Feedlots are taking a renewed interest in Bos indicus-type cattle as lotfeeders look beyond coat colour for animals with feed efficiency characteristics that match their requirements.
Cattle with Bos indicus content are already widely accepted in Queensland feedlots.
But they are now being considered by operators in NSW and southern areas where British breeds have dominated the long-fed programs and European-cross animals are most favoured for the domestic and 100-day, short-fed markets.
Northern NSW Santa Gertrudis breeder, Neil Wat-
son, Watasanta stud, Tamworth, said there was a growing acceptance of breeds like Santa Gertrudis, even among southern lotfeeders.
“With a lot of trials, and with DNA testing, Santa Gertrudis are a breed that has come up very high in net feed efficiency,” he said.
“The cattle are some of the best converters and weight gainers in the feedlots.”
Mr Watson said with growing pressure on grain prices, the feedlot industry across the world was increasingly looking for animals with exceptional feed conversion efficiency, regardless of breed.
“The way the industry will go with the cost of grain, feedlots have always looked for cattle that will perform on weight gain and feed efficiency but it will become a bigger issue now regardless of the colour of the coat,” he said.
From The Land, June 26, 2008.