u STEPS TO SUCCEED WITH BXD

3 STEPS TO SECURE HIGHER PREMIUMS FOR BEEF X DAIRY CATTLE

Lauren Kimble, ProfitSOURCE supply chain logistics, Select Sires Inc.

No matter a dairy’s size, location, or breed preference, a beef x dairy (BxD) strategy is a viable source of profit. It is no secret that a beef-cross calf can bring over $100 more than a dairy calf. Previously, packers were pressed to sort through beef, dairy and beef-cross cattle. However, the recent influx of crosses into the U.S. beef supply chain has pushed packers to identify superior and inferior BxD cattle, too. In fact, as presented at the 2022 Midwest American Society of Animal Sciences (ASAS) meetings, BxD cattle of known, elite genetics strongly outperformed commodity BxD in average daily gain (ADG) and dry matter conversion in the feedlots, as well as in percentage of carcasses graded Choice on the rail.

Cheap cleanup semen just won’t cut it anymore, but how do we ensure the packers know what they’re getting? How do we influence the chain so that these higher prices at the end of the line are reflected in what is paid to the dairy producer at the beginning? This is where Select Sires’ ProfitSOURCE® program comes into play. The program emphasizes three key needs to garner the best return on your investment. From calf care at birth, identification and record-keeping for confident traceability and strategic partners for secure market access, ProfitSOURCE is the industry’s most complete program for value-added BxD and straight-bred beef embryos.

1

Calf Care

ProfitSOURCE BxD calves have an edge over commodity calves when it comes to care. Proper colostrum management means a more vigorous immune system for life and lower risk assumed by the calf ranches. ProfitSOURCE calf care requirements build trust, so the premiums paid by the calf buyer to the dairies remain high. For more information about Select Sires’ elite BxD calf care products, check out the Herd Management Solutions portfolio referenced on page 6.

2

Traceability

Program calves have a significant advantage over commodity calves in traceability. Herds enrolled in specific supply chain programs enter calf EID and parentage, and calves are then known through their lifetime. As consumers demand the farm-to-table story, our partners are willing to pay more for a calf of known, elite genetics. What’s more, we can use data collected throughout each calf’s lifetime to determine how our genetics perform, whether it’s health, efficiency or carcass merit. This in turn allows us to build an elite lineup of BxD genetics tailored to both the dairy and our partners’ needs.

3

Market Access

Supply chains are not one-size-fits-all. ProfitSOURCE offers many options to fit the needs of the dairy and make the most out of each pregnancy. Whether it be enrolling in a defined supply chain, or using our elite genetics independently and selling on the open market, ProfitSOURCE has an option to complement each dairy.

Remember, our unique partnerships set us apart from the rest of the industry and provide consistent market access for the long haul – so if your dairy is located in a region of the U.S. where a program is available, it is a strong option. Not to worry, though – the ProfitSOURCE tags are recognized on the open market too, with calves performing well everywhere from local sale barns to Superior Livestock video auction. u

Power Genetics is available to Holstein herds in the Great Lakes region and features a SimAngus™ sire lineup and a new competitive pricing contract. Power Genetics has great packer access at Cargill, marketing 5,000 head per week on their own grid.

TD Beef features our most elite lineup of terminal genetics. Calves are purchased as day-olds and raised at Tuls and LoneStar Calf Ranches before finishing at Friona Industries, and selling on the grid at Cargill. Due to Cargill’s and Friona’s interest in sustainability and traceability, TD Beef has requirements for entry and sharing of calf data. The program is available in select regions to Holstein and Jersey herds. While enrolled dairies have the right to sell into the TD system, they are not obligated and may pursue other marketing options.

Superior Wagyu is an up-and-coming addition! This program will offer elite Wagyu genetics to Jersey herds with data-sharing and traceability of importance. This chain leads right to retail, with the final product marketed under sought-after brands such as Mishima Reserve brand.

We’ve started to link up Friona Industries with some of our herds who can raise their crossbreds to a higher weight as a direct-tofinisher marketing option. This also presents a great opportunity for herds interested in HerdFlex® embryos.

SimVitro® HerdFlex® embryos offer a new approach to generating high-performance beef calves on your dairy operation. With this IVF solution, you can get full-beef calves that have calving ease and deliver value through improved feed efficiency, rate of gain, ribeye area and marbling. To discover if HerdFlex is a match for your operation, check out this episode of The Select Sires Podcast.

