8 minute read
Maternally Yours
It would be very difficult to argue that the GelbviehCross cow is not a valued part of the cowherd. Besides the tremendous benefits of hybrid vigour, the Gelbvieh influence brings a wealth of quality maternal traits to the mix as well as some added performance to a calf crop.
While maternal influence on calf performance is relatively obvious, it is often difficult to objectively measure the contribution of that female. This becomes very important through this fall season, as weaning records represent the “result” of how each cow did her job. The CGA operates a Herd Assessment program that places the focus on female performance/productivity in order to address this, but it is vital that as a member each cow is reported on every year.
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The first step in a cow’s maternal ability is the ability to conceive. Fertility is a key component of profitability and the first step is getting a cow bred (rebred). Reporting on pregnancy test results is an objective way to start to identify genetics that are fertile within a given contemporary group. Once a cow is bred, we move to the next step.
At calving, other traits are important. As a CGA member you have the ability to report on various “convenience traits”. In essence these represent some of the cow’s ability to save you time and effort. This includes traits such as calving ease, and udder score. It is also possible to report on weight/body condition and frame at this time. Pre-calving scour shots are a good time to collect this weight data.
As the cow progresses through the production year, her ability is expressed through her calf. This certainly includes growth rate on the calf, but it also goes a little deeper. Weaning records on all females, including those that may have lost a calf is key to determining which females and what genetics have successfully or unsuccessfully produced a calf. At weaning, there is also an opportunity to provide weight, condition score and frame size (hip height) information on those females as well. This data can put the pro-
duction of the cow in context of her mature size and if also collected at calving this data can help to show how cows respond to raising a calf and managing their own body condition. Weaning day is a busy affair and cow weights do not have to be collected on the day of weaning, however for optimal evaluation, it is best if cow weights can be collected within a week or two of that weaning date.
It takes a long time to “prove a cow” and with that in mind, it may be worth considering investing in high density DNA testing on replacement heifers. This information, combined with performance and pedigree data can greatly enhance the accuracy of selection at an early age. For example, the value of determining with reasonable accuracy the likelihood of offspring remaining in the cowherd when a female is young, may mean that we keep more daughters from cows with genetics for longevity, rather than waiting until she is much older (proven). A female has genetics for longevity at birth, but without DNA technology, we can’t really measure this until she has expressed her longevity. DNA testing gives us a huge jump on assessing this maternal ability.
While an individual cow may not provide as much contribution to the herd as a sire (1 calf / cow / year vs. multiple calves / bull / year) we need to remember that each cow provides ½ of the calf’s genetics, all of the in-utero environment and much of the pre-weaning environment. For these reasons alone it is worth considering doing some extra measures on heifers before they enter the cowherd. One key measurement that may be missing on heifers is a yearling weight. This data helps to identify growth, but also provides an indication of relative age at puberty. Carcass ultrasound on yearling heifers may also be worthwhile as it provides a female with a lifetime carcass record which will be expressed in her progeny.
Collecting repeated records on a cow herd over time can objectively identify fertility and longevity. These are 2 key pieces to profitability in the commercial cow herd. Stayability is a measure of the probability that daughters will remain in the cow herd until at least 6 years of age, and it is calculated from complete cow herd records. It is as important to know which daughters make the cut and which ones do not. It is vital to report culling/disposal codes on each cow on the herd assessment. This helps to determine if the cow was removed from the herd for a potentially genetic reason or another reason, such as selling her as a bred female.
Gelbvieh is a highly maternal breed that brings a lot to the Canadian beef industry. Consider making some additional investments in your females this fall and over the coming years through data collection and submission. The key takeaway is that if you choose to report on a trait, it is essential that it be reported on every producing female possible. Documenting and providing information for the maternal ability of the Gelbvieh female can add a lot of value to Gelbvieh genetics in the commercial industry.
Maternal Excellence
2021 Dam of Merit & Dam of Distinction Awards
The Canadian Gelbvieh Association is proud to announce the Dams of Distinction and the The Canadian Gelbvieh Dams of Merit Award winners for 2021. These cows represent the very elite of the breed. The Canadian Gelbvieh Association applauds the owners and breeders of these outstanding females.
