Featured Post

Dr. Jamie Courter is your Mizzou Beef Genetics Extension Specialist

Image
By Jared E. Decker Many of you have probably noticed that things have been a lot less active on the A Steak in Genomics™   blog, but you probably haven't known why. In January 2021, I was named the Wurdack Chair in Animal Genomics at Mizzou, and I now focus on research, with a little bit of teaching. I no longer have an extension appointment. But, with exciting news, the blog is about to become a lot more active! Jamie Courter began as the new MU Extension state beef genetics specialist in the Division of Animal Sciences on September 1, 2023. I have known Jamie for several years, meeting her at BIF when she was a Masters student. I have been impressed by Jamie in my interactions with her since that time.  Dr. Courter and I have been working closely together the last 6 weeks, and I am excited to work together to serve the beef industry for years to come! Jamie holds a bachelor’s degree in animal science from North Carolina State University and earned a master's degree in animal...
3 comments

TBCSC 2017: Useful Scoring System: Teat, Udder, Disposition, Feet and Legs

Tommy Perkins
International Brangus Breeders Association

You must measure every animal in your population. Weaning weight is a must. Actual birth weights (not a tape weight or a windshield weight), yearling weight, mature weights are also valuable and relatively inexpensive.
Genomics is here to stay.
Other traits, like feed efficiency and scan data, are more expensive.

Today, Perkins will talk about visual scoring systems.

Calving ease scoring system is easy. If a cow comes in with a calf, she is a 1, no difficulty, no assistance. But, what we need are 3 and 4 scores reported to the breed associations. A C-section is a score of 4. A Calving ease score of 1 is no assistance. A calving ease score of 2 is an easy pull. A calving ease of 3 is a hard pull, with a crank/calf puller used.

Brangus is going to start using a 1 to 5 calf vigor scoring system. 1 is standing up and nursing in 30 minutes. 2 is standing up within 2 hours and nursing without assistance. 3 is nursing with assistance. 4 is no suckle reflex.

Udder suspension and teat scoring system. This needs to be recorded within 24 hours. See this fact sheet from UNL for more information (http://beef.unl.edu/learning/udder_score.shtml).

Brangus is using a 1 to 5 foot angle scoring system. They are also using a 1 to 5 scale for claw set. They also have two scores for leg set, front/rear leg set and side leg set.

We can also use hair shedding scoring. See http://blog.steakgenomics.org/2017/01/ebeeforg-hair-shedding-scores-tool-to.html for more info.

We also have docility and sheath scoring systems.

Collect these scores and turn them in to your breed association.


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

New Show-Me-Select Sire EPD Requirements Announced

Image
At the January 4th Show-Me-Select Board of Directors meeting, new service sire EPD requirements were approved. All sires, artificial insemination and natural service, must meet minimum Calving Ease Direct (CED) EPD requirements. In addition to yearly updates, two changes were made. First, no Birth Weight EPD requirement will be published. All commonly used breeds now have CED EPDs available. Second, all breeds in the International Genetic Solutions (IGS) genetic evaluation are now set to a common requirement. In the summer of 2018, breeds within the International Genetic Solutions switched to a single-step BOLT multi-breed genetic evaluation. The EPDs for animals in the IGS genetic evaluation are directly comparable across breeds. In 2017, the Red Angus requirement for CED was a CED of 8, which represents the 30th percentile. Less than 5% percent of heifers breed to a bull with a CED EPD of 8 or larger had calving difficulty. We feel that this require is meeting the need to re...
Read more

Show-Me-Select Board Approves Genomic Testing Requirement for Natural Service Sires

Image
All bulls purchased after February 1st, 2019 for use as natural service sires in the Show-Me-Select Replacement Heifer Program ™  must be DNA tested to have genomic-enhanced EPDs. All bulls used as natural service sires after February 1st, 2020 must have genomic-enhanced EPDs, regardless of when they were purchased. Seedstock producers classifying bulls as Show-Me-Select qualified in sale books must have genomic-enhanced EPDs on those lots. Bulls purchased prior to February 1st, 2019 will be grandfathered into the program, as is the common practice with all natural service sires. However, this grandfather grace period will end February 1st, 2020. At that time for a bull to qualify for use in the program, it must have genomic-enhanced EPDs. Why the change? The Show-Me-Select Replacement Heifer Program has the goal of producing premium heifers that perform predictably as 2 year olds. The program has a history of requiring Show-Me-Select producers to go beyond typical...
Read more

Bob Hough Comments on Changes at Breed Associations

Bob Hough recently posted the following comment on Facebook (posted with his permission): Early in my career at a breed association, the much beloved American Angus breed executive told me that the secret to success running a breed association was to have a top junior program, keep the books straight, and make sure the numbers (EPDs) don't change. This philosophy meant Angus valued stability in their genetic predictions over keeping them up-to-date with the latest science. The Angus Association also marketed extremely effectively the infallibility of their EPDs because of the size of their database. I will start with the later. Yes, a database needs certain critical mass to make sure the animals are tied, but that can be achieved in a modest size database. After that, data quality far and away outweighs data quantity in assuring the most precise and reliable EPDs possible. On the former point, Angus breeders are simply not use to change. This is not the case in most breed associ...
Read more