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Latest news - Beef CRC - Beef Genetic Technologies

Top Brahman sire adds Aussie flavour to cow genome

The unique DNA of a popular Australian Brahman bull will soon be added to the international cow genome databank.

Beef CRC CEO Dr Heather Burrow said the Beef CRC, in partnership with CSIRO Livestock Industries and the Victorian Department of Primary Industries, had now completed sequencing of the Brahman genome, along with the genomes of an Africander and Tuli bull.

It is the first time Australian cattle adapted for tropical conditions have been sequenced, and the information will be included in new generation DNA markers that producers can use to identify important production traits in animals.

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Beef CRC calls for Copenhagen cattle

As the world awaits the outcome of the Copenhagen Climate Change Conference, the Australian beef industry is researching new ways to reduce methane emissions in cattle by 50 per cent by 2030.

Speaking at a Beef CRC producer and stakeholder forum in Brisbane recently, Beef CRC CEO, Dr Heather Burrow said advances in genetic research, combined with on-farm management practices, could create the tools needed to substantially reduce methane emissions.

Accounting for about three-quarters of all livestock emissions, Australia’s 27 million cattle produce an estimated 220g of methane each per day.
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Beef CRC toasts the career of prominent scientist

After more than 40 years involved in beef research, Professor John Thompson is retiring.

Head of Meat Science at the University of New England, Professor Thompson was a driving force behind the development of Australia’s unique meat grading scheme known as Meat Standards Australia (MSA) that is based on consumer perceptions of beef quality.
 
Much of the research conducted by Professor Thompson and his colleagues at the Beef CRC underpins MSA.
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Post-graduate students. Where are they now?

Industry investment in postgraduate research is paying dividends with a recent study indicating that agricultural industries are retaining students.

The study completed by independent consultant, Dr Jennifer Clulow, has helped dismiss the theory that Co-operative Research Centres don’t do enough to encourage a new generation of researchers.
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International recognition for Beef CRC Chief Scientist

The Beef CRC’s Chief Scientist, Professor Mike
Goddard recently received international recognition for his ground-breaking research to deliver genetic improvement in dairy and beef cattle.

Professor Goddard, Victoria DPI and a Professorial Fellow at University of Melbourne received an Honorary Doctorate from the Norwegian University of Life Sciences.
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Beef CRC welcomes Sarah Meibusch back to the beef industry

The Cooperative Research Centre for Beef Genetic Technologies (Beef CRC) is delighted to welcome Sarah Meibusch to its senior management team.

One of her key priorities is to rebuild the trust that beef producers have in DNA technology.

With a background in commercialising human health and animal science products, Ms Meibusch is under no illusion about the task ahead of her.
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Third Year review - the verdict

Following months of preperation, the Beef CRC has recently completed its ‘Third Year Reivew’.

The main reivew mechanism for CRCs established after 2002, the ‘Third Year Reivew’ invites an independent panel to review the CRC’s activities, progress to date and strategies for the future.

The Review assists the Commonwealth in making funding decisions and identifying issues and best practices for the purpose of sharing these with other CRCs to assist them to manage similar issues.

The review was held in early March with hearings in both Brisbane and Armidale.

The independent panel comprised of Professor Frank Nicholas (Chairman), Dr John Keniry, Dr Richard Spelman and Professor Elizabeth Deane. Mark Johnson and Andrew Cook, managers from the Department of Innovation, Industry, Science and Research [DIISR] also participated in the review.

The panel identified some areas for improvement, but overwhelmingly the panel believed the Beef CRC is on the right track.

The final report from the panel and the response from the Beef CRC Board are provided in full to ensure complete transparency.
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Beef CRC: Doing a good job, but could do better

The Beef CRC's communication efforts have been given the thumbs up by more than 50 of the organisations' external stakeholders.

But despite the positive feedback there is room for improvement.

The survey, conducted in December 2008, aims to gauge the effectiveness of the Beef CRC's communication strategy.

Communication is an important way to ensure key members of the beef industry, government and the general public are kept up-to-date with the research being conducted by the organisation.
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Lotfeeders look to a brighter future

Around 50 cattle producers, stock and station agents and feedlot operators went back to school in early February, to learn more about preparing feeder steers.
 
With demand for beef dropping in the wake of the global financial crisis, many of the participants wanted to learn how to squeeze every last cent from their production systems.
 
Todd Andrews from the NSW Department of Primary Industries said the last 12 months have been extremely turbulent.
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Keep quality high to keep Koreans happy

A study which used the Meat Standards Australia beef grading scheme to compare the tastes of Korean and Australian beef consumers has found great similarity between the nations, with some subtle differences.

Conducted by Meat & Livestock Australia, the National Livestock Research Institute in Korea and the Beef CRC, the study indicated although there were markedly similar sensory scores given by both consumer groups when asked to assign a grade to the meat samples there was a trend for Korean consumers to be more discriminating than Australian consumers.
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Research the key to driving the beef industry forward

The newest member of the Beef CRC Board maintains reducing the cost of implementing new technology will help ensure research is adopted by end-users.

