The Fruits of Calculated Mating Strategies

By Megan Slater

Summer is winding down, and many producers are starting to see the fruits of their labor through weaning calves and preg-checking females. Everyone hopes to see their calves top the scales and every exposed female that has been turned out on grass now pregnant with a calf. This time of year can really bring the production cycle all together as producers see the rewards of their past mating decisions.

Ideally, those mating decisions have led to improvements in the herd. The majority of genetic improvement in a commercial herd is the direct result of sire selection, making it an important ranch decision. Not only do these decisions result in performance that is seen at weaning, but also affect the herd for several years to come, especially if replacement females are kept. There are, of course, several factors that contribute to a cow producing a live calf that ultimately reaches that desired weaning weight. Aside from nutrition and environment, two influential factors that affect performance of both the cow and the calf she raises are genetics and crossbreeding.

When it comes to the genetics used in a herd, sire selection shouldn’t be taken lightly. Finding a bull that meets the needs of the operation is key to making genetic advancements and improvement in the herd. When producers are looking for their next breeding stock, it’s important to utilize the tools that are available, such as EPDs, including genomically-enhanced EPDs, and indexes to help add confidence in those breeding decisions and take their herd in the right direction.

Unlike raw performance data, EPDs can be used to compare animals from different herds, and even between different breeds. EPDs published by the American Gelbvieh Association are directly comparable to those of Red Angus, Simmental, Limousin and many others. This is made possible through the International Genetic Solutions MultiBreed Genetic Evaluation. This evaluation is a collaboration of several breed associations and is the largest multi-breed genetic evaluation in the world. Across-breed comparable EPDs help take the guess work out of EPD selection for those producers who implement crossbreeding strategies and utilize more than one breed.

A planned crossbreeding strategy is another way to positively impact the performance of both females and calves. Not only can crossbreeding increase growth and performance of the calves, known as individual heterosis, but it also has a positive impact on females all throughout their productive life through maternal heterosis. Crossbred females reach puberty at a younger age, exhibit an increased calving rate, and can stay in the herd longer. Combined, these advantages lead a female to produce more pounds of calf in her lifetime.

Utilizing a crossbreeding system also allows for the opportunity to capitalize on breed complementarity. This is the assessment of strengths and weaknesses of each breed type and applying those that complement each other. Breed complementarity is one of the best ways to describe the benefits of Balancer® cattle. Balancer animals are 25 to 75 percent Gelbvieh with the balance of Angus or Red Angus. They combine the Gelbvieh growth, muscle, leanness, fertility, longevity and low yield grading ability with the carcass qualities of Angus to make an animal that meets today’s modern industry demands. Cattle producers have been breeding Balancer cattle for many years and lead the American Gelbvieh Association to be the first beef cattle breed association to have registered hybrid seedstock in the early 2000s. Today, this combination continues to be successful on the ranch, in the feedyard and even on the rail. FF

“THE MAJORITY OF GENETIC IMPROVEMENT IN A COMMERCIAL HERD IS THE DIRECT RESULT OF SIRE SELECTION, MAKING IT AN IMPORTANT RANCH DECISION.”

— MEGAN SLATER, AGA EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR