Abstract

The Angus Sire Reference Scheme (SRS) began in New Zealand with first matings in 1977, under direction from Ruakura Animal Research Station. It began for four reasons: 1. we were not convinced of the technical merits of central beef bull performance tests (Dalton and Morris, 1978). 2. 80% of pedigree Angus bulls used for breeding in New Zealand are not homebred (Cheong, 1977), and 3. bull breeders seem more concerned about progeny test results than about within-herd performance data. 4. Since annual genetic progress from a multiple-herd reference sire testing and selection scheme can be at least as great as with within-herd mass selection (Morris et al., 1980), the establishment of valid across-herd testing seemed worthwhile. The SRS is currently in its fifth year, and details of procedures and some results are given below.

C. A Morris, R. L Baker

Proceedings of the World Congress on Genetics Applied to Livestock Production, Volume 8. Symposia (2), , 305–308, 1982