continued from page 36
Here’s the
BEEF
Fullbloods
since 1995
WILODGE
CERBERUS Leading import, outcross sire carrying two
copies of the F94L profit gene. We have his progeny available.
We have cattle
available that
offer calving-ease
and growth with
the extra muscle
to add value to
your herd and
next calf crop.
Check out our revised and detailed website
www.GOSSLIMOUSIN.com
to learn more about our program and what we have for sale.
Bulls & Females Available • Semen For Sale
VIDOR, TEXAS 77662
WWW.GOSSLIMOUSIN.COM
ANTHONY GOSS 281-794-1339
DAVID GOSS 832-260-5885
38
some DNA markers, but they lack precision. The key is to focus on using
DNA to enhance the accuracy of developing EPDs based on collective
phenotypes. This is really the bottleneck right now—coming up with
enough sires not only having EPDs for RFI but having accurate EPDs.”
The irony is not lost that although Limousin bulls scored high in the
recent residual feed intake efficiency trial, the breed’s EPD index for the
category is still in the works. But Carstens points out they are not alone.
“The swine industry is a lot better at this. They have a paternal and
maternal line and use a selection program for different traits and lines.
We’re not that refined yet in the beef industry. We need to do more.”
“We collect data and submit it to International Genetic Solutions
(IGS) as it gets incorporated into our run,” says NALF Executive
Director Mark Anderson. “IGS is in the process of updating their
marker subsets and some of the heterogeneous variances, and they are
looking at three or four potential new EPDs to go into production
near term. One of those eventually will be an RFI EPD.”
“Additionally, we actually enter the RFI data into the animal’s
performance page if producers submit it so a member can look that
up. The actual EPD is not published by IGS yet, but that is something
we will see down the road,” Anderson said.
There are other established benefits of low RFI commercial herds
beyond the substantial feed savings. Since efficient cattle have decreased
intake, their selection also implies a decrease in methane production
as emissions are directly proportional. Higher dry matter intake equals
higher methane emissions. “Low or negative RFI animals will generate
less methane because they are eating less,” said Carstens. “And it’s the same
with manure production. Lower RFI animals will produce less manure.”
But Carstens warns placing these efficient females into the herd
takes time. “It’s kind of unfortunate—when you select for growth, it’s
easy to see higher weaning weights one or two years down the road.
Or if you select bulls with better genetic merit for marbling, you soon
see better grading results. Cattlemen can visually see the benefits of
those kinds of selection programs when they go out to look at their
cows. It’s always a challenge to convince folks that it makes sense to
select for efficiency because it’s not a trait you can observe.”
Ranching is a tough business at times and the potential for production
and financial advantages should never be ignored. Carstens says RFI
efficiency offers these gains in no uncertain terms. “If we continue to
see more advances in facilities with the capabilities to measure intake
and make more progress with genetic markers better able to accurately
predict RFI, that’s all going to take the industry forward. It’s the
direction it has to go.”
Limousin breeders should be proud of all their low RFI tested bulls
and females. Residual feed intake efficiency will be a vital part of the
beef cattle industry’s future and it’s a sure bet more producers of all
variations will be taking extra notice.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Bruce Derksen has worked in Western
Canada’s ranching and feedlot industry for more than 30 years. In
his spare time, he writes about present day agriculture related topics,
hoping to give today’s producers as much up to date information
about the future of the industry as possible.
• APRIL 2020