GROWTH in the Speckle Park breed continues to gain momentum, and a recent trial will add weight to the breed's claims of superior yields, marbling, and ultimately premiums.

The trial saw 76 F1 Speckle Park/Angus heifers go up against 61 Angus heifers - all of similar quality and randomly selected - that were custom-fed together for 100 days at Conargo Feedlot, Deniliquin, New South Wales, and then processed on Thursday, April 16 at Kilcoy Global Foods in south-east Queensland.

The trial resulted in the Speckle Park-cross heifers returning an average carcase price that was $149 per head higher than the comparison group. Of note, 17 of the Speckle Park-cross heifers marbled 3+, with one scoring a five, while only one Angus heifer marbled 3+. Of all heifers in the trial, 89 per cent had zero dentition.

The Speckle Park-cross heifers had a hot standard carcase weight (HSCW) of 291kg, an average P8 fat of 15.67, and returned an average of $6.90/kg carcase weight, or $2010 per head. The Angus heifers had a HSCW of 289kg, average P8 fat of 16.61, and returned an average of $6.44/kg cwt or $1861/head.

The Angus heifers entered the feedlot 20kg heavier than the F1 Speckle Park/Angus group, and exiting the feedlot the Angus heifers were 17kg heavier - yet the Speckle Park-cross heifers yielded 2kg per head carcase weight more.

At the processor, fat samples were taken from each of the carcases and were then sent to Murdoch University in Western Australia for more in-depth analysis into fat melting temperature.

Speckle Park International (SPI) Technical Sub-Committee Chair, Paul Guy, said the results at both the processor and science lab had piqued the interest of many in the industry. "For MSA (Meat Standards Australia) marbling, 51.3pc of the Speckle Park heifers scored 400+, while 22.4pc scored 500+," Mr Guy said.

Of the Angus heifer group, 21.7pc scored 400+ for MSA Marbling, while 1.7pc scored 500+," he said. "At the end of the day, it's dollars into our back pocket that pays, and in this trial, the Speckle Park heifers performed really well, ranging from $6.65/kg to $6.95/kg cwt, while the Angus heifer price ranged from $6/kg to $6.60/kg cwt.

My Guy said the fat melting temperature trial indicated very little difference between the two groups, with both groups "right up there" at the desired end of the scale. "A lower fat melting point makes beef healthier. "It has less saturated fat making it more like olive oil, and is better for cardiovascular health."

The trial was conducted in conjunction with the CY O'Connor Foundation based at Murdoch University, and led by the foundation's research director, Dr Sally Lloyd. "The tremendous performance of Speckle Park animals in feedback trials like the Taste and Tenderness competition in Calgary, Canada, and the Paddock to Palate feedback trial here in Australia, made us curious as to why Speckle Park beef eats so well," Mr Guy said.

"So, SPI wanted to investigate this, and this became a task for the Technical Sub-Committee. "Given the great work Dr Sally Lloyd has done in the past, it was the ideal place to start. "The results of our first trials were interesting as the average fat melting temperature of the Speckle Parkcross animals and the Angus control group were quite similar, although the animal with the lowest fat melting temperature was a Speckle Park-cross, and the animal with the highest melting temperature was an Angus.

"There was significant variation in the groups and further investigation and DNA studies look to be warranted. "Both feed regime and genetics play a role."

For further information about Speckle Park International (SPI), please contact (02) 6773 3056, or visit specklepark.org