The value of a registration, transfer and DNA
testing still remain of high value to a committed,
successful seedstock breeder that makes his
living in the business. These folks are also
devoting a large portion of their valuable time
to capturing, maintaining and servicing their
customer base. Advertising is important but
it can only do so much, many breeders where
seedstock production is their core business are
also travelling to meet and acquire new customers,
whether they do that individually or belong
to state and national cattle associations and
attend those frequently to develop and acquire
new potential customers and friends along the
way. We must make time to do this as well.
Limousin and Lim-Flex cattle continue to
improve genetically but still need to gain a little
more ground in the marbling trait as we move
forward. Continental breeds that are used in a
terminal cross must not only supply increased
weight with associated benefits of superior feed
conversions, they now must hit the Choice and
Prime quality grade levels to be in high demand.
This was even more evident during this summer’s
fed cattle markets as choice-select spreads
reached well over $20.00/cwt, but there also
existed an additional $20.00/cwt spread between
low choice and prime. We absolutely have to
keep pressing the envelop on IMF to remain
competitive. You have an inherent advantage
to some other Continental crosses whereas we
can still make terminal cross cattle that have the
black hide that can qualify for the valuable CAB
premiums in many grids throughout the country.
his cattle production with the increased value
of single-step genomics and by turning in
performance data and then applying it to your
mating decisions. This is going to be required
to achieve higher demand and dollars from the
marketplace as more commercial cattle continue
to understand the increased accuracy and value of
cattle that are gnomically enhanced and backed
up with performance data tied to the pedigree.
Many producers still don’t realize when they are
testing their cattle for standalone parentage or the
homozygous traits of color and polled status that
they would be much better off putting their cattle
on the 50k chip. When you do this, your parentage
is free and the bundle price for color and polled
status is discounted if you gnomically enhance
your cattle on the 50k. You then substantially
increase the accuracy on your EPD’s and increase
the value data supplied on your cattle. If you have
questions when testing, you should call either
Tammy or Alison at the NALF office to assist you.
Limousin and Lim-Flex cattle have substantial
value to the commercial cattle industry, particularly
when used in a terminal cross. To capture that
value, we not only have to market ourselves,
but also need to engage in animal recording,
performance data turn in and capitalize on
advancements in DNA testing as the commercial
cattlemen increasingly becomes educated to
what is happening in the seedstock business
as he writes checks for bulls. It’s up to us. LT
The good news is that can be accomplished much
quicker today if one is gnomically enhancing
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