Beef Cattle Recording: Test Stations - Revision history

Bgolden at 15:45, 24 October 2023

2023-10-24T15:45:33Z

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	==Method of recording==		==Method of recording==

	Only the “A” method should be used, an official recording organization must carry out recording.		Only the [[Beef Cattle Recording: General#Applied beef recording schemes\|“A” method]] should be used, an official recording organization must carry out recording.

	==Recorded animals==		==Recorded animals==

Bgolden: /* Slaughter */

2023-10-17T15:09:59Z

Slaughter

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	#Feeding method: restriction on age or weight or ad libitum		#Feeding method: restriction on age or weight or ad libitum

	==Slaughter==		=Slaughter=

	Progeny test animals are normally slaughtered to record slaughter traits.		Progeny test animals are normally slaughtered to record slaughter traits.

Bgolden: /* Feeding and nutrition */

2023-10-17T15:09:44Z

Feeding and nutrition

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

	Breed, nutritional factors and breed-nutrition interaction influence the rate of gain, the gain composition and feed efficiency.		Breed, nutritional factors and breed-nutrition interaction influence the rate of gain, the gain composition and feed efficiency.

Bgolden: /* Test period/termination point */

2023-10-17T15:09:31Z

Test period/termination point

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

	==Test period/termination point==		=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 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.

Bgolden: /* Reference performance */

2023-10-17T15:07:30Z

Reference performance

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	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.		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===		==Reference performance==

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

Bgolden: /* Optional data to be recorded */

2023-10-17T15:06:55Z

Optional data to be recorded

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	#Commercial official slaughter weight of carcass (hot or cold).		#Commercial official slaughter weight of carcass (hot or cold).

	==Optional data to be recorded==		=Optional data to be recorded=

	#Date and weight at entry in nursery if relevant.		#Date and weight at entry in nursery if relevant.

Bgolden: /* Mandatory data to be recorded */

2023-10-17T15:06:34Z

Mandatory data to be recorded

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

	==Mandatory data to be recorded==		=Mandatory data to be recorded=

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

	===Test period===		==Test period==

	#Animal identification		#Animal identification
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	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.		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===		==Slaughter==

	#Slaughter animal identification must be linked to the animal identification where different.		#Slaughter animal identification must be linked to the animal identification where different.

Bgolden: /* Age at entry at station */

2023-10-17T15:05:45Z

Age at entry at station

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	==Organisation==		==Organisation==

	===Age at entry at station===		==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.		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.

Bgolden: /* Adaptation period */

2023-10-17T15:05:22Z

Adaptation period

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

	==Test period/termination point==		==Test period/termination point==

Bgolden at 14:56, 17 October 2023

2023-10-17T14:56:35Z

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

	~~=Commercial Slaughter Data=~~

	~~==Field of application==~~

	~~This recommendation applies where beef recording is undertaken routinely at commercial abattoirs.~~

	Since only the finishing unit is likely to be identified and since changes in the ownership chain of the animal are usually unavailable, it is recommended that use is made only of animals who have been at least one year on the finishing farm. This test is particularly appropriate for dual purpose breeds using AI based breeding programs and where the calves enter the finishing unit at an age of 2 3 months and are kept there until slaughtered.

	The link between slaughter records and basic animal data is provided by the animal’s ID number. It is important therefore that a link can be made between the national identification number and the carcass number if different. The ICAR symbol of this beef recording system is ‘SH’.

	~~==Description==~~

	~~===Organisation of the test===~~

	Ideally at birth the basic non-variant data on the animal such as farm ID, animal ID, birth date, birth location, sex, calving ease score will have been stored in the central database. When the animal is slaughtered, the hot carcass weight and the carcass grade are determined and stored in the database of the abattoir. The slaughter data should be sent to the animal recording organisation at regular intervals. The link between slaughter records and the standing or non-variant data of the animal is provided by the animal’s ID number.

	~~===Reference performance===~~

	~~The reference performance is net gain being defined as hot carcass weight divided by the age at slaughter.~~

	~~===Minimum requirements===~~

	~~====Mandatory data to be recorded====~~

	~~For each of the animals at least the following data should be recorded:~~

	~~#ID of the finishing farm.~~
	~~#Animal ID number.~~
	~~#Hot carcass weight.~~
	~~#Slaughter date.~~
	~~#Carcass grade according to the national grading system.~~

	~~===Optional data to be recorded===~~

	~~Additional records that may be recorded include:~~

	~~#Shrunk weight.~~
	~~#Carcass cut details and trim specifications which allow the determination of meat yield.~~
	~~#Video imaging results which can allow for the determination of meat yield, lean meat percentage, conformation score and fat score.~~

	~~===Data editing, data verification===~~

	Prior to any data evaluation, records should be check and combined with the other data on the animal. Inconsistent or non-plausible data should be removed from the data file. Apart from these deletions no other data should be excluded.

	~~==Definition of contemporaries==~~

	The contemporary group comprises all animals from the same breed type, sex, slaughter date and finishing farm. Due to the unknown specific environments of contemporary groups low to moderate heritability's can be expected, thus requiring large progeny groups for accurate breeding values estimation.