Richard Rains, CEO, Sanger Australia has taken over from Professor Grant Sutherland, who stepped down from the Board after 3 years of service.

Mr Rains is humbled and delighted at his appointment adding it gives him the opportunity to give something back to the industry which has supported him for more than 35 years.
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Familiar faces help maintain meat quality

Re-grouping cattle less than two weeks prior to slaughter may reduce meat quality.

That’s one of the findings from a Beef CRC study which looked at the physiological responses of cattle when their social groups change.

Feedlots often draft cattle for slaughter based on different market specifications; retaining those cattle which don’t meet the required guidelines.

But Dr Ian Colditz, CSIRO Livestock Industries said within two weeks of slaughter cattle enter a period when any stress may compromise meat quality.
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Quieter cattle are better beef producers

Research carried out by the Beef CRC indicates an animals’ temperament can affect its long term growth rate and reduce carcass and meat quality.

The findings form part of a PhD project undertaken by Linda Cafe, Technical Officer with the New South Wales Department of Primary Industries (NSWDPI) in Armidale.

“Temperamental or ‘flighty’ cattle grow more slowly and produce smaller, leaner carcasses with tougher meat than calmer animals,” Ms Cafe said.
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Give the girls some credit

Does selecting cattle for improved feed efficiency negatively impact the capability of the breeding female and its economic profitability?

That’s the question the Beef CRC’s Maternal Productivity research project is trying to answer.

Ben Hebart, Beef officer, Primary Industries and Resources, SA said there has been a strong emphasis on selecting for carcass traits and feed efficiency in a bid to secure financial returns through the sale of progeny from the beef enterprise.
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Easing the pain in the beef industry

A Beef CRC student, based at CSIRO Livestock Industries in Rockhampton, has received national recognition for research which could have massive benefits for the northern cattle industry.

Stephanie Sinclair received the Australian Agricultural Industries Young Innovators and Scientists – Animal Welfare Strategy Award, at a gala ceremony in Canberra on the 14th of October.

Studying through the University of Queensland, Ms Sinclair is investigating the benefits of a topical anaesthetic and antiseptic for pain relief in northern beef cattle during dehorning.
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Better beef more often

The Beef CRC has welcomed the launch of a new tool which helps beef producers predict the growth rates of their stock, months in advance.

The BeefSpecs calculator predicts carcass weight and fat depth for groups of steers. It is designed to take the guesswork out of selecting and managing cattle during a finishing period.
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Reducing lairage time doesn't spoil beef quality

Reducing the time cattle spend in lairage prior to slaughter is unlikely to have a negative impact on tenderness and eating quality of beef cattle.

A study conducted by the Beef CRC looked at whether shortening the holding time of cattle from 18 to 3 hours reduces the quality of feedlot cattle.
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Time to ditch the electric cattle prodder

Cattle subjected to electrical prodding stimulation just prior to slaughter can produce meat with inferior quality.

The findings come from an experiment conducted by the Beef CRC which looked at the effect on beef eating quality.

Dr Robyn Warner, Department of Primary Industries, Victoria said cattle which suffered acute stress just prior to slaughter produced meat that consumers rated as tougher.
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Breeding tender beef as easy as EBV

The Queensland beef industry has been introduced to a new tool which aims to further improve the consumer satisfaction of beef.

Launched at Brahman week in Rockhampton, trial tenderness marker assisted Estimated Breeding Values (EBVm) should increase the rate of genetic gain in the area of beef tenderness.
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Counting the cost of acaricides

Researchers from the Beef CRC have developed a new test which could help producers minimise acaricide resistance in cattle ticks (Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus).

Resistance to acaricides (pesticides that kill ticks and mites) is a huge economic cost to the northern beef industry which already spends about eight million dollars each year in controlling ticks.
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Award winning scientist encourages other women to purse research career

A Beef CRC scientist from Queensland has taken out top honours in the Smart Women - Smart State Awards for 2008.

Dr Ala Lew-Tabor, Principal Research Scientist, Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries, was presented the Women in the Community/Public Sector – Science award at a gala ceremony held in Brisbane on Tuesday 2 September.
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International agreement will bring massive benefits to Aussie beef producers

The Beef CRC has forged a new international agreement which aims to give Australian cattle producers significantly greater confidence in new genetic technologies.

The collaboration brings together the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), The US National Beef Cattle Evaluation Consortium (NBCEC), the University of Guelph (Canada), the University of Alberta, Edmonton (Canada), the US National Beef Cattleman’s Association (NBCA), the Beef Improvement Federation (BIF) and the Beef CRC, through its Participants and Supporting Participants.
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America looks to Australia to breed cattle which eat less

The rising cost of grain combined with the pressure to reduce greenhouse gas emissions are the driving factors behind America’s push to breed more feed-efficient cattle. That’s the message from the Beef CRC’s Robert Herd who has just returned from the annual conference of the American Society of Animal Science in Indianapolis.
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