Advancements in Producer Application
Keys to Genetic Improvement at the Farm Level
Nominees for BIF Commercial Producer of the Year share their perspectives.
by Kelli Fulkerson for Angus Productions Inc.
HOUSTON, Texas (April 19, 2012) — A panel of commercial cattlemen addressed the keys to genetic improvement during the Producer Applications Committee breakout session at this year's Beef Improvement Federation (BIF) annual symposium. Panelists included George Kempfer of Kempfer Cattle Co., Saint Cloud, Fla.; John Maddux of Maddux Cattle Co., Wauneta, Neb.; James Palmer of Matador Cattle Co., Wichita, Kan.; and Todd Swickard of Five Dot Ranch, Standish, Calif. All were nominees for the 2012 BIF Commercial Producer of the Year. Here are some of the highlights.
What challenges do you see to genetic improvement?
George Kempfer: We have to find balanced traits that work. We sometimes find maternal traits that clash with efficiency traits. An example of this, we were trying to stay really positive on ribeye and calving. One year we harvested a pen of calves that hit dressing percents and yield grades really well. The next year the averages were 20% lower. We can’t have that happen.
James Palmer: There is too much information. You really have to be serious about what your plan and objective are. You can’t use it all in one year. You are trying to buy bulls that are very similar across the board. ... Milk is so high in Angus bulls, for instance, we have a hard time finding an expected progeny difference (EPD) in the range that we want, and sometimes we have to resort to a Hereford bull to fit our needs better. Not to mention you can sometimes find Angus females that are bigger than Simmentals.
What recommendations do you have for genetic improvement?
Todd Swickard: You need to have a relationship with your seedstock provider in order to effectively communicate the needs of your commercial operation. The views of the two partners are not working together. We need seedstock producers to understand we are looking for growth and longevity, not something that is going to be flashy and bring a large profit in the first sale. We want her to produce sound, easy-fleshing offspring. Make sure you develop a relationship with your breeder or artificial insemination technician. Personally, we are starting to work on the internal genetics of our herd so we don’t have to look elsewhere.
Provide an example of a meaningful genetic improvement that you’ve worked toward on your ranch?
John Maddux: We are starting to focus on convenience and fitness traits for our operation. Growth and high performance are less important as we have moved into this higher price of grain. There is more of a premium paid for these yearling cattle that minimize the amount of concentrate that is needed.
We changed our marketing program. Historically, we would wean our calves early, put them on hot feed to get them fat by 13 months of age. The change in price of corn has changed that program. Our whole system has evolved. Now we are stressing low-input, low-labor calves. Having a high-growth calf is less important to us. Making sure that our cows have a great udder and milking ability are essential for the success of our cows and calves.
If you could choose a couple traits that you want most for your herd, what would they be?
John Maddux: Hands down, we have got to have cattle that wean calves for as long as they can. Longevity is an essential.
James Plamer: I don’t think these traits have changed that much over the years. You have to have a cow that can get a live calf on the ground with little assistance. I would have to say mothering ability and longevity are the two most important traits, then weights and efficient cow size follow after that. The one thing I still wish I could use is indexes. That was taken from me. It gave me an opportunity and understanding of how my animals performed in their environment.
Visit the Awards page to read short bios on each of the nominees for Seedstock and Commercial Producer of the Year.
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