BREEDING OBJECTIVES:

The breeding objectives of the ALPHA & ACE Poll South Devon Herds may be broadly summarised as follows:

Quiet temperament:
#... All animals are observed for signs of excitability and aggressiveness, and are ruthlessly culled if they exhibit either of these.

Strong maternal traits:
# ...High milk & 200 day EBVs (ie. high maternal value).
# ...Easy calving (all calves are weighed and tagged at birth).
# ...Good fertility.

Desirable carcass characteristics:
#... All animals are scanned at approximately 18 months of age.
# ...Animals are selected for above average EBVs for:
............. - Eye muscle area.
............. - Subcutaneous fat.
............. - Intramuscular fat.

Moderate frame & maturity pattern:
# ...Growth EBVs above average, but not excessive.

Good structural characteristics:
# ...Poll factor (absence of horn gene).
# ...Good feet.
# ...Sound udders.

Broad genetic base:
# ...Artificial insemination with a range of bulls is regularly used.
# ...All importations into the herd (semen, live animals, etc) must be Breedplan (or equivalent) recorded.