Beef Cattle Breeds Breed of Cow That Is Not Common
- Start with the Basics
- Full general Trends
New cattle producers frequently ask, "Which breed should I choose?" This question brings cold chills to many knowledgeable cattle producers and excitement to just as many enthusiastic breeders. The multifariousness of resources and management capabilities of any operation makes this question hard to answer. This publication provides accurate, unbiased information to guide the controlling process. Later reading this publication, you should understand why the but correct answer is, "It depends!"
The two fundamental categories of beef cattle operations are purebred and commercial. The purebred performance requires more time, tape keeping and initial input. The commercial functioning is generally a lower-input, lower-risk blazon of venture. When choosing a brood for either a commercial or purebred functioning, base of operations your conclusion on profitability. Table one illustrates that while production tin be increased by selection for growth, the increased production from crossbreeding is more than rapid and price-effective.
Unfortunately, one of the more influential factors on breed selection is coat color. How many times take yous heard someone say, "I similar 'em considering they're blackness"? Glaze color, whether it is red, black, white, yellowish, gray or mixed, has little to do with performance, simply it does affect how people perceive cattle. A herd of purebred cattle volition mostly be more uniform in coat color than a herd of crossbred cows. At that place are breeds that volition produce all of the colors mentioned above and more. Every bit a producer, you lot must be satisfied with the color and its uniformity or lack of uniformity. Productivity volition suffer, withal, if coat color is a chief option trait. If your breed selection is more than dependent on production and return on investment, make coat selection depression on the listing of criteria.
Traits used in the final selection process should not be afflicted past the type of operation (commercial or purebred). The one unique aspect of the purebred industry is the high-profile advertising and educational programs, such as field days. The purebred cattle market often provides a higher return per cow unit, but at the expense of higher maintenance costs, higher breeding costs, more management inputs and greater risks.
| Tabular array i. Comparison of Production and Profitability between Crossbred Cows, Selected and Unselected Purebred Hereford Cows | |||
| Crossbred | Unselected | Selected* | |
| Pregnancy Charge per unit | 83% | 86% | 79% |
| Avg. Cow Weight | 1,234 lbs | 953 lbs | 1,168 lbs |
| Adj. Weaning Wt. | 612 lbs | 402 lbs | 494 lbs |
| Dogie Crop Weaned per Cow Wintered | 87% | 84% | 73% |
| Weaning Wt. per Cow Wintered | 530 lbs | 338 lbs | 358 lbs |
| Return over Feed Cost | $21.67 | -$9.72 | -$32.42 |
| Adjusted from Ritchie, 1986, MSU Inquiry Report FS-473. * Pick was for increased growth rate. | |||
Outset with the Basics
The factors that influence returns to a commercial operation are dogie crop percentage, weaning weight, market price and almanac cow costs. The following formula outlines how these factors must balance in order to optimize profitability.
| Annual Price per Cow | |||
| Land Feed (grain and mineral) Herd Health | Fertilizer | ||
| Must Equal | |||
| Weaning Weight Growth Rate | 10 Calf Ingather Percentage X Selection | Market Toll Season | |
The factors that influence weaning or marketplace weight and calf crop percentage are most affected by brood choice.
The weaning or market weight of the calves is affected by genetics, milk product of the brood moo-cow, availability of pasture and / or creep feed, and environmental conditions such every bit temperature, etc. Work toward calving 30 to 60 days prior to the best forage season in your expanse. Cow milk production declines after three months; therefore, supplement the nutrient requirements of the growing calf by making loftier-quality forage available. If your forage organization lacks high-quality forages, the selection of a fast-growing, heavy-milking breed would be detrimental to optimum productivity.
