The comparative performance of tropical crossbred and local shorthorn beef cattle on native pasture at Katherine, NT

Abstract

The liveweight performance and carcase characteristics of Brahman x Hereford, Africander x Hereford and Africander x Shorthorn F, crossbred spayed heifers were compared with those of local Shorthorn spayed heifers on native pasture at Katherine, N.T., between 1962 and 1965. The breed groups were divided for planes of winter nutrition, viz., with and without 2 lb a day of peanut meal from early June until the start of the wet season. Without supplement, the average weight gains of B x H, A x H, A x S, and Shorthorn cattle between June 1962 and May 1965 were 0.49, 0.37, 0.36, and 0.23 lb a day respectively. With supplement, cattle reached slaughter weight a year earlier ; the average weight gains of B x H, A x H, and Shorthorn cattle between June 1962 and May 1964 were 0.61, 0.63, and 0.50 lb a day respectively. (There was no A x S supplemented group). Without supplement, the dressing percentage and estimated proportion of fat of B x H cattle was higher and the estimated proportion of muscle and bone lower than those of other breeds. With supplement, there were no significant differences in dressing percentage or carcase composition between breeds. Measurements made of thermoregulatory attributes indicated that the local Shorthorn cattle, through body temperature control, showed adaptation to heat stress.