THE COMPARATIVE LIVE WEIGHT AND CARCASS PERFORMANCE OF FIRSTCROSS BRAHMAN CROSSBRED STEERS IN CENTRAL QUEENSLAND

Firstcross (F1) steers resulting from joining either Simmental or Hereford bulls to Brahman cows, or joining Brahman bulls to Hereford cows over three years from 1981 to 1983 were compared on a commercial beef property in central Queensland. Simmental sired steers recorded significantly higher (P~0.05) live weight gains after weaning, and were significantly heavier (P<O.OS) at approximately 48 months of age than the other two genotypes (703 v 658 and 668 kg, respectively). Carcass weights of the Simmental and Brahman sired steers were significantly greater (P<O.OS) than the Hereford sired steers. However, Simmental sired steers had significantly less (P~0.05) P8 rump fat than either of the other two genotypes (17 v 27 and 22 mm, respectively)