Date post: | 15-Jan-2016 |
Category: |
Documents |
View: | 217 times |
Download: | 0 times |
Selecting the Right Genetics(Matching Cows to your Environment)
David W. SchaferArizona Beef Day
July 29, 2009
Questions to ask yourself to aid in selecting the right genetics
• What resources do I have available?– Labor– Forage availability– Topography– Climate
• What is your marketing goal or target?– Sell calves at weaning– Sell calves as yearlings– Retain ownership through feedlot
Questions to ask yourself to aid in selecting the right genetics
• What type of mating system will I use?– Multi-purpose
• Designed to produce replacements & market animals• Straightbreeding, rotational crossbreeding, composite
crossbreeding & various modifications thereof
– Terminal• All calves go to market, no heifers retained• Designed to increase weight, growth rate & lean muscle
– Combination of Multi-purpose & Terminal• Portion of the cows produce replacements while the rest
are bred to terminal sires
Questions to ask yourself to aid in selecting the right genetics
• What is the optimal mature size and milk production I can handle?– Largely determined by forage availability
Questions to ask yourself to aid in selecting the right genetics
Optimal Mature Size & Milk Production Potentials for Various Levels of Forage Availability
Mature Size Potential
Forage Availability &Milk Production Potential
Large(> 1400 lbs)
Medium(1100 – 1400 lbs)
Small(< 1100 lbs)
High Forage Availability
High MW TW TW
Medium MW, MY TW TW
Low MY TY Avoid
Medium Forage Availability
High Avoid Risky TW
Medium Avoid MW, MY TW
Low Risky MY, TY TY
Low Forage Availability
High Avoid Avoid Risky
Medium Avoid Risky Risky
Low Avoid Risky MW, MY
MW = Good for multipurpose herds when calves are sold at weaning.MY = Good for multipurpose herds when calves are retained & sold as yearlings or at slaughter.TW = Good for herds with terminal crossing when calves are sold at weaning.TY = Good for herds with terminal crossing when calves are retained & sold as yearlings or slaughter.
Thanks to Don Kress, Mike MacNeil, and the Western Coordinating Committee for Beef Cattle Breeding (WCC-1) for the graph.
• Based on the answers to the previous questions what breed or breeds am I going to use?
Questions to ask yourself to aid in selecting the right genetics
BreedGrowth Rate & Mature Size
Lean to Fat Ratio
Age at Puberty Milk Production
Jersey X X X XXXXXLonghorn X XXX XXX XXHereford-Angus XXX XX XXX XXRed Poll XX XX XX XXXDevon XX XX XXX XXShorthorn XXX XX XXX XXXGalloway XX XXX XXX XXSouth Devon XXX XXX XX XXXTarentaise XXX XXX XX XXXPinzgauer XXX XXX XX XXXBrangus XXX XX XXXX XXXBrahman XXX XXX XXXXX XXXNellore XXXX XXX XXXXX XXXBraunvieh XXXX XXXX XX XXXXGelbvieh XXXX XXXX XX XXXXHostein XXXX XXXX XX XXXXXSimmental XXXXX XXXX XXX XXXXMaine Anjou XXXXX XXXX XXX XXXSalers XXXXX XXXX XXX XXXPiedmontese XXX XXXXXX XX XXLimousin XXX XXXXX XXXX XCharolais XXXXX XXXXX XXXX XChianina XXXXX XXXXX XXXX X
Relative Performance of 25 Common Beef Breeds
Increasing number of X’s indicates higher values.
From Cundiff et al. (1993).
V Bar V Ranch Breeding Project
• Evaluate the performance of various purebreds &/or composites from conception to consumption using Herefords as our control population.
• Evaluate at least 150 animals of each breed type by bringing in 50 head over a 3 year period to reduce environmental effects.
• Hereford
Breeds being evaluated at the V Bar V
Breeds being evaluated at the V Bar V
• Bar T Bar Composite– ¼ Angus, ¼ Hereford, ¼ Gelbvieh, ¼
Barzona/Senepol
• CGC Composite– ½ Red Angus, ¼ Charolais, ¼ Tarentaise– USDA Research Center, Miles City, MT
Breeds being evaluated at the V Bar V
• Waguli– ½ Wagyu, ½ Tuli
Breeds being evaluated at the V Bar V
• Tuli
Breeds being evaluated at the V Bar V
Breed of Dam Solutions
Breed BW WW
BTB 0.2 15.7
CGC -0.7 13.0
Hereford 1.0 -28.6
Mixed 0.6 15.1
Tuli -6.6 -27.3
Waguli -7.1 -47.2
Waguli-X -3.5 15.2
Breed of Sire Solutions
Breed BW WW Example WW
Angus 6.2 15.5 416
Red Angus 5.6 24 424
CGC 6.1 -11.2 389
Hereford 8.7 17.7 418
Wagyu -4.7 24.3 424
Tuli 2.2 -20.8 379
Waguli 0 0 400
Heterosis coefficient for BW & WW
For every 1% increase in heterosis, we are getting an increase in BW of 0.024 lbs and an increase in WW of 0.193 lbs.
Example #1:Hereford crossed on Hereford is zero heterosis. A Hereford crossed on a CGC is 100% heterosis.
100 x 0.024 = 2.4 lbs increased BW and100 x 0.193 = 19.3 lbs increased WW
Example #2:Hereford bull crossed on BTB cow equals 75% heterosis since the BTB composite is 25% Hereford.
75 x 0.024 = 1.8 lbs increased BW and75 x 0.193 = 14.5 lbs increased WW
Age of Dam Adjustment Factors for BW & WW
Age of DamV-VBW
BIFBW
V-VWW
BIFMaleWW
BIFFemale
WW
2 6.2 8 46.5 60 54
3 3.7 5 53.1 40 36
4 1.4 2 22 20 18
5-10 0 0 0 0 0
11+ 2.4 3 19 20 18
Summary
• Selecting the right genetics is about knowing what forage resources you have and knowing your marketing objective.
• Study breed characteristics before selecting.• Good crossbreeding systems will add pounds
and value to your cow herd.
Questions?