BOLSTER YOUR BEEF
BUSINESS
GENETIC TESTING CAN BENEFIT BOTTOMLINE IN ANY BEEF INDUSTRY SECTOR by Managing Editor Stevie Ipsen For generations cattle production operations have developed their own criterion for culling, for keeping and for bidding. In a cow-calf operation, for example, it might be a tried-andtrue tradition to send a cow down the road if she comes open. A practice like this prevents the genetics of less fertile cows from further influencing genetics in the herd. For a particular feedlot operator, it might be customary to only buy black-hided calves as they have found that black cattle grow faster and grade better than other cattle that have been used at that particular yard. For a commercial operation looking to add to their bull battery, they might only base their buying decisions on the phenotype and disposition of a bull on sale day. Through experience each beef producer has settled on many of their own individual ideas of what will lead to success at their operation, but it goes without saying that there can be holes in some of these selection and culling practices. No operation is a one-size-fits-all model, whether that is due to breed of choice, number of hired hands or geographic location. What works for one may not work for all. As the old adage goes, “You have to spend money to make money.” Cow-calf, stocker and feeders alike agree on that as they are not strangers to spending money for the overall benefit of their operations. Feed, supplements, 26 California Cattleman January 2024
vaccinations, labor and fuel are all examples of the expenses and one cattleman or woman might put into their herd to reap greater returns. While some producers have been slow to adapt to the use of genetic testing, especially in the commercial sector, we have reached a point in time where genetic testing, while still an obvious expense, is as affordable as ever and is paying back producers in spades, no matter what kind of beef operation they run. Seedstock Production For Kurt and Sharon Hertlein of Hertlein Cattle Company, genetic testing was something they were not sure of initially but as they developed goals for their growing business accepted genetic testing as "something they couldn't not do." “We aren’t a big outfit, but we decided that if we wanted to stack up against the products bigger purebred producers were putting in front of buyers, we needed to measure what we had and help our buyers see that we have something valuable to offer as well," Sharon said. “No matter what size of herd you run, genetic testing can help you compare against animals outside of your herd,” Sharon said. “I feel much more confident putting my bulls in front ...CONTINUED ON PAGE 28