ProfitSOURCE sires have been selected for crossbreeding on Holsteins and Jerseys. These sires excel for calving ease, growth performance, carcass merit, and they offer elite fertility to maximize reproductive performance. The lineup of ProfitSOURCE sires will include elite terminal beef bulls designed to meet specific genetic criteria.

BEAT THE HEAT WITH BEEF EMBRYOS

Jeremy Howard, Simplot Animal Sciences

To remain profitable, a dairy must be effective at getting cows pregnant in a timely fashion. This can be particularly challenging during the summer due to the effects of heat stress. It has been estimated that heat stress costs the dairy industry $1.5 billion each year in lost revenue due to reduced milk production and reproduction. During times of heat stress, reproductive rates can fall as much as 50 percent.

Rising temperatures, humidity and solar radiation during the summer months are responsible for heat stress. Researchers have developed a temperature-humidity index (THI) to gauge the level of heat stress an animal experiences. The index is calculated using ambient temperature and relative humidity readings. Research indicates that a lactating dairy cow begins to experience heat stress when the THI meets or exceeds 70. A THI of 70 would correspond with 70°F at 100 percent humidity.

How does heat stress affect your herd?

Heat stress causes a reduction in fertility associated with oocyte quality. Impacts on oocyte quality can be observed for the next two to three heat cycles, which is why it takes a couple of months following the end of heat stress for reproductive rates to rebound. The oocytes are less fertile because of the exposure to heightened temperatures while they grow and reach maturity.

Additionally, heat stress can impact reproductive rates by increasing early embryonic death. It has been shown that an embryo is highly susceptible to early embryonic death when heat stress occurs immediately following conception, thus reducing conception and pregnancy rates.

Decrease heat stress effects

To overcome the effects of heat stress, researchers have used assisted reproductive technologies such as superovulation and in-vitro fertilization (IVF).

These technologies allow for the transfer of an embryo that is seven days of age. It has been found that at this point in development, the embryo is resistant to many of the effects of heat stress. Additionally, these technologies allow for the possibility of collecting embryos when there is no heat stress and preserving them for use in times of heat stress. Early research using embryo transfer indicated that embryos transferred during summer months were quite successful and resulted in pregnancies.

Additional studies using either fresh superovulated embryos or IVF-produced embryos during times of heat stress have shown increased pregnancy rates when compared to A.I. Studies comparing cryopreserved and fresh embryos to A.I. are limited but have shown tremendous promise.

In 2011, researchers at the University of Florida and Texas A&M University published a study comparing A.I. to fresh and vitrified IVF embryos. They found that fresh and vitrified embryos had higher pregnancy rates than those of A.I. • Animals receiving a fresh embryo achieved a pregnancy rate double that of A.I. (42.1 percent vs. 18.3 percent). • Animals receiving a vitrified embryo achieved a higher pregnancy rate compared to A.I. (29.3 percent vs. 18.3 percent).

Investigating embryo opportunities

During the summer of 2019, Minnesota/Select Sires Cooperative, Inc. conducted the initial trials with SimVitro® HerdFlex® embryos to determine if full-beef embryos could be a profitable diversification option for dairy operations. The trial herd showed a boost in reproductive rates for the HerdFlex beef embryo group over the conventional beef semen group. During the summer heat stress period, the HerdFlex beef embryos exhibited more than 5% higher conception rates than conventional beef semen (See Table 1).

Traditionally, conventional embryo flushing and IVF have been used to increase the number of offspring from genetically superior animals, and the cost associated has been too high to implement in commercial dairies. However, more recently, IVF technology has been adapted, making embryos less expensive and more available to dairies.

For herds honing in on their reproductive performance during hot seasons, HerdFlex beef embryos can be a profitable solution. In addition to fertility performance, full-beef embryos can lead to greater opportunities in the beef market. As with any decision, a cost-benefit analysis should be performed to determine if this technology is right for your operation. Contact your local Select Sires representative today to review your goals and decide if HerdFlex can bring more value to your dairy. u

Table 1: HerdFlex Beef Embryos vs. Beef Semen During Summer Heat Stress

HerdFlex Embryos Beef Semen

Number of Transfers/Breedings 228 1,288

Pregnancies 91 438

Conception Rates 39.91% 34.01%

INTERPRETING LINEAR PROFILES

NEGATIVE VALUES AREN’T ALWAYS A BAD THING

Kevin Jorgensen, senior sire analyst, Select Sires Inc. Rick VerBeek, senior sire analyst, Select Sires Inc.

