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?