Beef Cattle Selection Selecting Feeder Cattle, Breeding Heifers, and Bulls

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Beef Cattle Selection Selecting Feeder
Cattle, Breeding Heifers, and Bulls
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Overview

• Primary Considerations
• Feeder Cattle
• Breeding Heifers
• Bulls
• Expected Progeny Differences
• Keep/Cull Heifers

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Primary Considerations

• What are your goals?
• Environment
• Weather
• Feed Resources
• Labor Resources
• Basic Selection Criteria
• Breed
• Age
• Sex (feeder cattle)
• Weight and Condition

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Feeder Cattle Selection

• Phenotypic Priorities
• Muscle
• Condition (fatness vs. trimness)
• Capacity and Frame Size
• Structural Correctness

• Performance Traits
• Weight per Day of Age
• Feed Efficiency

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Breeding Heifers

• Structural Correctness
• Volume and Capacity
• Balance and Femininity
• Condition and Udder Development
• Muscle
• EPDs

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Bulls

• Structural Correctness
• Muscle
• Balance
• Capacity and Condition
• Testicular Size and Masculinity
• EPDs

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Expected Progeny Differences

• the differences in performance expected from the
  offspring of one individual compared to the
  offspring of another individual, within the same
  breed
• Ensminger and Perry, 1997
• Prediction of how the offspring will perform, NOT
  the individual
• Largest values are not always best
• Accuracy is important
• Not comparable between breeds, utilize breed
  averages

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Expected Progeny Differences

• Common traits
• BWBirth Weight
• WWWeaning Weight
• YWYearling Weight
• MA, MMMilking Ability, Maternal Milk
• TMTotal Maternal
• SCScrotal Circumference

• Others (not all breeds)
• CECalving ease
• GLGestation length
• STAYStayability
• DOCDocility
• REARib eye area
• MSMarbling Score
• BF, BFTBackfat, backfat thickness
• HCWHot carcass weight

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Keep/Cull Limousin Heifers
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EPDs
10
2
EPDs
11
3
EPDs
12
4
EPDs
13
5
EPDs
14
6
EPDs
15
7
EPDs
16
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EPDs
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Questions?