Four Australians are participating in the Novus Global Beef Roundtable in the United States this week, alongside beef industry representatives from the United States, Brazil and Mexico.

Australian Country Choice’s Dave Daunton, Stanbroke Pastoral Company’s John O’Kane, Novus International’s Matt Bekker and Glenlands Droughtmaster Stud’s Darren Childs are among the group that has been touring seedstock operations, research, development and testing facilities and retail outlets.

In a mid-tour update Novus International’s US office has supplied the following pictures and details to describe what the group has been seeing.

“The group toured Leachman Cattle of Colorado, a seedstock operation whose philosophy is to provide more profitable beef through data measurement. They have 460,000 animal records, sell 1400 breeding bulls each year and market those bulls year-round.

They have a unique, multi-breed database and identification system that includes records from the United States, New Zealand, Australia, United Kingdom and South America.

Their on-site clean-up bulls (some pictured below left at the feed bunk) each weigh more than a tonne. 

One of their current priorities is to improve carcass merit of Red Angus bulls. But their consistent main focus is to improve feed efficiency – they believe this trait is more precise than any other trait they measure and can make a huge difference in profitability.

They are collecting feed efficiency data on bull calves to see if bull data predicts steer performance.

They are measuring mean weight, average daily gain, daily dry matter intake, feed to gain, sire feed to gain and feed cost. So far they’ve seen US $164 per head difference in the top sire group.

Leachman Cattle custom-designed unique feed bunks that measure feed efficiency for individual animals. They crunch the numbers to help improve accuracy in their data and improve feed efficiency. They can more accurately predict feedlot steer performance and predict daily intake compared to other animals – this is a critically important EPD (Expected Progeny Difference) for calculating performance indices.

Horton Test Facility, which runs a feedlot operation and research facility (Leachman Cattle operates on their property), feeds steam flaked corn diets so there is no need for surfactants. Due to the drought that wreaked havoc on much of the United States this year, they had to ship their hay in from Canada.

The group also met with representatives from Colorado State University ARDEC (Agriculture Research, Development and Education Center), touring some of their research pens and hearing presentations inside the facility.

ARDEC uses GrowSafetechnology to feed cattle, which measures feed intake and behavior. There are only 30 systems like this in the United States, mostly at universities. There are both financial incentives and environmental incentives (less waste, less methane gas) to increasing feed efficiency.

The unique cattle handling facilities at Colorado State University were designed by world-renowned Temple Grandin, an autistic professor at CSU. Her interest in animal welfare resulted in designs for these sweeping, curved corrals, intended to reduce stress in animals led to treatment or slaughter.

The first presentation at ARDEC included information about selecting for economically relevant traits. Using EPDs are now more widely accepted and has increased from just 5 to currently more than 15. Producers are encouraged to prioritize for the economically relevant traits that are specific to their own operation. The presenter cautioned that there are some holes in the EPD system including being able to select for health/well-being, feed requirements and fertility.

The second presentation reviewed interesting results from meat quality research – the researchers performed studies with trained food sensory panelists and culinary experts on 13 flavour indicators and overall experience in various cuts of beef. Part of the goal of these studies is to improve meat consumption demand through improved understanding of what consumers want. Marbling explains much of the beef sensory attributes (including juiciness, buttery flavor and overall experience) and is clearly important to predicting a consumer’s eating experience.  Several other interesting findings:

• Flavour outranks tenderness, which is a major shift from past years’ research
• Dry-aged was ranked more favourably than wet-aged, especially when beef has been wet-aged for too long
• Implants and beta-agonists had minimal influence on flavour
• Corn-fed vs. barley-fed similar

The final presentation informed the group about results from the 2011 National Beef Quality Audit (NBQA) and cattle management/welfare strategies. The NBQA provides the beef industry with a set of guidelines and measurements relative to the quality conformance of the US beef supply. Retailers, food service, packing plants, feeders and government/allied industry representatives are surveyed on how they define quality. It’s interesting to compare the results from year to year. Results in 1991 showed external fat and seam fat were the top two factors that determined quality on a cut of beef. In 2005, traceability was the top factor. And in 2011, food safety and eating satisfaction were the top two factors. Based on cattle producer surveys, 96% of them intentially influence quality on their farm – and quality to them means producing a safe, wholesome beef supply.  Efforts they are making include good stockmanship and animal handling, preventive health care and sound nutrition. Ninety-five percent have routine health protocols, however, only 31 percent have those written down – that’s something the industry needs to improve.

Part of the group, including three of the Aussies, made a quick stop to Whole Foods, a niche, relatively expensive grocery store chain in the United States.

The store values “all-natural”, organic foods. Their messages include that their food is healthier than conventionally-grown food. They also have an animal welfare rating process for chickens, turkeys, pigs and beef – including that cattle are pasture-raised, therapeutic use of antibiotics and branding are prohibited, and very specific calving, feeding and transportation requirements. Our group was not necessarily convinced. “
 

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