Market Minute
Believe It
By Frank Padilla , NALF director of marketing
It doesn ’ t make any difference if you are talking cattle , crop seed , or hogs , heterosis has proven its value in research trial after research trial as well as in pasture ’ s and feed yards across the United States and foreign countries . The chicken and swine industry figured out a long time ago that hybrids and composites produced from purebred lines work very well as seedstock .
The Germ Plasm Utilization project began at MARC ( Meat Animal Research Center ) in Clay Center , Nebraska in 1973 . Their research showed several advantages that come from crossbreeding . Most importantly they showed that hybrid vigor has a large impact on beef cattle productivity . The research demonstrated an eight percent improvement in weaning weight when a purebred cow is mated to a bull of a different breed . The research also showed that crossbred cows are far more productive than purebred cows . The benefits came in multiple areas including more milk production , better body condition , faster re-breeding , and a longer productive lifetime . There are three kinds of heterosis in cattle , individual ( the calf ), maternal and paternal . Of the three , paternal heterosis of the hybrid bull has received the least attention .
Maternal heterosis in a cow increases her performance and that of her calves . She reaches puberty earlier , rebreeds more quickly , her calves have greater survivability , she stays in the herd longer and she produces more pounds of calf during her lifetime . Now producers are seeing the advantages of utilizing paternal
28 | AUGUST 2017 heterosis and improving reproductive and stayability characteristics of the bull .
Commercial producers utilizing Limousin and Lim-Flex ® ( Limousin x Angus hybrid ) genetics get the results that they are looking for in order to reach their management and marketing targets . The Limousin breed serves as the best complement to British base cow herds to add heterosis and efficiency .
Kevin Kinghorn of Kinghorn Ranch , Shepard , Mon ., breeds purebred Limousin bulls to Angus cows . Kevin says , “ We use high growth , black and polled Limousin bulls as terminal sires in our program . We buy bred females for replacements then breed them back to Limousin bulls . We like the calving ease Limousin gives us with the growth and natural muscling . We wean and sell the calves after backgrounding them . They are sold after the first of the year at PAYS Auction in Billings , Mont ., and are consistently at the price top of the sale . Buyers like how they perform for them . The bulls stay sound on their feet and legs so we are able to use them for several years .”
Carnahan Ranches , a long time Colorado plains ranching operation , sells calves off the cow in the fall through Superior Livestock , and has been using Limousin and Lim-Flex bulls in their program for many years . Charlie Carnahan likes the pay weight of Limousin cross calves when sold . The females retained make excellent cows and have stayability with excellent udders and feet . Repeat buyers have been purchasing his calves and he likes the Lim-Flex females as cows .
Frank Daley , western Colorado and Nebraska rancher , runs cows at elevation above 6000 feet . He shares that he has no problems with pulmonary arterial pressure or brisket disease , in running Limousin at that elevation . The adaptability of Limousin makes them an ideal fit to run at a higher elevation , as well at his Nebraska location . He is getting the feedlot performance and carcass quality when he retains ownership of his calves going to the feed yard . They are fitting commodity and natural feeding programs well . He gets more pounds when he sell as his Limousin genetics can be fed to heavier out weights efficiently . They convert pounds of feed to beef efficiently which lowers cost of gain while on feed . They meet quality grade specifications and earn premiums on value base marketing grids .
Profit minded cattlemen across the United States find Limousin to be their best choice in cross-breeding systems for reasons that make them money . More pounds at weaning . The feed efficient and long-lasting females . Cattle with the carcass quality to earn premiums . The sound structure and calm dispositions . The calving ease when compared to other breeds . Buyer acceptance for the calves . Bulls that last many breeding seasons . These are reasons profit minded cattlemen and cattlewomen choose Limousin . You should too . I