Historically, dairy farmers have viewed negative Standard Transmitting Abilities (STAs) as just that – negative and undesirable. The phrase “left-sided linear” carries a poor or bad connotation. Often times, sires with these types of linear profiles are pushed to the wayside and not used in breeding programs. Farmers pose a valid question, “Why would I use a bull with a negative linear?”

To address this concern, let’s look at industry-wide herd goals. Throughout the U.S. and around the world, many dairy farmers aim to reduce body size or slow the increasing trend for stature. To achieve this, sires with negative linear evaluations for traits like Stature (ST), Strength (SR) and Thurl Width (TW), will be instrumental. With the most ideal mating, sires with negative linears can greatly influence phenotypic progress in these herds.

There’s a lot to consider when looking at linear evaluations in sire selection. First, it is important to familiarize yourself with linear classification scores. Next, we’ll dive into bell curves and standard deviations to better interpret the linear bar charts and make comparisons to the phenotypic performance - what you will see in the barn and milking parlor. And finally, it’s paramount to consider the influence of base changes and the need to reset perspective.

Understanding linear classification scores

Holstein classifiers evaluate 18 individual type traits using a linear scoring system to describe or measure each trait. They use a scale of 1-50 to assign a numeric score to each trait rating them from one extreme to the other. For some traits like Rump Angle and Leg Side View, a 25 is considered desirable. These scores are the foundation of the information used to calculate the genetic evaluations for type traits, which are expressed as STAs.

Linear Score of 1 = 50-inch cow Linear Score of 25 = 55-inch cow

Linear Score of 35 = 57-inch cow Linear Score of 50 = 60-inch cow

Transforming linear scores to STAs

Those linear scores are then put into a genetic evaluation and displayed as STAs. For linear type traits, STAs are generally expressed on a scale from -3 standard deviations to +3 standard deviations with 0 defined as the average for the base birth year population. There is a 68 – 95 – 99.7 rule when understanding STAs, meaning 68 percent of the values fall within 1 standard deviation of the mean, 95 percent of the values fall within 2 standard deviations of the mean, and about 99.7 percent of the values fall within 3 standard deviations of the mean. On the bell curve and in Select Sires’ linear trait bar charts, this means that half of the population will have a negative number and half the population will have a positive number. Simply put, a negative or left-side linear isn’t conventionally bad, but instead further evaluation and consideration of herd goals and phenotypic performance is important.

The influence of base changes

Don’t forget that linear evaluations are subject to base changes. The current STAs are based on the average PTAs of cows born in 2015. Base changes occur every five years and show the genetic change over that time frame. Most recently, we noted the change from 2010 to 2015. The 2020 base change revealed that cows born in 2015 were much larger than cows born in 2010 and the linear evaluations for ST, SR, Body Depth (BD) and TW reflected this increase. The 2020 base change shows the trend for increased size is slowing, but it is still increasing.

To moderate size in the cow herd, key-in to these linear frame evaluations. For example, when mating a breed average cow to a sire with a -2.00 STA for Stature, farmers can expect the mature daughter to be around 57 inches tall.

We have to reset our expectations of what the STAs represent, especially for frame traits. How we interpret a +1.00 STA today is much different than how it was interpreted 10 and 20 years ago. Research shows that a -2.00 Stature score in 2021 is nearly equivalent to a +1.00 STA from 2000 and similar comparisons can be made for other traits, including Strength and Body Depth. Not only does the genetic base change, but industry trends shift, herd goals evolve, culling preferences are modified and genetic technology advances. For more information about linear evaluations, contact your local Select Sires representative and discover how these “left-sided” linears can make phenotypic strides to meet your herd goals. u

Base Changes 2020 2015 2010

ST .47 .81 .70 SR .20 .36 .45 BD .14 .47 .57 TW .36 .61 .53

Average Mature Daughter Score Corresponding to Linear Type Trait STA of Sire when Mated to Breed Average Cows (Source: Holstein USA)

Linear Type Trait -3.00 -2.00 -1.00 0.00 +1.00 +2.00 +3.00 Stature 32.2 34.0 35.8 37.6 39.4 41.2 43.0 Strength 28.7 29.9 31.1 32.4 33.6 34.9 36.1 Body Depth 29.7 31.1 32.5 33.9 35.2 36.6 38.0 Dairy Form 28.7 29.9 31.1 32.4 33.6 34.8 36.0 Rump Angle 18.5 20.1 21.6 23.2 24.7 26.3 27.8 Rump Width 29.3 30.5 31.7 32.9 34.1 35.3 36.6