Page 35 - ACV Journal DECEMBER 2015

News
PASTORAL MUSING
An opinion piece by John Armstrong
It is nigh on fifty years since I first became involved in the northern
cattle industry and now observe a radical transformation for the better. there was active resistance to the Brahman breed which was
The factors influencing change have been many and varied but the
most obvious to my eye has been the quality of the cattle.
Crossbreeding has been the game changer and most herds are
now a composite either by intent or accident. The productivity has
improved progressively, brandings are higher, mortality is much
lower and improved growth rates have resulted in younger turnoff.
Growing up at Deniliquin the home of the Peppin Merino I was
imbued from an early age with the folk lore of that famous breed
which is arguably the most successful animal breeding program in
history. It was a matter of wonder to my young self that the cattle
producers did follow the example.
The Peppins started with a base flock of 200 head in 1858 and at
the breed’s zenith claim was laid for more than one hundred million
sheep, in Australia alone, to the title “Peppin Merino”.
The accepted wisdom of the time in Britain and Australia was open
to crossbreeding. In introducing desired traits from another breed,
rather than selecting from within, the Peppins happened across the
basis of modern composite breeding ie. the inter se mating a four
breed cross foundation.
They used the Saxon Merino and Rambouillet rams with 200
ewes selected from their commercial flock which was a mix of
the big strong dual purpose long wool breeds like the Border
Leicester and others which were better at handling the harsh
Riverina summers.
It was probable that the Lincoln breed was also used one way or
the other in the early program. How else to you explain the remote
Wanganella Lincoln paddock?)
The resulting breed was propagated by traditional stud breeding
practices which included progeny testing particularly for fleece
quality and quantity and adaptation to the environment. These
sheep proved capable of thriving in the western plains of NSW and
the Mitchell Grass plains of Western Qld.
In contrast cattle breeders, in many cases the same people
breeding the Merino sheep were reluctant to crossbreed with
their favoured British breed. In the harsher northern environment
only the Shorthorn showed any durability. Apart from low survival
rates other British breeds were more prone to “run out” as the
uncontrolled mating systems of the extensive herds resulted in
inbreeding depression.
The introduction of the Brahman by CSIRO and a syndicate of
producers in 1933 was followed by the first tentative steps to
infuse adaptive traits. Most of the early co-operators did not
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persevere and despite the efforts of a small number of stalwarts
not really overcome until the market slump in the 1970’s when
the constant dipping required for survival of the British cattle
became uneconomic.
Even then the two breed crosses inter bred soon lost hybrid vigour
and disappointed.
It was only when that same principles that produced the Peppin
Merino became widely adopted in the beef industry that the general
improvement if herd quality became apparent. It is now a pleasure
to observe these adapted herds grazing the vast plains of the Gulf
and Barkly and further afield.
There are no doubt many reasons, economic and social, for the
century long delay between the adoption of the same principles in
the two species.
Once the Peppin breed was established propagation in the parent
studs through the multiplier ram breeders and in the commercial
flocks all breeders were exposed to the traditional methods of
selection and not the cross breeding origins. These were of course
a closely guarded secret.
Today there is a much better understanding of genetics and better
communication however there is another striking difference which
may have been more important.
Production animal breeders are very conscious of the quality of
their sale product. The quality of wool is more readily apparent and
measurable than meat.
This focus on quality therefore takes precedence and the
development of the Peppin Merino was the result of introducing
wool characteristics into better adapted sheep.
In beef cattle the reverse was true the perception that the meat
quality of the existing cattle was superior and though adaptive
genetics were available there was reluctance to compromise quality
for productivity by using the tropically adapted breeds.
The productivity of the adapted cattle and the work of the Beef
CRC in defining meat quality and how to improve it has convinced
the industry at large to adopt breeding programs that would horrify
earlier generations of cattle breeders.
I am reminded of an anecdote related by Peter Chenoweth when in
is earlier years he addressed a rural audience of cattlemen of the
merits of crossbreeding. A conclusion from the floor was “son God
made Herefords pure!”
Amen
The Australian Cattle Veterinarian | volume 77 | December 2015 35