Software

SRGen, a web-based total herd data recording system for beef cattle in Uruguay

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Abstract

Genetic evaluations in beef cattle in Uruguay began in the early 1990s, initially focusing on growth traits and gradually incorporating traits related to carcass quality, scrotal circumference and economic indices. In 2015, INIA, in collaboration with beef cattle breeders' associations, developed a web-based registration system called SRGen, designed to streamline data collection for national genetic evaluations. This system enables more efficient recording and supports the inclusion of new breeds and traits. The SRGen primary objective is to capture reproductive and performance data throughout an animal's productive life, with particular emphasis on cow records from birth until culling. The system operates on a total herd reporting approach, maintaining herd inventories and documenting all relevant events and includes several modules for recording event dates, management details, and contemporary group information. The inventory module lists all active animals and tracks culling dates and reasons. The breeding module allows to capture information on the females that participate in each breeding group, as well as the dates of insemination, start and end of breeding season, and in case of embryo transfers or in vitro fertilization information of recipients (breed and age), combination of dam donor and sire. Pregnancy diagnoses and gestational age, if available, are also recorded. The calving module captures calving dates, birth difficulties, calf weights, twin births, and calf mortality or culling reasons. The weaning module collects weaning weights, dam weights and condition scores, and culling reasons for both calves and cows. Additional modules include post-weaning, which records weights at 15 and 18 months and scrotal circumference in males, and ultrasound meat traits, which stores ultrasound data from interpretation centers. SRGen integrates animal and pedigree information from the national herdbook of Rural Association of Uruguay (ARU) with breeder-supplied calving and breeding records, ensuring unique identification, correcting pedigree inconsistencies and that no animals are misidentified or duplicated. Animals are linked through there identification to the genotype data present in INIA's genomic database. Currently SRGen contains information of one hundred thousand active females and five thousand bulls of five different breeds from more than two hundred herds. The development of the system has enabled the publication of Uruguay's first reproductive EPDs for Angus cattle, specifically calving success and calving date in heifers. To encourage comprehensive data recording, the system provides breeders with detailed reports on reproductive performance, breeding values, percentiles, and genetic trends for each breeder by breed and trait. Future challenges include novel traits that are not yet recorded, an implementation of selection module and encourage breeders to increase reproductive recordings (breeding and calvings) to improve national genetics evaluation on economic relevant traits.

Keywords: 2026

How to Cite:

Aguilar, I., Lema, O., Pravia, M. & Ravagnolo, O., (2026) “SRGen, a web-based total herd data recording system for beef cattle in Uruguay”, World Congress on Genetics Applied to Livestock Production Digital Archive 2026(1): 2287174. doi: https://doi.org/10.31274/wcgalp.24227

Rights: 1