BLUP values vs 'good looks'

In this article, Louis Steyl, CEO of the breeders' society Bonsmara SA, explains why farmers should buy bulls based on both BLUP values and conformation, without prioritising either factor.

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Much has been said about breeding values and the use of best linear unbiased prediction (BLUP) values in breeding cattle.

Many are of the opinion that using breeding values is the only way to move forward in terms of cattle production, while others believe that traditional stockmanship is the only way.

As such, one of the most frequently asked questions in the field is whether BLUP values or animal conformation matters more when it comes to making breeding decisions.

The answer is simple: a farmer must use both in order to make a calculated decision when it comes to buying their next bull or female animal to improve the herd.

THE VALUE OF BOTH

In a competitive market in the age of technology, buyers know exactly what they’re looking for. They also know what they want to accomplish when buying in a bull (or any other animal), and therefore what that animal’s purpose is.

This is why a farmer will struggle to sell a bull with excellent conformation if it has very low BLUP values. Buyers want the peace of mind that a bull that looks good will be able to improve their herd’s production, fertility, or adaptability (or whatever the farmer’s ultimate objective is). A bull that looks good but isn’t able to help the farmer achieve their goal is not worth the investment.