NET FEED INTAKE – BE REWARDED FOR YOUR THRIFTINESS FEEDER STEER NOMINATIONS FOR THE NFI PROJECT ARE OPEN NOW, WITH LIMITED INTAKE GROUPS REMAINING.
Working with Meat and Livestock Australian
total of 180 animals can be fed under NFI test
and Stockyard Kerwee Feedlot, AWA
conditions in a single test intake.
members have a limited opportunity to have
The induction and NFI testing period
Fullblood progeny of their sires tested for Net
currently totals 100 days, so the pens have
Feed Intake (NFI)
the capacity to run three feed test intakes
So far, approximately 1,000 progeny from
each year totaling 540 animals, providing
58 different sires have been tested. We
significant capability for Wagyu sire testing
anticipate that these numbers will double by
over the next 2 years. Seven full cohorts have
the end of the project – presenting a limited
been completed so far. There are 6 cohorts
opportunity for AWA members to have their
remaining in the project with animals now
sires tested for NFI.
being accepted for 2022 intakes.
Using the data on progeny from the anticipated
If you have groups of Fullblood feeder steers
~120 sires, the AWA will be looking to test NFI
available for feedlot entry now, or becoming
EBVs for Wagyu production and understand
available during 2022, please contact Carel
the opportunity for Wagyu supply chains to
Teseling (carel@wagyu.org.au) or George
benefit from using more efficient genetics.
Lubbe (george@stockyardbeef.com.au) to find
The AWA has been conducting NFI studies
out about the requirements for the NFI project
since 2018, at Kerwee Feedlot near Jondaryn
and having your progeny tested through
Queensland using the Growsafe (now
feedlot finishing in the Stockyard program.
Vytelle) Feeders. The Wagyu NFI project is
Analysis conducted by Kirsty Moore from
necessary to understand opportunities to
the Animal Genetics Breeding Unit (AGBU)
FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT
cost-effectively feed long-fed Wagyu cattle
on the data collected in the NFI project to
in the future. It is also vital information to
date, shows that there is a potential variance
contribute to our understanding surrounding
of 0.8kg/day NFI across sires. That means,
CAREL TESELING carel@wagyu.org.au
genetic variability in methane production in
there are sires whose progeny consume 0.8kg
future Wagyu research.
less feed per day for the same growth rate –
Stockyard Kerwee Feedlot has two production
presenting an opportunity to significantly
pens fitted with GrowSafe feeders with each
reduce feed costs over long feeding periods.
GEORGE LUBBE george@stockyardbeef.com.au
pen capable of feeding 90 head. Meaning a
ISSUE 79 - THE AUSTRALIAN WAGYU UPDATE
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