CRC ‘Regional Combinations’ project — effects of genetics and growth paths on beef production and meat quality: experimental design, methods and measurements
W. A. McKiernan A H I , J. F. Wilkins B H , S. A. Barwick C H , G. D. Tudor D H , B. L. McIntyre D H , J. F. Graham E H , M. P. B. Deland F H and L. Davies G HA NSW Department of Primary Industries, Locked Bag 21, Orange, NSW 2800, Australia.
B NSW Department of Primary Industries, Wagga Wagga Agricultural Institute, Private Bag, Wagga Wagga, NSW 2650, Australia.
C Animal Genetics and Breeding Unit, University of New England, Armidale, NSW 2351, Australia.
D Department of Agriculture WA, PO Box 1231, Bunbury, WA 6231, Australia.
E Victoria Department of Primary Industries, Private Bag 105, Hamilton, Vic. 3300, Australia.
F South Australian Research and Development Institute, Struan Research Centre, PO Box 618, Naracoorte, SA 5217, Australia.
G NSW Department of Primary Industries, Tocal Agricultural Centre, Paterson, NSW 2421, Australia.
H Cooperative Research Centre for Cattle and Beef Quality, University of New England, Armidale, NSW 2351, Australia.
I Corresponding author. Email: bill.mckiernan@agric.nsw.gov.au
Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 45(8) 959-969 https://doi.org/10.1071/EA05061
Submitted: 25 February 2005 Accepted: 29 April 2005 Published: 26 August 2005
Abstract
As a component of the second term of the Cooperative Research Centre (CRC) for Cattle and Beef Quality, a project to further test and validate the effects of varying nutritional growth paths pre-finishing and slaughter on cattle of varying genetic potential for meat yield and eating quality was designed and implemented. This project, ‘Regional Combinations’, was a multi-site experiment, using Bos taurus cattle generated at 4 locations across southern Australia. The design of imposing different growth paths between weaning and finishing on cattle with specific genetic potential is common across sites. Treatment and interaction effects on beef production and meat quality were examined within and across sites. This paper describes the experimental designs, generation of experimental cattle at the various sites and the measurements, collection and storage of the data for multi-site analyses.
Additional keywords: carcass traits, data management, experimental design, measurement protocols, multi-site experiment.
Acknowledgments
We acknowledge the large contribution to the project by the generous support of our commercial co-operators, AgReserves Australia Ltd and Alcoa Farmlands, thanks to staff and management. We are also grateful for the cooperation and assistance of Cargill Beef Australia at the finishing and processing stages of experimental animals. All sites were supported by relevant State Departments of Primary Industry, the CRC for Cattle and Beef Quality and Meat and Livestock Australia.
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