CRC "Regional Combinations" Project: Regional beef systems to improve productivity and profitability

Abstract

A component of the second term of the Cooperative Research Centre (CRC) for Cattle and Beef Quality (1999-2005) was the development of an integrated research program (Regional Combinations project) across a wide range of southern Australian environments to quantify the effects on production and carcase quality of varying nutritional treatments on animals of specific genetic potential. The study was designed to determine the most appropriate growth pathways for progeny of sires that differ in genetic potential for carcase and/or growth traits, to increase product value and herd productivity across southern Australia. The research was conducted at six locations, across 4 states, and included a variety of market specifications and production systems. The biological results and economic analyses will enable producers throughout regional Southern Australia to make confident decisions in choosing the most profitable "genetic and growth path" combinations to suit their enterprise.