ON FARM NORTHERN CATTLE REPRODUCTIVE EFFICIENCY 8 Measure of success in the mums Fast‑tracking progress In September 2017, the Moloneys started an MLA Donor Company (MDC) Producer Innovation Fast‑Track project to identify their most efficient, profitable breeders and correlate those findings with their progeny’s carcase feedback data. “Our breeders are evolving but we wanted a better understanding of what our elite cows were yielding at weaning, in terms of the weight of the weaner in proportion to the cow’s body weight,” Kate said. “We felt that was the ultimate indicator of a cow’s efficiency within our environment and with the resources available.” The Moloneys consider moderately framed breeders the most efficient. “We focus on moderate frame size because the nutritional requirements of larger‑framed cows are so much greater,” Kate said. Prior to this 12‑month project, the only research Kate and Peter could find in relation Oand seedstockPeter andrganic beefproducersThey wanted to know whichdecisions to maximise theiryield in kilograms of beef/ha.better genetic selection“Knowing the performancedata also helps us whenselecting our own bulls.”The Moloneys are part of theand the impact of cow sizeon weaner weight was fromto cow size versus herd sizethe US. Kate Moloney know genetic selection and Rangeland Bulls collective The project focused on two from experience there’s management decisions and run a commercial mobs: 250 three‑year‑old huge variation in the would deliver the most gains.enterprise turning off cows weaning their second profitability of breeders.“We wanted a better organically certified calf, and a mob of 80 older understanding of the breedertwo‑and‑a‑half year old cows. At weaning time, However, the couple weren’therd’s performance in termssteers (about 600kg) for frame size, body condition, happy with just knowing thatof weight of calf weaned inArcadian Organic and Naturalpregnancy status and weight fact. They wanted to be ableproportion to the cow’s bodyMeat Co in Toowoomba. In were recorded, as well as to measure this variation, weight in our extensively run,tougher seasons, steers calf weights. understand its drivers and tough environment, without are sold as feeders or to They’re still hoping to carry use that information to makeinputs,” Kate said. organic‑accredited finishers.the offspring through to 18