Wainewright, S.A., Parker, A.J., Holmes, W.E., Zerby, H., and Fitzpatrick, L.A. (2010) A case study of bull beef profitability from a Northern Australian production system. In: Proceedings of the 28th Biennial Conference of the Australian Society of Animal Production (28) p. 32. From: 28th Biennial Conference of the Australian Society of Animal Production, 11-15 July 2010, Armidale, NSW, Australia.

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Abstract

Assessing the differences in gross margins of a Northern Australian beef production system was undertaken using Breedcow herd budgeting software (Holmes, 2009). The analysis reviewed the viability of producing grain finished beef for the domestic market from either steer or bull production. It was assumed bulls were either marketed under the current pricing model or marketed at the same price as steers.

The case study herd constituted of a 1200 cow breeder unit with an annual branding rate of 69%. The production system was broken into three sections; the pre-weaning or growing period, backgrounding and finishing periods. With no hormonal effect pre-puberty, it was assumed that there was no difference in performance between bulls and steers prior to feedlot entry. It was assumed bulls grew 16% faster and converted feed to liveweight 13% more efficiently than steers during the feedlot phase.

Under current market values it was more profitable to produce steers for the domestic trade in a northern Australian production system. If however, as argued in the literature that there are undetectable differences in eating quality between young bulls and steers (Woodward et al., 2000), an unfair bias may exist in the marketing of beef from young bulls produced in accordance with domestic specifications. When bulls were marketed at the same value as steers the model predicted the production of bulls would be $29,455 more profitable than the production of steers.

Item ID:	32776
Item Type:	Conference Item (Abstract / Summary)
Keywords:	beef, cattle, Brahman, Bos indicus
Related URLs:	Publisher
Date Deposited:	23 Jul 2014 04:24
FoR Codes:	07 AGRICULTURAL AND VETERINARY SCIENCES > 0702 Animal Production > 070203 Animal Management @ 100%
SEO Codes:	83 ANIMAL PRODUCTION AND ANIMAL PRIMARY PRODUCTS > 8303 Livestock Raising > 830301 Beef Cattle @ 100%
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