Beef producers can only prosper if they can cut costs while improving their herd performance. Prices for their meat vary greatly, and greater efficiency in production means survival in bad markets. Beef cattle genetics, which study heredity and trait transfer from parent to off-spring, can help when producers combine them with practical measures.
Heredity is the passing along of genes from both parents. By breeding for desirable characteristics, ranchers can move positively towards their goals. Sometimes, however, breeding for maximum trait optimization can be detrimental. Line-breeding or in-breeding means mating two animals from similar gene pools. This practice can produce animals that gain weight faster or have superior 'carcass quality', but it can decrease over-all health and vitality in the herd.
Analyzing what makes an animal superior has led to embryo transplants, when the fertile eggs of a superior cow are planted into the wombs of lesser animals. These surrogate mothers carry the calves and nurture them, but pass no traits along. All the off-spring are direct descendants of the egg donor. This practice can help those who produce breeding stock for sale, but meat production is not necessarily enhanced.
Many farmers find that combining new knowledge with tried-and-true methods from their practical experience works best. Culling has been done by successful producers for generations. This involves the regular removal of less productive animals from the herd, to save on the cost of feeding and care. With knowledge gained from checking genetic records, the herdsman can pair high-producing cows with bulls selected for the traits they pass along that mesh with the rancher's goals for production and herd improvement.
An understanding of the way heredity works is helpful in herd management. It is known now that in-breeding, or breeding animals with similar gene pools, is detrimental to their health and vitality. Out-breeding works better, by selecting animals within the particular breed but in no way related. This improves fertility, the number of live births, the ability of calves to thrive, and total health and productive life of the animals.
Mating animals of two different breeds works even better. This practice results in what is called 'hybrid vigor' in the off-spring. When breeds which complement each other are chosen, the off-spring may enhance the good traits of both parents. There are many fine types of crossbred cattle making profit margins higher around the world.
Artificial insemination, using frozen semen, makes the best bulls available to ranchers everywhere. There are bulls with great performance records for meat production, and others whose strength is producing cows who conceive easily, carry calves successfully, and nurture them well. Things like birth weight, growth rate, and early maturity are all found in genetic records kept by breed associations.
Good herd management and continued prosperity calls for combining traditional methods with the knowledge gained from genetic research. Understanding how careful choice of breeding partners can produce superior animals with the characteristics needed for success can make all the time and effort worth it. There are many fine purebred and cross-bred strains to choose from in the cattle business of today.
Heredity is the passing along of genes from both parents. By breeding for desirable characteristics, ranchers can move positively towards their goals. Sometimes, however, breeding for maximum trait optimization can be detrimental. Line-breeding or in-breeding means mating two animals from similar gene pools. This practice can produce animals that gain weight faster or have superior 'carcass quality', but it can decrease over-all health and vitality in the herd.
Analyzing what makes an animal superior has led to embryo transplants, when the fertile eggs of a superior cow are planted into the wombs of lesser animals. These surrogate mothers carry the calves and nurture them, but pass no traits along. All the off-spring are direct descendants of the egg donor. This practice can help those who produce breeding stock for sale, but meat production is not necessarily enhanced.
Many farmers find that combining new knowledge with tried-and-true methods from their practical experience works best. Culling has been done by successful producers for generations. This involves the regular removal of less productive animals from the herd, to save on the cost of feeding and care. With knowledge gained from checking genetic records, the herdsman can pair high-producing cows with bulls selected for the traits they pass along that mesh with the rancher's goals for production and herd improvement.
An understanding of the way heredity works is helpful in herd management. It is known now that in-breeding, or breeding animals with similar gene pools, is detrimental to their health and vitality. Out-breeding works better, by selecting animals within the particular breed but in no way related. This improves fertility, the number of live births, the ability of calves to thrive, and total health and productive life of the animals.
Mating animals of two different breeds works even better. This practice results in what is called 'hybrid vigor' in the off-spring. When breeds which complement each other are chosen, the off-spring may enhance the good traits of both parents. There are many fine types of crossbred cattle making profit margins higher around the world.
Artificial insemination, using frozen semen, makes the best bulls available to ranchers everywhere. There are bulls with great performance records for meat production, and others whose strength is producing cows who conceive easily, carry calves successfully, and nurture them well. Things like birth weight, growth rate, and early maturity are all found in genetic records kept by breed associations.
Good herd management and continued prosperity calls for combining traditional methods with the knowledge gained from genetic research. Understanding how careful choice of breeding partners can produce superior animals with the characteristics needed for success can make all the time and effort worth it. There are many fine purebred and cross-bred strains to choose from in the cattle business of today.
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