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CAB Researchers explain Decline
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<blockquote data-quote="Brandonm2" data-source="post: 337009" data-attributes="member: 2095"><p>1. health problems.....So they are telling us that we have the worst health status we have ever seen??? That is plausible. BVD type II, respiratory infections, Johne's are much more serious threats but are they really telling us that we have been getting sicker and sicker cattle consistently since 1975??? Even if that IS true, we need genetics with better immunity to infection, especially since antibiotic use is likely too be further regulated.</p><p></p><p>2. Feeding by-products.......this is absolute nonsense. Quality grade has been in decline for a generation. Even when corn was $1.50 a bushel. Distillers grains may well make this problem even worse; but this problem has been growing long before ethanol powered cars were anything other than a novelty item. I attended a conference in 1993 where sucking quality grades was featured topic and NOW we would kill too go back to the level of Choice found in 1990. </p><p></p><p></p><p>3. larger feedlots......better feedlot management clearly is needed (and that probably is also related to #1); but ultimately we have too produce the cattle that will thrive in the environment we ask them too thrive in so identifying the genetics which perform in the ACTUAL feedlot and not just in some purebreeders front pasture has got to be a focus so I think this goes back too genetics too.</p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p>4. Indaquate nutrition. This one makes no sense at all. Weaning weights are higher than ever before so obviously the calves are eating as good as ever. Maybe better feed rations at the giant feed lots are needed; but again I don't think it is really possible too claim that 1975 feedlots were better at balancing feed rations than 2007s but even if that is totally true it still comes down too providing genetics that will grade on the feed that we have.</p><p></p><p></p><p>5. Implant Usage. This does make some sense; but does anybody really have any data showing that if we stop implanting all together that 70% of the cattle will grade Choice or better like they USED to do? Most studies show that the implants pay for themselves. Until the science shows them to be costing us more than they are gaining us (or govt takes them away) I think we need too find cattle that will grade despite the implant. That means identifying the genetics which work in the real world.</p><p></p><p> </p><p>The feedlots, drug manufacturers, ranchers, feed millers, etc may all have roles too play in reversing this trend by becoming better managers or suppliers; BUT ultimately SOMEBODY (whether it be Angus breeders, Hereford breeders, Charolais breeders, Simmental breeders, Limousin breeders, Brangus breeders, composite creators, all of the above, some breeders not listed above, whomever) has got to give the industry cattle which will perform at an acceptable level in the pasture, in the feedlot, on the kill floor, and on the plate. If the cattle are failing it is ultimately the fault of the genetics.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Brandonm2, post: 337009, member: 2095"] 1. health problems.....So they are telling us that we have the worst health status we have ever seen??? That is plausible. BVD type II, respiratory infections, Johne's are much more serious threats but are they really telling us that we have been getting sicker and sicker cattle consistently since 1975??? Even if that IS true, we need genetics with better immunity to infection, especially since antibiotic use is likely too be further regulated. 2. Feeding by-products.......this is absolute nonsense. Quality grade has been in decline for a generation. Even when corn was $1.50 a bushel. Distillers grains may well make this problem even worse; but this problem has been growing long before ethanol powered cars were anything other than a novelty item. I attended a conference in 1993 where sucking quality grades was featured topic and NOW we would kill too go back to the level of Choice found in 1990. 3. larger feedlots......better feedlot management clearly is needed (and that probably is also related to #1); but ultimately we have too produce the cattle that will thrive in the environment we ask them too thrive in so identifying the genetics which perform in the ACTUAL feedlot and not just in some purebreeders front pasture has got to be a focus so I think this goes back too genetics too. 4. Indaquate nutrition. This one makes no sense at all. Weaning weights are higher than ever before so obviously the calves are eating as good as ever. Maybe better feed rations at the giant feed lots are needed; but again I don't think it is really possible too claim that 1975 feedlots were better at balancing feed rations than 2007s but even if that is totally true it still comes down too providing genetics that will grade on the feed that we have. 5. Implant Usage. This does make some sense; but does anybody really have any data showing that if we stop implanting all together that 70% of the cattle will grade Choice or better like they USED to do? Most studies show that the implants pay for themselves. Until the science shows them to be costing us more than they are gaining us (or govt takes them away) I think we need too find cattle that will grade despite the implant. That means identifying the genetics which work in the real world. The feedlots, drug manufacturers, ranchers, feed millers, etc may all have roles too play in reversing this trend by becoming better managers or suppliers; BUT ultimately SOMEBODY (whether it be Angus breeders, Hereford breeders, Charolais breeders, Simmental breeders, Limousin breeders, Brangus breeders, composite creators, all of the above, some breeders not listed above, whomever) has got to give the industry cattle which will perform at an acceptable level in the pasture, in the feedlot, on the kill floor, and on the plate. If the cattle are failing it is ultimately the fault of the genetics. [/QUOTE]
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