ASBP – Cohort 3 Performance Collection and Analysis Completed

March 2, 2016 4:39 pm

The collection of the full suite of performance data for the Cohort 3 progeny of the Angus Sire Benchmarking Program (ASBP) has been completed. The data has been analysed in the March 2016 TACE analysis including abattoir carcase grading outcomes and meat science laboratory results for the Cohort 3 steers, and fertility information for the Cohort 3 heifers. This is additional to the

The latest TACE EBVs and Indexes for the Cohort 3 sires are available from the Angus Australia website through the online Sire Benchmarking listing under the Catalogues menu – Click Here

Progeny average values and rankings for a range of ASBP recorded traits are also listed in the Cohort 3 ASBP Progeny Performance reports – Click Here

The carcase data collected and analysed on the 580 Cohort 3 steers includes:

Carcase weight
Eye Muscle Area
MSA Marbling Score
MSA Ossification
MSA Index
Intramuscular Fat (through striploin sample chemical extraction)
Shear Force

A summary of the carcase performance statics from the Cohort 3 steers is tabled below:

	Live Wt(kg)	Carcase Wt (kg)	Dressing %	P8 Fat(mm)	Rib Fat(mm)	Ossification(Score)	MSA Marbling (Score)	AUSMEAT Marbling(Score)	EMA(cm²)	MSA Index	IMF % Chemically Extracted	Shear Force(kg)
Av.	809	460	56.8%	21.0	18.7	151.4	508.7	3.04	93.8	65.0	10.7	3.8
Max	976	562.8	61.5%	40	40	180	890	8	124	70.2	24.7	6.5
Min	598	334.9	50.0%	10	6	140	280	1	66	60.4	3.4	2.3

The ASBP steers entered the University of New England’s Tullimba Research feedlot at around 450kg average liveweight with most steers being in the 400kg to 500 kg range. They were on feed for approximately 100 days at Tullimba undergoing Net Feed Intake testing, before being relocated to Rangers Valley Feedlot, Glen Innes for an additional 170 days to complete a total feeding period of 270 days.

Utilising the 270 day feeding period has several benefits in relation to genetic evaluation for carcase traits including:

Maximising the variation and expression of the carcase traits, particularly marbling.
Beef CRC research has shown that there was no re-ranking of sires for carcase traits, such as marbling, when progeny are finished on pasture or grain and slaughtered at different carcase weight end-points. The Beef CRC research did show greater expression of genetic differences when animals were finished on grain and slaughtered at heavier carcase weights.
Ability to measure the steers on several occasions in the feeding period to further investigate the relationship between the carcase traits at different time points. For example all ASBP steers are ultrasound scanned at feedlot induction, again at Tullimba feedlot exit after 100 days, and then direct carcase measurements taken at slaughter following the full 270 day feeding period.

Additionally, the natural joining outcomes on over 350 Cohort 3 yearling mated heifers (i.e. siblings of the steers) have also been collated and analysed to produce updated Days to Calving EBVs for the Cohort 3 sires. This involves measuring the days from the heifer’s first exposure to natural joining (i.e. bull in date) until to the day the heifer calved. If a heifer was exposed and does not conceive or calve then a penalty record is applied.