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Dr. Jamie Courter is your Mizzou Beef Genetics Extension Specialist

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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...
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Cattle Raisers Convention 2018: Breed Characteristics, An Overview

Robert Wells, Noble Research Institute

What breeds should you consider?
Types
Heterosis
Complementarity effects


There are two species of cattle:
Bos taurus
British breeds (Angus, Hereford)
Continental breeds (Charolais, Simmental, Limousin, Gelbvieh, etc.)

Bos indicus (Zebu, humped cattle)
Brahman
Nelore
Gir


Angus (British)
Reputation is carcass and maternal. Also has a reputation for growth.
"They wanted to be everything to everybody," he said. The problem with this is the increased mature size in these growthier Angus cattle.

Red Angus
Reputation for carcass and maternal. Before the 1950s, all Angus were Angus, regardless of coat color. The Red Angus breed has not chased growth as much as black Angus.

Hereford (British)
Reputation for maternal, easy fleshing, and longevity. Hereford don't typically have a lot of maintenance requirements.

Shorthorn (British)
Reputation as maternal and carcass. Shorthorn was previously a dual purpose breed of meat and milk. This is why Shorthorns have been used in a lot of composites such as Santa Gertrudis.

Simmental (Continental)
Reputation for maternal and growth.

Gelbvieh 
Maternal and growth

Limousin
Reputation for growth and lean tissue. Great for yield grade.

Charolais
Reputation for growth, but they also do a decent job on quality grade.

American Brahman (Bos indicus, composite of several breeds from India)
Maternal, lean, hardiness, insect, disease and heat tolerance.

Longhorns
Reputation for hardiness and lean beef. Horns are a by-product that can marketed to hang in steak houses.

Corriente
Reputation for hardiness and roping stock. Once referred to as a goat in a beef cattle hide. Often used for calving ease, but their are probably better options to get calving ease without the discounts for Corriente cattle.

Waygu
Marbling

Akaushi
Larger framed than Waygu. Known for marbling and fertility.

There are more breeds out there can you can imagine.

Composites
Santa Gertrudis
Mix of Brahman and Shorthorn. Has to fit breed type to be registered.

Beefmaster
Maternal heterosis and growth. Longevity, fertility and efficiency. Can be any color.

Brangus
Carcass, Growth, Maternal and Heat Tolerance.

Balancer
Gelvieh and Angus hybrid

LimFlex
Limousin and Angus hybrid

Simbrah
Simmental and Brahman hybrid

Black Baldy
Hereford and Angus hybrid. Great longevity and maternal.

F1 Tiger Stripe
Hereford and Brahman hybrid.

Super Baldy
F1 Tiger Stripe with Angus influence.

Commercial Angus

Ultrablack
Brangus and Angus cross. Less Brahman influence than Brangus.

Crossbreeding
Crossbreeding leads to increased hybrid vigor, also known as heterosis.
Crossbreeding can lead to a lack of uniformity. We have now gone towards a straight breeding program. Straightbreeding has lead to increase consumer acceptance and carcass quality, but we have also lost some fertility and stress tolerance.

Maximum heterosis is achieved by an F1 x F1 cross. This has grandparent from 4 unrelated breeds. However, this may decease uniformity, especially in multiple bull herds.

Maternal hybrid vigor increases calving rate (6%), weaning rate (8%), weaning weight (6%), and a negligible 2% increase in birth weight.
Cow lifetime productivity is increased by 25% due to heterosis.

Keep in mind that some crossbred cows are larger than their straightbreed counterparts. May need to adjust stocking rates appropriately.

Original Scenario:
100 cows, Cow Breed A x Bull breed A
525 lb weaned calf
Average weaniing rate 82%
43,050 lbs marketed

Switch to:
Cow Breed A x Bull Breed B
Individual heterosis (+5%)
~551 lb weaning weight F1 calf
45,203 lbs marketed
+2,152 lbs/year = +$5,725.65/year

Switch to:
F1 cow x Terminal bull breed C
+WW total heterosis + 25%
656 lb calf (+131 lbs)
59,040 lbs marketed
+15,990 lbs = +$40,295

"What is that ideal cow? I don't care what color she is," Wells said. The cow needs to fit our environment and our resources.
Early puberty
Never misses a breeding season (1 calf/365 days)
Calves unassisted
Doesn't require a lot of supplemental feed
Easy fleshing
Converts forage to lbs of raised calf

Must be able to manage for the benefits.
Heterosis will not make up for poor animal husbandry/management.
Heterosis will not make up for poor bull selection.

*Note, this post was live blogged and may contain mistakes.

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