The Canadian Gelbvieh Association Honors Superior Productive Cows Each year the Canadian Gelbvieh Association recognizes those Gelbvieh females that have proven to have longevity and productivity. Maternal efficiency is a key economical trait for profitability in the beef industry and cows that calve as two-year-olds and have a healthy calf every year for ten to twelve years, have a greater lifetime efficiency than cows that must be culled at a younger age for various reasons. Longevity is essential. Cows that get their job done, year after year, with no problems, simply make more money. The Dam of Merit recognizes cows that meet strict selection criteria including early puberty and conception, regular calving intervals, and above-average weaning weights on at least three calves. A Dam of Distinction honour recognizes cows that meet the same high standards for superior, long-term productivity with at least eight calves.
In order for a cow to be recognized as a Dam of Merit she must:
• All data must be submitted to the CGA office by August 31, 2021
• A Dam of Merit must have produced at least three (3) calves and a Dam of Distinction must have produced a minimum of eight (8) calves.
• Age at first calving must not exceed 25 months
• Produced a calf that was born between January 1, 2020 and March 1, 2021
• Possess a minimum average weaning weight ratio of 101 for all calves
• Maintained a regular calving interval. Average calving interval must not exceed the value calculated using the following formula: (# of calving intervals x 365 days) + 30 days)/# of calving intervals - OR - the female had her third calf before her fourth birthday and maintained a 365 day calving interval thereafter.
Name Dams of Merit Dams of Distinction Total DAVIDSON GELBVIEH PONTEIX, SK 3 36 39 DUANE & LINDA NELSON GLENWOOD, AB 4 21 25 ALEXANDER & KAYLIN SCHULTZ HAY LAKES, AB 2 17 19 LONESOME DOVE RANCH PONTEIX, SK 3 15 18 BRITTAIN FARMS FALUN, AB 1 15 16 FLATLAND RANCH HANNA, AB 0 16 16 HILLSDOWN GELBVIEH RED DEER COUNTY, AB 3 12 15 TWIN VIEW LIVESTOCK PARKBEG, SK 3 9 12 FOURSQUARE FARMS CARSTAIRS, AB 3 8 11 BARRY & ROBIN MADER PRITCHARD, BC 1 9 10 GOODVIEW GELBVIEH PUNNICHY, SK 0 9 9 JACE CATTLE COMPANY BOTHA, AB 0 9 9 KERINESS CATTLE COMPANY LTD. ROCKY VIEW COUNTY, AB 1 6 7 WINDER'S GOLDEN GELBVIEH CAMROSE, AB 6 0 6 JEN-TY GELBVIEH DUCHESS, AB 0 5 5 KOZIAK LAND & CATTLE STAR, AB 0 5 5 RPS GELBVIEH MEDSTEAD, SK 0 4 4 JENSEN RANCH POWERS LAKE, ND 0 4 4 ROCKY TOP GELBVIEH BASHAW, AB 1 2 3 GREEN ACRES CATTLE COMPANY LAMONT, AB 1 2 3 KISKATINAW GELBVIEH DAWSON CREEK, BC 0 3 3
Name Dams of Merit Dams of Distinction Total DAVIDSON GELBVIEH PONTEIX, SK 4 35 39 WINDER'S GOLDEN GELBVIEH CAMROSE, AB 9 20 29 DUANE & LINDA NELSON GLENWOOD, AB 4 23 27 BRITTAIN FARMS FALUN, AB 1 16 17 FLATLAND RANCH HANNA, AB 0 16 16 LONESOME DOVE RANCH PONTEIX, SK 1 14 15 HILLSDOWN GELBVIEH RED DEER COUNTY, AB 3 11 14 BARRY & ROBIN MADER PRITCHARD, BC 1 8 9 FOURSQUARE FARMS CARSTAIRS, AB 0 9 9 JACE CATTLE COMPANY BOTHA, AB 0 8 8 TWIN VIEW LIVESTOCK PARKBEG, SK 1 6 7 MILNE'S GELBVIEH FAIRVIEW, AB 0 7 7 ABEL FARM LACOMBE, AB 1 5 6 KERINESS CATTLE COMPANY LTD. ROCKY VIEW COUNTY, AB 1 5 6 GOODVIEW GELBVIEH PUNNICHY, SK 0 6 6 TWIN BRIDGE FARMS LTD. GOODSOIL, SK 0 5 5 ROYAL WESTERN GELBVIEH RED DEER COUNTY, AB 1 3 4 MCCOY CATTLE COMPANY LTD. MILESTONE, SK 0 4 4 EYOT VALLEY RANCH MILLET, AB 1 2 3 JEN-TY GELBVIEH DUCHESS, AB 0 3 3
