Improving productivity of commercial cattle through utilising sires within and across breeds Online Summary
Did you know, this study provides an up-to-date quantification of the benefits of Hereford x Angus crosses compared to purebred Angus under Australian commercial conditions.
| Project start date: | 31 December 2014 |
| Project end date: | 29 January 2022 |
| Publication date: | 07 February 2022 |
| Project status: | Completed |
| Livestock species: | Grass-fed Cattle |
| Relevant regions: | National |
Summary
This project is part of the continued development of Beef Information Nucleus (BIN) projects, with the inclusion of an extensive across-breed component to the Hereford BIN. This trial quantified reproductive, growth and carcase outcomes for Black Baldy (Hereford x Angus) progeny compared to purebred Angus progeny at a property in Tasmania. The trial generated phenotypes and genotypes that will aid the development of multi-breed evaluation as well enhance the current BREEDPLAN evaluations.
Objectives
The key objectives of this project complemented the current Hereford BIN program and addressed limitations within Hereford genetic evaluation. The objectives of the project were to:
1. Generate grass-fed carcase data (including MSA Index) on the male progeny, and natural reproduction and longevity data of up to four calving opportunities from the female progeny, to aid the development of within breed and across breed genetic evaluation for Herefords;
2. Quantify the contemporary performance benefits (reproduction, growth, carcase and eating quality) of grass-fed Hereford x Angus progeny against Angus x Angus progeny in an Australian production system; and
3. Continue to build a Hereford and crossbred reference population by genotyping large numbers of well measured commercial cattle.
Key findings
The following key findings were derived from the project conducted. Please note that when interpreting results that there were some limitations in experimental design that means some of the breed differences are confounded within this study. The results reflect the breed differences at this particular commercial site for the cattle mated.
• Hereford sired calves were heavier at birth, weaning and slaughter but had lower intramuscular fat.
• Hereford sired calves born to heifers had increased calving difficulty and loss.
• A greater proportion of Hereford sired heifers were pubertal at joining and went on to wean two calves from two opportunities
• Genomic analysis allowed the separation of breed effects and heterosis effects. The early growth and puberty advantage of Hereford sired calves was mainly due to heterosis
• Data from the project will contribute to current Hereford BREEDPLAN evaluations as well as future multibreed evaluations
Benefits to industry
The benefits to industry arising from this project include:
• Enhancement of the current Hereford genomics reference population for hard to measure carcase and reproduction traits
• Development of a multibreed reference population for Hereford and Angus cattle
• Comparison of a range of Hereford and Angus sires at a commercial property in Tasmania for carcase and reproduction traits
• It has prompted work to use genomics to estimate breed effects on progeny performance
• Two Honours students have been trained on the project and are both now working closely with industry.
MLA action
MLA actions arising from the project include:
• Continue to invest in multibreed populations for both Northern and Southern Cattle production systems
• Continue to investigate genotyping of commercial cattle for key traits to underpin genomic reference populations
Future research
Further research arising from this project includes:
• Additional work looking at heifer condition and subsequent lifetime reproductive performance under commercial conditions
• Further development of multibreed genetic evaluations for Hereford cattle
• Investigation of the use of genomics as a novel to estimate breed differences accurately
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For more information Contact Project Manager: Peta Bradley E: reports@mla.com.au |
