What are the Right Kind of Beef Cattle Traits to Select and Breed for?
If you have the 1966 August issue of the Angus Journal, you will find an article I wrote for the Angus Journal, titled "Gains With Quality," In that article, I discussed "the basic traits that we should be striving to breed for in order to produce the right kind of Angus beef cattle." We still need efficient feedlot gains with carcass quality. (Maybe I will post that 1966 Angus Journal article someday for you to read.)We can develop more consistent and uniform means and standards in the way we are total performance testing beef cattle and thereby make the test data more meaningful, reliable, and applicable to our beef industry objectives? Perhaps the following points may be worthy of further thought and discussion.
We to select and breed beef cattle seedstock on the basis of their bottom line genetic performance, (headed by maternal fertility & reproduction rates), along with complimentary consumer market quality grade and yield traits, then we have a practice that is beneficial to the breed and to the beef production industry. We need to test for and record all of the traits that are economically important to the entire industry, which must include the qualities that are important to the packing companies and to all the meat eating consumers.
The pork industry gained in consumer market share by breeding and feeding a more efficient and consistent quality end product. The beef industry must strive to achieve that objective, ASAP! Hog producers would be in a much worse situation than they are, if they had not improved their market share by improving their product.
Angus Beef Bull Performance Tests
We need to Standardize nearly all Performance Testing and all Ultrasound Scanning for their Carcass Quality Traits - with a Goal of Balanced Beef Cattle Quality Grade and Yield Grade - Total Performance Trait Genetics
Gain ratios within herds and across herds are rather irrelevant if the bulls are not feed a 'standardized mega calories ration that will allow their true genetic trait potentials to be expressed! Reference to: R. A. "Bob" Long, "Beef Logic; Basic genetics for cattlemen -- Part IV", Angus Journal (May 1999): 62. Take note!According to research tests in Texas a 700 pound steer normally requires 5.3 mega calories for each pound of gain. Therefore, for bulls on self feeders, what is the proper level of megacals per ton of feed to get a uniform expression of the genetic gain potential of beef bulls on test? The university extension systems could provide us with that information and then we need to agree on a uniform megacal ration to use in our on farm and test station programs. Yes, you could even make some adjustments for weather differentials which could be expressed with a chart. None of the trait expression tests are perfect but this would get you closer to realistic comparisons between herds and between various regional differentials.
If we don't agree to a standard we should at least be required to accurately reveal what the megacal level of the ration being fed is. Also, the protein content levels of the concentrate ration along with an analysis of the hay and the approximate amounts of hay consumed by the bull test group could be revealed. Additionally, all the beef producers should be educated as to precisely what these various megacal levels mean in terms of rate of gain and other positive and or negative affects on the amounts of back fat, and marbling of the bulls involved in on farm bull performance tests.
I believe publishing some well researched articles in the Angus Journal covering these issues would be of benefit to the entire beef industry. Knowledge is power and working cooperatively together everyone in the beef production industry will have an opportunity to benefit.
We need a standardization of the feeding and management process in all bull performance tests! The megacal levels of the feed should be provided to the buyers of test station bulls. Everything has more relevance when uniform standards are adopted and the megacal levels of the feed is known. . As we move into using ultra sound carcass data to establish EPDs, a megacalories ration standard would add considerable more integrity to the veracity of the endeavor. What about standardizing the length of the tests to 100 or 90 days? I would like to hear some comments from Dr. Long on these beef industry issues.
