BEEF CATTLE GENETICS
Keith Vander Velde
UW Extension
6/27/2016
Terminology
• Terminology EPD’s-------- Expected
Progeny Differences
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Terminology
• Terminology EPD’s-------- Expected
Progeny Differences
• Differences in production of the
progeny for a given trait between two
individuals in the breed
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Terminology
• Terminology EPD’s-------- Expected
Progeny Differences
• Differences in production of the
progeny for a given trait between two
individuals in the breed
• Best method available to identify
differences in bulls and cows
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Terminology
• Accuracy--tells how reliable the EPD
is for the individual trait
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Terminology
• Accuracy--Tells how reliable the EPD
is for the individual trait
• Range from .01(lowest)------>.99(Highest and least likely to
change)
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EXAMPLE
• Need a bull for breeding our heifers
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EXAMPLE
• Need a bull for breeding our heifers
• Want to keep birth weights light
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EXAMPLE
• Sire A--Actual Birth Weight-75 lbs.
Birth Weight EPD- +4
• Sire B- Actual Birth Weight-88 lbs.
Birth Weight EPD-+1
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EXAMPLE
• We would expect the calves from
Sire B to weigh 3 lbs. less at birth
• Sire A was out of a first calf heifer
and Sire B was out of a cow
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LESSON
• EPD’s include all the progeny data on
3 generations of relatives and
include individual performance
• A single weight measure is a poor
indicator of future production
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EPD’s
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Calving ease- Direct and Maternal
Weaning Weight
Yearling Weight
Birth Weight
Maternal Milk
Maternal Weaning Weight
Carcass Traits
Scrotal Circumference
Longevity
Methods of Comparing Bull in
Different Breeds
• Across Breed EPD’s
• Use MARC herd to compare breeds
and track genetic trends
• Tables Available for adjusting to a
common base
• Simmental and Gelbvieh make to
adjustment in Sire Analysis
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Across Breed EPD’s
• Allow us to compare Hereford to
Angus--4 lbs difference in Birth
Weights
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Use of Crossbreeding
• One free lunch out there for the
agricultural industry
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CROSSBREEDING
• Already used by the poultry, swine,
wheat, seed corn and soybean
industries
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CROSSBREEDING
• Already used by the poultry, swine,
wheat, seed corn and soybean
industries
• Allows producers to combine
different breeds to get desired
outcome, we refer to this as
complementation
• Allows us to maximize heterosis
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CROSSBREEDING
• Heterosis or hybrid vigor is the
additional performance we achieve
when combing two different breeds
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CROSSBREEDING
• Heterosis or hybrid vigor is the
additional performance we achieve
when combing two different breeds
• Breed A averages 450 lbs weaning
weight
• Breed B averages 500 lbs weaning
weight
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CROSSBREEDING
• Heterosis or hybrid vigor is the
additional performance we achieve
when combing two different breeds
• Breed A = 450 lbs weaning weight
• Breed B = 500 lbs weaning weight
• We would expect the progeny of the
mating to weight 475 lbs
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CROSSBREEDING
• Heterosis or hybrid vigor is the
additional performance we achieve
when combing two different breeds
• Breed A = 450 lbs weaning weight
• Breed B = 500 lbs weaning weight
• We would expect the progeny of the
mating to weight 475 lbs
• With heterosis the calves = 480 lbs.
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HETEROSIS
• Added an additional 15 lbs of calf
weight
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HETEROSIS
• Added an additional 15 lbs of calf
weight
• Study beginning in 1957 thru present
at Fort Robinson, Neb
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HETEROSIS
• Added an additional 15 lbs of calf
weight
• Study beginning in 1957 thru present
at Fort Robinson, Neb
• Breeds used Hereford, Angus,
Shorthorn
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HETEROSIS
• Added an additional 15 lbs wn wt
Study beginning in 1957 thru present
at Fort Robinson, Neb
• Breeds = Hereford, Angus, Shorthorn
• Straightbred Sire on Straightbred
cow of other breed compared to
straight calves showed an increase
of 29 lbs or 8.9% increase
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HETEROSIS
• Added an additional 15 lbs wn wt
• Breeds = Hereford, Angus, Shorthorn
• Straightbred Sire on Straightbred cow of
other breed compared to straight calves
showed an increase of 29 lbs or 8.9%
increase
• When crossbred dams were bred to 3rd
breed sire calf weight increased 80 lbs
over the straight breds and 51lbs. Over the
F-l crossbred calves
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Crossbred vs Straightbred Cows
• 77 crossbred cows will wean same
total weight of calves as 100
straightbreds
100
80
60
40
20
0
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East
West
North
Crossbreds vs Straightbreds
• 77 crossbred cows will wean same total
weight of calves as 100 straightbreds
• Due to:
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improved reproductive performance
faster growth rate,
better milk production,
improved survival rate
increased longevity
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straightbred
crossbred
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
3 way cross
Crossbreeding Trail Results
Heterosis
• 2 bred cross-67%
• 3 bred cross-87%
• Terminal Sire -100%
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Heterosis
• Use of Composites
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Heterosis
• Use of composites
• Animals of two or more breed
Combinations
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Heterosis
• Composites useful in reducing
pastures and adding uniformity of
size and color
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Heterosis
• Maintain heterosis
• Formula= 1-{ (%breed) 2 +
(%breed)2}
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Crossbreeding systems
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Require a plan
Many possible options
No one right program
We can design one for you
Beef Cattle Genetics
Thank you for you participation
6/27/2016