Development of the BeefSpecs fat calculator to assist decision making to increase compliance rates with beef carcass specifications
B. J. Walmsley A B C , M. J. McPhee A B and V. H. Oddy A BA Cooperative Research Centre for Beef Genetic Technologies.
B NSW Department of Primary Industries, Beef Industry Centre of Excellence, Trevenna Road, Armidale, NSW 2351, Australia.
C Corresponding author. Email: brad.walmsley@dpi.nsw.gov.au
Animal Production Science 54(12) 2003-2010 https://doi.org/10.1071/AN14611
Submitted: 30 May 2014 Accepted: 22 July 2014 Published: 2 September 2014
Abstract
The BeefSpecs fat calculator is a decision-support system developed to assist decision making on-farm to improve compliance rates with beef carcass specifications. BeefSpecs is underpinned by a research model run in conjunction with a translation process that converts inputs recorded in live animal and carcass assessment language into research model parameters. In contrast to many other research modelling systems, the changes in body composition predicted by the research model that underpins BeefSpecs are driven by growth rate. Use of this model removes the need for information concerning feed intake and dietary characteristics, which are impractical to collect on a routine basis in commercial production systems. A translation process was developed to use traits that are recorded routinely on-farm during normal production activities while allowing the original modelling system to run efficiently and accurately. This process aligns BeefSpecs with the language used by industry and increases the confidence of users in the underlying model theories. The outputs produced by BeefSpecs include final liveweight, final subcutaneous fat depth and hot standard carcass weight at the end of a specified feeding period. These traits contribute to the carcass specifications used to determine carcass value in the domestic and international markets supplied by the Australian beef industry, which directly aligns BeefSpecs with the decision-making styles of beef producers. During the development of BeefSpecs, potential users were consulted and enlisted in the evaluation process.
Additional keywords: beef cattle, body composition, dynamic models, live animal assessment.
References
Andrews T, Littler B (2007) Market specifications for beef cattle. In ‘NSW DPI Primefacts’. Primefact 621. (NSW Department of Primary Industries: Orange, NSW) Available at http://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0005/148415/Market-specifications-for-beef-cattle.pdf [Verified 26 August 2008]AUS-MEAT (2005) ‘Handbook of Australian meat. (International red meat manual).’ 7th edn (AUS-MEAT Ltd: Brisbane, Qld)
Baldwin RL (1976) Principles of modelling animal systems. In ‘Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production’. pp. 128–139. (New Zealand Society of Animal Production)
Cox PG (1996) Some issues in the design of agricultural decision support systems. Agricultural Systems 52, 355–381.
| Some issues in the design of agricultural decision support systems.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Johnston DJ, Reverter A, Burrow HM, Oddy VH, Robinson DL (2003) Genetic and phenotypic characterisation of animal, carcass, and meat quality traits from temperate and tropically adapted beef breeds. 1. Animal measures. Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 54, 107–118.
| Genetic and phenotypic characterisation of animal, carcass, and meat quality traits from temperate and tropically adapted beef breeds. 1. Animal measures.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Keele JW, Williams CB, Bennett GL (1992) A computer model to predict the effects of level of nutrition on composition of empty body gain in beef cattle: I. Theory and development. Journal of Animal Science 70, 841–857.
Littler B (2007) Live beef cattle assessment. In ‘NSW DPI Primefacts’. Primefact 622. (NSW Department of Primary Industries: Orange, NSW) Available at http://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0008/148355/Live-beef-cattle-assessment.pdf [Verified 5 June 2009]
Lynch T, Gregor S, Midmore D (2000) Intelligent support systems in agriculture: how can we do better? Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 40, 609–620.
| Intelligent support systems in agriculture: how can we do better?Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
McKiernan WA, Wilkins JF, Barwick SA, Tudor GD, McIntyre BL, Graham JF, Deland MPB, Davies L (2005) CRC ‘Regional Combinations’ project – effects of genetics and growth paths on beef production and meat quality: Experimental design, methods and measurements. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 45, 959–969.
| CRC ‘Regional Combinations’ project – effects of genetics and growth paths on beef production and meat quality: Experimental design, methods and measurements.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
McKiernan WA, Wilkins JF, Graham JF, Tudor GD, Deland MPB, McIntyre BL, Orchard B, Walkley JRW, Davies L, Griffith GR, Irwin J (2007) Regional beef systems to meet market specifications: regional combinations. Final report. Meat and Livestock Australia, Sydney.
