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
Breeds Board
Smaller cows are better?
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="DOC HARRIS" data-source="post: 355009" data-attributes="member: 1683"><p>CONSIDER THIS:</p><p></p><p>There are two Basic operational, functional, practicable Beef Cattle Breeding procedures:</p><p></p><p>1 - Producing "TERMINAL" Cattle for feedlot finishing for the marketplace, and</p><p>2 - Engendering Breeding Bulls and Cows for the purpose of generating seedstock for reproductive uses for the "MATERNAL" phase of the business.</p><p></p><p>Each branch of the beef cattle business is a separate entity unto itself - one requiring protocols designed for developing Feeder Cattle which will produce a profit for the breeder, and provide a nutritious and enjoyable eating experience for the ultimate consumer. The second branch of the business necessitates more sophisticated phenotypic and genotypic selection procedures for the creation of seedstock to propagate those traits and characteristics through their progeny so that the Breeder or Producer may successfully satisfy <strong>BOTH</strong> procedures - vis-a'-vis - "TERMINAL" <strong>AND</strong> "MATERNAL".</p><p></p><p>The successful accomplishment of achieving these two procedures is tantamount to "rubbing your head and patting your stomach" concurrently - and then reverse the actions! The agenda's overlap, of course, because we are dealing here with one "species" of animal and attempting to accomplish two different solutions, or outcomes!</p><p></p><p>On the one hand - that is "TERMINAL PRODUCTION", we are seeking and selecting traits for Carcass, Muscle, degree of fatness, Marbling, size of Ribeye, and weight of the Finished product maturing as early as possible, and as economically as possible. We utilize EPD's, Ultra Sound data, visually recognizing physical traits, and by making use of DNA technology to verify the accuracy of EPD's</p><p></p><p>On the OTHER side of the coin, by concentrating our breeding decisions toward MATERNAL PRODUCTION, we must focus our efforts and analyses on somewhat similar traits and characteristics, but for divergent purposes! As Beef Cattle Producers, whether our products will be destined for the Feedlot or the Breeding Pasture, we are constrained to evoke our skills in maintaining a "Balance" in creating cattle which can produce "Multi-tasking" progeny, or able to fulfill multiple deeds and purposes - a sort of a "do-all and be-all" commodity. As desirable as that may seem to be at first blush - it CANNOT be accomplished to the desired degree of accuracy which PROFIT and efficiency demand.</p><p></p><p>A 'lighter' weight cow (1100# - 1250#) will produce a product year after year which will, in the long run, result in MORE <strong>PROFIT</strong> than a cow which will weigh 1400# or more. That lighter' weight cow, however, must possess the "Maternal Traits" which will predict the "Profitable" results for a breeding program, such as Calving Ease, Moderate Birth Weight, High Weaning Weight, Moderate Frame score (5 - 6), not excessive Yearling Weight, Moderate Milk Production (NOT HIGH milk production) Positive Cow Energy Value traits ($EN), balanced $Values, and strong Functional traits (Skeletal, sound feet and legs, strong top line, muscle expression, which characteristics again carry over into the Terminal Phase - docility, marbling and rib-eye area ( cross over into Terminal again). The lighter weight cow costs less to maintain overall and yet can produce a profitable calf to be considered as a replacement heifer or placed in the feedlot phase. - -There is that "Cross Over" syndrome coming into play again!</p><p></p><p>The old saying "The Eye of the Master Fattens His Cattle" was never more true than in <strong>BOTH PHASES</strong> of the beef Cattle business today - with the exception that the term "FAT" refers to the Terminal Phase, and would be replaced by "BREEDING QUALITY AND MANAGEMENT" in the Maternal Phase.</p><p></p><p>. . . . . .and where does all of this lead us? Right back to Square One in the decision-making process of producing "TERMINAL" cattle! . . . . .or . . . . .(have you given this any serious thought?) . . . .perhaps BOTH! One type bull and one type cow CANNOT accomplish both goals! An analogy would be like expecting a thin cross-country runner to step in and play as a Defensive Guard on a Professional Football team! It would be a square peg in a round hole!</p><p></p><p>My suggestion would be to allow the Professionals to make the difficult decisions, and the Producers and Breeders to capitalize on their knowledge and experience.