August 16, 2007

Australia seeks beef industry boost without herd size upgrade

Researchers in Queensland, Australia are looking at ways to increase beef production without having to increase herd sizes.

Research firm Beef Cooperative Research Centre through its principal scientist Dr Brian Burns says drought has limited the number of extra cattle that can be put into beef production.

Burns said the climate change has affected more breeding females, thus, hampering production.

He said the research will make herds more efficient and produce more calves to produce more kilograms from the same base number of females.

The centre hopes that the research will increase revenue to the northern beef industry by almost US$50 million within five years.