Farmer's Weekly (South Africa)
Positioning SA for the future of beef production
In this second of a two-part series, well-known cattle breeder and judge Llewellyn Angus provides more feedback on this year’s Beef Improvement Federation Research Symposium and Convention, held in Loveland, Colorado, in the US, as well as the post-congre
One of the emerging technologies discussed at this year’s Beef Improvement Federation Research Symposium and Convention was the development of grazing distribution phenotypes. Derek Bailey, professor of range science at New Mexico State University, said in his presentation that grazing distribution of livestock was a critical trait. Trials had shown that certain cattle of the same breed, herd and production stage consistently preferred grazing in lower-lying areas (bottom grazers), while others preferred high-lying areas (top grazers).
According to Bailey, the selection of beef cattle for terrain use has the potential to resolve important grazing management issues in the US and elsewhere.
mating decisions
During a workshop on selection and mating decisions, beef genetics specialist Dr Matt Spangler, associate professor at the University of NebraskaLincoln, spoke about the impact of single-step evaluations on selection indices. He said that trying to blend classic estimated breeding values (EBVs) with genomic values into two-step genomic-enhanced breeding values (GEBVs) was problematic. With single-step evaluations, genomic evaluations are considered simultaneously with genetic evaluation, resulting in more accurate GEBVs with no bias towards EBVs or the genomic side. This implies that breeders should not only rely on genotypic data to determine GEBVs, but carry out accurate performance testing of the most important weights and traits, with correct management groupings. The combination of this data together with the genotypic data will deliver the desired GEBVs.
Bull selection
Spangler also presented a workshop in bull selection, during which he advised breeders to start by having clear and specific breeding objectives in order to implement successful selection.
“Identify the selection index that most closely matches your
breeding objective. Be cautious of traits in the index you are using that don’t add economic value to your production system,” he said.
According to Spangler, traits that a breeder uses for breeding and selection that are not in the index must be selected for in tandem with the selection index. In addition, because traits have thresholds, a breeder should look at cut-offs for individual traits.
Once a bull has been ranked on paper it should be visually appraised for structural correctness and other aspects. This is the same approach used in South Africa by Dr Michael Bradfield, a genetics consultant and CEO of Wagyu SA.
visits to beef operations
The post-congress tour included visits to three beef operations: Leachman Cattle Company of Colorado in Fort Collins, Five Rivers Cattle (the world’s largest cattle feedlot company), and the historic Cherokee Ranch and Castle in Douglas County, Colorado.
Leachman markets more than 1 500 bulls, including Angus, Red Angus, Stabilizer composites (a multi-breed composite developed by Leachman), and Charolais. According to co-owner Jim Leachman, the company aimed to test and sell over 1 800 bulls this year. It selects Angus, Red Angus and Stabilizer bulls for maternal traits to maximise cow and calf profitability. Charolais bulls are used in a terminal crossbreeding programme with the female animals. Bulls are produced through a network of 42 co-operatives that run
9 000 breeding cows. Twelve sales are held every year.
During selection, Leachman uses three profit indices: a $-feedlot index, a $-ranch index, and a combined $-value index. These are data-backed genetic selection tools that weigh various economically relevant traits (ERTs) against one other for maximum profitability. The $-ranch index relies on profit from birth to weaning and uses fertility, milk and growth traits. The $-feedlot index relies on profit from weaning to slaughter or marketing, and uses feed conversion, carcass value and carcass weight traits. The typical cow used in the analysis is 75% Angus and 25% Simmentaler.
Leachman’s seedstock producers measure 16 traits, and the database for expected progeny differences (EPDs) is updated weekly. EPDs are numbers that predict the genetic quality of future offspring or progeny of a particular bull, cow or heifer. The database contains nearly one million animals, with 31 000 calves recorded in the last 12 months. The Stabilizer composite sires are used to blend British and European breed traits. Complementarity of parent breeds is also utilised in breeding. For example, Angus genetics are used to improve marbling, calving ease and convenience; Gelbvieh genetics are used to improve the age of sexual maturity, cow and calf efficiency,
‘avoid selection traits that don’t add economic VALUE’
and early growth; Simmentaler genetics are used for growth, milk, muscle, marbling and carcass weight; and South Devon genetics are used for maternal traits, disposition, feed efficiency and marbling.
Five Rivers Cattle
Five Rivers operates 12 feedlots across six US states: Texas, Colorado, Oklahoma, Kansas, Arizona and Idaho. Total capacity is 980 000 head of cattle, making it the largest feedlot in the world. The starter ration used in its feedlots comprises 35% steam-flaked maize, 25% maize silage, 25% ground hay, 5% dried distillers’ grain, and 10% liquids. The intermediate ration contains 45% steam-flaked maize, and the finisher ration is made up of 60% steam-flaked maize, 25% maize silage, 5% distillers’ grain, and 10% liquids. All rations contain micronutrients.
The company follows the Aspen Ridge Natural Beef programme, and its beef is therefore hormone-free, raised without antibiotics, and sourceverified. All sick animals are removed from the programme. Meat delivered is guaranteed by the farmer in a sworn statement, supported by a third party who accepts responsibility for it. The steers in the programme grow for more than 184 days at an average of 1,27kg/day, while steers in a conventional feedlot gain 1,59kg/day over 168 days, with a dry matter conversion rate of 7,5 compared with 5,8. The end weight for steers in the natural beef programme is 617kg, compared with the conventionally reared steers that achieve a weight of 644kg. However, according to Five Rivers, even with this significant difference in performance, the premium price for their ‘natural’ beef more than makes up for it.
sa lags behind in terms of traits, economic indices and GEB Vs
At the company’s Kuner feedlot in Kersey, Colorado, which the tour group visited, 40% of the animals are reared for the natural beef programme.
In South Africa, ‘natural’ beef comes off veld or pasture, with a certain quantity of finisher ration allowed. US natural beef is produced in feedlots, with only a small amount of young beef coming off pasture that is comparable to grass-fed beef.
Zilmax-type hormones are illegal and regarded as taboo by Five Rivers, although ionophores and ‘weaker’, licensed hormone types are used in the traditional programme.
Cherokee Ranch
The post-congress tour also visited the Cherokee Ranch with its Santa Gertrudis cattle in Denver, Colorado. This