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<blockquote data-quote="Aubracusa" data-source="post: 302951" data-attributes="member: 3755"><p>Hello, All --</p><p></p><p>Below is an information that we developed several years ago about Aubrac cattle. It contains general and some specific information about the breed, and I hope it answers some of the specific questions that have been raised during our conversation.</p><p></p><p>History and Genetic Base. The French Aubrac herdbook was organized in 1894, but the breed had informally established itself hundreds of years earlier in this remote region of France. The breed currently has over 35,000 active cows (this is much larger today) and has recently enjoyed rapid growth at the expense of other French breeds. An additional 70,000 Aubrac cows (this number has increased substantially as well) are found in commercial herds, crossed primarily with Charolais bulls for a branded beef product line. </p><p></p><p>The breed organization administers an aggressive, but balanced performance program. The historical breed goal has been simple, "one calf, per cow, per year", which has resulted in cows that match an all-forage production environment. </p><p></p><p>A breed-sponsored bull test pull the top bulls to a central test station each year. An all-forage test identifies the bulls that best combine the breed's traits with a desirable level of growth performance. The top bulls from this test are the only bulls allowed to be used through artificial insemination.</p><p></p><p>Maternal Traits. French breed research confirms that the Aubrac breed ranks first in age at first calving, have the shortest calving interval, and the greatest longevity of all the French breeds. Maternal calving ease is a breed strength and Aubrac cows have the highest percentage of unassisted calvings.</p><p></p><p>Calving Ease. The breed average birth weight for fullbloods in France is currently 86 lb. for bulls and 79 lb. for heifer calves. Cattlemen in the United States have experienced birth weights in the high 70's to mid 90's for halfblood Aubrac calves, with very little calving difficulty.</p><p></p><p>Milking Ability. As is the case with many European breeds, the Aubrac have a multi-purpose history of draft, milk and meat production. Milk production appears to be slightly higher than Angus cattle in this country. Aubrac cows have excellent udder capacity, attachment and teat size.</p><p></p><p>Mature Size. Aubrac cattle will measure a frame 5 or 6 on the U.S. system. Mature bulls range from 1875 to 2475 lb. according to French data. At a recent National Show in France, 36 mature bulls (4 to 11 years old) averaged 2217 lb. Production environment has a big influence on mature cow size, and we anticipate that Aubrac and Aubrac cross cows will impress cattle producers with their efficiency and production. Aubrac cows possess depth, capacity and fleshing ability, another product of their developmental environment. </p><p></p><p>Growth. Cattlemen often equate smaller mature size with reduced performance, but this is not the case with Aubrac cattle. Although it is rare to see creep feeders in the Aubrac region, producers consistently wean 600+ lb. calves. The 114 bulls that entered a recent French bull test averaged 759 lb. at an age of 269 days. </p><p></p><p> :idea: <u>During the test the bulls received grass hay with protein, mineral and vitamin supplementation, but NO GRAIN. Bulls consistently weighed 1000 lb. at 365 days of age, and the average weight at the end of the test was 1129 lb. </u> :idea: </p><p></p><p>Beef producers who have used Aubrac semen are impressed with the weaning weights of their calf crop. Preliminary bull development tests in the U.S. and feedlot performance of steers indicate rapid gains with the ability to flesh and finish at desirable weights.</p><p></p><p>Puberty. Earlier continental imports frequently had delayed puberty and smaller testicle development in yearling bulls. French Aubrac breeders have not historically concerned themselves with this trait; nonetheless, estrous in weaned heifers has been witnessed by North American cattlemen visiting Aubrac herds. The Aubrac Alliance provided the French herdbook with a scrotal tape and asked that the bulls be measured in the test. The 114 bull calves averaged 30.1cm on the "on-test" weigh day at an average age of 297 days and 36.5 cm at the conclusion of the test (14 months of age). Midatest, the AI cooperative, reports the Aubrac bulls consistently produce high-quality semen.</p><p></p><p>Structural Correctness. Aubrac cattle are produced in more extensive production environments and in much larger herds than most of the European breeds. Selection for functional traits has resulted in correct, good-footed cattle that can navigate their terrain. Longevity records support the soundness and trouble-free characteristics of the breed.</p><p>Muscling and Carcass Quality. Astute livestock breeders have long recognized that "form follows function", and this is evident in the Aubrac population. </p><p></p><p>Emphasis on maternal traits has prevented Aubrac breeders from pursuing the extremes in muscle development that are characteristic of some breeds. </p><p></p><p>The U.S. beef grading system necessitates a compromise between retail yield and muscle quality traits. While selection for muscle increases retail yield and reduces fat trim, there is also a strong tendency toward reduced marbling in heavily muscled cattle. On the other hand most of the high marbling breeds have lower muscle scores and excess outside fat cover. Preliminary carcass data on Aubrac crosses indicate that they are superior to high-percentage Angus cattle in muscle score without sacrificing the ability to attain the Choice grade and even the "upper two-thirds" of the Choice grade that is so popular with many branded product labels. Aubrac genetics will contribute to more profits for progressive producers marketing cattle on the grids that pay premiums for quality cattle.