Performance Testing

The testing involves exposing the bulls to uniform feeding and housing conditions, with the idea of establishing the genetic potential of particular bulls (namely genetically superior bulls), in terms of feed conversion efficiency and growth efficiency. This information is combined with data including weaning weight and calf value from the livestock marts, linear type classification from pedigree beef herds, carcass weight, carcass fat and carcass conformation data from the factories, as well as pedigree ancestry information stored on the ICBF database. These results allow a genetic profile of all animals with records and related animals to be computed in the form of an Economic Breeding Index (EBI).

Testing Procedure

1. The bulls are weighed once all are on the station, and this signifies the beginning of the test. At this point they are also clipped, dosed, treated for lice, and sorted into pens based on breed and weight.
2. The bulls are housed primarily indoors on a bedding of peat moss, and also have access to an outdoor pen bedded with wood chip.
3. The bulls are fed ration at a less than ad lib rate until such time as they have become acclimatised to the meal (14 days approx). This is very important to maintain the health of the animal with a change in diet. They are then moved to ad lib feeding, and are also given a ration of hay twice a day. Bulls are provided with ad lib water.
4. Health checks of the entire herd are carried out three times daily.
5. Bulls are provided with a vitamin and mineral lick, and a mineral revitalise dose if required.
6. During the test the animals are weighed on a three-weekly basis to assess their growth rate. Breeders are notified of the weight of their bull(s) every six weeks (see document 1).
7. The bulls are washed every four to six weeks during the test, depending on weather.
8. Bulls are exercised in an open pasture paddock twice a week for a three-hour period each time.