Producers are becoming more attuned to genetics knowledge, both for the benefits it can bring to their operations and to their returns per pound of cattle that they bring to market.
Dr. Bob Weaber, University of Missouri professor and Extension beef cattle genetics specialist, told Ozarks Farm & Neighbor there’s growing interest in a new trait that measures feed efficiency and can be used to predict average daily gains of progeny, while on the cow side there are EPDs for mature cow weight, height as an indicator of weight, and measures of reproductive success. “They’re trying to fit the animal better in their production environment and fine-tune their genetic potential, and so to do that they recognize that the tools they need to use are expected progeny differences or selection indexes,” he says.
With the rising number of EPD figures available to them, producers have historically used subjective judgment to decide which traits are most important in their herds. However, Weaber said over the last 3 to 5 years there’s been a proliferation of selection indexes in the beef business. The selection index has long been a staple of the dairy, pork and poultry businesses; it plugs multiple EPDs into a weighted formula that provides a single number by which to gauge whether an animal is right for your herd. The producer can select the index that matches his goals; the American Angus Association’s “$W,” for instance, is targeted at a weaned calf marketing point, while “$B” serves producers who are in retained ownership arrangements and are looking for enhanced carcass value. Feeders and packers offer premiums that encourage producers to turn toward types of animals with favorable attributes like larger carcass weight and rib eye area.
Weaber said there is also pressure from the popular press and elsewhere on producers to emphasize these genetics, but he recognizes for a traditional cow/calf producer, “the two things that determine the size of their paychecks are the number of calves they get to the marketplace and, principally, how much those calves weigh. So for those guys, putting selection pressure on traits like marbling score or carcass weight, at the expense of traits like weaning weights and reproductive efficiency in the cow herd, are counterproductive.”
Particularly because there are some genetic antogonisms between level of production and reproductive efficiency. “Reproduction’s the first thing that gets put aside in the partitioning of energy in animals,” Weaber said. “An animal will try and rear a calf at side before it will become pregnant, and so that negative energy balance puts that cow in a real compromised position.” As a result, producers seeking to enhance reproductive rates select for moderate sized cows and more moderate levels of lactation.
Dr. Robert Wells, livestock consultant for the Samuel R. Noble Foundation in Ardmore, Okla., told OFN producers’ genetic knowledge has come a long way in the last 5 to 10 years. He said for the typical cow/calf operator, who is usually a terminal cross producer and will sell calves at or shortly after weaning, “The number one trait is going to be birth weight. If we don’t get a live calf on the ground, then nothing else matters. If we tear the cow up in the birthing process to where she’s never going to be able to reproduce again, we’ve hurt ourselves.”
After that, Wells would rate weaning weight and yearling weight as the next two most important factors, but says producers should still pay attention to carcass characteristics.
“You need to be thinking about the fact that every animal you sell is developing a reputation for your ranch,” he said. “A producer that disregards the value of the animal for the next person is hurting themselves, but they’re also hurting their neighbors because regions of the country get grouped together as ‘good quality cattle’ or ‘low quality cattle’.”
Wells recommended producers improve their herd genetics through attrition. “The next time your bull falls out you replace him, and as soon as you’ve done that you’ve increased the quality of all the calves that he sires,” he said. “On the cow side it will take a little longer, but within 5 to 6 years from the date that you make your decision that you’re going to increase the quality of your cow herd you can have a total turnover, and not have to go through some painful years of having large amounts of culling and large purchases specifically to increase quality.” But the value of having a bull with preferable genetics is significant. A notable economist has determined that at today’s prices, over its lifespan a bull that’s in the top 20 percent for growth traits and for weaning and yearling weight can be worth an additional $25,000 in revenue to an operation.
