The use of Hereford sires over mature Angus dams can add value to Angus cattle herds
J. M. Pitchford
A C , J. Jones A B , M. L. Hebart A and W. S. Pitchford A
A Davies Livestock Research Centre, School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, University of Adelaide, Roseworthy, SA 5371, Australia.
B Present address: Department of Primary Industries and Regions, 25 Grenfell Street, Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia.
C Corresponding author. Email: judith.pitchford@adelaide.edu.au
Animal Production Science - https://doi.org/10.1071/AN21100
Submitted: 22 February 2021 Accepted: 8 June 2021 Published online: 30 August 2021
Abstract
Context: Overseas studies have quantified production differences of Hereford × Angus compared with purebred Angus for a range of traits including growth, carcass and reproductive traits.
Aim: This study aims to provide a comparison of Hereford × Angus and purebred Angus under modern grazing conditions in southern Australia.
Methods: Thirty Hereford and 22 Angus sires were mated to 1100 Angus cows and heifers in a large commercial herd run on pasture at Musselroe Bay, Tasmania. Approximately 1650 calves were born. Steers were grown on pasture for an average of 23 months and then slaughtered.
Results: Hereford sired calves were heavier at birth (+8.8%) and weaning (+4.1%). Hereford-sired calves from heifers (but not from mature cows) had more assisted births (+8.2%) and more calf deaths (10.0% vs 5.1%). Hereford-sired steers had higher hot standard carcass weight (+4.1%) and eye-muscle area (+3.2%) but when hot standard carcass weight was fitted as a covariate, eye-muscle area was no longer significant. Carcass quality measures (AUSMEAT marbling –25.8%, Meat Standards Australia marbling –10.5%, Meat Standards Australia index –1.0%) were poorer for Hereford-sired steers and fat colour (+6.9%) was darker. Meat samples from Hereford-sired steers had significantly lower colour indicators (L and b). There was no difference in cooking loss and shear force, and intramuscular fat was lower (3.0% vs 4.1%).
Conclusions: Hereford × Angus calves were heavier at birth than were purebred Angus, but had more calving difficulty and deaths associated with heifer dams. Hereford × Angus carcasses were heavier but had lower indicators of quality than did purebred Angus.
Implications: As Hereford × Angus steers produced a 4.1% heavier carcass, pure Angus steers would need to attract a premium of at least 4.1% for the additional marbling to give more value. Hereford bulls could be mated to Angus cows and not Angus heifers to avoid calving difficulties. Alternatively, good calving Hereford bulls could be selected using estimated breeding values when mating to Angus heifers.
Keywords: crossbreeding, heterosis, Black Baldy.
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