Technical information (Click the topic to go down the page or scroll down)
General
Electrical Stimulation
Electrical stimulation (ES) of beef carcases has been shown to increase meat tenderness. But studies funded by the former Meat Research Corporation (MRC) found that the technique was not a “fix” in itself. It was a management tool that must be used properly and in conjunction with other slaughter floor and chilling procedures to deliver consistent tenderness.
Stringhalt in Cattle
A practical problem for any stud breeder irrespective of breed is to deal with inherited faults in cattle. A further challenge is to correct suspected inherited faults which only become evident due to a combination of factors.
How to interpret accuracy of EBVs
By definition EBVs are an estimate. That is; they are Estimated Breeding Values. For this reason an accuracy value is presented with every EBV and gives an indication of the amount of information that has been used in the calculation of that EBV.
Poor Sucking Reflex
The inability of some calves to suckle has been observed by many breeders. Studies (USA) suggest that as much as 30% of post partum sucking problems are due to the lack of an instinctive ability to suck which if unattended leads to death.
Australian Beef Genetics
Australia’s registered beef cattle seedstock industry has been on a serious slide for the past 13 years. In 2003 registrations hit their lowest point in the last two decades. Figure 1 shows a graph of registrations since 1990. The loss of registrations has been 28.3% in 13 years. Unfortunately, these statistics project an image of an industry rushing towards obsolescence.
Needles don't go on vaccine guns any-old-how
A needle is a pipe cut at an angle with razor sharp leading edges. The objective when vaccinating is to get the opening of the needle resting between the skin and underlying tissues. This is achieved by orientating the needle so that at entry at about 45° to the skin, THE BEVEL IS PARALLEL WITH THE SKIN.
Groundbreaking on-property project delivers results
One of Australia’s largest and most comprehensive on-property R&D projects hosted its final field day on 8 August.
Unravelling some of the “genome” technology
On the surface, cattle breeding still happens the same as it always has. However, the tools available to the producer making the critical decisions today have never been more complex. With advances in genetic technologies, you will have heard terms used and wondered about their meaning and application to your decisions in setting breeding objectives. Let’s make an attempt at unravelling the “barbed-wire” surrounding the genetic make up of an animal that has some similarities to the two strands of wire that frequently coil up at some time in a fencing career!
Stocking rates, productivity and profitability
We often hear the saying, ‘more cattle means more money’. But is this always the case? At Grazing Land Management and Nutrition EDGE workshops many producers have described how they have improved profitability by using conservative stocking rates.
Reproduction
Evaluation of breeding soundness in bulls
Vendors of bulls need to give serious thought to pre-sale assessment of their animals. The failure of a bull to reproduce can be an expensive exercise for both vendor and purchaser, with possible legal and insurance complications.
Planning AI programs
Artificial insemination (AI) is being increasingly used on south east Queensland beef properties. The reasons for its use are varied, however, mainly it is used as a cost effective method of introducing superior or new genetics into a breeding herd.
Artificial Breeding and Proper Techniques
All the advantages of artificial breeding can be lost with decreased conception rates by improper handling of frozen semen and insemination short cuts.
AB and Synchronisation
Synchronisation has been available for more than 20 years but more recently has witnessed increased use due to the mating of groups of heifers and/or embryo transfer programs.
Understanding semen evaluation
The following article is re-printed from the Australian Association of Cattle Veterinarians “Veterinarians Examination of Bulls” handbook; edited by M McGowan, D Galloway, E Taylor, K Entwistle and P Johnston.
Pregnancy Testing of Cattle
Beef producers can improve the efficiency of their enterprise by better managing reproductive performance in their herds, which has flow-on benefits for marketing, nutritional management and disease control.
Cost effective strategies for improved fertility
The paper reviews methods of improving fertility in extensive and semi-extensive conditions in the dry tropics of northern Australia. Basic issues such as sustaining the pasture resource and effective cattle control are prerequisites for efficient implementation of management options. Management options can be classified at 3 levels and should be incorporated sequentially into breeding herds to improve fertility.
Understanding Bull Breeding Soundness Evaluation (BBSE)
A BBSE can include evaluation of the Scrotum, other Physical attributes, Crush-side Semen assessment, laboratory evaluation of Sperm Morphology, and in many situations, Serving assessment. All components of a BBSE are important. Semen evaluation is critical because it is a bull’s genes that are really the objective in his purchase. Other aspects of a BBSE relate to a bull’s ability and willingness to deliver the semen.
Revolutionising the north Australian cattle muster
It’s a northern cattle producer’s dream: a single calf drop, timed to perfection, matched to environmental or production cycles, year after year.
Do fertile bulls breed more fertile progeny?
New Beef CRC research is investigating whether fertility traits in bulls, such as scrotal size, semen quality and various hormones and proteins are linked to fertility traits in both their male and female progeny.
Profiting from better reproduction in the north
The secrets of cow reproduction are being investigated by Beef CRC researchers, with the aim of bringing the power of genetic selection to bear on one of the major profit drivers in northern Australia’s beef industry.
Fertility Have you done the calculations?
Most cattle breeders would agree that fertility is an extremely important trait due to its huge economic impact on an enterprise.
meat science
Genetic Markers for Beef Tenderness
The world’s first gene marker for beef tenderness was recently discovered by researchers working in the Cooperative Research Centre (CRC) for Cattle and Beef Quality. This complements the world’s first and only other gene marker test for a production trait, the discovery of the TG5 marbling gene, also discovered by Dr Bill Barendse from CSIRO Livestock Industries, Brisbane.
