Ranchers and farmers who raise beef are constantly working to better their bottom line. The price of meat is a variable one, and the key to success is offering high quality while cutting costs whenever possible. Beef cattle genetics are fascinating to scientists who study heredity and genes, but the viewpoint of the producer is purely practical.
Genetics analyze the way heredity works and the pros and cons of manipulation of any breed. For instance, breeding within a gene pool (a breed) can maximize desirable characteristics. Ranchers are always looking for faster growth, faster weight gain, and lower feed requirements for fattening steers. However, line-breeding can cause problems like infertility, lowered resistance to disease and environmental stress, and calves that fail to thrive.
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 producers raise their herds in more or less natural conditions that can be harsh, like the open plains of the American west. For them, strong animals take precedence over those with a few good traits. They still find herd culling - removing unproductive cows - a valuable process. They look to genetic records to choose bulls who pass along fertility, viability, and longevity, as well as good growth and meat production.
Understanding the way heredity works is important in herd management. Animals with similar gene pools can often maximize certain characteristics in their off-spring, like fast weight gain or superior carcass quality. This is 'line' or 'in' breeding, in which two animals with common ancestors are mated. Although the practice can achieve certain goals, it also can weaken the over-all health and vitality of successive generations. For better results in fertility, calf survival, and long productive life, out-breeding is used, which mates animals of one breed but in no way related.
Cross-breeding, or mating a male and a female of two different breeds, works even better. The good traits of each breed are transferred with marked success, with the off-spring often being better than either parent. Careful matching of breed characteristics has produced some fine types of cross-breds with hybrid vigor and resilience.
With artificial insemination, it's possible to use the very best bulls to achieve goals necessary to prosperity. Some producers want to buy yearlings and fatten them for market. For them, fast weight gain and a good feed-to-meat conversion is all important. For the producer of calves, having cows that conceive readily, give birth easily, and nurture their calves well is the goal. For show cattle, good conformation is paramount.
Good herd management practices and making use of genetic records can be key to prosperity. Ranchers put a lot of money and effort into each animal, and they need every advantage to succeed.
Genetics analyze the way heredity works and the pros and cons of manipulation of any breed. For instance, breeding within a gene pool (a breed) can maximize desirable characteristics. Ranchers are always looking for faster growth, faster weight gain, and lower feed requirements for fattening steers. However, line-breeding can cause problems like infertility, lowered resistance to disease and environmental stress, and calves that fail to thrive.
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 producers raise their herds in more or less natural conditions that can be harsh, like the open plains of the American west. For them, strong animals take precedence over those with a few good traits. They still find herd culling - removing unproductive cows - a valuable process. They look to genetic records to choose bulls who pass along fertility, viability, and longevity, as well as good growth and meat production.
Understanding the way heredity works is important in herd management. Animals with similar gene pools can often maximize certain characteristics in their off-spring, like fast weight gain or superior carcass quality. This is 'line' or 'in' breeding, in which two animals with common ancestors are mated. Although the practice can achieve certain goals, it also can weaken the over-all health and vitality of successive generations. For better results in fertility, calf survival, and long productive life, out-breeding is used, which mates animals of one breed but in no way related.
Cross-breeding, or mating a male and a female of two different breeds, works even better. The good traits of each breed are transferred with marked success, with the off-spring often being better than either parent. Careful matching of breed characteristics has produced some fine types of cross-breds with hybrid vigor and resilience.
With artificial insemination, it's possible to use the very best bulls to achieve goals necessary to prosperity. Some producers want to buy yearlings and fatten them for market. For them, fast weight gain and a good feed-to-meat conversion is all important. For the producer of calves, having cows that conceive readily, give birth easily, and nurture their calves well is the goal. For show cattle, good conformation is paramount.
Good herd management practices and making use of genetic records can be key to prosperity. Ranchers put a lot of money and effort into each animal, and they need every advantage to succeed.
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