9 minute read
Feedlot Performance Queensland Trial
Feedlot Performance
Entrants in the Queensland Region Feedlot and Carcass trial were inducted into the feedlot on May 24th 2021 and were weighed out on the 11th September 2021. Confidence in the product saw the Queensland Region breeders conduct a Feedlot and Carcase Trial in 2021. The trial was for milk and two tooth Charolais cattle on a feed regime of 100 days. The cattle were then processed and graded under Meat Standards Australia (MSA) systems. Meat Standards Australia (MSA) is a leading eating quality grading program based on over 1.2million consumer taste tests by more than 170,000 consumers from 11 countries and takes into account the factors that affect eating quality from the paddock to plate. The program began in 1998, integrates more than twenty years of research and development with commercial outcomes. The program involves participation along the entire Australian red meat supply chain. (Source www.mla.com.au)
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The inaugural trial attracted fifty-four head from six breeders with equal numbers of steers and heifers. The cattle arrived at the Freestone Feedlot at Warwick in late May for the feeding component of the trial. The feedlot was very impressed with the performance of the pen, which included pure and crossbred Charolais genetics. The crossbred cattle in the trial had either Brahman, Ultrablack or Angus genetics in their background. A significant portion of the pen were pure Charolais.
The average weight of the cattle on entry was 423kgs with the average exit weight of 603kgs. This was an average gain of 180kgs with the highest individual gain of 275kgs by a crossbred heifer. The top steer achieved a gain of 254kgs per day. The feed gain performance of the Charolais infused heifers is a valuable trait of the breed as not every heifer are retained for breeding.
The overall performance of the Charolais sired cattle both on feed and in the chillers from the trial really highlighted the advantage the breed can add to a commercial program. “Brendan Scheiwe, Trial Co-ordinator
All cattle were processed on the same date and the carcasses graded by Meat Standards Australia (MSA) standards. This is the world’s leading eating quality grading program for beef and sheep meat. It has been estimated that the MSA program delivered $157million in additional farm gate returns to beef producers in 2020-21. MSA graded cattle in 2020/21 represented more than half of the adult cattle slaughter at 53%. In this period, the average MSA index for compliant carcasses was 57.62. The average of the cattle MSA Indexes was 61.10 in this trail. The steers performed slightly higher at an average of 62.61 with the heifers averaging 59.52. In the MSA Annual outcomes report the top 25% percentile has an index of 60.98 for grain fed cattle. The highest performing carcasses in this trial graded at a 65.13 MSA grading.
Higher eating quality carcasses are important and MLA reported that in 2020-2021 the average price differential for MSA beef was an increase of 7.7% in price over non MSA graded cuts at butcher retail shops. As beef producers it is important to remember that our product enters a chain and everybody needs to be successful in that chain and the end consumer must have a great experience. Consumers have choice, beef needs to be consistent and rate highly in the eating experience for our industry to retain market share.
Separate to this trial, a major processor that operates their own feedlot offered a grid premium for Charolais cattle due to their excellent performance in the feedlot and processing sector. There is no doubt that Charolais genetics with their ability to add muscle through a longer growth period can add significant value to the carcase. Our Charolais BIN project including meat science analysis that concluded in 2014 highlighted that subcutaneous fat (rib and P8) and marbling does not increase tenderness. The effect of ossification was stronger than marbling and rib fat but ossification does not feature in price grids even though it is a better predictor of tenderness than the “fat” measures such as marbling or rib fat. Ossification is included in the MSA grading system. Larger eye muscle area is correlated to lower shear force values and this confirms the results reported in 2012 by Murdoch University.
The variable with the highest percentage of correlation to shear force was muscle pH. Muscle pH is a measure of the level of acid in the muscle profile and this acid breaks down the actin and myosin protein bonds which lock fibres together and this process increases tenderness. The correlation was -0.29 which indicates that 29 per cent of the variation in meat shear force is explained by muscle pH.
Therefore when pH was higher (less acid) the meat was tougher and when pH was lower (more acid) the muscle was more tender. There was a correlation of 0.18 between pH and carcase weight which indicates that heavier carcases produce more acid; however, we did not find a significant correlation between carcase weights and shear force.
The correlation between pH and eye muscle area is stronger than any of the other correlations which indicates that larger muscle areas produce more acid which increase tenderness. The level of intramuscular fat contributes to the level of acid (0.216) but muscle area is a much better predictor of tenderness.