</p><p></p><p>Best,</p><p></p><p>aubracusa</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Aubracusa, post: 302951, member: 3755"] Hello, All -- Below is an information that we developed several years ago about Aubrac cattle. It contains general and some specific information about the breed, and I hope it answers some of the specific questions that have been raised during our conversation. History and Genetic Base. The French Aubrac herdbook was organized in 1894, but the breed had informally established itself hundreds of years earlier in this remote region of France. The breed currently has over 35,000 active cows (this is much larger today) and has recently enjoyed rapid growth at the expense of other French breeds. An additional 70,000 Aubrac cows (this number has increased substantially as well) are found in commercial herds, crossed primarily with Charolais bulls for a branded beef product line. The breed organization administers an aggressive, but balanced performance program. The historical breed goal has been simple, “one calf, per cow, per year”, which has resulted in cows that match an all-forage production environment. A breed-sponsored bull test pull the top bulls to a central test station each year. An all-forage test identifies the bulls that best combine the breed’s traits with a desirable level of growth performance. The top bulls from this test are the only bulls allowed to be used through artificial insemination. Maternal Traits. French breed research confirms that the Aubrac breed ranks first in age at first calving, have the shortest calving interval, and the greatest longevity of all the French breeds. Maternal calving ease is a breed strength and Aubrac cows have the highest percentage of unassisted calvings. Calving Ease. The breed average birth weight for fullbloods in France is currently 86 lb. for bulls and 79 lb. for heifer calves. Cattlemen in the United States have experienced birth weights in the high 70’s to mid 90’s for halfblood Aubrac calves, with very little calving difficulty. Milking Ability. As is the case with many European breeds, the Aubrac have a multi-purpose history of draft, milk and meat production. Milk production appears to be slightly higher than Angus cattle in this country. Aubrac cows have excellent udder capacity, attachment and teat size. Mature Size. Aubrac cattle will measure a frame 5 or 6 on the U.S. system. Mature bulls range from 1875 to 2475 lb. according to French data. At a recent National Show in France, 36 mature bulls (4 to 11 years old) averaged 2217 lb. Production environment has a big influence on mature cow size, and we anticipate that Aubrac and Aubrac cross cows will impress cattle producers with their efficiency and production. Aubrac cows possess depth, capacity and fleshing ability, another product of their developmental environment. Growth. Cattlemen often equate smaller mature size with reduced performance, but this is not the case with Aubrac cattle. Although it is rare to see creep feeders in the Aubrac region, producers consistently wean 600+ lb. calves. The 114 bulls that entered a recent French bull test averaged 759 lb. at an age of 269 days. :idea: [u]During the test the bulls received grass hay with protein, mineral and vitamin supplementation, but NO GRAIN. Bulls consistently weighed 1000 lb. at 365 days of age, and the average weight at the end of the test was 1129 lb. [/u] :idea: Beef producers who have used Aubrac semen are impressed with the weaning weights of their calf crop. Preliminary bull development tests in the U.S. and feedlot performance of steers indicate rapid gains with the ability to flesh and finish at desirable weights. Puberty. Earlier continental imports frequently had delayed puberty and smaller testicle development in yearling bulls. French Aubrac breeders have not historically concerned themselves with this trait; nonetheless, estrous in weaned heifers has been witnessed by North American cattlemen visiting Aubrac herds. The Aubrac Alliance provided the French herdbook with a scrotal tape and asked that the bulls be measured in the test. The 114 bull calves averaged 30.1cm on the “on-test” weigh day at an average age of 297 days and 36.5 cm at the conclusion of the test (14 months of age). Midatest, the AI cooperative, reports the Aubrac bulls consistently produce high-quality semen. Structural Correctness. Aubrac cattle are produced in more extensive production environments and in much larger herds than most of the European breeds. Selection for functional traits has resulted in correct, good-footed cattle that can navigate their terrain. Longevity records support the soundness and trouble-free characteristics of the breed. Muscling and Carcass Quality. Astute livestock breeders have long recognized that “form follows function”, and this is evident in the Aubrac population. Emphasis on maternal traits has prevented Aubrac breeders from pursuing the extremes in muscle development that are characteristic of some breeds. The U.S. beef grading system necessitates a compromise between retail yield and muscle quality traits. While selection for muscle increases retail yield and reduces fat trim, there is also a strong tendency toward reduced marbling in heavily muscled cattle. On the other hand most of the high marbling breeds have lower muscle scores and excess outside fat cover. Preliminary carcass data on Aubrac crosses indicate that they are superior to high-percentage Angus cattle in muscle score without sacrificing the ability to attain the Choice grade and even the “upper two-thirds“ of the Choice grade that is so popular with many branded product labels. Aubrac genetics will contribute to more profits for progressive producers marketing cattle on the grids that pay premiums for quality cattle. Best, aubracusa [/QUOTE]
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