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The - PERFECT - TERMINAL BULL!!
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<blockquote data-quote="rkaiser" data-source="post: 189293" data-attributes="member: 2159"><p>On the rail or in the meat case of a retail store Hey?</p><p></p><p>Not trying to twist this up to much Doc, but you could be talking about a few different perfects here you know.</p><p></p><p>I don't really know if the Cargill and Tyson are after the same perfect steer as some of the consumers are asking for. Seems that perfect means similar, while the consumer still loves a choice (and usually that means choice)</p><p></p><p>Anywho, here goes. I think that we have focused on size long enough in this industry, so I will start off by saying that the perfect terminal bull should be in the 2000 to 2200 pound range with the genotype to reach that mature weight at a youthful age. No more than three years of age. This early maturity will offer a number of advantages. Early maturing cattle show the ability to marble at a youthful age. Maturity should start to be expressed in this perfect bull at one year max, with muscle expression in his short neck and testicular development to match.</p><p></p><p>A masculine bull will throw calves with ability to express muscle, but most of all, this bull will get cows pregnant. Hard to be a perfect bull of any kind if you need two of him to do the job that one should.</p><p></p><p>Of course a perfect terminal bull will keep the calves birth weight moderate enough to see live calves without assistance, and he should have the genetic potential to rear calves that grow well and use the feed that is put in front of them efficiently. If EPD's are the tool of choice to gain these heritable traits, use them. If an open mind is able to see the benefits from studies on breeds, or composites that don't use EPD's, use them. Through all the years of trait selection for adg on momma and on feed, no breed has be shown to excel in feed efficiency or feed conversion. It still generally take 5 or 6 pounds of feed to put on one pound of steer.</p><p></p><p>One thing that makes a terminal bull attractive is his ability to sire calves with a high yielding carcass as well as marbling capabilities. Continuing to carve bark off cattle just to create a high marbling product is a bit of a lost cause. Continental cattle will limit the backfat genetically to a point, but another natural way is to choose a terminal sire with hair and hide which allow him the luxury of creating intramuscular fat while lessening his natural will to add subcutaneous fat. We may have altered the natural feeding of cattle by offering them a diet that allows them little more than to fatten, but the natural purpose of fat on any animal is ultimately warmth, or conservation of energy.</p><p></p><p>Back to the size thing for just a moment, and then I will cut this thing loose for everyone to have at er.</p><p></p><p>Remember who our customers are folks, at times I think our packers forget. We can't continue to chase that terminal bull up in size and frame which is ultimately what selection for adg does. Our average Canadian carcass went from 610 pounds in 1975 to 850 something in 2005. The average consumer in 2005 is attempting to watch his or her diet a lot more closely than the average consumer in 1975, and yes that consumer knows what a T bone, or a rib eye or a strip loin looks like. 8)</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="rkaiser, post: 189293, member: 2159"] On the rail or in the meat case of a retail store Hey? Not trying to twist this up to much Doc, but you could be talking about a few different perfects here you know. I don't really know if the Cargill and Tyson are after the same perfect steer as some of the consumers are asking for. Seems that perfect means similar, while the consumer still loves a choice (and usually that means choice) Anywho, here goes. I think that we have focused on size long enough in this industry, so I will start off by saying that the perfect terminal bull should be in the 2000 to 2200 pound range with the genotype to reach that mature weight at a youthful age. No more than three years of age. This early maturity will offer a number of advantages. Early maturing cattle show the ability to marble at a youthful age. Maturity should start to be expressed in this perfect bull at one year max, with muscle expression in his short neck and testicular development to match. A masculine bull will throw calves with ability to express muscle, but most of all, this bull will get cows pregnant. Hard to be a perfect bull of any kind if you need two of him to do the job that one should. Of course a perfect terminal bull will keep the calves birth weight moderate enough to see live calves without assistance, and he should have the genetic potential to rear calves that grow well and use the feed that is put in front of them efficiently. If EPD's are the tool of choice to gain these heritable traits, use them. If an open mind is able to see the benefits from studies on breeds, or composites that don't use EPD's, use them. Through all the years of trait selection for adg on momma and on feed, no breed has be shown to excel in feed efficiency or feed conversion. It still generally take 5 or 6 pounds of feed to put on one pound of steer. One thing that makes a terminal bull attractive is his ability to sire calves with a high yielding carcass as well as marbling capabilities. Continuing to carve bark off cattle just to create a high marbling product is a bit of a lost cause. Continental cattle will limit the backfat genetically to a point, but another natural way is to choose a terminal sire with hair and hide which allow him the luxury of creating intramuscular fat while lessening his natural will to add subcutaneous fat. We may have altered the natural feeding of cattle by offering them a diet that allows them little more than to fatten, but the natural purpose of fat on any animal is ultimately warmth, or conservation of energy. Back to the size thing for just a moment, and then I will cut this thing loose for everyone to have at er. Remember who our customers are folks, at times I think our packers forget. We can't continue to chase that terminal bull up in size and frame which is ultimately what selection for adg does. Our average Canadian carcass went from 610 pounds in 1975 to 850 something in 2005. The average consumer in 2005 is attempting to watch his or her diet a lot more closely than the average consumer in 1975, and yes that consumer knows what a T bone, or a rib eye or a strip loin looks like. 8) [/QUOTE]
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