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<blockquote data-quote="Aubracusa" data-source="post: 302442" data-attributes="member: 3755"><p>Hi, Gus --</p><p></p><p>I think you raise some important concerns.</p><p></p><p>I think you're right that it requires a more holistic approach to be successful as a grass-fed producer. Obviously, you want good fertility, and high conception rates. You also want ease of calving and a strong immune system in your cows.</p><p></p><p>My concern with the nation's cow herd -- in general -- is that it's become extremely energy dependent. We've built in tremendous performance into our genetics -- but at what price? The recent national beef quality audits as well as USDA carcass data demonstrate that the only thing we've really changed in our cattle is carcass weight. We've made no appreciable advances in quality grade or yield grade, despite the advances in genetic analysis and technology. In fact, I think we've gone a little bit backwards in those regards.</p><p></p><p>The reality is that the industry has become hooked on energy consumption to deliver a quality product to the marketplace. And when we place so much emphasis on rapid growth -- and after the calf is sold -- we're stuck with cows that are terribly inefficient users of grass.</p><p></p><p>And efficient conversion of grass within the cow herd -- not necessarily the calf crop -- is where this transformation from corn dependency to grass efficiency really needs to begin.</p><p></p><p>If you have grass efficiency within the "cow herd," you can meet multiple markets - corn fed, grass-fed, pasture-based -- you name it. But if you continue to select for high-energy cattle, you narrow your marketing and production capabilities to the detriment of the industry.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Aubracusa, post: 302442, member: 3755"] Hi, Gus -- I think you raise some important concerns. I think you're right that it requires a more holistic approach to be successful as a grass-fed producer. Obviously, you want good fertility, and high conception rates. You also want ease of calving and a strong immune system in your cows. My concern with the nation's cow herd -- in general -- is that it's become extremely energy dependent. We've built in tremendous performance into our genetics -- but at what price? The recent national beef quality audits as well as USDA carcass data demonstrate that the only thing we've really changed in our cattle is carcass weight. We've made no appreciable advances in quality grade or yield grade, despite the advances in genetic analysis and technology. In fact, I think we've gone a little bit backwards in those regards. The reality is that the industry has become hooked on energy consumption to deliver a quality product to the marketplace. And when we place so much emphasis on rapid growth -- and after the calf is sold -- we're stuck with cows that are terribly inefficient users of grass. And efficient conversion of grass within the cow herd -- not necessarily the calf crop -- is where this transformation from corn dependency to grass efficiency really needs to begin. If you have grass efficiency within the "cow herd," you can meet multiple markets - corn fed, grass-fed, pasture-based -- you name it. But if you continue to select for high-energy cattle, you narrow your marketing and production capabilities to the detriment of the industry. [/QUOTE]
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