Forage Genetics ?

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Stocker Steve

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Central Minnesota
You often see seed stock supplies selling forage developed or converter or efficiency or grazing genetics.
You also occasionally see some A vs. B data that shows a difference in ADG or #DM per # beef.
How much real difference to you think there is, and what is the best way to get some of this from the (usually growthy) AI bulls ?
 
We breed and raise for fescue fungus resistant cattle. It is a try and fail for some bulls via semen. Most fail yet we run home raised bulls for the most part and that clears that up. But it makes more sense to use the fescue for an economic advantage than fighting nature. Resistance is a tried and proven issue here.

Weight gain on forage is one issue. For me, the weight needs to be gained as a useful product such as meat or bones and not just more middle and in a size that buyers want and need.
 
Ebenezer":3v5vhrov said:
We breed and raise for fescue fungus resistant cattle. It is a try and fail for some bulls via semen. Most fail yet we run home raised bulls for the most part and that clears that up. But it makes more sense to use the fescue for an economic advantage than fighting nature. Resistance is a tried and proven issue here.

Weight gain on forage is one issue. For me, the weight needs to be gained as a useful product such as meat or bones and not just more middle and in a size that buyers want and need.
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Some years ago I had a long discussion (argument) with a geneticist that claimed you couldn;t select for genetics that worked on fescue. Beised diluting the fescue with clover, we've selected primarily for animal sthat will perform on fescue. If they don;t they are shipped as feeders, not breeders. Granted, non-fescue developed cattle will usually adapt after 2-3 years,, but why bother when you can select for them in the first place.
 
For forage im not sure RADG or DMI apply, there more for feed intake, but if your trying to figure out what will grow on feed Thats your numbers. RADG you want the biggest number and DMI the lowest.RADG is the same amount of feed given to a group, out of bull A compared to bull B and the daily gain on each. DMI is the amount of feed for conversion between bull A and B.
Not sure theres a number for grass. I suppose dry matter could include hay.
 

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