Genetics

Pressure Points In Genetic Selection Will Vary

Fri, 11 May 2012 14:07:00 +0000

Every year, commercial cow-calf producers hit the road to attend bull sales, looking for the next group of herd sires that will move their genetics forward. But unless you have a carefully thought out breeding objective for your ranch, and have committed it to paper, you run the risk getting sidetracked in your selection criteria.

Some Thoughts On The True Cost Of AI

Fri, 04 May 2012 12:13:00 +0000

My wife, who has worked in the cattle genetics industry for a decade, has closely documented the cost of an artificial insemination program. Problem is, she hasn’t accounted for many of our program’s “must have” requirements. For instance, you must have an expensive cutting horse to bring in the hot cows.

My View From The Country

MARC Releases 2012 Across-Breed EPD Table

Thu, 03 May 2012 14:27:00 +0000

Larry Kuehn and Mark Thallman, USMARC

EPDs predict differences expected in performance of future progeny of two or more bulls within the same breed for traits including birth weight, weaning weight, yearling weight, and maternal milking ability. Most breed associations publish EPDs at least annually, but normally, the EPDs of bulls from different breeds can’t be compared because most breed associations compute their EPDs in separate analyses and each breed has a different base point. The across-breed adjustment factors presented in this table allow producers to compare the EPDs for animals from different breeds.

Maddux Ranch Wins BIF Commercial Producer Of The Year Award

Wed, 02 May 2012 15:30:00 +0000

The Maddux family has been ranching in the Nebraska Sandhills for four generations. Along the way, they learned a thing or two about innovation and genetic improvement, which earned the Wauneta, NE operation the honor of being named the 2012 Beef Improvement Federation Commercial Producer of the Year.

Breed Heifers Before Cows

Mon, 23 Apr 2012 19:46:00 +0000

iGrow.com

Even though calving season is not yet done for most producers, it's not too soon to begin planning for breeding of open heifers, says George Perry, South Dakota State University associate professor and SDSU Extension beef reproduction specialist.

Bull Nutrition Impacts Semen Production

Mon, 02 Apr 2012 13:50:00 +0000

SDSU Extention, iGrow.com

While breeding season may still be a ways off, bull nutrition now can have an impact on semen production, says Adele Harty, SDSU Extension Cow/Calf Field Specialist.

Common Insecticide Can Hurt Bull Breeding Ability

Fri, 30 Mar 2012 19:07:00 +0000

“Several pyrethroids can have devastating effects on the semen quality of bulls,” says Dietrich Volkmann, DVM, a professor of food animal theriogenology at the University of Missouri Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital.

Lack Of Fertility In Cows Linked To Mysterious Male DNA

Wed, 28 Mar 2012 17:27:00 +0000

American Society of Animal Science

The genomes of cows that have difficulty reproducing often contain fragments of the male Y chromosome, according to a new study in press in the Journal of Animal Science. The researchers say this finding could help cattle producers identify subfertile females before investing time and resources on breeding attempts.

Pfizer Animal Health And American Brahman Breeders Association Introduce Tenderness GE-EPD

Wed, 28 Mar 2012 14:45:00 +0000

Pfizer Cattle News

The American Brahman Breeders Association (ABBA) is proud to release a new genomic-enhanced expected progeny difference (GE-EPD) for tenderness that now incorporates DNA information from GeneSTAR® and Pfizer Animal Health. The results show up to a 10 percent increase in accuracy for tenderness when compared with the previous tenderness EPD offered by ABBA.

Straight Breeding Is The Commercial Trend

Thu, 22 Mar 2012 20:07:00 +0000

No one can successfully argue against the production and cost advantages offered through direct and maternal heterosis. The science behind, and the experience with, strategic, disciplined, complementary crossbreeding programs are too broad and predictable.