International Beef Performance Recording Survey Results 2000

September 2002 Compte-rendu Institut de l'Elevage n° 3174

Preface

In 1994 the International Committee for Animal Recording (ICAR) adopted recommendations for beef performance recording. A specialist Beef Performance Working Group was asked to carry out surveys periodically to give an idea of the level of activity and the systems of beef performance recording among the member organisations, and of the degree of acceptance of its recommendations.

The previous surveys was published in 1997 and 2000 and gave an overview of world-wide beef recording activities. The present survey was designed in 2000 and included an updated questionnaire combining 4 levels of possible answers : the first to specify if beef performance recording existing in a country and to list the types (on farm, performance test…) ; the second to give general figures for each type of control ; the third to give the figure per trait ; and the last to give details per breed.

The questionnaire was an Excel® file send by mail to the national organization or breed societies. One problem was that some of ICAR members which are dairy organizations didn't forwarded the questionnaire to the national beef organisations. So in several case we choose to send questionnaires directly to the beef breed societies.

Overall, at present, it is clear that the responses to this new questionnaire were rich and the number of answers has increased a lot ! But some part of the world are already "white area" for our knowledge of beef performance recording.

This report is subdivided in two parts:

  • The first part gives the list of countries and breed societies contacted to complete the questionnaire. A list of country or areas with beef performance recording but with no answer to the questionnaire is therefore made.
  • The second part give the results of the survey itself. It is divided into six main parts, each one dealing with one of the six different types of beef performance recording schemes approved by ICAR (the appropriate ICAR recommendation is shown in the annex):
    • On farm from birth to weaning
    • On farm or feed lot from weaning to slaughter
    • Performance test station
    • Progeny test station
    • Abattoir data (Organized progeny test, Commercial data)

An annex gives an example of the questionnaire.

The present report has been a joint service of the ICAR Beef Performance Working Group. I take the opportunity and thank all of my colleagues for their valuable help and support. The data collection and evaluation was executed by Laurent Journaux and Jean Caillette, Institut de l'Élévage, France. For taking over this work I would like to thank Mr. Journaux in particular.

Munich
May 2002
Hans J. Schild
Chairman of the ICAR Beef Performance Working Group

Country who received the questionnaire

Austria                                  Finland                Portugal
Argentina                              France                 Reunion Island
Australia                               Germany              Slovak Republic
Austria                                  Greece                Slovenia
Belgium                                Hungary              South Africa
Brazil                                    India                  Spain
Bulgaria                                Italy                   Switzerland
Canada                                 Israel                 Sweden
Chile                                     Ireland               The Netherlands
Angus breed society               Japan                  Tunisia
China                                   Korea                  Turkey
Limousine breed society         Latvia                  UK
Croatia                                 Lebanon              Uruguay
Cuba                                   Lithuania              USA
Cyprus                                 Luxembourg         Venezula
Czech Republic                     Mexico                  Zimbabwe
Denmark                             New Caledonia
Dominican Republic               New Zealand
Egypt                                   Norway
Estonia                                Poland
Plus 33 breed societies (list given by Darr Bullock member of ICAR beef group)

Comments

Number of answer and geographic distribution

We received 39 answers. This answers are detailed in the next part. But we also know that some countries do record beef performances but we don't have any figures.

The list of countries (or breed societies) who have beef performance recording but didn't send us back a completed survey is below:

Argentina Brazil Canada Chile Hungary Mexico Portugal (at least in Limousine and Charolais) The Netherlands Uruguay US major breed Societies like Limousine, Charolais, Hereford Zimbabwe.

The lists of countries who received the questionnaire, sent-back an answer (Part A of the Survey) and of countries where we know that beef performance recording exist but didn't answers the survey shows us that we have a good knowledge of beef performance recording in Western and Central Europe and Oceania, only a partial view of Southern Europe, Northern America and Africa activity and no information from East Europe, Central and South America and Asia.

General description of the figures

The most important form of beef performance recording is on farm performance recording from birth to weaning (27 countries or associations). 22 countries or associations continue performance recording after weaning and specially on beef animals from 1 years old onward American breed societies Autralia and New Zealand associate to the weight some ultrasonic measurements.

The performance test station are only used in west and central Europe (12 countries) and in South Africa and New Caledonia. It's use not only for beef breeds but also for dual purpose breeds.

Only 4 countries (Ireland, France, Germany and Tcheck Republic) have an organize beef progeny testing for beef qualities on live and in abattoir. American Simmental society and Slovenia have a progeny test with abattoir control only.

Records in sale are specific to Germany and Austria.

Finally some countries have a large development of record of commercial data in abattoir : Germany, Austria, Denmark and Switzerland.

Table of contents

  • Part A : Address of persons who completed the questionnaire and general information
     
  • Part B : General description of beef performance recording in the different countries
     
  • Part C : On live, from birth to weaning, on farm
    C1 : general description of performance recording
    C2 : figures per trait
    C3 : other traits recorded
    C4 : details per breed
     
  • Part D : On live, from birth to weaning, on farm, other type of records systems
     
  • Part E : On live, after weaning on farm or feedlot
    E1 : general description of performance recording
    E2 : figures per trait
    E3 : other traits recorded
    E4 : details per breed
     
  • Part F : On live, after weaning on performance test station
    F1 : general description of performance recording
    F2 : figures per trait
    F3 : other traits recorded
    F4 : details per breed
     
  • Part G : On live, after weaning on progeny test
    G1 : general description of performance recording
    G2 : figures per trait
    G3 : other traits recorded
    G4 : details per breed
     
  • Part H : On live, after weaning at sale
    H1 : general description of performance recording
    H2 : figures per trait
    H3 : other traits recorded
    H4 : details per breed
     
  • Part I : At abattoir organized progeny test
    I1 : general description of performance recording
    I2 : figures per trait
    I3 : other traits recorded
    I4 : details per breed
     
  • Part J : At abattoir organized commercial data
    J1 : general description of performance recording
    J2 : figures per trait
    J3 : other traits recorded
    J4 : details per breed

Example of the Questionnaire

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