NBA Winter Magazine_2023_
For everyone with an interest in the British Beef Industry
For everyone with an interest in the British Beef Industry
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Breed Society News<br />
NATIONAL BEEF EVALUATION DATA SHOWS BRITISH SIMMENTAL<br />
ADVANTAGES IN AGE AT SLAUGHTER; REDUCED FINISHING<br />
COSTS; & ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT!<br />
In an endorsement of British Simmental’s commercial abilities,<br />
data from AHDB’s National Beef Evaluations has confirmed that<br />
on average, calves by a Simmental sire finish 36 days earlier<br />
than those by continental sires and 46 days earlier than calves by<br />
native sires; Simmental sired calves can cost £72 less to finish;<br />
and that fast finishing equates to 5.4kg less CO2 equivalents.<br />
The data also highlights the advantages of Simmental females<br />
with continental sired calves out of Simmental dams finishing 29<br />
days earlier than the average of all suckler dams!<br />
AHDB’s National Beef Evaluations produce EBVs for five carcase<br />
and three maternal traits for all breeds and crossbred cattle<br />
across the UK. Rather than using performance recorded data,<br />
data is collated nationally from BCMS, as well as many of the<br />
UK’s largest processors and abattoirs. This database includes<br />
records from over 3 million animals slaughtered in the last<br />
10 years, which allows AHDB to estimate the genetic merit of<br />
beef cattle, including over 500,000 sires, for days to slaughter,<br />
carcase weight and EUROP scores.<br />
Days to slaughter has a huge effect on the efficiency of a farm.<br />
Animals which take longer to finish cost more in terms of feed,<br />
so reduce overall profit. These animals also produce more<br />
greenhouse gases and so reducing days to slaughter reduces the<br />
carbon footprint of your beef. In the National Beef Evaluations,<br />
Simmentals rank highly for this trait in Continental Breeds<br />
(August <strong>2023</strong>) and have, on average, the best genetic merit<br />
for reducing days to slaughter. The actual performance data of<br />
Simmental bred offspring can also be looked at to see how this<br />
translates to actual performance.<br />
Across all types of dams (blue bars), offspring of registered<br />
Simmental sires have the lowest average days to slaughter.<br />
FOR EVERYONE WITH AN INTEREST<br />
IN THE BEEF INDUSTRY<br />
Advertise from £275+VAT<br />
Contact Julie Holmes<br />
07393 463225<br />
julie@nationalbeefassociation.com<br />
OFFICIAL<br />
MAGAZINE<br />
FROM THE NATIONAL<br />
BEEF ASSOCIATION<br />
WINTER <strong>2023</strong> | The National Beef Association <strong>Magazine</strong> 39
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