Producing with Optimums

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Producing with Optimums

• Twig Marston, PhD
• Extension Beef Specialist
• Kansas State University

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Dichotomies in Beef Industry

• Forage-based vs. Concentrate-based
• Individuality, Independence vs. Alliances
• Commodity-based vs. Value-based Marketing
• Disciplined Breeding vs. Mongrelization
• Matching Cows to Production Environment vs.
  Matching Calves to the Marketing Environment

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Optimum

• The best or most favorable point, degree, amount,
  etc., as of temperature, light, and moisture for
  the growth or reproduction of an organism.
• The greatest degree or best result obtained or
  obtainable under specific conditions.
• Most favorable or desirable best optimum
  conditions.

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Defining the Best (Optimum) Cows

• Low overall costs
• Low feed costs
• Average to above average weaning weight per cow
  exposed
• High gross income
• Harlen Hughes

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Recipe for the Optimum Cow

• Survives Her Environment
• Transfers Genetics from Bull to Bull
• Supports Her Offspring
• Does Her Own Work
• Produces Salvage Value

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Necessity Traits

• Structure / Soundness
• Feet and Legs
• Udder and Teat
• Hair Shedding
• Domesticated and Long Lived
• Reproductive
• Age at Puberty
• Number of Services/Conception
• Short PPI

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Developing the Optimum Animal

• Changing Gene Frequency
• EPD as indicator traits
• Independent Culling Levels
• ERT to simplify the EPD maze
• Selection indexes / Values
• DNA Gene - Marker Selection

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Facts about Cows

• As cow weight increases feed intake increases
• As cow milk potential increases maintenance
  energy requirements increases
• Selection for direct growth requires more feed
  inputs

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Relationship between Cow Production Carcass
Traits

• Weight Height BCS
• HCWt 0.81 0.69 0.23
• Retail Prod. -0.05 0.03 -0.12
• LMA 0.34 0.32 0.24
• Marbling -0.15 -0.17 -0.03
• WBSF 0.15 0.22 0.08

Nephawe et al., 2004 MARC
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Economic Value of Milk EPD
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Calving Interval by Milk Growth Genetics
Cowtek Inc. 400,000 females 7 breeds 2000
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A positive correlation exists between Marbling
and Milk EPDs. Marston, 2004
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Longevity of X-Bred CowsMacNeil et al., 1994

• Size of Milk Remained in herd
• Sire breed Production after 6 years
• Medium Medium 66
• Medium High 54
• Large Medium 47
• Large High 38

Semi-arid Northern Plains environment
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Bend the Growth Curve
B
A
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A selection index that results in maximum genetic
gain for a given selection intensity can be
computed iteratively for any profit function with
continuous differentials within the
multi-dimensional response ellipse. Pasternak
Weller, 1993, Anim. Prod. 5543-50.
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Angus Values

• Well Researched and Carefully Defined
• Bio-Economic
• Production System Orientated
• Cow Energy Value (EN)
• Weaned Calf Value (W)
• Feedlot Value (F)
• Grid Value (G)
• Beef Value (B)

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Using the Indexes

• Total Herd Concept
• ß1EN ß2W ß3B Perfect Beast
• Particular Production Area
• An area of emphasis or customer need
• Example W sell wean calves maintain cowherd
• Component Solutions
• Single trait or few trait selection
• ? Ribeye Area to ?Yield Grade to ?CAB

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Finding the Balance
Survival
Retail Product
Weaning Weight
Hot Carcass Weight
Pregnancy Rate
Milk Production
Growth
Carcass Traits
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Milton, 1995
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Cows That Step Up to the Challenge
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Three Paradigms of Beef Producers

• Cattle Producer
• Labor user, task-driven, no effective use of
  information
• Red Meat Producer
• Record keeper, cost efficient, focused on red
  meat
• Food Producer
• Complex, targeting product characteristics which
  are multi-dimensional and directly related to
  known tastes and preferences of consumers

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The Future of the Paradigms

• Cattle Producer will be around because of the
  love and romance of the business, will stay in
  business if not over leveraged.
• Red Meat Producer will survive with the
  commodity side of the business.
• Food Producer will be rewarded by those that
  know the value of quality. Driven by the cost
  and quality controlled production of food made
  from beef.

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Quality Thoughts

• We can now make more mistakes faster than ever
  before.
• Those who refuse to use data will make greater
  and more frequent mistakes.
• Those who refuse to make data will be compensated
  with a smaller piece of the pie.
• Those who control the data control the destiny of
  the industry.

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There is little use in going fast if the
direction is wrong. B.P. Kinghorn