As the challenges faced by cattle farmers continuously increase, producing beef as efficiently as possible has never been as vital as it is today. The rising input costs and ever-growing pressure to produce more meat with less resources greatly encourages breeders to search for ways to optimize growth, and limit costs. Efficiency is the product of both improved genetics and improved management; two factors only achieved by observation, measurement and record keeping. These are the factors considered and applied by the South African National Beef Cattle Improvement Scheme. The Beef Cattle Improvement Scheme supplies the beef industry with objective performance information as a means of improving the economic efficiency of beef production.

 

Animal recording and performance testing allows for genetic enhancements and improved management practices that will ultimately lead to optimal production and economic efficiency. This improvement scheme consists of multiple phases, from phase A to phase D, that regards reproduction efficiency, pre- and post- weaning growth rates, as well as potential feedlot performance. Feedlots play a massive role in the provision of high-quality beef to the consumer, as 75% of all beef produced in South Africa comes from feedlots. Therefore, selection of breeding material based on their feedlot performance is a sound way to maximise the probability of good feedlot performance in their offspring. 

 

What are Phase C performance tests?

Phase C performance tests are done on stud bulls in order to pertain an estimate of the performance of his progeny in typical feedlot conditions. Phase C testing allows for the comparison of the feedlot performance of various bulls of the same breed from different farms and from different years. This is due to the measurement of individual feed intake of all the ad lib fed animals. Bulls selected for phase C testing are evaluated immediately after weaning under standardized feedlot conditions, at a central testing station. Environmental influences are minimal as bulls are tested right after weaning, while they are still in their growing phase, ensuring that the comparisons are fair and test results are accurate. These animals undergo a 28-day adaptation period and are then tested for a period of 84 days. The growth tests are standardised in order to determine if the individual bull will contribute to the genetic improvement of the future herd.

 

What is tested for?

The performance tests include weekly weight measurements, individual feed intake measurements, a sequence of body measurements (shoulder height, body length, skin thickness and scrotal circumference) and average daily gain (ADG’s) measurements. Body measurements are taken of each bull calf at the end of the test. Functional appearance scoring is also done on a series of traits, followed by a functional evaluation. ADG’s are seen as a very important measure of production efficiency and are defined as the mass gained by an animal in a 24-hour period. It is a measurement indicative of the growth rate of the animal. However, the feed efficiency of an animal – determined from the feed intakes and mass gain – is seen as an even more important determinant of the potential productivity of the animal, as it represents the product output of the animal relative to the input costs.

 

 

The importance of Phase C performance tests

The 2nd greatest contributor to feedlot expenses - just short of the expense of purchasing weaners - is the cost of feeding. This means that feed efficiency is one of the most important traits influencing the production efficiency of a herd and the economic efficiency of a feedlot.  Feed efficiency is most commonly measured by the feed conversion ratio (FCR), which is defined as the amount of feed - measured in kg - required to obtain a 1 kg gain in live mass.  Decreasing the amount of feed required to gain 1kg of meat would decrease the resource-input to product-output ratio, resulting in a significant increase in productivity. This represents potentially millions of rands over the entire beef sector and poses the opportunity to improve the genetics of the South African breeding stock. This would become particularly apparent in the face of feed shortages or increased feed costs. In addition to this, bulls tested in phase C conditions fetch up to 15% higher prices than the average for that breed.

 

Despite this, a very small percentage of stud breeders submit their bulls for Phase C testing. This is possibly due to the fact that costs for phase C tests are considerably higher per animal than phase B and D tests. However, these costs are nearly negligible when considering the benefits. Firstly, FCR measurements are very accurate and, as discussed previously, indicative of the potential increase in efficiency. Secondly, bulls subjected to phase C testing inevitably undergo a certain amount of stress, particularly the claws of the animals. Sound claws are essential for beef cattle, given the marked influence they have on functional longevity and subsequent performance. Phase C testing is a natural selection process against weak claws; approved animals have a much smaller chance of developing claw problems later in their life.

 

Phase C performance testing requirements

Each animal will be inspected by an inspector appointed by the society to ensure it meets the minimum breed standards. All animals that are rejected by its respective inspector will not receive any merit. Only bull calves eligible for registration and recording, as well as grade bull calves approved by the breeders’ society concerned are considered for testing. These calves must be between 151 and 250 days of age at the begin adaptation date, with a mass falling within the minimum to maximum range for the specific breed. No exceptions regarding the mass and age are allowed. In addition to these requirements, bull calves are only eligible if they are certified for immunisation against anthrax, botulism, black-quarter, lumpy skin disease and IBR at least two weeks prior to arriving at the phase C test centre.

 

Breeders will receive bi-weekly reports on their animals performance, as well as an end-of-adaptation and mid-test report on the live weight and general condition of their bulls. A final report will be issued to the owner and breed society containing the results of all the parameters previously discussed. At the end of each test, merit awards are made based on the stipulations of the National Beef Recording and Improvement Scheme. Gold, silver, or bronze merits are awarded based on the performance criteria used to award the different merit categories, after which the animals will be brand marked accordingly. 

 

In summary 

Despite the additional costs, phase C performance tests provide the breeder with an opportunity to make well-informed decisions regarding the best breeding material to use for long-term sustainable production. The tests allow for not only the chance to improve performance and efficiency, but also considers these improvements in the context of animal functionality. This means that genetic improvement can be made towards optimal production without compromising on other important traits vital to the success of the beef industry. 

 

References

Agricultural Research Centre. (2014). Retrieved February 09, 2022, from https://www.arc.agric.za/arc-api/Pages/Rangelands%20and%20Nutrition/Beef%20Cattle%20Improvement%20Scheme/Testing-procedures-.aspx

Bultoetssentrum, W.-K. (n.d.). The value of phase C testing in the beef industry. 

E. Van Marlé-Koster, S. P. (2019). Morphological and physiological characteristics of claw quality in South African . South African Journal of Animal Science, 966-976.

Smith, M. (2018, February 2016). Fase C terug met n knal. Landbouweekblad, pp. 36-38.