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
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
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
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
Optimal Mature Size & Milk Production Potentials for Various Levels of Forage Availability Forage Availability & Milk Production Potential High Forage Availability Large (> 1400 lbs) Mature Size Potential Medium (1100 1400 lbs) Small (< 1100 lbs) 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.
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?
Relative Performance of 25 Common Beef Breeds Growth Rate & Lean to Fat Age at Breed Mature Size Ratio Puberty Milk Production Jersey X X X XXXXX Longhorn X XXX XXX XX Hereford-Angus XXX XX XXX XX Red Poll XX XX XX XXX Devon XX XX XXX XX Shorthorn XXX XX XXX XXX Galloway XX XXX XXX XX South Devon XXX XXX XX XXX Tarentaise XXX XXX XX XXX Pinzgauer XXX XXX XX XXX Brangus XXX XX XXXX XXX Brahman XXX XXX XXXXX XXX Nellore XXXX XXX XXXXX XXX Braunvieh XXXX XXXX XX XXXX Gelbvieh XXXX XXXX XX XXXX Hostein XXXX XXXX XX XXXXX Simmental XXXXX XXXX XXX XXXX Maine Anjou XXXXX XXXX XXX XXX Salers XXXXX XXXX XXX XXX Piedmontese XXX XXXXXX XX XX Limousin XXX XXXXX XXXX X Charolais XXXXX XXXXX XXXX X Chianina XXXXX XXXXX XXXX X 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.
Breeds being evaluated at the V Hereford Bar V
Breeds being evaluated at the V Bar V Bar T Bar Composite ¼ Angus, ¼ Hereford, ¼ Gelbvieh, ¼ Barzona/Senepol
Breeds being evaluated at the V Bar V 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 Tuli 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 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
Age of Dam Age of Dam Adjustment Factors for BW & WW V-V BW BIF BW V-V WW BIF Male WW BIF Female 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?