SYDNEY: A simple tail hair test could transform the way beef producers identify their most efficient cattle, paving the way for smarter, more sustainable herd management, new research from Australia’s University of Queensland said on Wednesday, according to Xinhua.
Scientists found that analysing nitrogen levels in tail hair can quickly pinpoint cattle with superior nitrogen efficiency, key to better weight gain, and improved response to urea supplements, according to a release from the university.
The findings promise a cost-effective tool for global beef producers aiming to improve productivity while reducing resource use, the release said, adding that this simple, non-invasive method could help producers select top-performing animals, boosting profits and sustainability.
“We want to be able to identify the animals that will gain weight better and faster with fewer supplements,” said the study’s lead author Brandon Fraser from the Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation (QAAFI), a research institute at the University of Queensland.
“Producing beef with fewer resources means it’s cheaper for the farmer and ultimately the consumer,” Fraser said, adding identifying cattle that gain weight efficiently allows producers to breed better herds, which is crucial in northern Australia’s challenging dry seasons.
The study, published in Animal Production Science, involved testing Brahman steers (male cattle of the Brahman breed that have been castrated, typically raised for beef production) on different diets. Results showed that cattle with better nitrogen conservation exhibited improved growth, regardless of supplementation.
Recognising that nitrogen preservation drives efficiency in northern cattle could revolutionise targeted nutrition in these beef systems, said the study’s co-author, Associate Professor Luis Prada e Silva at QAAFI.
The next step is for industry groups to commercialise tail hair analysis or develop DNA markers for efficiency traits, allowing producers to make genetic decisions faster and more accurately, said Prada e Silva, adding that integrating traits like fertility, resilience, and heat tolerance into genetic selection could further enhance herd performance.
