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Breeding For Carcass Value by David Bowser Ranchers can be rewarded for carcass value, according to a Nebraska genetics specialist, but they have to worry about more than carcass traits. Dr. Jim Gosey, professor of beef genetics at the University of Nebraska, said that while there isn't a lot of data on genetic differences concerning carcass value, there are some estimates for such traits as backfat, marbling, ribeye size and carcass weight. The Nebraska professor said this is an area that is still evolving. Gosey recommends using selection indices when it comes to genetics. He said it is the best way to deal with antagonisms between different traits. "You won't make a maximum change in any one trait," he said, "but the idea is to not take one step forward and two back." The selection of traits, however, should take into consideration a specific situation such as a particular ranch operation and the way the livestock is marketed. "The way you market cattle is going to affect how much you're going to push on a given trait," he said. "It'd be great if we all had an industry objective, and we all went out and we bred cattle for an industry objective, but I realize that's not always the case." Cattlemen operate, like any businessman, in their own best interest. Genetic decisions might be made for weaning weights, milk selection or any one of a number of other traits, but selecting for one trait can be dangerous. One trait may be gained but with the loss of another. "Cross breeding is a tool we can use to alter carcass traits because we do have huge differences between breeds," Gosey said. "These differences between breeds are big, and they're very important." He acknowledged that sire evaluations indicate that there are huge differences within breeds, but there are also differences between breeds. The first step, though, is knowing the differences between breed averages. "Why reinvent the wheel if you know the differences between the breeds," Gosey says. Gosey said there are 50 or 60 different breeds in the U.S. There are 22 different breeds in Nebraska alone. But Gosey said there are only about half a dozen players. He said the English breeds, Angus, Red Angus and Herefords, are certainly players. On the continental side, the Simmental and Gelbvieh are the major players. For a terminal product, the Charolais and Limousin have proven to be popular. He said there are some other breeds that are waiting in the wings if these breeds screw up. A two breed rotation with a third terminal breed is a very effective crossbreeding program, Gosey said, but few use such a program. It requires multiple breeds, a bull, multiple pastures and sire-daughter identification to make the most diverse mating possible. It also produces swings in breed composition from one year to the next. Gosey said it is a poor man's composite, but it works well in a good-sized operation. It is difficult, however, with small herds. Still, he said, there are too many benefits with crossbreeding to ignore it. It is up to seedstockx producers to counsel with their buyers and help them work through some of the frustrations that they've had with cross breeding programs, Gosey says. There can be genetic antagonisms in cross breeding, but crossbreeding has an important role to play in how to deal with genetic antagonisms between carcass traits and maternal traits. |
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