February 2012 | www.gelbvieh.org
In this Issue:
Female Stayability has Economic Significance
Advantages of
Paternal Heterosis and Hybrid Bulls
Over the Fence with Bill and Marie Farr From Tobacco to Beef Ultrasound Scanning Beef Cattle for Body Composition
Running Cattle
Female Stayability has Economic Significance Cow-calf producers who consider female stayability are more profitable. Beef cow stayability is an indication of a bull’s daughters’ ability to enter the breeding herd and remain productive at least until six years of age. Stayability is an economically relevant trait and has a large influence on herd profitability. The costs associated with development or purchase of replacement females is substantial. University of Nebraska-Lincoln reports the findings of a detailed study of two well managed herds. The study found that 78 percent of replacement heifers who successfully calved the first time rebred and
at Elevation is No Easy Task
had their second calf. Only 38 percent of these had their fifth calf, 20 percent their eighth calf and 10 percent their eleventh calf. Considering the breakeven price of replacement females, small improvements in female stayability can yield significant profits for cow-calf producers. Animal science researchers note that for a herd to be profitable the number of cows remaining in production past the cows’ breakeven point must exceed the number of cows culled prior to reaching this age. Cows fail to remain in the herd for a number of reasons including failure to breed, loss of a calf, health and growth
Table 1. Gelbvieh Females Stay in Herd Longer Age of Dam
% Stayability Population
Breed Association1 AGA ASA RAAA
3 year
% Success
82%
71%
77%
Total
74,885
365,907
180,584
% Success
74%
62%
67%
Total
74,536
367,886
180,125
% Success
68%
52%
58%
Total
65,182
365,047
168,177
% Success
62%
43%
50%
Total
54,459
262,663
153,203
4 year 5 year 6 year
AGA = American Gelbvieh Association; ASA = American Simmental Association; RAAA = Red Angus Association of America Source: Brigham, B.W., Speidel, S.E., Enns, R.M., Garrick, D.J. Stayability to Alternate Ages. 1
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