With 75 teams entered in the 2016 Beef Spectacular Feedback Trial, and 375 steers going onto feed, there is considerable interest across the beef industry, in relevant analysis of stock performance.
Speaking during the dinner during which the results were announced, industry consultant, Jeff House pointed out the purpose of the trial is to measure commercial traits to ensure the trial continues to be relevant and reflecting consumer needs.
Mr House, principal Jeff House Livestock, Forbes, told his audience a really significant change was made with the 2016 competition in relation to the measurement of carcase yield.
“In the competition up until this year, we have been talking about saleable meat tield,” Mr House said.
Lean Meat Yield is probably a more universal [concept] and more comparable from one plant to another
- Jeff House
“This year we have taken a different direction with the work Teys have been doing with Murdoch University in WA looking at yield and how to progress that further.”
Obviously meat yield is important as it directly reflects increased value of the carcase to both producer and processor, and implementing lean meat yield as the new standard for current and future feedback trials is indicative of the direction the beef industry is taking.
When comparing current results to past performance, Mr House cautioned long term entrants to the trial.
“There is about a 10 per cent difference between saleable meat yield and lean meat yield,” he said.
“Saleable meat yield varies a bit more based on the cuts and how it is actually calculated.
“Lean meat yield is probably a more universal [concept], and more comparable from one plant to another.”
Mr House advised producers when they get their results they will not be able to compare the new yield calculation with previous years, “because it will be different and it will be considerably lower.”
“We have adjusted the points scale to reflect that [difference], but going forward the lean meat yield is what we will use as we progress the competition,” he said.
Answering a question from the floor, Mr House said the new method has been calculated through work done at the Murdoch University, and the formula uses side weight, eye muscle area and rib fat.
“It is a little bit complex, but is basically looking at the muscle in terms of rib or eye muscle area and then looking at the rib fat on the carcase,” he said.
“Average lean meat yield was 55.8 per cent, with most of the cattle in the 50 to 60 per cent range.”
Other points raised by Mr House when reflecting upon the results included carcase dressing percentage.
“Normally we wouldn’t look at dressing percentage in a carcase competition, but because all the cattle here have been treated the same we can get some really consistent results,” he said.
“The average 55.1 per cent is similar to last year.”
When considering the carcase performance of the 75 teams, Mr House said the industry is looking for 370 to 400kg hot standard carcase weight with between 12 to 20mm fat.
That is the ideal, and if you are hitting that box you get maximum points, Mr House advised producers.
“We had 11 percent in the optimum box, which is back a little but still in line with numbers we have had in the last couple of years,” he said.
Addressing other points of interest with respect to the trial, Mr House noted preferred feedlot entry live curfewed weight is 320 to 400kg, with 90 per cent on the entries reaching that standard.
“That compliance rate is a really good result, especially as 95 per cent of the cattle sat with the weight specification and also within the P8 specification,” he said.
Mr House also advised to fill out their vendor declarations correctly.
“It might seem like a really simple thing to do, but every year we have teams that lose points because they either don’t fill out the vendor declaration correctly or they miss questions,” he said.
“It is a legal document which covers your cattle and once they enter the feedlot it is the source of information.”
Mr House pointed out if any questions remain unanswered, it presents a problem.
“Make sure all the information flows through with the cattle and gets to the feedlot in the right amount of time,” he said.
“We have been ‘banging’ on for a few years about the need to have lifetime traceability maintained, in terms of NLIS, and for two years in a row we have all the cattle consigned with the correct PIC number, which is a really good result.
“Also make sure the paper work covers your Bovillis vaccination.”
Mr House noted the performance during this trial saw daily average weight gains of 2.2kg/head.
“It is a really good result, especially given the start of the feeding period it was still a bit tough coming out of the wet winter,” he said.
“The bulk of the cattle are sitting between 1.8 to 2.6kg/day which again is a really good performance.
“Eating quality points are based on the MSA Index, and the average of 55.5 is a ‘similar result to last year’.”
