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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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eBEEF Monday: Simple Inheritance in Beef Cattle

Managing traits controlled by simple inheritance has economic importance to many beef operations. Understanding simple inheritance can assist producers in breeding cattle that are the phenotype desired, such as polled, or avoid undesirable traits, such as lethal defects. This information sheet explains how simple inheritance works and how it can be managed. See Fact Sheet for more information on Simple Inheritance in Beef Cattle.
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eBEEF Monday: Parentage Testing

Parentage testing can be a valuable tool for both seedstock breeders and commercial producers.  This fact sheet covers how parentage testing works and tips for using parentage testing successfully. Parentage testing is often thought of as a tool that is only applicable to seedstock producers, but in fact, there are benefits to commercial producers as well. Parentage testing not only ensures correct pedigree, but can provide information to make important management decisions for commercial producers. Knowing some of the basics of parentage testing and how it works can help a producer understand the benefits of testing. See Fact Sheet for more information about Parentage Testing.
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Answering Genomic Prediction Questions

I received the following comments and questions from a beef breeder. 1. From a producer perspective I experienced the implementation of NCE [National Cattle Evaluation] from the beginning to the Genomically Enhanced phase we are experiencing.  I saw line breeders with lifetimes of work begin to outcross in order to keep up.  From the stuff I have read from Dr. Wilhelm two things stuck me.  Maybe my understanding of these is out of context but he felt one of the positives of numerical breeding was going to be the elimination of line breeding.  The second was his statement that creating some kind of index or indices with the merging the individual traits would be a mistake. ARE THE UNINTEDED CONSEQUENSES OF ELIMINATION OR DEVALUING OF LEGACY GENETICS AND LEGACY BREEDING METHODS SOMETHING TO WORRY ABOUT or conversely are the consequences of a narrowing toward what is bigger and better something to worry about? Expected progeny differences (EPDs) from NCE are simply a tool. The br
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Spring 2017 Decker Extension Evaluation Survey

I am conducting a follow up serve to the one completed last fall. I would sincerely appreciate if you would take a few minutes to complete the survey below: Decker Extension Evaluation Spring 2017 All responses are anonymous. The survey will be open till Thursday April 20, 2017. Please one survey per person. Don't hesitate to contact me with questions or concerns.
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