In seedstock breeding programs, the major focus is generally on the bulls that will be sold to other breeders. Catalogue preparation, sire selection and marketing all revolve around these animals. Yet in every drop of calves, the majority will never enter a sale ring as stud sires. Steers, surplus heifers, and non-replacement females represent a significant proportion of the genetic output of a herd. For Hereford breeders, this group offers an under-utilised but highly valuable opportunity: the collection of carcase and performance data that can directly strengthen the accuracy of BREEDPLAN Estimated Breeding Values (EBVs) and support long-term genetic gain.
Why Look Beyond the Sale Bulls?
The temptation in many herds is to treat steers simply as a by-product of a breeding program, turned off to feedlots or grass-finished markets with little further thought. However, these animals embody the same genetics as their higher-profile siblings. Ignoring their potential contribution to genetic evaluation is a missed opportunity.
Carcase traits, such as yield, fat depth, eye muscle area, marbling and meat quality, are some of the most economically important in the beef supply chain. While live-animal ultrasound scanning provides useful insight, direct abattoir measurements remain the gold standard for genetic evaluation. By submitting structured carcase data from steers, breeders can significantly increase the accuracy of Carcase EBVs within BREEDPLAN, improving confidence when identifying superior sires and dams.
The Importance of Representativeness
A critical point is that the animals contributing data must be representative of the herd, not a pre-selected subset. Data becomes compromised if steers are only included (or excluded) because of how fast they grow, or for traits that have been singled out. BREEDPLAN analysis relies on whole-contemporary-group comparisons. Selective harvesting of animals, such as sending only heavier steers to slaughter earlier, or culling outliers will create biased results and reduces the value of the data collected at slaughter.
For data to be accepted into BREEDPLAN, animals must be managed together from birth, run under the same conditions, and slaughtered on the same day at the same abattoir. This ensures fair comparisons and avoids distortion caused by management differences.
What Carcase Data is Accepted?
BREEDPLAN has strict requirements to maintain data integrity. Abattoir carcase information is only accepted if:
These requirements exist to prevent bias in the data and subsequent EBVs. If carcase information were submitted outside of controlled programs, there would be a strong risk of skewed results, for example, only submitting the “best” or “worst” performers, or collecting data on animals outside the accepted age range. Such practices could distort the genetic evaluation, giving misleading EBVs that do not reflect true genetic differences. Standardising protocols and restricting data to structured collection programs ensures that the information represents the whole population fairly, maintains consistency across herds, and upholds the scientific credibility of BREEDPLAN outputs.
Measurements currently included in the calculation of Carcase EBVs are:
Additional measures (e.g. meat colour, tenderness) can also be submitted to Hereford BREEDPLAN and stored for potential future analysis.
It is equally important to note what is not acceptable for analysis. In particular small kill sheets from a handful of culls, data from carcase competitions, or partial groups of steers selected to meet market specifications are not acceptable. While these forms of data may provide useful feedback for management decisions, they are unsuitable for inclusion in BREEDPLAN analysis.
Managing the Practical Challenges
Collecting abattoir carcase information is not without effort. Coordinating groups for slaughter, ensuring data integrity at the abattoir, and covering the additional costs can be challenging. Identification loss in processing plants, trimming, bruising, and variable grading standards all present risks. Breeders may need to work more closely with abattoirs, feedlots, and graders to maintain consistent protocols and avoid introducing errors.
Despite the workload, the benefits are considerable. Even modest increases in EBV accuracy for carcase traits translate into more reliable sire selection, greater market alignment, and enhanced reputation for delivering genetics with proven end-product value.
Designing Effective Progeny Tests
The most powerful use of steer data occurs in structured progeny test programs. Effective progeny tests require:
This structure ensures that the carcase outcomes of steers can be meaningfully compared, both within the herd and across the wider breed population.
Turning Steers into a Strategic Asset
Hereford breeders have a clear opportunity to turn the “non-sale” portion of their herds into a strategic asset. By capturing and submitting robust carcase data from steers, breeders strengthen the accuracy of EBVs, improve the reliability of sire and dam selection, and ultimately deliver more predictable outcomes to commercial clients.
As the beef industry continues to focus on eating quality, yield, and sustainability metrics, the pressure on seedstock breeders to provide verified genetic information will only increase. Steers are not just by-products of a stud enterprise, rather they are key data sources waiting to be unlocked.
Harnessing this potential requires planning, discipline, and investment, but the returns in more accurate evaluations, stronger marketing claims, and greater industry impact are considerable. For Herefords, a breed already renowned for its carcase attributes, the opportunity is clear: the path to the next leap in genetic improvement runs not just through the bull sale ring, but also through the abattoir chain of the steers that never get catalogued.
Collecting carcase data is only part of the process. The real value comes from using that information effectively within your breeding program. Breeders are encouraged to speak with Herefords Australia or ABRI BREEDPLAN staff to determine how this data can best be incorporated into herd evaluations and long term breeding objectives. By engaging with these support teams, breeders can ensure that valuable information from the steer portion of their herd is fully utilised, enhancing EBV accuracy, guiding selection decisions, and driving meaningful genetic progress across the breed.
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