11/26/2008 11:41:00 AM 8 genetic selection mistakes
By Kindra Gordon
With the bull buying season about to begin, it may be wise to arm yourself with some advice before going out to spend your hard earned cash. Colorado-based cattleman Lee Leachman recently shared what he sees as the 8 most common genetic selection mistakes made by commercial cow-calf producers.
Mistake Number 1: Thinking more is better when it comes to EPDs. Leachman says, "We can all do the math, a 100 lb. yearling weight EPD is bigger than a 90 lb. EPD and 30 lbs. of milk is more than 20 lbs."
But he says producers need to recognize that "more" comes with a cost.
"The mistake that is made is the assumption that these EPDs are also predictors of profitability - when in fact they are not. They are just predictions of the output - the production - you are hoping to get," qualifies Leachman. "Unfortunately, more output almost always comes from more inputs, which is usually more feed."
He continues, "To predict profit, we need to look at the cost side. And, none of the growth EPDs that we commonly look at in any of the breeds characterize the cost associated with that increased output."
He also cautions that focusing on higher output cattle can impact fertility because of the higher risk for reproductive failure.
Leachman says, "More is not better. There are optimums for all traits." He says his optimum on the Angus EPD base is a yearling weight EPD of about 80 and a milk EPD ranging from 15-25.
Mistake Number 2: Believing that efficient cows must be belly draggers. Leachman notes the trend toward easy-fleshing cows. But he cautions, "There is a difference between deep-ribbed and over conditioned."
Leachman says efficiency should be sought in genetics, but he believes it is nearly impossible to determine efficiency based on phenotype alone. "The only way to determine efficiency is to measure feed consumption and compare it with output," he says.
To that end, Leachman says, "Selecting for efficiency can decrease the amount of feed a cow eats and not have an adverse effect on fertility, calving interval or production at weaning."
He advises producers to follow the efficiency data that is beginning to be collected in the industry and utilize it in their genetic selection decisions.
Mistake Number 3: Putting too much stock in the $B Angus index. This is a great tool if you own a feedlot, says Leachman. But, because it does not consider any of the traits before weaning, he doesn't believe it is an index that commercial producers who sell calves at weaning should put too much emphasis on when selecting bulls.
"It doesn't include calving ease, fertility, weaning and milk, cow size or cow cost - and those are the traits most important to commercial operations," says Leachman.
Instead, he believes the $W value is a better index for commercial cow calf producers who sell calves at weaning time to consider. But again, he cautions that it doesn't take into account fertility or the milk-fertility interaction.
Mistake Number 4: Having a sole focus on marbling. Leachman says there is a common perception that high marbling cattle earn more money. While he agrees that aiming to produce quality is a noble goal, he says producers must also recognize that it can come with a cost. Namely that high marbling cattle can have cutability issues.
Moreover, Leachman says, "The Choice-Select spread is volatile and has been under $10/cwt. most of the year." He notes that the historical average between the Choice-Select spread is about $7/cwt.
That said, Leachman points out that conversion and carcass weight can also influence profit - and sometimes more so than marbling. He estimates both conversion and carcass weight are worth about $50/head.
Therefore, he suggests feed conversion and carcass weight should be considered as important factors that are balanced with marbling. "Marbling is important, but don't sacrifice the other two. Again, it is a balance and producers need to think about the optimum," says Leachman.
Mistake Number 5: Using low birth weight bulls on cows. Sure, producers want to avoid calving difficulty, says Leachman. But that should not mean they must use heifer bulls on cows, he says.
"A negative birth weight EPD heifer bull gives up too much growth, muscle and bone. Plus, they cost more," says Leachman.
Instead, Leachman says a cow should easily be able to handle a bull that sires calves in the mid-80 lb. range. He adds that if the calving data from the breeder you are buying your bull from has reported his data accurately, there shouldn't be any calving difficulties with those type of bulls.
Mistake Number 6: Thinking Continental bulls don't work. Leachman says there is a misconception that Continental breeds have too much birth weight, size and milk for today's cowherds.
But Leachman says, "The reality is that today's moderate Continental genetics are no more milky or large in size than Angus." Thus they should be sought for opportunities to crossbreed, believes Leachman.
"Wisely selected Continental-Angus hybrid composites can add to your program," says Leachman. He cites the advantages including more muscle and cutability, hybrid vigor for fertility and longevity, and added selection pressure without the risks of inbreeding. As well, he says crossbreeding can maintain uniformity within the herd similar to that of using a single breed.
Mistake Number 7: Improving the genetics of your herd by culling cows. "This is a great idea, but it is hard to make it work unless you sell a substantial amount of the herd," says Leachman. He notes that even if you cull 10% of your cows, you are still left with 90% of the same genetics.
Instead, Leachman says, "The only meaningful selection pressure you have to improve genetics in your herd is through the selection of your bulls." For instance, Leachman says that on average over four years, most herds will have a 100% turnover in the bull genetics they use.
Leachman concludes, "Culling a cow costs you money, and my father used to say, 'It is a decision that should be made based on economics, not on genetics.'"
Mistake Number 8: Picking oranges from an apple tree. To explain this, Leachman says cattle producers must understand that one of the fundamental "rules" of animal selection is that animals tend toward their breed average. Likewise, animals from an established herd tend toward their herd average.
By understanding this, Leachman says producers should recognize that breed and breeder are very important when buying genetics.
For example, if you are seeking a trait like marbling, you'd look to the Angus breed because that ranks high for their breed average. If you want to buy a heifer bull, buy a bull from a low birth weight herd - not a low birth weight bull from a herd with a high birth weight average. The same could be said for carcass traits. If that is your focus, pick from a reputable carcass trait herd.
That said, Leachman concludes, "When it comes time to shop for bulls, first pick a breed [that offers the traits you are seeking] and second pick a breeder based on the average genetic merit of their herd."
The audio of Lee Leachman's full comments are archived online at DVAuction.com under the Leachman Seminars. Click on the Oct. 16 session to listen to his presentation.
