Menu
Forums
New posts
Search forums
What's new
New posts
New media
New media comments
New profile posts
Latest activity
Media
New media
New comments
Search media
Members
Current visitors
New profile posts
Search profile posts
Log in
Register
What's new
Search
Search
Search titles and first posts only
Search titles only
By:
New posts
Search forums
Menu
Log in
Register
Forums
Cattle Boards
Breeding / Calving Issues
Genetic gain
JavaScript is disabled. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding.
You are using an out of date browser. It may not display this or other websites correctly.
You should upgrade or use an
alternative browser
.
Reply to thread
Help Support CattleToday:
Message
<blockquote data-quote="novaman" data-source="post: 799888" data-attributes="member: 2744"><p>I understand what you are getting at when you are talking about keeping diversity in the herd. It makes perfect sense to me. The problem I see, and you even admitted it, is that you are limiting your gains by keeping that diversity in your cow herd. Now if I understand correctly you are keeping bulls from your herd. Are you raising them to sell or use back on your own cows? It sounds like you are keeping them for your own use and to that I have to question the practice. You preach diversity and genetic gain but you are recycling genetics within your own herd. </p><p></p><p>I operate on the complete opposite of you. I select replacements that are not diverse but rather fit the mold of what I want to see in my future cows. Ideally my group of heifers would be genetically identical. The reason behind my thinking is that it is far simpler and easier to use different bulls on these heifers to produce the calf I am looking for. I would rather keep the cows and change the bull than to have to get rid of a bunch of cows in order to change the directions in my breeding. I also believe that if one is using natural service you should never retain bulls from one's own herd. The best way to improve genetic gain is to bring in outside genetics that will enhance what you already have. If you are recycling your genetics you are giving yourself less of a chance to get ahead.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="novaman, post: 799888, member: 2744"] I understand what you are getting at when you are talking about keeping diversity in the herd. It makes perfect sense to me. The problem I see, and you even admitted it, is that you are limiting your gains by keeping that diversity in your cow herd. Now if I understand correctly you are keeping bulls from your herd. Are you raising them to sell or use back on your own cows? It sounds like you are keeping them for your own use and to that I have to question the practice. You preach diversity and genetic gain but you are recycling genetics within your own herd. I operate on the complete opposite of you. I select replacements that are not diverse but rather fit the mold of what I want to see in my future cows. Ideally my group of heifers would be genetically identical. The reason behind my thinking is that it is far simpler and easier to use different bulls on these heifers to produce the calf I am looking for. I would rather keep the cows and change the bull than to have to get rid of a bunch of cows in order to change the directions in my breeding. I also believe that if one is using natural service you should never retain bulls from one's own herd. The best way to improve genetic gain is to bring in outside genetics that will enhance what you already have. If you are recycling your genetics you are giving yourself less of a chance to get ahead. [/QUOTE]
Insert quotes…
Verification
Post reply
Forums
Cattle Boards
Breeding / Calving Issues
Genetic gain
Top