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Showing posts from August, 2015

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Hereford and Red Angus Heifers Recruited for Genomics Research

The University of Missouri is recruiting 2,500 Hereford heifers and 2,500 Red Angus heifers to participate in a heifer puberty and fertility genomic research project. Heifers should be registered Hereford, registered Red Angus, or commercial Hereford or Red Angus. Hereford x Red Angus crossbred heifers targeted for the Premium Red Baldy Program would also be a good fit for the research project. Producers must be willing to work with a trained veterinarian to collect the following data: ReproductiveTract Scores collected at a pre-breeding exam 30 to 45 days prior to the start of the breeding season. PelvicMeasurements (height and width) collected at the same pre-breeding exam 30 to 45 days prior to the start of the breeding season. Pregnancy Determination Using Ultrasound reporting fetal age in days. Ultrasound will need to occur no later than 90 days after the start of the breeding season. In addition, heifers must have known birth dates and have weights recorded eithe
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Beef genomic value to be shown at MU Thompson Farm, Sept. 15

Thompson Research Center , where beef breeding trials started in northern Missouri, will host a field day Sept. 15. The University of Missouri research center is located at the end of Highway C west of Spickard, Mo., off of Highway 65. The theme is "Management Strategies to Improve Beef Cattle Production." Rod Geisert is superintendent and MU professor in reproductive physiology, Columbia, Talks and tours start after registration at 8:30 a.m. Exhibits and lunch will be provided. Research at the farm led to nationwide adoption of artificial insemination (AI) protocols to breed all cows in a herd on one day. This brings uniform calf crops with less labor at calving time. At the same time, genetics for quality beef were added to gain premium prices at harvest. Now Thompson Farm steers fed out grade USDA choice and prime. Packers consistently pay highest prices for prime grade beef . At the field day the next step will be explained on using genomics to predict a calf
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Thompson Research Center Field Day: September 15, 2015

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The Thompson Research Center Field Day will be held on Tuesday September 15, 2015 at the research center in Spickard. I will be discussing the use of genomics predictions in registered and commercial heifers. In addition to my talk and demonstration, there will be information on reproduction, nutrition and forages, antibiotic labeling, economics, and timber sales. In the survey below, let me know what topics or questions you would like addressed in my presentation. For those of you in Northwest Missouri, I would love to see you there. Loading...
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Purebred Cattle Marketing: Texas A&M Beef Cattle Short Course 2015

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Misconceptions Held by Purebreed Breeders Tommy Perkins Breeders must report 100% of weaning weight records and calving ease scores. Do you know when a calf was born unassisted? Do you know when a calf needed assistance? Of course you do, either there was a calf on the ground or you had to help it. These two sources of data are valuable and easy to record. With DNA testing, 7% to 10% of animals are parentage misidentified (based on relationships from pedigree records). Record keeping is very important. Any bull on your place needs a hair sample or a blood FTA card. Blood cards are automated and are preferred by the testing companies. Do not put hair or blood cards in plastic bags (moisture will cause problems!); put cards in paper envelope or folder. Seedstock producers should strive for 100% DNA parentage verification in their herds. Use the calving ease EPD, and never use the CED and BW EPDs at the same time! (Warning Will Robinson! Double Counting Occurring!) A Beginne
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Heterozygosity and heterosis considerations for the beef industry: Texas A&M Beef Cattle Short Course 2015

Andy Herring Texas A&M University We can classify traits as qualitatively inherited and quantitatively inherited. With qualitative traits, characteristics can be placed into a small number of distinct categories. Natural environment does not affect these traits. A small number of genes affect these traits. Examples include coat color or horned vs. polled. Quantitative traits are measured on a continuous scale, influenced by the environment, and a large number of genes influence these traits. Examples include growth. Additive genetics refers to the effect of inheriting a beneficial allele increasing performance in an additive manner [additive inheritance can also be easily predicted]. For example consider the A gene. If a calf has two copies of the A 2 variant (genotype is A 2 A 2 ) it has a breeding value (twice the EPD) of 0. If we add an A 1 variant (the genotype is A 1 A 2 ), this calf has a breeding value of 10. If we add a second A 1 variant (the genotype is A 1 A 1
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Genetics for Today's Cattlemen (and Women): Texas A&M Beef Cattle Short Course 2015

Tonya Amen Genetic Services Director, Angus Genetics Inc. How do you make genetic change in your herd? By choosing the parents (bulls, replacement heifers, etc.). What tools do you use to make those decisions? Performance is determined by genetics and environment. Environment can be defined by everything that happens from conception to slaughter that is not controlled by environment. Genetics can be split into additive effects and non-additive effects. The Evolution of Livestock Measurement Average Daily Gain Within Herd Ratios Expected Progeny Differences Economic Indexes Genomics An EPD is the best estimate of that animals worth as a parent.  Let's consider an example. Bull A has a weaning weight EPD of 60 lbs. Bull B has a weaning weight EPD of 40 lbs.  If we breed both bulls to a large number of cows in the same environment, Bull A's calves will weight 20 lbs heavier on average. That 20 pound difference can mean $6,000 difference in the farmer
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Selection and Use of Breeds and Breedtypes: Texas A&M Beef Cattle Short Course 2015

Joe Paschal Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Calf value is not price per pound. Calf value is the sum of genetic and management decisions and cost. Many factors go into management decisions, including genetics, reproduction, preweaning care, weaning, and marketing. Since the 1950s, we have been concerned with matching cattle to their environment. Need to match forage availability and stress of the environment to the milking ability, mature size, ability to store energy, stress tolerance, calving ease, and lean to fat ratio of the cow (see Texas Adapted Genetic Strategiesfor Beef Cattle I: An Overview for more information). The first step is to select the breeds you will use in your operation; breed averages can be used to make these decisions (see Texas Adapted Genetic Strategies for Beef Cattle V:Type and Breed Characteristics and Uses for more information). Your cattle need to have an identity. Brahman bulls used on British heifers have a higher birth weight; need to be very
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