Crossbreeding with a tropically adapted Bos taurus breed (Senepol) to improve meat quality and production from Brahman herds in Northern Australia. 1. Steer performance
T. Schatz A C , S. Thomas B , S. Reed B and M. Hearnden A
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A NT Department of Primary Industry and Resources, GPO Box 3000, Darwin, NT 0801, Australia.
B NT Department of Primary Industry and Resources, DDRF, PMB 105, Winnellie, NT 0822, Australia.
C Corresponding author. Email: tim.schatz@nt.gov.au
Animal Production Science 60(4) 487-491 https://doi.org/10.1071/AN18609
Submitted: 4 October 2018 Accepted: 27 May 2019 Published: 16 January 2020
Abstract
The performance of four year groups of Brahman and F1 Senepol × Brahman steers was compared grazing buffel pasture at the Douglas-Daly Research Farm, Douglas-Daly, NT, Australia. F1 Senepol × Brahman steers were on average 32 kg heavier at turnoff at ~18 months of age (P < 0.001) as a result of higher average weaning weights (+19 kg, P < 0.001) and higher growth during the post-weaning year (+12 kg, P < 0.001). These results, combined with previous studies that found that F1 Senepol × Brahman steers had more tender meat and performed better than Brahman in an Indonesian feedlot, indicate that crossbreeding with a tropically adapted Bos taurus breed, such as Senepol, could be an effective way for north Australian cattle producers with Brahman herds to produce cattle that perform well under northern conditions, and are suited to both the live export and domestic markets.
Additional keywords: cattle, liveweight gain, tropical.
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