Beef Cattle Recording: Test Stations

The main objective is to estimate the breeding value of potential sires by minimising all possible sources of non-genetic variation. Station testing can normally facilitate feed efficiency tests.

The more the conditions in the test station replicate those under which the animals are reared commercially, the more appropriate the test is as a measure of economic value. The test procedures should be designed to meet the requirements of specific production systems. Test specifications such as the length of test, the age of the animals at the end of the test, the diet in terms of energy level may be chosen taking into account commercial and production realities. Consequently, a range of different procedures for such tests may satisfy the present recommendations.

Field of application

Test stations can be used for both individual performance test and for progeny test on males and/or females of test sires.

Individual performance test

The objective is to assess genetic differences based on individual performances of assembled bulls from several herds in a single location and raised under uniform and standardized conditions. Tested bulls may subsequently go for use in AI or natural service.

The animal model using the relationships between the recorded bulls allows for comparisons when there are enough genetic connections between animals from different management groups and/or different stations.

Progeny test

The objective is to assess genetic differences from the performance records of a sires progeny from several herds assembled in a single location and raised under uniform and standardized conditions. Progeny testing is most useful where carcass traits or maternal traits such as (reproduction, calving aptitude, milking performance) are important. Tested sires are mainly designed for AI use.

Generally the tested sires have been previously selected on the basis of an individual performance test. The size of the progeny groups will be determined by the accuracy required for the estimation of breeding value.

Test procedure description

The test procedure should be precisely documented and published.

Method of recording

Only the “A” method should be used, an official recording organization must carry out recording.

Recorded animals

Tested bulls may be from dairy, dual purpose or specialized beef breeds and the test animals should be selected from several herds. The herds of origin should ideally be participants in an ICAR compliant performance recording scheme to ensure that the records related to the pre-test influences are available in the database.

Age at entry at station

Entry in the station should occur at the earliest opportunity after birth in order to minimize the environmental influences of the herd of origin. Age at entry varies according to the type of production (dairy or suckler herds), to the breed and to sanitary/veterinary requirements.

Animals from dairy or dual-purpose breeds should be assembled before weaning, ideally within days after birth, and be artificially reared in a nursery up to the weaning stage. When selecting animals from suckler herds, animals should be selected as early as possible after weaning.

Adaptation period

Once weaned in the nursery or in the herd of origin, the test animals are assembled in the feedlot or finishing farm. During the post-weaning period, the animals should undergo a pre-test adaptation period which is necessary to overcome as far as is possible any pre-test environmental influences, and to limit the effects of compensatory growth during the test period. This is particularly important for the suckler calves, which are generally older when they enter the test station. The housing and feeding environment during the adaptation period should allow an easy transition to the test conditions.

The length of the pre-test adaptation period should ideally be at least of four weeks.

Test period/termination point

The duration of the test period is determined by the age at the start, the plane of nutrition and the desired slaughter age. The test period should be sufficiently long for pre-test influences to be overcome. The test can be terminated at constant age or weight, at constant degree of finish or after a test period of fixed duration.

The recommended length of the test period should be at least of four months (120 days) in the case of performance testing.

Feeding and nutrition

Breed, nutritional factors and breed-nutrition interaction influence the rate of gain, the gain composition and feed efficiency. Concentrate and roughage should be fed in a physical form, which prevents the selection of individual ingredients, in order to allow valid comparisons of gain and valid estimations of feed efficiency.

If complete high-energy diets are fed ad libitum (concentrates ad lib. / roughage restricted) daily gain will then be limited only by the growth potential of the bull. Conversely, if low energy diets are offered ad libitum (concentrates restricted / roughage ad lib.), daily gain will in addition also limited by the feed intake capacity of the bull.

Feeding restriction may be applied according to live weight to allow for a given average daily gain of the test group.

Feeding level and method should be documented.

1. Feeding level: energy and protein concentrations
2. Roughage / concentrate – restricted / ad libitum.
3. Feeding method: restriction on age or weight or ad libitum

Slaughter

Progeny test animals are normally slaughtered to record slaughter traits.

Ideally the animals should be slaughtered at the optimal carcass weight for market requirements. Animals are either slaughtered at constant live weight, at constant age or at constant degree of finish.

The animals should be slaughtered in the same place and the handling of the animals before slaughter, the slaughtering procedures and the post-slaughter aging should be standardized. Should it not be possible to slaughter all the animals at once, it will be necessary to ensure that satisfactory linkage is maintained in the slaughter groups.

Reference performance

During the test period, the reference performance is the average daily gain

In case of slaughter (progeny test), the reference performance is the net carcass weight gain per day of age

Mandatory data to be recorded

For each of the recorded animals, the following data should be recorded

Test period

1. Animal identification
2. Station identification
3. Identification of the management group, if existing
4. Date of weighing at the start of the test period
5. Live weight at the start of the test period
6. Date of weighing at the end of the test period
7. Live weight at the end of the test period

Live weight should be the average of at least two weights taken on successive days.

If shrunk weights are measured, a single weight after a shrink period of 12 hours is adequate. Actual weights can also be adjusted using an appropriate regression to account for temporary environmental effects on individual animals. All raw data should be recorded and stored.

Slaughter

1. Slaughter animal identification must be linked to the animal identification where different.
2. Abattoir identification.
3. Slaughter date.
4. Live weight at slaughter (full or shrunk).
5. Commercial official slaughter weight of carcass (hot or cold).

Optional data to be recorded

1. Date and weight at entry in nursery if relevant.
2. Date and weight at feedlot entry.
3. Linear scoring both for muscular and skeletal development as well as for functional capacity.
4. Individual feed intake over the test period (kg).
5. Official carcass conformation and carcass fat score, for animals slaughtered where available.

Calculated traits

1. Average daily gain during test period (kg).
2. Efficiency of feed conversion should be expressed as weight of feed (as fed) relative to gain (this ratio can be adjusted to a common body weight to allow for weight and growth rate differences as they affect feed requirements for maintenance). The way the feed intake is controlled should be described.
3. Dressing-out percentage (%).

Definition of contemporaries

A contemporary group is a set of animals of the same breed and sex, that are similar in age, that have been tested in the same season, on the same diet, in the same housing system and have received similar prophylactic treatments.

The animals within a contemporary group should be born within the shortest possible period, but not greater than 90 days. Where acceptance of animals into a test station is continuous (animals to be evaluated enter the station throughout the year) season should also be taken into account.

Such a grouping into management groups should allow for sufficient genetic connections between contemporary groups, the size of which should be at least 15.