Considering different breeds
Selecting a profitable crossbreeding system that will work within the many constraints that most beef cattle producers operate under can be complex.
When selecting a possible crossbreeding system, producers need to:
- consider the overarching constraints such as:
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- market options
- environment (pastures, seasonal conditions)
- existing preferences (for breed, selling methods, etc.)
- overall goals for the business
- recognise profit drivers (a key profit drive is gross income, which is a direct reflection of number of animals sold multiplied by the average value).
Before setting breeding objectives for the herd and developing a breeding plan, beef producers need to focus on the traits that are important in regard to the target market. Traits most likely to be important include:
- weight
- fat depth
- yield characteristics (muscling)
- intramuscular fat (marbling)
The ranking and weighting of these traits will change according to the target market. Broadly, the beef market may be broken into four segments:
- high marbling trade (marble score greater than MS2)
- table beef trade (high eating quality)
- manufacturing beef
- live export
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Market segment
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Important traits (profitability ranking)
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Possible breed type/breed options
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High marbling
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- intramuscular fat
- carcase weight
- yield
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- British breeds with some ability to marble (Angus, Shorthorn, Murray Grey etc)
- British breed selected for marbling (high EBVs)
- Japanese breeds (Wagyu)
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Table beef
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- carcase weight
- fat
- yield
- intramuscular fat
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- British breeds (Hereford, Angus etc)
- European breeds (Charolais, Limousin etc)
- Bos indicus breeds and crosses
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