continued from page 34
less than the unselected herd amounts to 240 pounds/day and 24,000
pounds of hay saved over a 100-day period. Using a conservative
spring 2020 cost of average quality hay at $100/ton, this 50-cow
owner would realize a saving of 12 tons or approximately $1,200.
And this is only hay savings over a short time. Pasture stocking rates
could also be adjusted to make better use of spring and summer grass.
Selection and Benefits
Carstens says moderation in size and efficiency can still be
maintained when selecting for low RFI. “The good news is you can
have improved efficiency independent of selection for growth and
mature size. Selecting for both will reduce the demand for forage and
in the long run let the rancher run more animals per acre.”
But the question becomes—how does a cow-calf producer identify
and place these low RFI animals into the herd?
“It’s definitely moderately heritable. The obvious
thing is to use sires with favorable EPDs for residual
feed intake. If you then keep those females from that
mating back as replacements, you will start noticing an
improvement in efficiency of the herd,” said Carstens.
“The problem is, while most breed associations are
interested in gaining more information on breeding
values for RFI, many don’t have them yet. There are
continued on page 38
Systems such as GrowSafe track feed and water
intake through a computerized process over a period
of at least 70 days and calculate actual individual
consumption and weight gain. RFI is calculated
by subtracting the expected feed requirements for
maintenance and growth from the actual intake
of an individual animal, resulting in a low or
negative number being the most efficient animals.
at the
BLC X EGO 762F
MAY 30, 2020
Lebanon, MO
CFLX EDITH 807F
CFLX ROBINETTE 752E
BLCX EGO 762F CFLX ROBIN 752E CFLX EDITH 807F
PB • R/DP (test pending) • 10/6/18
S: Alter Ego
D: CFLX Keiko 066T
(Rs. Grand Female, 2008 NJLS&C)
BW: -0.4 WW: 54 YW: 77
MK 18 MB: -.42 $MTI: 36
• Big-time Herd-sire Prospect 75% LF • HB/HP • 10/30/17
S: Sennett Wonderful 857U
D: CFLX Robinette 286A
BW: 1.4 WW: 55 YW: 79
MK: 23 MB: -.18 $MTI: 44
• Will calve before sale day
to Air Force One 50% LF • HB/HP • 2/11/18
S: RLBH Air Force One
D: EDKY 857B
BW: 0.4 WW:63 YW: 97
MK: 18 MB: .25 $MTI: 60
• Sells bred 5 months
to CFLX General 604E
BQA II
Certified
Herd
OWNERS: JIM & CAROLE COUNSIL
KEVIN COUNSIL - (281) 808-5511 • [email protected]
21314 OSR • MADISONVILLE, TX 77864
WWW.COUNSILFAMILYLIMOUSIN.COM
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We welcome
welcome all
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inquires and
and catalog
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request for
for this
this sale.
sale. Call
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36
• APRIL 2020