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The important message to get from these results is that Rib and P8 fat are very poor contributors to tenderness and those carcases with larger muscle areas and lower ossification scores will produce more tender meat.
The entries received were split evenly between heifers and steers of various breed composition. When the carcasses were evaluated breed effect was not detectable. The highest scoring steer on MSA was a Charolais Brahman cross. In the weight gain section a heifer from Palgrove shone with a gain of 275kg (2.41kg/day) over the 114 days on feed. Slaughtered as a two tooth she returned $3,085.68. Palgrove had the best weight gaining pen of heifers with three Charolais cross heifers gaining a total of 674kg. Highest weight gain in the steers was an entry from Moongool Charolais gaining 254kg (2.22kg/day). The best gain for a pen of steers went to Juandah Charolais with their Charolais Angus cross steers gaining 601kg.
On the hook in the heifer section, the team from Ascot Charolais took the champion awards. This pen included the highest scoring heifer on MSA Index at 62.63. All three in this pen scored perfectly for Market specifications and scored very well for Lean Meat Yield with two bonus points for their performance. The highest scoring heifer carcase was in this pen at an individual 89.72 points. This pen totalled 265.16 ahead of a team from Bauhinia Park Charolais on 261.37 points. The second highest scoring heifer carcase was in this pen at 89.08 points.
On the hook in the steer section Greg and Kel Kelly, Juandah Charolais had an excellent result. Their Charolais Brahman cross-pen edged out their Charolais Angus pen for the top two pens. Of the top six MSA Indexing steers, five came from their pens including the top three individuals. The champion steer carcase came from the Charolais Angus pen with 92.09 points.
A Supreme Animal was evaluated with the rankings from weight gain, increase in $ value and carcase placing and a Charolais Angus exhibit from Juandah won this award. This steer placed 3rd in weight gain, 4th in $ value increase and 6th in the carcase placing.
The Queensland Region celebrated a belated 50th anniversary of Charolais in their state on the 13th November and the awards from the trial were presented to the exhibitors. The results of this evaluation under real world feeding regimes is very encouraging with excellent weight gain and high compliance with MSA Eating standards and carcase value. The content of Charolais in the cattle entered ranged from purebred to half-bred with strong performances recorded. The Queensland region will be looking to run another trial in 2022 and members will be advised of the dates and entry specifications. A huge thank you to the Freestone Feedlot at Warwick for the great care they took of the cattle and agents Bartholomew & Co for their contribution to the success of the event.
Cross Into Profit Presentations
Juandah Charolais, Guluguba Qld, operated by Greg and Kel Kelly won the Supreme Exhibit of the Feedlot/Carcase trial as well as Champion Carcase. Lauren and Hannah Kelly are pictured accepting the award from Ross Sticklen representing the organising committee.
Ross Sticklen presents Loretta Tonschek and Charlie Howard from Palgrove Pastoral Co the award for Highest gain on Feed during the trial.
Ross Sticklen presents Jackie and Jim Wedge, Ascot Charolais the award for Champion Heifer Carcase and Champion Pen of Heifer Carcases.
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Highest Weight Gain (Single) - Heifer Entry # 049 275kg (2.41kg/day) Exhibitor: Palgrove Pastoral Co
Champion Pen of Heifers Weight Gain Entry # 049/050/051 674kg (Ave 1.90kg/day/per head) Exhibitor: Palgrove Pastoral Co
Reserve Champion Pen of Heifers Weight Gain Entry #040/041/042 588kg (1.72kg/day/per head) Exhibitor: Moongool Charolais (Keddstock Pty Ltd)
3rd: Entry # 010/011/012 582kg (1.70kg/day/per head) Exhibitor: Bauhinia Park Charolais (R & R Holzwart)
Champion Pen of Steers Weight Gain Entry # 022/023/024 601kg (Ave 1.75kg/day/per head) Exhibitor: Juandah Charolais (G & K Kelly)
Reserve Champion Pen of Steers Weight Gain Entry #007/008/009 573kg (1.67kg/day/per head) Exhibitor: Mulgrave Grazing Co
Reserve Champion Steer Carcase Entry # 038 91.52pts Exhibitor: Moongool Charolais (Keddstock Pty Ltd)
