FAQs
1. Why Speckle Parks?
Our ideal animals have dark pigments, depth, strong wide muzzles, good fertility, feet, udders, easy to handle, and have impeccable meat quality. Speckle Park genetics have the ability to tick all of these boxes for us.
What are the breeds that make up Speckle Parks?
History tells us that the magnificent Speckle Park breed was built upon a foundation of 5 cattle breeds; Black Angus, Highland, Galloway, Jersey and Shorthorn.
2. How do I find out pedigree information about a particular registered Speckle Park?
Click on the Animal Register tab on the menu bar for this website, and it will take you through to the Speckle Park International Animal Register. You can search for member studs by location, and you can search for animals by various characteristics (calving year, male/female, sire/dam, colour, etc).
3. Estimated Breeding Values – What is it and why are they important?
Estimated Breeding Values (EBVs) are estimates of an animals’ genetic merit for a particular trait and an indication of how an animal’s progeny will perform. EBVs are expressed as the difference between an individual animal’s genetics and the genetic base to which the animal is compared (a historic genetic level for each breed). All EBVs are reported in the units in which the measurements are taken e.g. kilograms for weight EBVs and millimetres for fat depth EBVs. BREEDPLAN currently reports EBVs for a range of economically important traits. These traits include:
| Weight | Fertility/Calving | Carcase | Other |
| Birth Weight Milk 200 Day Growth 400 Day Weight 600 Day Weight Mature Cow Weight |
Scrotal Size Days to Calving Gestation Length Calving Ease |
Eye Muscle Area Fat Depth Retail Beef Yield Intramuscular Fat Carcase Weight Shear Force |
Docility Net Feed Intake Structural Soundness Flight Time |
EBV’s Explained
- https://signetdata.com/media/1805/making-better-beef_ebv_signet_leaflet_010509.pdf
- https://futurebeef.com.au/resources/breedplan-ebvs/
- https://youtu.be/Yhsw3HJDtf4
EBV Charts Explained
- http://abri.une.edu.au/online/Pages/ebv_graph_percentile.html
4. Bull Testing - What is it & Why do I need it?
All bulls offered for sale must pass a Veterinary Bull Breeding Soundness Evaluation (VBBSE) test conducted by our local veterinarian.
The VBBSE Scheme uses prescribed assessments and summarises the results into fertility components. If a bull meets all the minimum standards at all levels of the VBBSE, it has a high probability of being fertile. At common law: a bull sold as a breeding bull should be able to breed, so it is very important that as many as possible of the components of fertility are met in the VBBSE. A pass on VBBSE is not an express guarantee, but rather an indication of the potential breeding value of the bull in a normal mating situation.
A full VBBSE of a bull includes identification, history (including vaccinations) and 3 key components:
- A general physical examination including structure (conformation) and upper reproductive tract
- An examination of the testes and measurement of scrotal size
- Crush side collection and assessment of a semen sample
The VBBSE is a relatively quick, humane and economic procedure for fertility screening bulls prior to sale or joining. It involves both an internal and external examination with the main components including checking physical conformation of the head, feet, legs, sheath and then assessing scrotal circumference, physical examination of reproductive organs and a crush side semen examination. At the end of the assessment, you will receive a certificate that the bull has or has not passed the examination.
Testing a bull prior to joining will minimise the risk of mating a sub fertile or infertile bull to a herd which results in more efficient production and improved pregnancy rates. By selecting a bull that has performed well on a VBBSE, there are reduced risks of reproductive failures. VBBSE ensures better bulls enhancing your fertility rates and production and when selected for, direct genetic effects on both male and female traits.
5. What is Myostatin?
There are a number of myostatin genes in cattle, which are responsible for expressing more/extra muscle growth. Myostatin is an essential protein for the regulation of muscle mass. Speckle Park cattle are known to be potential carriers of the nt821 myostatin gene. We do not see the presence of this gene as anything other than a positive for the breed, and all of our seedstock are tested for presence of the gene so we can use that knowledge in our joining decision-making. Mutations to the myostatin gene can result in a multitude of changes to the muscles function, which can include “double muscling”, whereby the muscle growth and development isn’t regulated by the body. Myostatin affected animals, which carry two copies of the mutation, are unable to be registered in the Speckle Park herd book, hence, we will never market animals containing a double copy of the gene.
Results from myostatin testing of the nt821 gene will be reported as either Non-Carrier (NC) or Carrier (C).
6. What does F1, F2, F3 & F4 mean?
F1 (first cross) is 50% Speckle Park and 50% an alternative breed. When you cross that F1 female with a purebred Speckle Park bull, you get an F2 Speckle Park; 75% Speckle Park and 25% another breed. Then, when you cross that F2 female with a purebred Speckle Park bull you get an F3 calf, with 87.5% Speckle Park and 12.5% another breed. Then when you cross that F3 female with a purebred Speckle Park bull you get an F4 calf, with 93.8% Speckle Park and 6.2% another breed. F4 is considered full blood but never able to be registered as the herd book in Speckle Park is closed. Registered Speckle Park cattle can only be born from a registered sire AND dam.
The Speckle Park International (SPI) guidelines at present explain this using the Canadian system and not what is commercial understood in Australia, with the latter being the shown in the following table:
Conversion Table, F Status to Percentage
| F1 | 1/2 | 50% |
| F2 | 3/4 | 75% |
| F3 | 7/8 | 87.5% |
| F4 | 15/16 | 93.8% |
7. How do I organise a cattle inspection?
Colin Shields, owner of Everest Speckle Park, is available to contact via phone or email. Contact Colin on 0409 279 303 or sales@everestspecklepark.com.au