I (Susan Schoenian) would like to offer the program to previous consigners to the Maryland test, as well as those who have purchased top-performing bucks, as it is you who have already demonstrated a commitment to performance evaluation.
Requirements
In order to enroll in KPI (NSIP/KidPlan), you should have at least 30 does. Herds should be purebred or high percentage Kiko (or other breed). Producers who raise crossbred animals can "participate" by purchasing breeding stock from NSIP-enrolled herds. Participation is possible with smaller herds, with sufficiently high kidding percentages (see table).
# does
|
% kid crop
|
# kids
|
|
Buck A
|
Buck B
|
||
20
|
200
|
20
|
20
|
25
|
160
|
20
|
20
|
30
|
133
|
20
|
20
|
40
|
100
|
20
|
20
|
Kidding percentage is the number of kids sold (or retained) divided by the number of does exposed for breeding. There is a basic need of 15 kids per contemporary group (per sire). Twenty (20) is preferred. A contemporary group is a group of kids, with similar birth dates (range) that have been managed the same.
Breeding strategies
Producers should use at least two bucks for breeding. NSIP/KidPlan works best if participating herds "share" genetics, meaning the same buck (or his semen) is used in different herds, ideally with different production practices and different climates. Using sons of the same sire for breeding will also create some genetic linkages, though not as close.
Genetic linkages are necessary to get across-herd EBVs. Across-herd EBVs allow comparison of animals on different farms. Without genetic linkages, EBVs can still be calculated for use in within-herd comparisons.
It is important to understand that EBVs are about the differences in performance not the absolute values. If a buck has a heavy weaning weight, it doesn't mean he'll have a high EBV for weaning weight. His heavy weaning weight could be the result of favorable environmental conditions (e.g. mature dam, single birth, creep-fed). EBVs "tease out" the environmental effects to get genetic predictions of performance.
Data
The data required for NSIP/KidPlan is data most producers are already collecting. The data collected on the farm is entered into a program (online) called Pedigree Master. Australia's KidPlan calculates the EBVs. My goal is to find, adapt, or develop an app that will make data recording easier and allow automatic upload to NSIP/KidPlan. Electronic ID (EID, RFID) would also facilitate data recording. In the meantime, I (Susan) am willing to enter the data into Pedigree Master and serve as the coordinator for KPI.
| Required data | Optional data |
| Sire and dam Sex Date of birth Birth weight* Type of birth and rearing Weaning weight Post-weaning weight |
Fecal egg counts Scrotal circumference Carcass data Other weights |
Costs
Obviously, there are costs associated with NSIP/KidPlan. There is an annual enrollment fee: $100 plus a per doe charge of $2.50. The first year enrollment fee is waived. It is also waived for youth (younger than 22, up to 3 years). The database fee is dependent upon the number of kids entered. It is $3 per kid. Up to 25% of the kid crop can be designated as commercial or cull, in which case no data base fees are charged. Database fees cover the lifetime of the animal. Entering historical data (recommended) will increase first year cost; however, only the two most recent kid crops are billable.
Member
|
Annual enrollment fees
|
Database fee
|
|
Enrollment
|
Per female
|
Per kid
|
|
Regular
|
$100
|
$2.50
|
$3.00
|
First year
|
Waived
|
$3.00
|
|
Youth
|
Waived
|
$3.00
|
|
