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Selecting the Right Genetics (Matching Cows to your Environment)

Selecting the Right Genetics (Matching Cows to your Environment). David W. Schafer Arizona 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.

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Selecting the Right Genetics (Matching Cows to your Environment)

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  1. Selecting the Right Genetics(Matching Cows to your Environment) David W. Schafer Arizona Beef Day July 29, 2009

  2. Questions to ask yourself to aid in selecting the right genetics • What resources do I have available? • Labor • Forage availability • Topography • Climate

  3. Questions to ask yourself to aid in selecting the right genetics • What is your marketing goal or target? • Sell calves at weaning • Sell calves as yearlings • Retain ownership through feedlot

  4. 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

  5. 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

  6. 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.

  7. Thanks to Don Kress, Mike MacNeil, and the Western Coordinating Committee for Beef Cattle Breeding (WCC-1) for the graph.

  8. Questions to ask yourself to aid in selecting the right genetics • Based on the answers to the previous questions what breed or breeds am I going to use?

  9. Relative Performance of 25 Common Beef Breeds Increasing number of X’s indicates higher values. From Cundiff et al. (1993).

  10. 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.

  11. Breeds being evaluated at the V Bar V • Hereford

  12. Breeds being evaluated at the V Bar V • Bar T Bar Composite • ¼ Angus, ¼ Hereford, ¼ Gelbvieh, ¼ Barzona/Senepol

  13. Breeds being evaluated at the V Bar V • CGC Composite • ½ Red Angus, ¼ Charolais, ¼ Tarentaise • USDA Research Center, Miles City, MT

  14. Breeds being evaluated at the V Bar V • Waguli • ½ Wagyu, ½ Tuli

  15. Breeds being evaluated at the V Bar V • Tuli

  16. 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 and 100 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 and 75 x 0.193 = 14.5 lbs increased WW

  17. 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.

  18. Questions?

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