beef cattle test 2

management decisions for seedstock breeders: produce genetics for the industry

grand champions, highest gaining bulls at test stations (measure genetics in regards to growth), improve traits

what traits do seedstock try to improve

milk production, marbling (want in choice), yearling weight, ribeye area, hot carcass weight

goals of seedstock production

produce efficent animal ~ optimize output with little input, profitable animals, fit consume demands

Id methods

ear tattoos, ear tags, branding

ear tattoos

both ears for legability, apply before 3 months, upper lobe middle 1/3

ear tags

more convient, easy to read, easy to lose

branding

hot iron, freeze brand

numbering identification system

last digit of year is first # of tag, last digit usually when dropped (repeats every 10 yrs), letters that represent years

performance record systems

AHIR (angus), TPR (hereford), PRS (simmental), CHIP (charolais)

production records

objective measure using standardized formulas

types of records

inventory, breeding, calving, weaning, yearling

inventory record

number of cows and bulls

breeding record

sires, dates of exposure, pregnancy check

calving record

birthday, birth weight, calving ease, ID, gestation length

weaning record

date weaned, weaning weight, management, contemporary group

yearling record

date, yearling weight, management, ultrasound, scrotal circumference, contemporary group

birth weight

recorded within 24 hours, adjust for age of dam, adjust for sex of calf

calving ease

birth weight is best measure of dystocia or this

weaning weight

preweaning growth from birth to weaning, adjust for 205 day weight, weaned close to 205, adjust for age of calf, adjust for age of dam, ratios

weaning weight ratio

dividing each calf’s adjusted 205 day weight by the average of the contemporary group

age range of weaned calves

160-250

yearling weight

post weaning gain, 100-150 day feeding period, adjusted 365 day weight, ratios

mature cow weight in seedstock production

economically important trait, need to sustain reproductive performance, carcass weight of progeny (can have too much)

milk trait in seedstock production

compare genetic differences in weaning weight due to genes for milk production passed from parents to daughters, depends on environment and nutrition, match to what produce, match milk to available forage, total maternal milk EPD’s

carcass traits in seedstock production

measured on progeny, ribeye area, marbling, % retail product, backfat, tenderness, loin eye area, %IMF

other traits in seedstock production

scrotal circumference—age at puberty and increase fertility, stability— females remaining in herd for at least 6 years, docility— subjective score (1-6)

bull selection in seedstock production

produce live calves, make genetic improvements to economically important traits

bulls: genetic improvement to important traits

90% of genetic change from them, improve weaknesses and maintain strengths, sire summaries

sire summaries in seedstock production

published by breed associations, EPDs, used to be updates twice a year, now updates in real life, measure of individual’s genetic worth

locating superior bulls look for producer that:

keeps good records, provide meaningful performance data on previous bulls sold, bull test information, has a good reputation

bull worth in seedstock production

slaughter value is base line, sire live calves is cost to increase because BSE and producer pays and no libido test, sire genetic superior calves because increase fluctuate and EPDs and pedigree

selecting replacement heifers in seedstock production

conceive early in breeding season, calve easily, good mothering ability including milk, wean heavy calf, EPDs, free of structural defects

when are heifers evaluated

weaning, yearling, after breeding, after weaning 1st calf

evaluating heifer at weaning

7-10 months, cull light weight, frame size, EPDs

evaluating heifer at yearling

12-15 months, target weight for breeding, EPDs, skeletal soundness

evaluating heifer at after breeding

19-21 months, cull not pregnant or calve in later 1/3, cant produce calf again

evaluating heifer at after weaning 1st calf

cull to number needed, prefer all calves sired by same bull

when are replacement heifers born

in first 1/3 calving season because age

cull based on performance

pregnancy status and calving interval, weaning weight of calves produced

amount of culling in seedstock depends on:

longevity, amount of genetic improvement want to make, cost of replacement

marketing decisions for seedstock production

selling breeding animals and semen and embryos, create a plan with goals and objectives and strategies, who are the customers, does the goal match the customer needs, what buyer important information

what are the three markets in seedstock production

private treaty, consignment, production

what is the number one reason cows are culled in seedstock

they are open (not pregers)

private treaty

cheapest sale because it is one-on-one

consignment

put bulls into sale, more than one producer, only sold there

production

— — —

advantages of private treaty market

less risk because breeders set price, buyers see whole program, lower sale costs

disadvantages of private treaty

hard to set price, one buyer at a time, breeder is salesperson, determine buyer order, ad intensive

advantages of consignment

several potential customers, sale costs divided among cosigners, increase private treaty sales, establish value of private treaty cattle, option to expand market area, professional arranges sale

disadvantages of consignment

cattle compared to other breeders, sale manages not profesional, cattle have to be well displayed for competition, cosigner not select right or plan ahead, more price risk and higher costs