</p><p></p><p>DOC HARRIS</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="DOC HARRIS, post: 355009, member: 1683"] CONSIDER THIS: There are two Basic operational, functional, practicable Beef Cattle Breeding procedures: 1 - Producing "TERMINAL" Cattle for feedlot finishing for the marketplace, and 2 - Engendering Breeding Bulls and Cows for the purpose of generating seedstock for reproductive uses for the "MATERNAL" phase of the business. Each branch of the beef cattle business is a separate entity unto itself - one requiring protocols designed for developing Feeder Cattle which will produce a profit for the breeder, and provide a nutritious and enjoyable eating experience for the ultimate consumer. The second branch of the business necessitates more sophisticated phenotypic and genotypic selection procedures for the creation of seedstock to propagate those traits and characteristics through their progeny so that the Breeder or Producer may successfully satisfy [b]BOTH[/b] procedures - vis-a'-vis - "TERMINAL" [b]AND[/b] "MATERNAL". The successful accomplishment of achieving these two procedures is tantamount to "rubbing your head and patting your stomach" concurrently - and then reverse the actions! The agenda's overlap, of course, because we are dealing here with one "species" of animal and attempting to accomplish two different solutions, or outcomes! On the one hand - that is "TERMINAL PRODUCTION", we are seeking and selecting traits for Carcass, Muscle, degree of fatness, Marbling, size of Ribeye, and weight of the Finished product maturing as early as possible, and as economically as possible. We utilize EPD's, Ultra Sound data, visually recognizing physical traits, and by making use of DNA technology to verify the accuracy of EPD's On the OTHER side of the coin, by concentrating our breeding decisions toward MATERNAL PRODUCTION, we must focus our efforts and analyses on somewhat similar traits and characteristics, but for divergent purposes! As Beef Cattle Producers, whether our products will be destined for the Feedlot or the Breeding Pasture, we are constrained to evoke our skills in maintaining a "Balance" in creating cattle which can produce "Multi-tasking" progeny, or able to fulfill multiple deeds and purposes - a sort of a "do-all and be-all" commodity. As desirable as that may seem to be at first blush - it CANNOT be accomplished to the desired degree of accuracy which PROFIT and efficiency demand. A 'lighter' weight cow (1100# - 1250#) will produce a product year after year which will, in the long run, result in MORE [b]PROFIT[/b] than a cow which will weigh 1400# or more. That lighter' weight cow, however, must possess the "Maternal Traits" which will predict the "Profitable" results for a breeding program, such as Calving Ease, Moderate Birth Weight, High Weaning Weight, Moderate Frame score (5 - 6), not excessive Yearling Weight, Moderate Milk Production (NOT HIGH milk production) Positive Cow Energy Value traits ($EN), balanced $Values, and strong Functional traits (Skeletal, sound feet and legs, strong top line, muscle expression, which characteristics again carry over into the Terminal Phase - docility, marbling and rib-eye area ( cross over into Terminal again). The lighter weight cow costs less to maintain overall and yet can produce a profitable calf to be considered as a replacement heifer or placed in the feedlot phase. - -There is that "Cross Over" syndrome coming into play again! The old saying "The Eye of the Master Fattens His Cattle" was never more true than in [b]BOTH PHASES[/b] of the beef Cattle business today - with the exception that the term "FAT" refers to the Terminal Phase, and would be replaced by "BREEDING QUALITY AND MANAGEMENT" in the Maternal Phase. . . . . . .and where does all of this lead us? Right back to Square One in the decision-making process of producing "TERMINAL" cattle! . . . . .or . . . . .(have you given this any serious thought?) . . . .perhaps BOTH! One type bull and one type cow CANNOT accomplish both goals! An analogy would be like expecting a thin cross-country runner to step in and play as a Defensive Guard on a Professional Football team! It would be a square peg in a round hole! My suggestion would be to allow the Professionals to make the difficult decisions, and the Producers and Breeders to capitalize on their knowledge and experience. DOC HARRIS [/QUOTE]
Insert quotes…
Verification
Post reply
Forums
Cattle Boards
Breeds Board
Smaller cows are better?
Top