Adaptation of Australian Cattle
7.1. Adaptation of Australian Cattle
The objective of importing cattle from Australia to countries with cold climates is to improve the performance and productivity of local beef industries. This can only be achieved if the cattle adapt quickly to cope with the local environment, and grow on to become productive breeding animals. There is general concern in some sectors that Australian beef cattle are not suited to the climates of these importing countries. This is despite the same breeds already existing in these countries Fig. 7.1. However, beef cattle imported to these countries are predominantly British breeds such as Angus and Hereford. Having been derived originally from cold climates, British breeds possess an inherent genetic adaptation to these environments, and as a result both breeds continue to have an extensive international presence in cold climate countries. Notably, in recent years many breeding lines have been imported to Australia from the cold climates of Canada and northern USA to further improve Australian beef cattle genetics. Consequently, the genetic basis for cold climate adaptation is strong in Australian lines of these breeds. The timing of arrival of cattle in countries with cold winter climates can afect their performance in the months after arrival. In the year of importation, Australian cattle can be vulnerable to extreme winter conditions due to their immature size as heifers. With animal welfare as a key consideration, the optimum arrival time is in spring, summer and early autumn. This allows them to experience mild conditions during the post-transport recovery period, and to adapt to the local Figure 7.1. British breed cattle exist throughout the cold climate countries, exhibiting a natural adaptation to the cold winter climate. Source: Dr Bazarbai Inerbaev, Siberian Livestock Institute. 160 Beef Breeder MANUAL conditions. If they arrive outside of this optimum period, additional care and attention will be required to manage their nutritional and welfare needs Refer Section 7.2 and 7.3. Over the 6 to 12 months immediately following importation, these cattle need to be given the best opportunity to adapt to the local environment so that they continue to mature at an appropriate rate, and become productive members of the producers’ herd. Through this period, the critical requirement is to provide adequate shelter, and the dietary energy and protein that the animals require to reach full maturity whilst adapting to the higher energy requirements of cold weather. At the same time, the goal is to have these heifers become pregnant by 15 months of age and have their irst calf at 24 months. Experience shows that with good management in the irst 6 to 12 months after arrival, beef cattle imported to these countries from Australia are fully adapted to the local environment by the second winter period.7.2. Winter Management Essentials
Parts
» LEP Cold Climate Beef Breeder Manual 2016 (English).
» Importance of Planning LEP Cold Climate Beef Breeder Manual 2016 (English).
» Timing Trained Staff Planning for Arrival
» Quarantine Facilities Water on Arrival
» Management of Health on Arrival Feeding on Arrival
» Winter Feeding Planning for Arrival
» Monitoring In Quarantine General Health and Husbandry
» Arrival Checklist Planning for Arrival
» Paddocks and Fencing Developing the Property
» Cattle Yards Developing the Property
» Raceways Loading and Unloading Ramps
» Laneways Gates Developing the Property
» Yard Posts Electronic Scales Crush and Head Bail
» Water Troughs Developing the Property
» Modernising Traditional Winter Facilities
» Winter Confinement Feeding Sites
» Confinement Yards Winter Facilities
» Planning Requirements On-Farm Fodder Storage
» Ruminant Digestive System LEP Cold Climate Beef Breeder Manual 2016 (English).
» Feed Intake The First Limiting Nutrient
» Digestibility Fibre Concepts of Nutrition and Feeding
» Vitamins Nutrient Balance Essential Nutrients
» Water LEP Cold Climate Beef Breeder Manual 2016 (English).
» Moulds and Mouldy Feeds Cold Weather Impacts on Feed
» Body Condition Scoring Observational Skills
» How to Recognise Sick Animals
» Healthy Animal Behaviour Reading Manure Early Diagnosis and Treatment
» Prevention Rather than Treatment Nutritional Stress
» Understanding the Animal Welfare Requirement Features of Sight
» Flight Zones Education and Training
» Moving Animals Safe, Low Stress Cattle Handling
» Euthanasia Safe, Low Stress Cattle Handling
» Understanding the Animal Welfare Requirement Preventing Injury
» Features of Suitable Cattle Transport
» Preparing Animals for Transport Loading
» Loading Density In-Transit Care
» Unloading Transporting in Extreme Weather
» External Parasites Common Cattle Diseases
» Internal Parasites Common Cattle Diseases
» Diseases Affecting Reproductive Performance
» Clostridial Diseases Common Cattle Diseases
» Other Important Diseases Common Cattle Diseases
» Bloat Common Cattle Diseases
» Australian Health Status Developing a Breeding Objective
» Selecting the Most Appropriate Breed
» Crossbreeding With Local Breeds - Beef and Dairy
» Physical Evaluation of Bulls
» Structural Soundness and Body Conformation
» Penis and Prepuce Scrotum and Testicles
» Semen Sample Ability to Mate Serving Capacity
» Bull Management and Preparation for Mating Bull to Cow Ratio
» Reproductive Organs Oestrus Cycle and Heat Detection
» Mating After Calving Using Artificial Insemination in the Reproductive Cycle Pregnancy Detection
» Preparations for Calving Calving Management
» Abnormal Calving Calving Management
» Failure to Conceive Culling Unproductive Cattle from
» Failure to Produce a Live Calf Failure to Raise a Calf to a Healthy Weaner
» Cast-for-Age Culling Unproductive Cattle from
» Selecting Replacement Breeders Heifers
» Targets for Heifer Development
» Selecting Appropriate Sires for Heifer Mating First Calving
» Relationship Between Feeding LEP Cold Climate Beef Breeder Manual 2016 (English).
» Animal Identification Calf Processing
» Castration Dehorning Calf Processing
» Early Weaning Feeding Weaner Cattle
» Adaptation of Australian Cattle
» Winter Management Essentials LEP Cold Climate Beef Breeder Manual 2016 (English).
» Bedding Managing the Welfare of Cattle in Winter
» Water Managing the Welfare of Cattle in Winter
» Feeding in Confinement Opportunities to Manage Cattle
» Winter Grazing Opportunities to Manage Cattle
» Managing Winter Grazing Opportunities to Manage Cattle
» Grazing Stockpiled Forage Swath Grazing
» Bale Grazing Opportunities to Manage Cattle
» Developing a Winter Feed Budget
» Traditional Indoor Winter Backgrounding
» Finishing LEP Cold Climate Beef Breeder Manual 2016 (English).
» Plant Adaptation Forage Species
» Legumes Forages in Farming Systems
» Grasses Forages in Farming Systems
» Selecting the Right Species Anti-nutritional Factors
» Preparation for Sowing Seed Quality
» Area Required Stocking Rate Grazing
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