Pedigree reputation and visual appraisal alone are wholly inadequate techniques in the accurate estimation of the total breeding value of an animal. A fully comprehensive production testing record keeping program is a critical necessity to achieve your desired goals. The (AHIR) Angus Herd Improvement Record has been a must tool toward the genetic improvement of the Angus breed.Carcass Quality - Market Share
As you may have noticed, the key emphasis now is on improving carcass traits with a goal of winning a much larger share of the meat eating consumer market. Of course, this is only one of many initiatives that must be effectively carried out to achieve satisfactory profitability levels in the beef production industry. The cooperative pooling of all the possible resources of all of the beef production segments and breeds will be necessary for the economic success of our beef production industry as a whole.The use of live animal ultrasound carcass scan data by the American Angus Association to generate carcass EPDs will speedup the process of 'total trait quality selection' in breeding better beef cattle. We ratio the ultrasound scan results by sire groups and compare the results. Carcass trait scanning also tells you a lot about the carcass traits of your cows. We should be carcass scanning the heifers too.
The simple reality is that we need more consistency in the production of a better product which is the carcass. It doesn't really matter whether the packers pay a premium for the better grading carcasses or dock the carcasses that don't meet a rising quality standard, --because providing the consumer with a better product will increase market share, total demand, and increase industry profits. The quality of the beef bulls in the stud services are key to meeting these carcass quality standard objectives.
All beef producers are in an economic predicament that calls for a reversal of the genetic traits and management glitches that are diminishing efficiency of production, profitability, and market share. The Certified Angus Beef (CAB) Program is such a resource for beef producers. Reference to: Lead In: "Angus demand is real," by Richard Spader, executive vice president, American Angus Association, Angus Journal (October 1997): page 20. There is a shortage of quality beef and a strong demand for Certified Angus Beef.
End Product - Quality Grade and Yield Grade
Improving carcass quality grade and yield grade increases the price received by producers along with increasing consumer demand; a win win economic equation. Improving the consistency of carcass quality grade (marbling) and yield grade (percent of retail product) increases the price received by producers along with consumer demand; a mutual win win economic equation. Q: What are we supposed to be breeding beef cattle for? What is the end product? Q: Is not the quality and yield of the end product paramount? I say you don't have quality genetics or a quality animal without a high quality grade and a high yield grade in your beef cattle along with the EPDs to verify the genetic trait predictability.Sink or Swim Together
Beef producers are either going to sink or swim together. At present beef producers, as a whole, do not have the necessary communications' network and an organized and well developed strategic plan to implement. The optimal plan could greatly increase production efficiencies in multiple areas, as well as carcass quality; which would also lead to more consumer demand. This would put a higher quality beef product, at a more competitive price, in the consumer's grocery carts and thus - more money in the pockets of beef producers.False Genetic Values always results in loss of Market Share and Profits
The widespread pedigree and breeder reputation craze has escalated the breeding of seedstock that does not meet the required performance and carcass quality standards that are requisite to winning market share which will generate the necessary bottom line profits to producers.Neither pedigree nor breeder reputation can change the random selection and combining of genes at conception. If the offspring do not exhibit the requisite traits, then neither pedigree nor the breeder's reputation will have any effect on the baseline economic genetic trait values of such animals.
Genetic full-sibling bulls can have entirely different genetic Expected Progeny Difference (EPD) traits:
Angus Journal Article, September 1998, page 280; "Will Closely Related Bulls Breed Uniformity?"
AI Beef Stud Selection Criterion - essential to the Optimal rate of Genetic improvement in Beef Cattle
What was stated in the previous two paragraphs, and within other content of this article, applies to the selection and promotion of beef cattle bulls at stud.The Production Efficiency and End Product Competitive War
Beef producers are in a production efficiency and quality end product competitive war against pork and chicken. To win this competitive battle beef producers must have a comprehensive plan and an effective communications structure with which to get a workable plan in the hands of every beef producer, irrespective of breed affiliation. The National Cattlemen's Beef Association is the logical Beef Industry Organization to coordinate and carry out an effective industry communications program. Check out the, "For Your Reference (FYR)," in the March 1997, Angus Journal; pages 471 to 485. We have many organizations, but insufficient coordinated communications across all of them. (Contribute Your Ideas.) The Angus Journal helps met the information needs of the breeder of registered Angus.Optimize Producer Resource Access
Standing alone the individual Commercial and Seedstock Producer doesn't stand much of a chance to win this competitive marketplace battle. We must increase beefs' market share and beef producer profits.
