General Session I

Economically Relevant Traits for Commercial Cow-calf Production: Weight and Carcass Merit

by Kelli Fulkerson for Angus Productions Inc.

 

HOUSTON, Texas (April 19, 2012) — Cow-calf producers are the primary cardholders for all sectors of the beef industry. As a calf enters the feeding system, the potential for growth and carcass quality are dependent on the genetic selection that was performed by the cow-calf producer. Bob Weaber, cow-calf extension specialist in the Department of Animal Sciences and Industry at Kansas State University, discussed the need for communication between cow-calf producers and all segments of the beef industry during a presentation for the 2012 Beef Improvement Federation (BIF) Research Symposium in Houston.  

 

Weaber encouraged cow-calf producers to stay focused on their selection decisions, making sure to ask the right questions about how the industry as a whole can provide true traits that their herd desires.

 

“Traits have different importance to different producers," Weaber said. "Traits that are going to produce value to you are what’s important.”

 

One way to tackle this potentially overwhelming task is to develop a breeding objective. This objective should thoroughly outline the needs of each individual’s production system.

 

“As I give advice, the three questions that I ask are: How do you keep replacement females? How do you sell calves? And how do you generate revenue?” said Weaber. “What I think these tough questions do for us, is keep a balance on selection decisions and perspective. This allows us to keep away from putting a lot of selection pressure on traits that don’t generate much economic value.”

 

Another way to ensure you stay focused on traits that directly return revenue is being able to separate economically relevant traits (ERTs) and indicator traits into two separate categories, Weaber said. The classic example of this is the correlation between birth weight (the indicator trait) and calving ease (the ERT). Calving ease is economically relevant because it describes dystocia. Keeping a focus on what traits are ERTs and what traits are indicators is a key to being successful.

 

Multiple-trait selection can be very complicated, as national cattle evaluation systems can be very large and too cumbersome. This is where selection indexes save the day, Weaber said. They are easy to use and interpret; they link ERTs and indicator traits; they are customizable to each individual’s needs; and, most importantly, they are economically driven.

 

“Indexes are typically in a terminal sense not a great replacement selection tool; however, they do work and usually quite well," Weaber said. "Just always remember to use your market end point to guide you in the right index.”

 

Weaber cautioned, “Anytime we make a decision that can substantially decrease the longevity of cows or reproductive fitness of cows … in favor of some other output in terms of growth or carcass merit, we have to be cautious that we know the economic outcome."

 

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