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Implications of Breed Type Evaluations Larry V. Cundiff Research Leader, Genetics and Breeding Roman L. Hruska U.S. Meat Animal Research Center Agricultural Research Service U.S. Department of Agriculture Clay Center, NE ()(,) Introduction 23.3 Quality, quantity, and cost of feed resources available for beef production vary from one region of the country to another and within regions, depending upon climatic factors and natural 23.3 resources available in specific production 14.8 situations. Diversity among breeds can be exploited by crossbreeding to optimize performance levels 8.5 and to match genetic resources with the climatic environment, feed resources, and consumer Percent preferences for lean and tender beef products. 8.5 Crossbreeding also provides for significant benefits 14.8 of heterosis on components of production efficiency. In this presentation, research results will be reviewed focusing on effects and utilization of 8.5 8.5 heterosis and breed differences, and on the importance of matching genetic potential with Straightbred Straightbred X-bred consumer preferences and the climatic cows cows cows environment. straightbred X-bred X-bred calves calves calves Heterosis Figure 1. Cumulative effects of heterosis for weight of calf weaned per cow exposed to breeding in crosses A crossbreeding experiment involving of Hereford, Angus, and Shorthorns (Cundiff et al., Herefords, Angus, and Shorthorns demonstrated 1974). that weaning weight per cow was increased by about 23% (Cundiff et al., 1974) due to beneficial was significantly greater than that of either effects of heterosis on survival and growth of straightbred Angus or Herefords (Nunez et al., crossbred calves and on reproduction rate and 1991; Cundiff et al., 1992). Crossing of Bos indicus weaning weight of calves from crossbred dams and Bos taurus breeds yields even higher levels of (Figure 1). More than half of this advantage was heterosis, averaging about twice as large as due to use of crossbred cows. Effects of heterosis estimates reported for corresponding traits in are greatest for longevity (Nunez et al., 1991) and crosses among Bos taurus breeds (Cartwright et lifetime production (Cundiff et al., 1992) of cows al., 1964; Turner et al., 1968; Koger et al., 1975). (Table 1). For comprehensive traits such as lifetime production, cumulative effects of heterosis are Rotational Crossbreeding rather large and the performance of each specific cross usually exceeds that of either parent breed. In the experiment involving Herefords, Angus, For example, longevity and lifetime production of and Shorthorns conducted at the U.S. Meat Animal Hereford X Angus and Angus X Hereford cows Research Center (MARC), it was demonstrated that 2004 BEEF CATTLE SHORT COURSE 21 Larry V. Cundiff Simmental, Gelbvieh, Angus, and Hereford; and 1 Composite MARC III was /4 each Pinzgauer, Angus, Hereford, and Red Poll) was compared to performance of the purebreds that contributed to the foundation of each composite population. Effects of heterosis (F1 minus Purebreds) and retained heterosis in advanced generations (F2 = F1 X F1 matings, F3 = F2 X F2 matings, and F4 = F3 X F3 matings) are summarized in Table 2. Heterosis was maintained proportional to heterozygosity in composite populations. Since heterosis is retained Figure 2. Rotational crossbreeding systems. proportional to heterozygosity, significant levels of heterosis can be maintained by rotational crossing significant levels of heterosis were maintained from of F1 seedstock (e.g., F1 cross Gelbvieh X Angus, generation to generation by rotational or Simmental X Hereford) or by rotational crossing crossbreeding of Herefords, Angus, and Shorthorns of composite populations (e.g., Brangus, (Figure 2). The level of heterosis retained was Beefmaster) as well. proportional to expected heterozygosity (Gregory and Cundiff, 1980). It is important to use breeds Uniformity of cattle and greater consistency that are reasonably comparable in rotational of end product can be provided for with greater crossbreeding systems to provide for uniformity precision by use of F1 seedstock or composite in traits such as birth weight to minimize calving populations than by use of rotational crossing of difficulty, size, and milk production to stabilize feed purebreds. For example, with current pricing requirements in cow herds, and carcass and meat systems, cattle with 50:50 ratios of Continental to characteristics. Breed composition fluctuates British breed inheritance have more optimal carcass widely from one generation to the next with characteristics, and experienced fewer discounts for rotational crossbreeding. For example in two-breed excessive fatness (yield grade 4 or more) or for rotation after the sixth generation and on the low levels of marbling (USDA Standard quality average over all generations, 67% of the genes of grades or less) than cattle with lower or higher ratios the cows are of the breed of their sire and 33% are of Continental to British inheritance. This is