Andrew Freshwater

  Leachman Stabilizers is a breeding program developed by the Leachman Cattle Company, a US-based company that specializes in cattle genetics. The program aims to produce cattle that are genetically superior in terms of growth, efficiency, and carcass quality. The Leachman Stabilizer program is based on a composite breed of cattle that is created by crossing multiple breeds, including Angus, Simmental, Gelbvieh, and Red Angus. The goal of this breeding strategy is to capture the desirable traits of each breed while minimizing their weaknesses. The Leachman Stabilizer cattle are bred for their adaptability, hardiness, and efficiency, with a focus on producing high-quality beef. One of the unique features of the Leachman Stabilizer program is its use of Expected Progeny Differences (EPDs) to evaluate the genetic potential of each animal. EPDs are a measure of an animal's genetic merit based on its own performance and the performance of its relatives. By selecting animals with superio...

 

 

The Dorper at the cross roads? February 2, 2021 Contributor: Andrew Freshwater, Clear Creek Pastoral There’s a few rumblings as to Dorper based composite sheep in Australia – whether they be Ultra Whites, Aussie Whites, Kojaks, and the list goes on. I’ve heard a few say: ‘How dare people ruin the breed purity of Dorpers!’ – and have heard claims of inferior production from these composite breeding businesses and systems which are proliferating in Australia. It makes me wonder what people thought back in the late 1920’s and through the 1930’s when the South African Department of Agriculture had the audacity to combine two breeds and come up with the name ‘Dorper’. How dare they, and how fortunate are we they did! Crossbreeding and composite breeding are a natural progression for sheep breeders with an eye on production and flock efficiency, and a desire to utilise hybrid vigour and heterosis - in what Dr Keith Gregory at the Meat Animal Research Centre in the US notably called ‘ The cat...