How breed differences have changed: a look at industry trends anchored by GPE. Larry Kuehn U. S. Meat Animal Research Center

Transcription

1 How breed differences have changed: a look at industry trends anchored by GPE Larry Kuehn U. S. Meat Animal Research Center

2 Breed divergence (2,000 Bull Project) Genetic divergence among breeds the result of generations of selection Results in the breed differences we observe in economically relevant traits

3 Breed comparison at USMARC Germplasm Evaluation Program (GPE) Sample industry sire from breeds of interest Initially designed to evaluation exotic germplasm Cycles I through VIII (30 years) Continuous sampling GPE (current) Sample industry bulls every two years Keep cows and bulls representative

4 SIRE BREEDS USED IN THE GERMPLASM EVALUATION PROGRAM AT THE USMARC Cycle I Cycle II Cycle III Cycle IV Cycle V Cycle VI Cycle VII Cycle VIII F 1 Crosses (Hereford or Angus dams) a Hereford Hereford Hereford Hereford Hereford Hereford Hereford Hereford Angus Angus Angus Angus Angus Angus Angus Angus Jersey Red Poll Brahman Longhorn Tuli Wagyu Red Angus Beefmaster S. Devon Braunvieh Sahiwal Salers Boran Norweg. Red Limousin Brangus Limousin Gelbvieh Pinzgauer Galloway Belg. Blue Sw. Red&Wh. Charolais Bonsmara Simmental Maine Anj. Tarentaise Nellore Brahman Friesian Simmental Romosinuano Charolais Chianina Shorthorn Piedmontese Gelbvieh Piedmontese 3-way crosses Charolais Hereford Hereford Gelbvieh Angus Angus Pinzgauer Brahman Brangus Devon Santa Gertrudis Holstein a Sire breeds mated to Angus and Hereford females, and Composite MARC III (1/4 Angus, Hereford, Red Poll and Pinzgauer) cows in Cycles V, VI, VII and VIII. MARC III Cows

5 GPE Target Population Structure AI Sires: AN, HH, SM, CH, AR, LM, GV, SH, BN, BM, MA, BR, CI, SG, SA, BV Dams: AN, HH, SM, CH, AR, LM, GV, SH, BN, BM, MA, BR, CI, SG, SA, BV PB & F 1 Steers PB & F 1 Bulls PB & F 1 Heifers Natural Service PB, F 1, & F 12 Steers & Heifers

6 Current AI-sired Calves Produced Breed 1/2 3/4 7/8 PB Total Angus Beefmaster Brahman Brangus Braunvieh Charolais Chiangus Gelbvieh Hereford Limousin Maine Anjou Red Angus Salers Santa Gertrudis Shorthorn Simmental Total

7 GPE Program Project has had a large impact Continental breeds are larger/grow faster Established maternal ability of several breeds Demonstrated carcass quality/yield differences among breeds Basis for yearly across-breed EPD adjustment factors Breed differences adjusted for EPD of GPE bulls Producers able to compare sire EPDs from different breeds on the same scale

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9 Impact of GPE Program on Germplasm Used For U.S. Beef Production (National Pedigreed Livestock Council Annual Report) Year British Continental American Total 1000s A H Sh RA Total % C S L G Total % Bm SG Brg Bfm Total % , ,

10 Breed differences Currently reevaluating prominent breeds in GPE to re-estimate breed differences Shift from exotic germplasm evaluation Why bother? We already know the breed differences, right? Continental breeds grow faster, British breeds are more maternal. Breed differences are not constant!

11 Ideals can change

12 Genetic Trends for Birth Weight, lb Hereford Angus Red Angus Simmental Gelbvieh Limousin Charolais Adapted from Spring 2009 Genetic Trends from Breed Associations and 2011 AB-EPD factors

13 Genetic Trends for Weaning Weight, lb Hereford Angus Red Angus Simmental Gelbvieh Limousin Charolais Adapted from Spring 2009 Genetic Trends from Breed Associations and 2011 AB-EPD factors

14 100 Genetic Trends for Yearling Weight, lb Hereford Angus Red Angus Simmental Gelbvieh Limousin Charolais Adapted from Spring 2009 Genetic Trends from Breed Associations and 2011 AB-EPD factors