McPhee MJ, Walmsley BJ (2014) Assessment of compliance in grass-fed cattle and evaluation of increasing accuracy of BeefSpecs inputs. Final report. Meat and Livestock Australia, Sydney.
McPhee MJ, Walmsley BJ, Mayer DG, Oddy VH (2014) BeefSpecs fat calculator to assist decision making to increase compliance rates with beef carcass specifications: evaluation of inputs and outputs. Animal Production Science 54, 2011–2017.
| BeefSpecs fat calculator to assist decision making to increase compliance rates with beef carcass specifications: evaluation of inputs and outputs.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Newman S, Lynch T, Plummer AA (2000) Success and failure of decision support systems: Learning as we go Journal of Animal Science 77, 1–12.
NRC (1996) ‘Nutrient requirements of beef cattle.’ (National Academy of Sciences: Washington DC)
Oltjen JW, Bywater AC, Baldwin RL (1986a) Evaluation of a model of beef cattle growth and composition. Journal of Animal Science 62, 98–108.
Oltjen JW, Bywater AC, Baldwin RL, Garrett WN (1986b) Development of a dynamic model of beef cattle growth and composition. Journal of Animal Science 62, 86–97.
Slack-Smith AR, Griffith GR, Thompson JM (2009) The cost of non-compliance to beef market specifications. Australasian Agribusiness Review 17, 178–190.
Tudor GD (1992) Effect of diet on fat deposition in cattle. In ‘Proceedings of the Australian Society of Animal Production’. La Trobe University, Melbourne. p. 89. (Australian Society of Animal Production)
Upton WH, Burrow HM, Dundon A, Robinson DL, Farrell EB (2001) CRC breeding program design, measurements and database: methods that underpin CRC research results. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 41, 943–952.
| CRC breeding program design, measurements and database: methods that underpin CRC research results.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Walmsley BJ, Wolcott ML, McPhee MJ (2010) Modeling the relationship between scanned rump and 12th-rib fat in young temperate and tropical bovines: Model development and evaluation. Journal of Animal Science 88, 1848–1859.
| Modeling the relationship between scanned rump and 12th-rib fat in young temperate and tropical bovines: Model development and evaluation.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BC3cXlsVWrs70%3D&md5=5e2be84f34ea5640df388f6e45bfe531CAS | 20154159PubMed |
Walmsley BJ, Oddy VH, McPhee MJ, Mayer DG, McKiernan WA (2011) Development of the BeefSpecs fat calculator: a tool designed to assist decision making to increase on-farm and feedlot profitability. In ‘MODSIM2011, 19th international congress on modelling and simulation’. Perth, WA (Eds F Chan, D Marinova, RS Anderssen) pp. 898–904. (The Modelling and Simulation Society of Australia and New Zealand Inc.)
Williams CB, Jenkins TG (1997) Predicting empty body composition and composition of empty body weight changes in mature cattle. Agricultural Systems 53, 1–25.
| Predicting empty body composition and composition of empty body weight changes in mature cattle.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Williams CB, Jenkins TG (1998) A computer model to predict composition of empty body weight changes in cattle at all stages of maturity. Journal of Animal Science 76, 980–987.
Williams CB, Keele JW, Bennett GL (1992) A computer model to predict the effects of level of nutrition on composition of empty body gain in beef cattle: II. Evaluation of the model. Journal of Animal Science 70, 858–866.
Williams CB, Bennett GL, Keele JW (1995) Simulated influence of postweaning production system on performance of different biological types of cattle: I. Estimation of model parameters. Journal of Animal Science 73, 665–673.
