Since 1996/1997, the Western Australian Department of Agriculture has been running Feed Conversion Efficiency Trials at its Vasse Research Station near Bussleton. For the last four consecutive years, South Devon bulls have averaged a significantly lower Feed Conversion Ratio than the other breeds in the trial.
The results of the most recent trial, completed in May 2003, are summarised below:
|
Trait
|
South
Devon
|
Charolais
|
Limousin
|
Murray
Grey |
Sussex
|
|
Feed Conversion Ratio |
5.9
|
6.5
|
6.6
|
7.2
|
7.8
|
|
Daily
Weight Gain
(Kg) |
1.82
|
1.84
|
1.61
|
1.50
|
1.39
|
|
Eye
Muscle Area
(cm2) |
75.4
|
73.5
|
86.7
|
69.1
|
66.8
|
|
Rib
Fat
(mm) |
2.9
|
2.0
|
2.4
|
3.6
|
3.4
|
|
Rump
Fat
(mm) |
3.9
|
3.0
|
3.5
|
5.5
|
6.8
|
Thus, the 21 South Devon bulls' average feed intake was 5.9 kg for every 1 kg of live weight gain.