Reproduction
replacement heifers a more cost-effective proposition in the
dairy industry. The first is that most dairy cattle are straightbred
and highly related to mainstream purebred genetics, and there
are high accuracy genetic tests available for all traits in the
selection index ($NetMerit). Culling rates on modern, well-
managed dairy operations tend to be low, and widespread use
of sexed semen has generated an excess of replacement heifers.
Dairy producers are using genomic information to
make decisions such as keeping versus culling heifers,
flushing exceptional heifers, breeding certain high-
value heifers with sexed versus conventional semen,
and breeding with dairy versus beef semen. There may
be some opportunity to use genomic testing of beef
heifers in analogous ways, although the value proposition
will need to be considered for each operation.
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Selling an Elite Set of Limousin
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It is important to remember the value of crossbreeding for
fitness and survival traits such as longevity, lifetime production,
and reproduction rate. Improvements in cow-calf production
due to heterosis result from both the improved maternal
performance of the crossbred cow (conception rate, percent
born alive, percent weaned, age of puberty, milk production
and increased longevity) and individual performance of the
crossbred calf (percent born alive, percent weaned, weaning
growth). Research from the US Meat Animal Research Center
(USMARC) reported that the lifetime production of reciprocal-
cross and straightbred cows showed the lifetime production
weight of calves weaned was increased by about 36 percent
due to the effects of heterosis. This was broken down into
direct effects on crossbred calf survival (+4.9%) and growth
(+3.8%), and maternal effects on weaning rate (+6.2%),
increased weaning weight of progeny due to the crossbred
dam (+5.8%), and longevity (+16.2%) of crossbred cows.
Choosing the right management tools to make genetic
improvement in the beef herd is critical to economic
viability. Taking advantage of heterosis, along with good
sire selection decisions are proven means of positioning the
herd for profitability. It is important in genetic management,
as in all other management practices, to weigh the cost/
gain balance of available tools. For every d ollar invested
you should expect at least an additional dollar in return. To
determine what that value is in regard to commercial heifer
selection using genomics is complicated and involves many
factors. Under current market conditions and technologies
and in the absence of any other information the value
seems to be approximately $24 in retained ownership
with replacement heifer operations, but closer to $10 in
a market at weaning, retained heifer operation. I
20129 450th Ave. • Arlington, South Dakota 57212
www.romnlimousin.com • [email protected]
ADAM, MICHELLE, GREYSON & PALMER NIELSON:
605.203.0733 • 605.203.0732
ROBERT “COOKIE” & MARY NIELSON:
605.203.0903 • 605.203.0904
ROM’N LIMOUSIN & CLUB CALVES
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