the
BEEFMASTER Pay Weight
a publication dedicated to serving commercial cattlemen and produced by Beefmaster Breeders United FALL 2021
Vol.7, No. 2
Section 1
www.beefmasters.org
Beefmaster Commits to Sustainability with Efficiency EPDs by Lance Bauer and Jeralyn Novak, Beefmaster Breeders United Beefmaster Breeders United (BBU) is pleased to announce the development and release of their Residual Feed Intake (RFI) Expected Progeny Difference (EPD) and Feed Efficiency Index ($FE). Beefmaster breeders and commercial cattlemen now have the most powerful Beefmaster selection tools at their fingertips. “Both of these efficiency EPDs will assist producers to select animals that are feed efficient and fit into the ever-increasing demand for sustainability in the beef industry,” said Lance Bauer, BBU Director of Breed Improvement. Residual feed intake is a measure of feed efficiency. RFI is the difference between an animal’s actual intake and expected intake based on size and growth of an animal on a feed test. The new Beefmaster RFI EPD utilizes ultrasound measured rib fat in the calculation to help select for animals that will grow and
maintain optimal condition. When examining this EPD it is important to notate that an animal with a lower RFI EPD is expected to eat less and be more efficient, when compared to an animal with a higher RFI EPD. When calculating the RFI for BBU the phenotypic RFI and phenotypic fat are utilized, to select for efficient animals that will maintain body condition, as well as being efficient. All the phenotypes used in the calculation of the new RFI EPD had individual intake data collected at a testing facility. There are testing facilities across the country and different technologies that can collect this data. When analyzing RFI, the contemporary groups that are used are based on the weaning contemporary, the pen the animal is fed in, and the start date of the test. This tool will allow for producers to select for efficient animals that are able to maintain body condition.
Beefmaster Bulls on Feed Test at PX Feeders in Evant, Texas
The new Feed Efficiency Index is referred to as $FE and balances post weaning growth (the growth from weaning to yearling) with the RFI EPD. This index is designed to select for animals that excel in feed efficiency and post weaning growth. This is more of a terminally focused trait since there is a decent amount of pressure that is placed on growth. If selecting for replacement females it would be wise to look at $M and RFI, and balance those two numbers. $FE helps to stop
single trait selection on feed efficiency. Single trait selection on efficiency can lead to selection of animals that do not eat, and in turn do not grow. The new RFI EPD and $FE Index will join an already extensive and powerful group of EPDs and indices that are available to the progressive cattlemen who utilize Beefmaster genetics in their seedstock and commercial cattle operations.
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Quality Colostrum for Beef Calves Source: Boehringer Ingelheim Unlike many other mammals, when calves are born, they enter the world lacking any immunity to disease. To build up the defenses they need, calves are wholly dependent on colostrum from their mothers. And the instant a calf is born, a clock begins ticking on its colostrum intake that can have lasting effects on its health and productivity, says Peggy Thompson, DVM, Boehringer Ingelheim. “Receiving adequate colostrum during those first 24 hours will have a lifelong
impact on a calf in terms of its ability to fend off disease, put on weight, and in the case of heifers, calve early,” Thompson said. “And when it comes to transferring maternal antibodies from the cow to the calf, 24 hours is even too late.” Thompson stresses that producers should do their best to ensure calves are up and nursing within two hours of being born. “After just six hours, a calf ’s gut begins to change, making it more difficult to absorb the immunity-boosting antibodies found in colostrum,” she said.
“As we’ve learned more about colostrum over the years, the general practice has gone from making sure calves are nursing within the first 24 hours, to 12, to six and now the recommendation is two hours.” In addition to antibodies, however, calves also receive critical vitamins, minerals and fats from their mothers’ colostrum, so colostrum quality is another factor to consider and one that producers can impact positively.
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