The Southern Multi Breed project represents a considerable investment in the Australian Beef Industry and has been made possible through the contributions on NSW Department of Primary Industries (NSW DPI), the University of New England (UNE) and Meat and Livestock Australia (MLA).
Funded for five years (2020-2025), the project is being conducted on five NSW DPI research stations and the UNE Research Feedlot at Tullimba. the project will collect performance information (Including DNA) to support existing breed generic evaluations, particularly for hard-to-measure traits. The project will also assist in the future development of EBVs for new traits and allow for the possibility of multi-breed evaluations into the future. More information on the Southern Multi Breed project can be found on the project website
https://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/dpi/animals/beef-cattle/breeding/smb-project
The below update on the project has been provided by Emily Johnston, genetics Development Officer at NSW DPI.
Weaning has been completed for the third cohort of calves (T-Calves-2022 calving year) across all five sites. At weaning, the following data was collected:
- Live Weight
- Temperament – docility score & flight time
- horn/scur/poll assessment
- hip height
- worm egg count (WEC) sampling
CSIRO staff were also on-site during weaning to collect data for the immune competency overlay project.
Ovarian scanning has begun on the first round of T Heifers at Triangie, Tocal, Wollongbar and Glen Innes. these heifers will be scanned every 4-5 weeks, while those at the Elizabeth MacArthur Ag Institute will begin their ovarian scanning in June.
All S steers (2021 calving year) have entered Tullimba feedlot with two groups already processed through the abattoir with all remaining steers processed at the abattoir by the end of 2023.
