Body composition will be the focus of the Department of Agriculture and Food’s Vasse Beef Spring Day for cattle producers.
Department research officer and event organiser Jeisane Accioly said body composition had a major impact on the growth and reproduction performance of cattle and subsequent feed requirements.
“The interaction of the animal’s make-up of fat and muscle, with the environment, or how it is managed, will determine its performance,” Dr Accioly said. “This applies whether producers are talking about getting a young heifer to conceive or a grain fed steer to meet the abattoir specifications.
“Knowing how to fine tune an animal’s requirements to the end market can make a huge difference to profitability, especially when seasonal conditions are not predictable.”
The event, on Wednesday 26 September, will deliver information derived from the recently concluded Beef Cooperative Research Centre (CRC) projects.
It will illustrate how selection for body composition affects many aspects of beef production from birth to carcase quality.
Topics to be covered include: selection for fatness and feed efficiency; managing growth to meet market specifications and meat quality; full utilisation of the Meat Standards Australia grading system and changing producer feedback.
The day will also feature a yard demonstration on muscle scoring, a management practice that can increase producers’ profitability by focusing on achieving a higher market value for cattle.
The department was a major contributor to the Beef CRC work that will be presented throughout the day. Joining the department’s speakers are collaborative research partners from Murdoch University, Adelaide University and Department of Primary Industries NSW.
The Vasse Spring Beef Day will run from 9 am to 3.30 pm at the Vasse Research Centre, Jalbarragup Road. Registrations are essential by Friday 21 September.
There is a cost of $15 to cover catering. For more information or to register please call Allison Watson on 9892 8444 or wabeef@agric.wa.gov.au
Source: farmonline.com.au
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