Researchers evaluated breed types using varying percentages of European x British and beefiness 10 dairy crossbred cows. When maintained in similar environments, the larger-framed, higher-milking cows had poor reproductive performance. Thus, when genetic potential for milk is loftier a cow?s re-breeding per centum volition exist reduced. The growth potential of the calves will only be met when adequate milk production is available. When milk supply is abundant and forage quantity and quality are marginal, the effect is a reduced calf crop percentage due to low cyclicity and pregnancy rates; therefore, make certain to match your forage production system to the genetic potential of your brood cow herd.
With this "optimum philosophy" in mind, we tin can look at general trends in milk production, growth and reproduction of several breeds in the United States.
In the early 1970s, a research projection was started at the Meat Animal Inquiry Heart (MARC) in Clay Center, Nebraska. The project was designed to evaluate the "recently" imported breeds from Europe and provides the most complete, comprehensive data available. All breeds were not compared, and so some information is non available. Breeds may perform differently in Georgia. The project does provide a valid comparison of the cattle in one mutual environment.
Table two outlines how the breeds compare to the Angus x Hereford crossbred (used equally a standard). The values in the table are listed in ratios. A ratio of 105 indicates a value of 5 percent to a higher place the standard of 100; a ratio of 95 indicates a value 5 percent below the standard. The actual pct is in parenthesis for the percent of cows meaning after the first convenance season and percent dogie crop weaned. Calving difficulty was reported in actual percentage.
Since in that location are more lxx recognized cattle breeds, information technology is impossible to compare them all at once. The breeds are mostly grouped into three types: British, European and Zebu-influence. The Zebu-influence breeds were adult in the Gulf Declension region of the United States.
| Table 2. Comparison of Production Traits of Several Breeds | |||||||||
| Calves | Heifers | Cows | |||||||
| Pct Calving Difficulty | Growth Rate to Weaning | Growth Rate to Yearling | Age at Puberty | % Preg. after first breeding flavour Ratio (%) | % Dogie crop weaned Ratio (%) | % Calving Difficulty | 12 hr. milk production | Weaning wt. per cow exposed | |
| Angus x Hereford | 3 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 (87) | 100 (84) | 13 | 100 | 100 |
| Red Poll | 4 | 98 | 96 | 106 | 98 (85) | 95 (79) | 14 | 123 | 99 |
| South Devon | 12 | 102 | 103 | 102 | 91 (79) | 102 (85) | xv | 107 | 105 |
| Tarentaise | 6 | 103 | 103 | 102 | 111 (96) | 102 (85) | 10 | 130 | 112 |
| Pinzaguer | six | 104 | 103 | 106 | 114 (99) | 102 (85) | 13 | 132 | 108 |
| Gelbvieh | 8 | 107 | 105 | 109 | 107 (93) | 104 (87) | 11 | 137 | 116 |
| Simmental | 15 | 105 | 106 | 100 | 93 (80) | 99 (83) | 17 | 137 | 108 |
| Maine Anjou | twenty | 105 | 108 | 100 | 109 (94) | 103 (86) | 11 | 105 | 112 |
| Limousin | 9 | 101 | 102 | 92 | 88 (76) | 98 (82) | 12 | 91 | 100 |
| Charolais | eighteen | 107 | 106 | 92 | 86 (75) | 96 (lxxx) | 15 | 91 | 101 |
| Chianina | 12 | 106 | 105 | 92 | 99 (86) | 103 (86) | 8 | 100 | 113 |
| Brahman | ten | 107 | 103 | lxxx | 113 (98) | 103 (98) | 1 | 150 | 116 |
| Adjusted from USDA MARC Beef Enquiry Progress Reports, No. ane (1982) and No. 2 (1985) | |||||||||
The American Brahman is equanimous of iii Zebu breeds, while others such as Brangus, Santa Gertrudis, etc. , are composites of the American Brahman and either British or European breeds. The derivative breeds are ordinarily 3/eight Zebu and five/8 British or European. Some of the breeds within the iii categories may be atypical and may not possess all the advantages or disadvantages.
