Dr. David Lalman, Professor and Extension Beef Cattle SpecialistOklahoma State University
1953
Champion Angus
Female
Chicago
International
Exposition
1969
Grand Champion
Steer
Chicago
International
Exposition
Photo Courtesy of Oklahoma State University
Our producer’s are willing to adapt. They can and they will create change
Sometimes we go too far!
Today cattle have tremendous capacity for post-weaning growth and carcass weight
Photo Courtesy of Oklahoma State University
2,70
2,90
3,10
3,30
3,50
3,70
3,90
Finishing Phase (Feedlot) Performance is Increasing
Steer Carcass Weight
Federally Inspected
600
625
650
675
700
725
750
775
800
825
850
875
900
1960 1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 2015
Pounds
Finished cattle weights increasing at rate of 4.3 kg per yearCarcass weights increasing at rate of 2.6 kg per year
Cattle have tremendous capacity for marbling
4851,7
62,7
79
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
1995 2006 2009 2017
Livestock Marketing Information Center, 2016
M-S-25
07/28/17
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%Percent
BEEF GRADED CHOICE AND SELECTAs A Percent of Beef Graded, Monthly
Choice Select
Data Source: USDA-AMS, Compiled by LMIC
Livestock Marketing Information Center
Photo Courtesy of Oklahoma State University
Kansas: Kansas Farm Management Association (KFMA)Kevin Herbel
North Dakota: Cow Herd Appraisal Performance Software (CHAPS) Dr. Kris Ringwall
New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas: Standardized Performance Analysis (SPA)Dr. Stan Bevers
Upper Midwest (FINBIN), Center for Farm Financial Management, University of Minnesota
Photo Courtesy of Oklahoma State University
60,0
65,0
70,0
75,0
80,0
85,0
90,0
95,0
100,0
19
91
19
92
19
93
19
94
19
95
19
96
19
97
19
98
19
99
20
00
20
01
20
02
20
03
20
04
20
05
20
06
20
07
20
08
20
09
20
10
20
11
20
12
20
13
20
14
20
15
SPA KFMA* CHAPS FINBIN
83%
84%
85%
86%
87%
88%
89%
90%
91%
198
6
198
8
199
0
199
2
199
4
199
6
199
8
20
00
20
02
20
04
20
06
20
08
20
10
20
12
20
14
20
16
Source: Dr. Derrell Peel, Oklahoma State University
Photo Courtesy of Oklahoma State University
0,00
0,25
0,50
0,75
1,00
1,25
1,50
1,75
2,00
2,25
2,50
2,75
196
019
62
196
419
66
196
819
7019
7219
7419
7619
7819
80
198
219
84
198
619
88
199
019
92
199
419
96
199
82
00
02
00
22
00
42
00
62
00
82
010
20
12
Hay production/use per cow is increasing at the rate of 66 lb per year
When cattle producer’s are provided effective science-based tools, THEY USE THEM
Dramatic improvement in post-weaning performance, total beef produced per cow, and carcass quality
In the meantime, tools for cow herd efficiency and particularly for fertility have made little to no progress
Our current level of beef production can be sustained with ▪ 20% lower feed inputs
▪ 30% lower methane production
▪ 17% lower N, P and K output Selection for feed intake and residual feed
efficiency is now a reality▪ EPD’s for feed intake and residual feed efficiency
now available for Angus, Hereford, and Simmental
Photo Courtesy of Oklahoma State University
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
0 0,5 1 1,5 2 2,5 3
Fee
d In
take
, KG
ADG, KG
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
0 0,5 1 1,5 2 2,5 3
Fee
d In
take
, KG
ADG, KG
Residual = -3.75
Residual = +2
GrowSafe Insentec
SmartFeed
How about the cow?
200
300
400
500
600
700
800
900
700 1200 1700 2200
We
an
ing
We
igh
t (l
b)
Cow BW (lb)
y = 0.0607x + 459
Annual cost / 45 kg of additional cow BW = $42(Doye and Lalman, 2011)
What happens to cow maintenance costs with aggressive selection for
growth, gradual increases in cow size(primarily from increased visceral
organ mass), and genetic potential for milk?
-0,8
-0,6
-0,4
-0,2
0
0,2
0,4
1972
1973
1974
1975
1976
1977
1978
1979
198
019
81
198
219
83
198
419
85
198
619
87
198
819
89
199
019
91
199
219
93
199
419
95
199
619
97
199
819
99
200
020
01
200
220
03
200
420
05
200
620
07
200
820
09
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
DM
I EP
D
Genetics tools will finally be available to make meaningful improvement in fertility
▪ Genomic discoveries developing now
▪ Hereford, Red Angus, Angus and Charolais working hard to roll out new fertility EPD’s this fall
Photo Courtesy of Oklahoma State University
The Sustained Cow
Fertility (SCF) results,
reported in percentage
units, are oriented such
that larger breeding
values reflect sires
whose daughters calve
annually for more years.
Both bulls have 200 plus
daughters in production
One bull SCF = 170
One bull SCF = 57
In the U.S., we have excellent/enough▪ Growth
▪ Milk
▪ Mature cow size
▪ Carcass weight
▪ Marbling The new frontiers are
▪ Reducing cow/calf phase cost
▪ Cow annual feed energy consumption…true cow efficiency
▪ Progress in fertility of the U.S. cow herd begins this fall
You can’t manage (or select for) what you do not measure
▪ Cow costs
▪ Feed consumption/efficiency (cow phase and post-weaning)
Organize to initiate feed efficiency selection Organize / explore fertility EBV’s Importance of all of these will be magnified in
“post” or “reduced” subsidy era
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