15 Genetic Trends for Maternal Milk, lb Hereford Angus Red Angus Simmental Gelbvieh Limousin Charolais Adapted from Spring 2009 Genetic Trends from Breed Associations and 2011 AB-EPD factors

16 100 Genetic Trends for Yearling Weight, lb Diff = 38 lb Diff = 0.4 lb 25 Diff = 61 lb Angus Simmental Adapted from Spring 2009 Genetic Trends from Breed Associations and 2011 AB-EPD factors

17 MEAN ANNUAL CHANGE FOR GROWTH TRAIT EPDs IN SEVEN PROMINENT BEEF BREEDS a (lb/yr) Breed (range in yrs) BW WW YW Milk Angus ( ) Hereford ( ) Red Angus ( ) Mean Simmental ( ) Gelbvieh ( ) Limousin ( ) Charolais ( ) Mean a Adapted from breed association web sites, 2007 genetic evaluations

18 GPE Cycle VII Mating Plan 22 Angus 21 Hereford (12 Polled, 9 horned) 21 Red Angus 20 Simmental 23 Gelbvieh 23 Charolais 20 Limousin About half of the sires were chosen from lists of the top 50 bulls in each breed based on registrations (list of 100 Angus, Hereford (50 polled, 50 horned). Remaining sires represented young herd sire prospects (unproven by progeny test, < 3 years of age) Matings were by artificial insemination to Angus, Hereford, and composite MARC III cows (1/4 each Angus, Hereford, Red Poll and Pinzgauer) to calve in spring at 4 years of age or older.

19 SIRE BREED MEANS FOR FINAL WEIGHT AND CARCASS TRAITS OF F1 STEERS (445 DAYS) Final Retail Marb- USDA WB Sire wt product ling Choice shear Breed N lb Breeds % have lb sc not % lb converged for Hereford Angus carcass traits Red Angus Simmental Gelbvieh Should they? Limousin Charolais LSD <

20 Basically current breed differences

21 Differences in Cow Weights Are we changing efficiency through selection for growth?

22 BREED GROUP MEANS (DEVIATIONS FROM HA & AH) FOR MATURE WEIGHT (ADJUSTED TO CONDITION SCORE OF 5.5) OF F1 CROSS COWS IN CYCLES I AND II (BIRTH YEARS: ) COMPARED TO CYCLE VII (BIRTH YEARS ), LB (0) (- 6) (- 11) (- 92) (- 24) (- 44) (64) (75) (33) (118) 1137 (0) Cycle I & II Cycle VII 400 HA + AH Red Ang Simm Gelb Lim Char

23 Cow weight differences same? Compare Cycle VII females to new GPE sampling ~8 years between bull sampling Oldest cows only 3 in new GPE sampling Mature weight limited Earlier weights are a proxy (highly correlated) Weights at ~550 and 920 d (1.5, 2.5 yr) Data not precise yet but give an indication

24 Palpation weight (~550 d) Breed New GPE weight Cycle VII weight Angus Hereford Red Angus Charolais Gelbvieh Limousin Simmental Brahman 946 Braunvieh 800 Chiangus 916 Maine Anjou 915 Santa Gertrudis 951 Salers 901 Shorthorn 934

25 Palpation weight (~920 d) Breed New GPE weight Cycle VII weight Angus Hereford Red Angus Charolais Gelbvieh Limousin Simmental Brahman 1177 Braunvieh 966 Chiangus 1138 Maine Anjou 1198 Santa Gertrudis 1114 Salers 1094 Shorthorn 1125

26 Cow Weights Some breeds have moderated while others are larger than Cycle VII Seems to be a real opportunity for breed complementarity These results are preliminary Would like a few more years of data.

27 Conclusions Breed comparisons remain important for several economically relevant traits Breed convergence dilutes the impact of breed complementarity Need to recognize there are clear leading breeds in some roles and take advantage Differentiating the breed more important than selecting to be the same

28 Conclusions Mature weight Weaning and yearling weight highly correlated to mature weight Increased yield comes at a cost in the cow herd Important to use terminal bulls on moderate cows Common breeds have all increased mature weight Need to capitalize on differences Use selection tools to moderate maternal lines

29 Questions