The MARC projection was designed to evaluate equally many of the more prominent breeds as possible. There was too an endeavour to compare bulls that were representative of the brood. It is possible to select a bull of one of the breeds that would exist an exception to the averages. This bull could perform either better or worse than the bulls used in the MARC project. The MARC written report, however, did provide useful information well-nigh relative differences amongst many of the European and Brahman cattle. In selecting a beef breed, apply the MARC information to select breeds that have higher genetic potential for meat and milk. The specific search for a balderdash would be for ane of the breed exceptions in a weak expanse. For example, the faster growing cattle are generally larger at birth and calving difficulty is higher. If your plan needs more than growth, select a bull from one of the growth breeds that has a light birth weight and low nascence weight EPD.
When selecting a breed or individuals within a breed, be aware as well of a phenomenon called "genetic-environmental interaction. " The term merely means that cattle developed under certain atmospheric condition will perform best nether those same or similar conditions. Florida researchers did a classic projection to illustrate this issue. Hereford cattle from a similar genetic base were relocated from Montana to Florida and vice versa. Half of the herds were kept at the original location. Based on the reproductive and growth information, the cattle performed best in the "home" location. Co-ordinate to this bear witness, base the selection of a breed on the level of performance in your environment. The breeds that excelled in the MARC comparison may not fit your programme exactly.
Cattle generally perform at a higher level in northern climates. Heat and humidity are detrimental to most production traits. In a more recent Florida report, Florida bulls gained almost a pound more per day in Montana than their counterparts in Florida. Nevertheless, the Florida bulls out-performed the Montana bulls in Florida and the Montana bulls performed better than the Florida bulls in Montana. Cattle developed in northern climates with free pick corn silage during the winter months will exercise poorly when brought to the humid Due south and turned out on stockpiled fescue and trace-mineral salt for the winter. If your program has been designed to provide limited winter feeding, the calving season should exist in the jump and the breed should be moderate in both growth and milk production. If yous determine to select a fast-growing, heavy-milking breed, provide the necessary feed requirements to achieve optimum performance.
| Brood Types | Advantages | Disadvantages |
| British | ||
| Angus Hereford Shorthorn | Low nascency weight Loftier fertility Moderate milk production Moderate frame size | Lower growth rate |
| European | ||
| Charolais Gelbvieh Maine-Anjou Pinzaguer Simmental South Devon Tarentaise Others | High growth rate Larger frame size High milk production | Increased dystocia Increased maintenance |
| Zebu | ||
| American Brahman British Derivatives European Derivatives | Adaptability to adapt to adverse environments Moderate to high milk product Maximum heterosis in crossbreeding | Lower growth rate Poor carcass quality |
General Trends
The following generalities agree true within and across breeds:
- Faster growth rates = larger nascence weights
Larger nascency weights = increased potential for calving difficulty
More milk product and big frame size = higher feed requirements for equal reproductive performance
Whether your choice is purebred or commercial, or red, black, white or spotted, go along production and profitability high on your priority listing. Select a breed or breeds that your operation can manage and you can feel confident near marketing.
Other breeds fit certain specialty markets. If you are leaning toward a specialty breed that is selected for some trait other than beef product, yous must accept the take chances of a limited market for the run a risk at the college prices sometimes received for the product. Yous may decide to select a breed that is amply available, so replenishing the herd is easier. On the other hand, you may select a breed that is relatively unavailable in your surface area in guild to offering a unique alternative for other breeders. For commercial production, it is of import to recognize that the premium is paid for uniformity. In this case, existence dramatically different tin can hateful more difficult marketing.
Previous revisions by Dan T. Dark-brown, Extension Creature Scientist
Condition and Revision History
Published on Feb 19, 2003
In Review for Major Revisions on Jan 26, 2009
In Review for Major Revisions on Feb 03, 2009
Published with Major Revisions on Oct eighteen, 2010
Published with Full Review on October 01, 2013
Published with Full Review on Aug 09, 2016
Source: https://extension.uga.edu/publications/detail.html?number=C859
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