Backgrounders best spring target is grass finished heavy trade cattle

摘要

Since the emergence of a sizable lot feeding sector in the Australian beef industry, the production system has undergone significant changes. Breeders started trying to produce animals that would meet the specifications of the Japanese and Korean markets by gaining weight efficiently on grain to be turned off as a heavy grain-fed carcass. These cattle needed to be carried out to 450kg live weight on grass over about 18 months, a task which is difficult for a producer also carrying cows. To link the breeder to the feedlot, producers who traditionally finished steers (and some breeders) switched to what is known as backgrounding.