Pin-pointing northern Australia’s best breeding cattle Beef tenderness under the research spotlight CRC science helps increase beef price premiums Autumn 2007 Contents Pin-pointing northern Australia’s best breeding cattle . .3 CRC science helps increase beef price premiums . .4 Beef tenderness under the research spotlight . .5 Beef identities draw strong crowd for 2007 Feeder Steer School . .6 Maternal efficiency - Giving the girls more credit . .7 Tailored on-farm strategies targeting market and regional specifications . .8 Editor’s Note Tough or tender? Politicians put to the test . .10 Welcome to another edition of the Beef CRC Publications . .11 Beef Bulletin. Following a massive Beef Calendar of Events . .12 response to the most recent Beef Bulletin released in December 06 the Beef CRC will now generate four Beef Bulletins a year, Summer/Autumn/ Winter and Spring editions. If you missed the December edition you can find it at www.beefcrc.com.au then click on the Publications tab. There you will find the current and past Beef Bulletin editions. In this Autumn edition of the Beef Bulletin, the Beef CRC’s major research projects are featured including the latest from a project pin-pointing northern Australia’s best breeding cattle. In this story the first results aiming to make northern breeding herds significantly more profitable and productive using genetics are outlined and while there is still a long way to go before the research is fully complete, early signs are favourable. Beef tenderness is also under the Beef Bulletin spotlight. Tenderness is one of the most important traits influencing consumer preference for beef and this story outlines research underway by the Beef CRC to uncover some of the deeper truths about what influences tenderness in beef. And if you’re a southern cattle producer, feedlotter or processor, get ready for the release of seven years of research aimed at tailoring precision breeding and management strategies to target regional and market specifications for southern Australia. This edition ©2007 Cooperative Research Centre for Beef Genetic Technologies. This of the Beef Bulletin will wet your book is copyright. Except as permitted under the Copyright Act 1968 appetite with a small taste before (Commonwealth), no part of this publication may be reproduced by any the full release of results to be made process, electronic or otherwise, without the specific written permission public later this year. of the copyright owner. Neither may information be stored electronically Don’t forget, if you know of in any form whatsoever without such permission. Enquiries should be someone who would like to receive addressed to: the Beef Bulletin, please contact the Beef CRC Headquarters on (02) 6773 Beef CRC 3501 or [email protected] CJ Hawkins Homestead University of New England Enjoy the read and I do hope a bit ARMIDALE NSW 2351 of rain has found you over the past couple of months. AUSTRALIA [email protected] Disclaimer: Any information provided in this book is intended as source of information only and is no advice, endorsement or recommendation. Warwick Fraser Pin-pointing Northern Australia’s best breeding cattle he first results from research potential to create significant a long way to go, these initial aiming to make northern production and profit benefits for results are extremely promising,” Tbreeding herds significantly the producer.” Dr Hawken said. more profitable and productive using genetics have been received. “Currently animals are selected The next step according to Dr for breeding purposes based on Hawken will now involve ensuring The Beef Cooperative Research accuracy, determining how much Centre (CRC) project is focussed desired traits such as growth earlier heifers reach puberty, on increasing weaning rates, one and carcase and beef quality,” Dr discovering the associations of the most important components Hawken said. between genes for puberty and of profitable northern cattle “But this new research will allow subsequent cow breeding and re- production. cattle producers to use a DNA test breeding performance (to ensure Leading the research effort is Beef to remove some of the guesswork no unfavourable consequences CRC researcher, Dr Rachel Hawken from selecting the best breeding for either the cow or calf from of CSIRO, who is currently pin- females,” she said. earlier breeding) and validating pointing the genes the markers in other and gene markers cattle breeds. which affect the age at which heifers “The markers will reach puberty. Age …this new research will allow cattle now be validated of puberty is the producers to use a DNA test to remove against a larger earliest component some of the guesswork from selecting the population to ensure of reproductive best breeding females. the results are robust. performance in We will also take a Brahman cattle and closer look at these hence, one of the markers, in particular most important. Using the Beef CRCs extensive the