Simple, Indirect Selection for Beef Tenderness
The Cooperative Research Centre (CRC) for Cattle and Beef Quality recently identified a simple, indirect criterion that breeders can use on-property to select for beef tenderness. CRC results show strong favourable genetic relationships between beef tenderness and Meat Standards Australia (MSA) overall eating quality (MQ4 score) and the flight time of an animal. An animal’s flight time is an electronic measure of the amount of time taken by an animal to cover ~2 m after it leaves a weighing crush, with fast times indicating animals that have poor temperaments.
Early Setbacks can cause tougher beef
New research has found that managing the growth rate of cattle from weaning is just as important as what they are fed in the feedlot in terms of determining meat quality and yield.
What do we know about getting fat into muscle?
Despite all the hype, world literature suggests that marbling only explains 10 to 15% of the variance in palatability. Meat Standards Australia (MSA) research basically agrees and shows that the contribution of marbling to palatability was significant and important, but just one of many factors determining final palatability.
Changes in tenderness of a range of beef muscles with ageing
There is renewed interest in opportunities to upgrade the quality and value of certain cuts of beef such as chuck, topside, silverside and thick flank.
New light on tenderness and the calpain system
While much has been learned about the practical factors affecting tenderness of meat, investigations continue into what happens inside the cells. Scientists in CRC III are aiming for a deeper understanding of body chemistry and its genetic controls in the hope this knowledge will lead to new ways to produce more tender beef.
Nutrition
Phosphorous Supplementation
Mineral concentrations in grazing situations vary considerably with forage species, and stage of growth. As a result mineral requirements of grazing beef cattle are often not met or are marginal.
Supplements for Beef Cattle
Knowledge of the nutritional requirements of stock and the values of feeds are necessary for cost effective use of supplements.
Silage feeding increases management options
Homemade silage has the potential to provide management flexibility and shorten the growing phase of the beef production pathway, according to Ken Rich, managing directory of Quality Silage Systems (QSS).
Fast and Slow Grains
The properties and benefits of different types of processed grains have received increasing interest of nutritionists and beef producers.
Molasses Rations for Beef Cattle
The availability and price of stockfeeds is influenced by various domestic and international factors which impact on farm profits and the purchasing power of beef producers.
Selection
High EBV bulls produce a 41kg advantage
While some beef producers are still unsure if EBVs can describe performance differences between animals, members of the North West Qld Branch of Beef Improvement Association have been left with no doubt in the value of EBVs for bull selection.
New Genes and Future Challenges
Selection is the primary tool available for changing the expression and potential of Brahmans. Fortunately, a better appreciation of genetic principles and genetic variation has lead to increased breeding opportunities.
Get the comparison right
Recording the date of birth, mothering up calves, weighing, measuring scrotal circumference & ultrasound scanning as all those who undertake it know; takes considerable time & effort. In regards to genetic evaluation you hope that this information is contributing to give a more accurate estimation of the animal’s genetic merit. A common mistake however is that once the physical work is done performance is submitted without due care to comparison groups, otherwise know as contemporary groups.
Gene marker advances herald more efficient beef production
The identification of four DNA markers for feed efficiency has the potential to save the beef industry millions of dollars in feed costs over time by enabling the selection and breeding of animals that eat less without sacrificing growth performance.
Flight Time
One of the many outcomes from the Beef Cooperative Research Centre (Beef CRC) has been the emergence of a simple objective measurement for cattle temperament, known as Flight Time. Flight Time has been proven to have a significant genetic relationship with meat tenderness & feedlot performance. This means that breeders can successfully use Flight Time to identify superior genetics for these traits.
Producing a Polled Herd
CSIRO Livestock Industries scientist Dr Kishore Prayaga has uncovered the technical and practical problems to breeding polled cattle and identified ways to increase the amount of polled animals in typical Australian herds.
Breeding Brahman sires of the future
More than fifty Brahman bulls sourced from some of Australia’s leading seedstock producers as well as overseas have been evaluated as part of a large research project to help pinpoint the best ways of breeding productive and profitable progeny in northern Australian environments.
On tap - 150 new DNA markers discovered by Beef CRC
New technologies have advanced the Beef CRC’s discovery of new gene markers from a trickle to a flood - and that introduces a whole new set of questions for researchers.
Knowing the future performance of your herd, years ahead of time
By 2010 the Beef CRC anticipates cattle breeders may be able to get an accurate assessment of a bull or a dam’s future performance within a few months of its birth.
Desirable and Undesirable Udders
The udder of a beef cow is an extremely important physical asset which impacts on the economic, production and labour efficiency of the breeding unit.
BREEDPLAN just breeds bigger cattle?
When I asked a group of northern cattleman recently why they don’t use Australia’s National Beef Cattle Genetic Evaluation System BREEDPLAN in their stud operations, the answer was that “BREEDPLAN just breeds bigger cattle and we don’t want them any bigger”.
Understanding DNA Marker Technology
Of all the inherited characteristics in cattle, only a few are controlled by a single gene sequence, for example, some diseases such as Pompe’s disease, and simple traits such as horn/poll. The expression of single-gene traits is independent of environment.