BEEF CATTLE GENETICS

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BEEF CATTLE GENETICS

• Keith Vander Velde
• UW Extension

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Terminology

• Terminology EPDs-------- Expected Progeny
  Differences

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Terminology

• Terminology EPDs-------- Expected Progeny
  Differences
• Differences in production of the progeny for a
  given trait between two individuals in the breed

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Terminology

• Terminology EPDs-------- Expected Progeny
  Differences
• Differences in production of the progeny for a
  given trait between two individuals in the breed
• Best method available to identify differences in
  bulls and cows

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Terminology

• Accuracy--tells how reliable the EPD is for the
  individual trait

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Terminology

• Accuracy--Tells how reliable the EPD is for the
  individual trait
• Range from .01(lowest)-------gt.99(Highest and
  least likely to change)

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EXAMPLE

• Need a bull for breeding our heifers

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EXAMPLE

• Need a bull for breeding our heifers
• Want to keep birth weights light

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EXAMPLE

• Sire A--Actual Birth Weight-75 lbs. Birth
  Weight EPD- 4
• Sire B- Actual Birth Weight-88 lbs. Birth
  Weight EPD-1

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EXAMPLE

• We would expect the calves from Sire B to weigh 3
  lbs. less at birth
• Sire A was out of a first calf heifer and Sire B
  was out of a cow

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LESSON

• EPDs include all the progeny data on 3
  generations of relatives and include individual
  performance
• A single weight measure is a poor indicator of
  future production

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EPDs

• Calving ease- Direct and Maternal
• Weaning Weight
• Yearling Weight
• Birth Weight
• Maternal Milk
• Maternal Weaning Weight
• Carcass Traits
• Scrotal Circumference
• Longevity

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Methods of Comparing Bull in Different Breeds

• Across Breed EPDs
• Use MARC herd to compare breeds and track genetic
  trends
• Tables Available for adjusting to a common base
• Simmental and Gelbvieh make to adjustment in Sire
  Analysis

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Across Breed EPDs

• Allow us to compare Hereford to Angus--4 lbs
  difference in Birth Weights

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Use of Crossbreeding

• One free lunch out there for the agricultural
  industry

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CROSSBREEDING

• Already used by the poultry, swine, wheat, seed
  corn and soybean industries

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CROSSBREEDING

• Already used by the poultry, swine, wheat, seed
  corn and soybean industries
• Allows producers to combine different breeds to
  get desired outcome, we refer to this as
  complementation
• Allows us to maximize heterosis

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CROSSBREEDING

• Heterosis or hybrid vigor is the additional
  performance we achieve when combing two different
  breeds

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CROSSBREEDING

• Heterosis or hybrid vigor is the additional
  performance we achieve when combing two different
  breeds
• Breed A averages 450 lbs weaning weight
• Breed B averages 500 lbs weaning weight

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CROSSBREEDING

• Heterosis or hybrid vigor is the additional
  performance we achieve when combing two different
  breeds
• Breed A 450 lbs weaning weight
• Breed B 500 lbs weaning weight
• We would expect the progeny of the mating to
  weight 475 lbs

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CROSSBREEDING

• Heterosis or hybrid vigor is the additional
  performance we achieve when combing two different
  breeds
• Breed A 450 lbs weaning weight
• Breed B 500 lbs weaning weight
• We would expect the progeny of the mating to
  weight 475 lbs
• With heterosis the calves 480 lbs.

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HETEROSIS

• Added an additional 15 lbs of calf weight

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HETEROSIS

• Added an additional 15 lbs of calf weight
• Study beginning in 1957 thru present at Fort
  Robinson, Neb

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HETEROSIS

• Added an additional 15 lbs of calf weight
• Study beginning in 1957 thru present at Fort
  Robinson, Neb
• Breeds used Hereford, Angus, Shorthorn

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HETEROSIS

• Added an additional 15 lbs wn wt Study beginning
  in 1957 thru present at Fort Robinson, Neb
• Breeds Hereford, Angus, Shorthorn
• Straightbred Sire on Straightbred cow of other
  breed compared to straight calves showed an
  increase of 29 lbs or 8.9 increase

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HETEROSIS

• Added an additional 15 lbs wn wt
• Breeds Hereford, Angus, Shorthorn
• Straightbred Sire on Straightbred cow of other
  breed compared to straight calves showed an
  increase of 29 lbs or 8.9 increase
• When crossbred dams were bred to 3rd breed sire
  calf weight increased 80 lbs over the straight
  breds and 51lbs. Over the F-l crossbred calves

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Crossbred vs Straightbred Cows

• 77 crossbred cows will wean same total weight of
  calves as 100 straightbreds

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Crossbreds vs Straightbreds

• 77 crossbred cows will wean same total weight of
  calves as 100 straightbreds
• Due to
• improved reproductive performance
• faster growth rate,
• better milk production,
• improved survival rate
• increased longevity

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Crossbreeding Trail Results
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Heterosis

• 2 bred cross-67
• 3 bred cross-87
• Terminal Sire -100

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Heterosis

• Use of Composites

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Heterosis

• Use of composites
• Animals of two or more breed Combinations

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Heterosis

• Composites useful in reducing pastures and adding
  uniformity of size and color

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Heterosis

• Maintain heterosis
• Formula 1- (breed) 2 (breed)2

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Crossbreeding systems

• Require a plan
• Many possible options
• No one right program
• We can design one for you

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Beef Cattle Genetics

• Thank you for you participation