neighbouring genome regions database of accurate measurements to identify any other variations in “Ideally northern cattle producers in tropically adapted cattle, Dr the DNA which may help explain want a female which reaches Hawken was able to extract the affect of age of puberty more puberty quickly, allowing her to information from almost 600 precisely,” Dr Hawken said. become pregnant and therefore Brahman animals which have been calve earlier, but without individually screened for 10,000 When completed, this research will compromising survival of the cow genetic markers. The genome (a form part of the Beef CRCs goal or the calf, or ignoring the cow’s complete set of the 10,000 genes) of increasing the gross revenue of reproductive performance after for each of these animals will be Australia’s beef industry by at least her initial calving” Dr Hawken analysed against the measured $179 million per annum. said. performance information to Project collaborators include CSIRO uncover the relevant DNA tests. “Using genetics, the Beef CRC’s Livestock Industries, Queensland research is developing a selection “Initial results, new to hand, have Department of Primary Industries tool to tailor production towards revealed a handful of markers and Fisheries, Animal Genetics breeding females with a younger closely associated with age of and Breeding Unit and University age of puberty, providing the puberty. While we still have of Queensland. CRC science helps increase beef price premiums Meat and Livestock Australia pricing and qualitative information Qualitative information collected survey has found Meat from 70 non-MSA butchers, 30 in the survey includes individual Standards Australia (MSA) MSA butchers and 20 wholesalers cut performance for the month, as A per month from across Australia. well as specials, promotions and graded steak achieved a price premium 10 percent higher than Information will be collected weekly satisfaction with product quality. non-MSA steaks. throughout the month to ensure a The retail and wholesale pricing relative sample.” Mr Dart said. MSA is a unique beef grading system data will be provided to MLA on underpinned by Beef Cooperative A percentage of participants from a monthly basis. The survey will Research Centre science which, each state will be used in the sample provide the basis to accurately depending on how the beef is and will be weighted based on the track trends in the wholesale and cooked, guarantees tenderness. number of outlets in that state. retail sectors. According to MSA Manager, Information collected from butchers More than 100 MSA butchers Cameron Dart the price premiums and wholesalers includes prices for contributed to the most recent three were led by MSA cube rolls and whole carcase and broken carcase monthly survey which revealed 90% MSA butt fillets, which received 16% sales, carton sales and all cuts of of butchers selling MSA beef regard and 11% price premiums, MSA and non-MSA beef. the quality was ‘good to excellent’. respectively. When asked to rate the “MSA retailers in all usefulness of MSA point of sale material, 67% of states have reported The results reinforce the fact premiums for the popular MSA butchers said it was primals such as loin cuts that consumers are willing to ‘somewhat useful to very and rumps. The results pay more for quality useful’ and a further 11% reinforce the fact that noted that it was ‘extremely consumers are willing useful’. “The pricing information will to pay more for quality.” Mr Dart An independent economic study also help us highlight potential said. completed in 2006 by The Allen opportunities for adding value Consulting Group found MSA To help quantify the impact of MSA to other primals such as the delivered $244 million in price on beef pricing, MLA has employed knuckle and blade that can premiums for the cattle industry a leading research company to also achieve a premium when between 1999 and 2006. conduct national butcher and underpinned by MSA.” wholesaler pricing research. “Wholesalers in most states are also “The research is being conducted reporting consistent premiums for via telephone interviews to collect MSA carton beef,” Mr Dart said. Beef tenderness under the research spotlight ave you ever wondered why opposite sides of the country as part of you can cut some steaks the project. The east coast herd, based in Hwith a butter knife, whilst New South Wales consists of Brahmans others test out the toughest of sourced from commercial and Beef teeth? CRC research herds across central Queensland and Angus cattle from Beef CRC has put the spotlight on beef the Glen Innes and Trangie Research tenderness, one of the most important traits influencing consumer preference Stations in NSW. for beef. The west coast herd features Brahmans The Tenderness Project is focussed from properties in Northern WA and on uncovering some of the deeper Angus cattle from Vasse Research truths about what influences Station south of Perth.