief executive officer, Dr Matt Shaffer, said Ginfo had enabled Australia to lead the world in genomic breeding values for traits that were difficult to measure such as feed saved and heat tolerance.
“Ginfo is a critical data set in the genetic evaluation system for the Australian dairy industry. It’s enabled us to develop new breeding values and to improve the reliability of existing breeding values, especially fertility,” Dr Shaffer said.
Over the next couple of years, DataGene plans to double the number of herds in Ginfo to about 200. Ginfo herds are located across Australia’s eight dairying regions.
Tasmania farmer Bev Carpenter said Ginfo had benefits for the broader dairy industry as well as the individual farm so she couldn’t understand why more people were not involved.
Bev, who milks more than 900 Holsteins across two herds said the more information you had, the better armed you were to make the right decisions.
“Ginfo helps us identify which heifers to keep and rear and which ones to sell and then join the best cows to better bulls.”
NSW farmer Darren Parrish said they had always been interested in the genetics and breeding side of the dairy industry and being in Ginfo means they received more information on their cows by accessing genomic testing.
“It’s giving us a better understanding of our breeding program and which bulls to use over which cows. The more information gathered by the Ginfo project the better because it will result in better reliabilities and help farmers make better breeding decisions.”
DataGene manages Ginfo on behalf of the dairy industry, in collaboration with Holstein Australia, Jersey Australia, DairyBio, Agriculture Victoria and Dairy Australia.
Dairy farmers can express interest in joining Ginfo by filling in the form on www.datagene.com.au or contact Erika Oakes at DataGene 0427 995 248 or eoakes@datagene.com.au
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