In this section:
Beef maternal productivity project
CRC3: 2.2
Struan Research Centre component
Objectives
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To find out what selection for genes for Net Feed Efficiency and carcass fatness have on maternal productivity traits (fertility, calf growth, pasture intake etc).
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To see if the effects are dependent upon the nutrition available
Background
The project is aimed at saving the beef industry millions of dollars annually by improving the efficiency of breeding cows. The estimated savings in feed costs of using more efficient animals is in the order of $15.5 million annually. It is recognised by chicken, pig and cattle feedlot industries that considerable savings can be made by breeding more efficient slaughter animals, but generating the data that shows that these benefits can also occur in breeding herds is much more challenging and potentially much more rewarding.
The cow/calf sector traditionally consumes 77-90% of the feed energy required for beef production and young animals differ considerably in the ability to convert feed into beef. There are clear benefits for the feedlot and finishing sectors of the industry, but the beef producers are currently reluctant to invest in selection for improved feed efficiency due to the costs involved and lack of confidence in the potential benefits to the breeding sector.
The project
The project is part of Beef Cooperative Research Centre (CRC 3) which will run for 6 years and will involve evaluating cows that have been bred for high and low efficiency (NFI) and for high and low fat at two research centre sites, as well as private herds.
The project commenced in 2006 at the research centre at Vasse in WA. Registered Angus heifers were purchased by Struan Research Centre to start our part of a project in 2007.These were followed in 2007 by heifers from Trangie Research Station and tested for Net Feed Intake (NFI) at the CRC Tullimba feeding facility in NSW. The project will evaluate the maternal performance of females that have been selected using estimated breeding values (EBV’s) for high and low NFI, and also females that have been selected for high and low fat. At both research sites these cattle are being rotationally grazed so that a measure of feed eaten can be made. The cattle are being grazed at two different stocking rates to see if cows selected for low NFI (highly efficient) are as efficient at high grazing pressure as they are at low grazing pressure. The cows selected for high NFI (less efficient) will be evaluated at the same extremes in stocking rate, as will the high and low fat cows. This project will provide answers to the industry concerns that adoption of selection strategies influencing body composition (i.e. selection for high yield and low NFI) may impact on breeding herd efficiency, especially in variable nutritional environments. As well as measuring per hectare productivity of the different classes of females, estimated feed intake, fertility and calf weaning weight. Blood samples will be collected for verification of genetic markers and tests for relationship between physiological indicators and maternal productivity. Changes in body reserves will be measured to examine differences between these groups of females in their ability to cope with different environmental constraints, such as bad years.The heifers at Struan are being grazed on the site known locally as the Technograzing system.
Contacts
Mick Deland , Senior Research Scientist, Struan Research Centre.
Tel:08 87629160 Fax: 08 87647514
Email: deland.mick@saugov.sa.gov.au
Dr Nick Edwards, Senior Research Scientist, Struan Research Centre.
Tel:08 87629184 Fax: 08 87647514
Email: edwards.nick@saugov.sa.gov.au
Dr Ian Carmichael, Program Manager, Meat and Wool
Tel:08 82077922 Fax:08 82077924
Email Carmichael.ian@saugov.sa.gov.au
Katrina Copping, Research Scientist, Struan Research Centre.
Email: copping.katrina@saugov.sa.gov.au
