25 YEARS OF SIRE PROGENY TESTING
Ian in the Chillers with the Assessor
Our commitment to the genetic improvement of the Dunbeacon herd has reached the milistone of a quarter of a century. From the first 110 steers purchased by AMH and fed at Mungindi, NSW, we have travelled many a mile in pursuit of knowing how our breeding program is evolving.
Every animal sold over this time has been sire and dam identified and traced through the production chain giving us a true performance evaluation of the genetics we use.
As with all examinations, you don’t always get an A+. Some genetics have been removed entirely from our breeding program as a result of poor performance on the kill chain. This included all of the females in the herd by a particular sire. Importantly it is the inferior genetics that are constantly removed to lift the overall herd average.
Many thousands of kilometres have been driven, and early starts made, at Beef City, Casino, Dinmore and now Rockdale (for the EU grain fed market) to talk with assessors and meat buyers who give us direct feedback on how our cattle are performing and improvements that need to be made.
Every animal sold over this time has been sire and dam identified and traced through the production chain giving us a true performance evaluation of the genetics we use.
As with all examinations, you don’t always get an A+. Some genetics have been removed entirely from our breeding program as a result of poor performance on the kill chain. This included all of the females in the herd by a particular sire. Importantly it is the inferior genetics that are constantly removed to lift the overall herd average.
Many thousands of kilometres have been driven, and early starts made, at Beef City, Casino, Dinmore and now Rockdale (for the EU grain fed market) to talk with assessors and meat buyers who give us direct feedback on how our cattle are performing and improvements that need to be made.
David and Joan in the Chillers
Over the 25 years more than 50 sires have been progeny tested, up to 500 progeny per year, from conception to the consumer. Each sire has expressed their own genetic attributes. This has been invaluable in steering our breeding direction to where we are today.
Dunbeacon Starshot Q11, Dunbeacon Yahoo, Dunbeacon Tradesman and SS Brutus have given us exceptional marbling and finishing genetics from 220 days to 140 days on feed, and in their grass finished heifers as well.
Wall Street and Leroy increased our EMA and overall carcase traits in one generation. This is the genetic information critical to meeting markets and producing a premium product.
We have learnt so much about the capabilities of our cattle over the past 25 years. This makes us even more dedicated to our breeding objectives in the future.
Q: Would you buy your new tractor without knowing the specifications?
Dunbeacon Starshot Q11, Dunbeacon Yahoo, Dunbeacon Tradesman and SS Brutus have given us exceptional marbling and finishing genetics from 220 days to 140 days on feed, and in their grass finished heifers as well.
Wall Street and Leroy increased our EMA and overall carcase traits in one generation. This is the genetic information critical to meeting markets and producing a premium product.
We have learnt so much about the capabilities of our cattle over the past 25 years. This makes us even more dedicated to our breeding objectives in the future.
Q: Would you buy your new tractor without knowing the specifications?
Dunbeacon Feedlot Steer after 170 Days on feed
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Dunbeacon Feedlot Steer after 220 Days on feed (101 sq.cm EMA - 4.6 Marble Score)
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Dunbeacon Feedlot Steers
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