caused of the breed of their grandsire, the latter being the by a strong genetic antagonism between USDA same as the breed to which they are to be mated. quality grade and percentage retail product (Figure 3). Retail product is closely trimmed (0.0 inches) Composite Populations boneless steaks, roasts, and lean trim (ground beef containing 20% fat). In the Germplasm Utilization Composite populations, developed by inter se Program at MARC, steers representing Continental mating of animals resulting from crossing of two European breeds (Charolais, Simmental, or more breeds, have management requirements Braunvieh, Gelbvieh, Pinzgauer) excelled in retail that are comparable to straight-breeding. Results product percentage but had difficulty grading of a comprehensive experiment involving four USDA Choice because of lower levels of marbling. generations of inter se mating in three composite British breeds (e.g., Angus, Hereford, Red Poll) populations demonstrated that significant levels of excelled in USDA quality grade because of higher heterosis are retained in composite populations levels of marbling but had reduced retail product (Gregory et al., 1999). In this experiment yield due to excessive fat thickness and fat trim. performance of each composite population 1 1 (Composite MARC I was /4 Charolais, /4 1 1 1 Breed Differences Braunvieh, /4 Limousin, /8 Hereford, and /8 1 Angus; Composite MARC II was /4 each Table 3 shows the mating plan for the first 22 MANAGEMENT ISSUES AND INDUSTRY CHALLENGES IN DEFINING TIMES Implications of Breed Type Evaluations Retail Product % Product Retail US Choice Limousin (L), Gelbvieh (G), Charolais (C ), Simmental (S), Braunvieh (B), Pinzgauer (P), Hereford (H), Red Poll (R ), Angus (A), and composites MARC I (M1, ¼ Charolais, ¼ Braunvieh, ¼ Limousin, 1/8 Angus, 1/8 Hereford), MARC II (M2, ¼ Angus, ¼ Hereford, ¼ Simmental, and ¼ Gelbvieh), and MARC III (M3 = ¼ Angus, ¼ Hereford, ¼ Red Poll, and ¼ Pinzgauer). Figure 3. Retail product versus percent USDA Choice in purebreds and composite populations (Gregory et al., 1999). eight cycles of the Germplasm Evaluation (GPE) the 50 most widely used bulls in each breed Program at MARC. Each Cycle is an experiment according to registrations. conducted over a time span of about 10 years. Topcross performance of 34 sire breeds has been Calves were born in the spring and weaned in evaluated in F1 calves out of Hereford, Angus, or the fall at about 7 months of age. Male calves were Composite MARC III (starting with Cycle V) dams. castrated within 24 hours of birth. Following Hereford and Angus sires have been used in each weaning, steers were fed a diet containing about Cycle of the program to provide ties for analysis 2.8 Mcal metabolizable energy per kg dry matter. of data pooled over cycles. Some of the Hereford Data will be presented for steers that were and Angus sires used in Cycle I were repeated in slaughtered in three to four slaughter groups spaced Cycles II, III, and IV (60 to 70s sires). Later, many 21 to 28 days apart. All F1 females were retained to of the Hereford and Angus sires used for the first evaluate growth, age at puberty, reproduction, and time in Cycle IV were repeated in Cycle V (80s maternal performance in three-way cross progeny sires). Similarly, many of the Brahman sires used produced at 2 through 7 or 8 years of age. in Cycle III (70s sires) were repeated in Cycle V and compared to a new sample of Brahman sires Prominent Bos taurus breeds. In Cycle VII born in the 1980s (80s sires). As a general rule in of the GPE Program (Cundiff et al., 2004), the each cycle, about 200 progeny per sire breed were seven most prominent beef breeds in the U.S., produced from artificial insemination (AI) to 20 to according to registrations in breed associations 25 sires per breed. Sires were sampled representing (National Pedigreed Livestock Council, 2002), young herd sire prospects (non-progeny tested were evaluated (Table 4). Angus, Hereford, sires) for each breed. Starting with Cycle VII, about Limousin, Simmental, Charolais, and Gelbvieh had half of the sires sampled were chosen from lists of been characterized in Cycle I or Cycle II of the GPE 2004 BEEF CATTLE SHORT COURSE 23 Larry V. Cundiff Program (Table 3). Red Angus cattle were evaluated Simmental, Charolais, and Limousin sires than for for the first time in Cycle VII. those with Angus and Red Angus sires. Age at puberty was greater in Limousin sired heifers than Sire breed means for final slaughter weight all other sire breeds and younger in Gelbvieh sired (445 days) and certain carcass and meat traits are heifers than in Hereford, Angus, and Red Angus shown in Table 5. The differences for slaughter sired heifers. Breeds that have had a history of weight (445 days) between progeny of Continental selection for milk production (e.g., Simmental and sire breeds compared to British sire breeds were Gelbvieh) reached puberty earlier than breeds that considerably less than when they were evaluated have not been selected for milk production (all 25 to 30 years earlier.