LIMOUSIN TODAY | Page 13

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 LIMOUSIN Today | 11