The Relationship Between Temperament and Productivity in Beef Cattle

By Dr Ian Holmes

For The British White Cattle Society of Australia Ltd

Introduction

For British White cattle breeders, temperament is more than just a matter of convenience—it’s a key factor influencing productivity, food conversion eﬀiciency, profitability and farm safety; and is a major characteristic of the British White breed. These docile, hardy cattle are prized for their adaptability and ease of management, but even within the breed, diﬀerences in temperament can significantly impact growth, reproduction, and beef quality.

Understanding and managing temperament is essential for optimising both animal welfare and economic outcomes in beef production systems.

Temperament and Growth Rates

Temperament, typically defined as an animal’s behavioural response to handling or novel situations, has a direct impact on growth performance. Cattle with calm temperaments exhibit lower stress levels during handling, which promotes eﬀicient feed conversion and steady weight gain. Conversely, animals with excitable or aggressive temperaments often experience higher
stress, resulting in elevated cortisol levels that can inhibit growth by diverting energy into action and away from growth and muscle development.

Reproductive Performance

Reproductive success in beef cattle is also linked to temperament. Studies have shown that cows with calmer temperaments have higher pregnancy rates and shorter calving intervals. Stress-prone cattle may have disrupted hormonal cycles, leading to decreased fertility. Calm cows are much easier to assist when help is needed with calving or aiding any slow calves to suckle. Similarly, bulls with poor temperament may exhibit lower libido or be less manageable during breeding, further impacting herd productivity.

Meat Quality

The temperament of cattle significantly influences the quality of meat produced. Stressful handling of excitable animals before slaughter can lead to physiological changes such as glycogen depletion in muscles, causing dark, firm, and dry meat. Calm cattle, on the other hand, are less likely to experience pre-slaughter stress, resulting in higher-quality carcasses with desirable marbling and tenderness.

Management Eﬀiciency

From a practical standpoint, cattle with poor temperament can pose challenges for farm management. Excitable or aggressive animals are more diﬀicult and dangerous to handle, increasing the risk of injury to both animals and handlers. Such behaviour can also lead to higher equipment maintenance costs and ineﬀiciencies during routine procedures like vaccinations or weigh-ins. Calm cattle are easier to handle, reducing labour costs and improving overall farm safety and productivity.

Improving Temperament Through Selection and Handling

Selective breeding is a powerful tool for improving temperament in beef herds. Many producers now include temperament as a criterion when selecting breeding stock, ensuring calmer traits are passed down.

Additionally, the temperament of the stock handler is a major factor in the temperament of the herd; implementing low-stress handling techniques will help condition animals to be more manageable and less reactive over time.

In summary, temperament of the cattle and handler has a profound influence on the productivity of beef cattle, aﬀecting growth, reproduction, meat quality, and farm operations. By prioritizsng temperament in breeding and handling practices, producers can enhance both economic returns and animal welfare and just make the cows nicer to be around.

Here are some relevant scientific references that discuss temperament, productivity, and associated factors in beef cattle. These papers and studies provide a foundation for the claims made in the article:

Voisinet, B. D., Grandin, T., O’Connor, S. F., Tatum, J. D., & Deesing, M. J. (1997).
“Feedlot cattle with calm temperaments have higher average daily gains than cattle with excitable temperaments.”
Journal of Animal Science, 75(4), 892-896.
• This study highlights the relationship between temperament and growth performance in
cattle.
Cafe, L. M., Robinson, D. L., Ferguson, D. M., McIntyre, B. L., Geesink, G. H., & Greenwood, P. L. (2011).
“Cattle temperament: Persistence of assessments and associations with productivity, eﬀiciency, carcass, and meat quality traits.”
Journal of Animal Science, 89(5), 1452-1465.
• Explores how temperament aﬀects productivity and meat quality in beef cattle.
Petherick, J. C., Doogan, V. J., Venus, B. K., Holroyd, R. G., & Olsson, P. (2009).
“Productivity, carcass characteristics, and temperament of beef cattle assessed during
backgrounding and finishing.”
Animal Production Science, 49(5), 522-527.
• Discusses the broader impact of temperament on productivity and carcass quality.
Grandin, T. (1997).
“Assessment of stress during handling and transport.”
Journal of Animal Science, 75(1), 249-257.
• Describes the role of stress in livestock management, with connections to temperament and meat quality.
King, D. A., Schuehle Pfeiﬀer, C. E., Randel, R. D., Welsh, T. H., Oliphint, R. A., Baird, B. E., Curley, K. O., Vann, R. C., Hale, D. S., & Savell, J. W. (2006).
“Influence of animal temperament and stress responsiveness on the carcass quality and beef
tenderness of feedlot cattle.”
Meat Science, 74(3), 546-556.
• Investigates how temperament impacts stress responses and, consequently, carcass and meat quality.
Cooke, R. F., Bohnert, D. W., Cappellozza, B. I., Mueller, C. J., & DelCurto, T. (2012).
“Eﬀects of temperament and acclimation to handling on reproductive performance of Bos taurus beef females.”
Journal of Animal Science, 90(10), 3547-3555.
• Examines the relationship between temperament and reproductive eﬀiciency in cattle.

These references provide a scientific basis for the claims about temperament and its impact on beef cattle productivity, reproduction, meat quality, and management.