Lecture 6

Question 1

What are some characteristics of the Northern Rangeland beef cattle (5)

Answer 1

1. Extensive and semi-extensive
2. Large properties
3. Low stocking rate
4. Low management costs
5. Low productivity

Question 2

Key challenges in the northern rangelands with beef cattle (5)

Answer 2

1. Harsh tropics - variable rainfall and temp
2. Native pastures - deficient in protein and energy
3. Low soil fertility - mineral deficient
4. Ticks and tropical diseases
5. Heat stress and environmental extremes

Question 3

What are the traits of beef quality (5)

Answer 3

1. Muscle colour - bright-cherry red vs dark
2. Fat colour - white vs yellow
3. Subcutaneous fat - trimmable external fat
4. Intramuscular fat - marbling
5. Intermuscular fat - seam fat; between muscles

Question 4

What are the traits of cooked beef (3)

Answer 4

1. Tenderness
2. Flavour intensity
3. Juiciness

Question 5

What is beef quality affected by (8)

Answer 5

1. Breed
2. Sex
3. Muscle type, location and function
4. Grain feeding vs pasture feeding
5. Age
6. Stress and temperament
7. Lesions from intramuscular injection site
8. Disease

Question 6

Which breed is more tender

Answer 6

Bos taurus are more tender than Bos indicus

Question 7

What does phenotype equal

Answer 7

Genotype + Environment

Question 8

What are some types of genetic improvement strategies in rangeland breeding for beef and meat quality (5)

Answer 8

1. Heat tolerance, resistance to tick and parasites
2. Survival, growth rate, maternal ability, weaning wt
3. Heritability of meat quality traits
4. Use a BREEDOBJECT programme
5. BREEDPLAN EBVs for bull breeding soundness, weight, carcass and fertility traits

Question 9

What are some cross breeding systems

Answer 9

1. Two-breed cross
2. Two-breed rotational cross
3. Three-breed rotational cross
4. Static terminal sire
5. Rotational terminal sire