advantages of production

buyers see whole program, breeder does sale arrangment, cattle don’t compete with other breeders, encourages competitive bidding

disadvantages of production

40-50 lots for good sale and decrease sale cost, sell worse cattle to boost numbers, not attracting enough buyers to meet expected price average, more price risk and higher cost

sale order for production

put best one first but stagger other good ones to keep people around

promotion

ranch sign, 365 days a year, well-kept operation, sponsor field days and youth activities, one-on-one communication

advertising

only for certain events so they know who and what and where and include sale info, radio, publications, video

marketing effectiveness in seedstock

measured by profitability and customer satisfaction

customer satisfaction

buyer agreement, how happy they are with the purchase, treat with respect and not likely to steal their money, time to perform

buyer agreement

shipping, 6 months contact and see if work, protects buyer and seller

mission statement for commercial cow-calf

produce low cost and high profitable cattle that yield competitive priced, highly palatable beef products — — manage the available resources for maximum contuining net profit while conserving and improving resources

profitability formula

profit or loss= income-costs — expanded formula: profit or loss= (%calf crop* ww * price) + (lbs market cows and bull * price) - cost

% calf crop

amount of calves weaned to cows exposed

what are three ways to increase profit in cow-calf operation

increase pounds (production), increase price (added values), decrease costs (feed source primary)

breakeven price analysis

determine the price the calves must bring to cover costs of production

break even price formula

BE price = annual cow cost/ (average ww * % calf crop)

factors affecting pounds of calf weaned in calf-crop

% calf crop and average weaning weight

factors affecting calf-crop %

failure of females to become pregnant, calves lost at or shortly after birth

principles affecting calf crop

age and weight at puberty, breeding heifers, feeding heifers, calving ease, postpartum interval, BSE bulls

principles affecting calf crop: age and weight at puberty

puberty prior to 14 months, two or more cycles prior to breeding, target weight at breeding, breed type

principles affecting calf crop: breeding heifers

breed prior to mature cow herd, synchronize or expose early

principles affecting calf crop: feeding heifers

BCS of 6 at calving, don’t overfeed-too much condition can be determintal

principles affecting calf crop: calving ease

dystocia- control through study selection, pelvic areas, management of calving time- check on heifers more

principles affecting calf crop: postpartum interval

influenced by- nutrition and milk production and mature weight, maximum interval at 70-90 days

principles affecting calf crop: BSE bulls

get bulls tested, make sure bull can do the job

management principles affecting ww

age of calf at weaning, calving season, growth implants, feed supply, selection, heterosis, health

management principles affecting ww: age of calf at weaning

older = more weight

management principles affecting ww: calving season

born in summer weigh less than born in fall and spring (not good forage), spring for age best

management principles affecting ww: growth implants

increase weight, make sure of market endpoint, cautions with replacement heifers

management principles affecting ww: feed supply

match grazing to peak performance of cow, increased by feeding more harvested and purchased feed- cost effective

management principles affecting ww: selection

bull selection- weaning weight and milk EPDs, can have extremes and other things change when increase, yearling weight EPDs, correlation of growth with BCS and reproduction

management principles affecting ww: heterosis

crossbreeding- increase ww by 10% above average, increase pounds of calf weaned per cow by 20% above average

management principles affecting ww: health

increase weaning weight with no calving difficult and adequate colostrum, proper cow-calf health program

factors affecting cow costs and returns

reducing feed costs, “right genetics” matches environment, reduce labor costs — — —

factors affecting cow costs and returns: reducing feed costs

match calving season with green forage production, intensive and rotational grazing systems, improved pastures

factors affecting cow costs and returns: “right genetics” matches environment

BCS and weaned and rebred, mature cow weight and milk production, bull selection→ he will make 90% genetic change

factors affecting cow costs and returns: reduce labor costs

improve grazing management- less labor to processed foods, proper management to concentrate labor

weaning strategies

fenceline, two-step, remove the cow

what is the best and most commonly used weaning strategy

fenceline

marketing decisions for calf-crop

know when you want to sell, starts at breeding time, genetics, alternatives other than selling at weaning

alternatives for calf-crop to sell at weaning

primary is sell at weaning, retain ownership, sell bred heifers, sell cull cows

backgrounding: retain ownership

prepare for next segment, added value, provide service

grazing or stocker: retain ownership

get cheap gains, provide service

feedlot: retain ownership

belong to you but someone charges to give feed

retained ownership alternative to sell

can sell at any point along the way

selling cull cows: alternatives to sell at wean

sold as groups, slaughter, breeding purposes

factors affecting market value of feeders

breed type— black, muscularity— how thick they are, frame size, body condition score— moderate

frame size: L

large frame

frame size: M

moderate frame

frame size: S

small frame

selling cull bulls and cows

add weight to thin animals before sale, sell outside of seasonal fall run, market directly to packer, watch health closely

fall run

lots of cull cows and bulls sold because most calves have been weaned