- What could be more important to the profitability of our entire beef industry or more interesting and rewarding then working together to meet the consumer demand for top quality grade beef.
Superior carcass traits with rapid efficient gains, add fertility and maternal qualities and you have a balanced economic genetic package. See what Henry Gardiner says in his breeding philosophy page about increasing both gain and feed efficiency.
The beef industry has been losing both market share and profitability because of an inconsistent end product! Where are the genetics that will furnish the genetic pool to produce that much needed, --added carcass quality?It is time for you to contribute your ideas on how we can develop new cooperative resources that will greatly empower all beef producers toward achieving their profitability goals. Working together on cooperative initiatives we can have a higher percentage of winners in this "high stakes" game. No pun intended.Selecting and breeding towards carcass standards of excellence will most effectively improve beef eating qualities. This can be accomplished while selecting for super efficient beef production resulting in a double barreled profitability win for the ranchers, feeders, packers, and consumers.
Shouldn't we be more actively searching for carcass quality and total production profitability genetics. Shouldn't beef cattle be rated primarily on their production efficiencies and carcass quality traits, -- the traits that actually determine the bottom line consumption value demand and therefore the bottom line production profits in the real world marketplace.
In small herds, how many outstanding bulls with good carcass EPDs never sire enough calves on test to qualify for the Sire Evaluation Reports, but that could greatly advance the profit making genetics of the breed? Bulls should be selected and tested based on their demonstrated genetic worth, and not primarily on popularity created by promotional advertising schemes. Never make the mistake of rating an animal's genetic breeding worth by what they sell for or how well they are promoted, --a million dollar bull may be inferior genetically to hundreds of bulls in smaller less promoted herds that were never given an opportunity to show their merit in an A. I. stud. The purpose of every seedstock producer should be to produce the profit making kind of beef cattle for the industry as a whole.
To achieve the most rapid optimal genetic benefit to the breed there are a lot of issues of value to the beef breed industry and to seedstock and commercial beef producers that are not being effectively dealt with on an on-going basis in the beef publications.
Let's all work to improve the quality of beef and thereby greatly increase the demand for beef and the regaining beef's rightful market share. The Cattlemen's Beef Board (CBB) is working to promote beef demand
How can we develop the organizational resources to add to the existing programs such as the American Angus Association's Certified Angus Beef (CAB) Program, Beef Quality Assurance and other programs? Certified Angus Beef CAB and the Angus Association's, Angus Herd Improvement Record AHIR, need all the support producers and other organizations can give them.
However, due to heritability limitations the fastest profitability gains will be made through the improvement of management practices. New research indicates that this is a major factor involved in carcass marbling grade; reference the article by: Dan Faulkner, University of Illinois, Extension beef specialist, "Performance Report: Feeding beef calves for the quality market," Angus Journal (October 1997): 76-79.
See the November 1997, Angus Journal; National Angus Conference Report: Beyond 2000: No Barriers, by Angie Stump Denton. Check it out and give us your response.
Let's hear the opinions of all beef breeder segments, including Seedstock Producers and especially Commercial Beef cow calf operations. Talk about it, --communicate with each other concerning these issues.
What cooperative new strategies will help turn this industry around and help you toward achieving a more profitable beef cattle business? If you are willing to use the Internet effectively, it can be a powerful tool for helping to improve the beef producer's profits. There needs to be effective circular communications between all segments of our beef industry.
A note on Woodhill's 2007 Bull Sale.
The Woodhill sale catalog and Ultrasound data layout were as good as they come, - with all the genetic trait information available toward optimizing, for the buyers', the task of proficient trait selection.
The bulls were high Mean Trait Scoring for %IMF and RE.
Brian told me, that his Woodhill bulls sold for an average of around $3,100.00.
Darrell Udelhoven - Revised: 04/09/07
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