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Grass-finished Genetics
Dan Glenn Deep Grass Graziers
Osierfield, GA
-pop. 26-climate zone 8b-45” avg. precip.-sandy loam soils
-Forage
-Genetics
-Management
3 Keys to Success
What’s the one genetic trait , without question, that’s most important to the economic success of any cow/calf operation?
What’s the one genetic trait , without question, that’s most important to the economic success of any cow/calf operation?
FERTILITY
-Fertility-Convenience traits-Phenotype-Performance-Carcass-Breed
Profitable Longevity
Why Fertility?100 cows @ 1200lbs/cow-wean 50% body weight=600lbs
-80% weaning rate=80 calves -48,000lbs x $2.25/lbs. CWT = $108,000
-90% weaning rate=90 calves -54,000lbs x $2.25/lbs. CWT =
$121,500
FERTILITY PAYS! $13,500
FERTILITY-limit breeding season (23-50 days)-cull opens at preg check-choose heifers from early calving good cows -make cows work in your environment -Bulls get BSE every year
CONVENIENCE TRAITS-functional and structural soundness
Feet &
legs
Udder
Eyes
Disposition
Fertility + Convenience traits= Reproductive Longevity
Heifer development breaks even around year 5
Phenotype the set of observable characteristics of an individual resulting from the interaction of its genotype with the environment.
Who is my market?-wholesale or direct market?-lean/tender or well-marbled/full flavor?
-In order to consistently produce well-marbled, tender grass-finished beef, genetics and forage management must be refined. -Animal gains must be consistent and above 1.5lbs/day.
The lean/tender market is more forgiving because animals can be harvested earlier (800-1000lbs) and do not require the average daily gain necessary to deposit extra fat.
My goal at Deep Grass Graziers is to consistently produce a memorable eating experience.
-avg 1.75 lbs. ADG-finish under 24 months-harvest only when finished (brisket and tail rump fat )
-Moderate frame-Easy fleshing-Big engine
Big Enginegirth, capacity,middle
Feminine with lots of
capacityNot
Slick hair coat-fescue tolerance-extreme heat
Performance -enough growth to finish timely and efficiently - consider weaning percentage, not weaning weights
-can be counter to fertility in programs with intense supplementation or inadequate culling criteria.
Fertility+Convenience traits+Performance= Profitable Longevity
Production records essential to consider Profitable Longevity
Carcass-be wary of single trait selection-mostly important for premium finished market-Yield grade, REA, IMF, Backfat all considerations
EPD’S-Expected Progeny Differences
Breed Selection
“There’s as much variation within breeds as between them.” -Will Harris
British Breeds-angus/red angus-hereford-shorthorn-devon, red poll, murray grey, british white, etc.
Why British Breeds?-smaller framed-easier fleshing -mature earliest-excellent fertility-higher quality grades
Continental Breeds were often bred for triple purpose (meat, milk, draft) and therefore have more growth, muscling, larger frames. Typically improve yield grades and provide hybrid vigor.
Hybrid Vigor (Heterosis)the improved function of biological quality in a
hybrid offspring.
-crossbred calves typically display 2-4%
improvement in growth characterstics
-crossbred mother’s most notably display a 16%
increase in longevity and a 25% increase in
cumulative weaning weights.
-greatest improvement occurs in first cross
-lose consistency
Linebreedingbreeding to common ancestry to concentrate genetics
Prepotency (increased likelihood of transmitting
genes)
“It’s linebreeding if it works, inbreeding if it doesn’t” -Minnie Lou Bradley
Matt Comerford article
https://georgiaorganics.org/for-farmers/line-breeding-for-better-livestock/
Why is Consistency important for grass-finishing?
-consumer expectation (tenderness, size, taste)-management ease (finishing groups, planning forage...)-save your own replacement heifers
Roy Beeby’s 6 essentials for producing and maintaining a maternal herd
1. Each year, eliminate any cow that fails to calve trouble free or wean a calf.2. Select replacement heifer calves from calves that breed early in the calving season and calve unassisted.3. Keep the bred heifers that breed early in the breeding season and calve unassisted.4. Select herd sires with acceptable birth weights from the highest producing females in number 1 and number 3 above.5. Breed the bulls in number 4 above to the females in number 2 and number 3, and continue to practice number 1.6. Do not engage your cattle in any activity or program that interferes or compromises number 1 through number 5.
Questions to ask...
-What are my goals? -What is my market/product?
cow-calf to grass-finish (direct market or
wholesale), market weaned calves, stocker to
grass-finish, grass-finish and seedstock,
replacement heifers...)
Have a plan in place and stick with it. (It’s
okay to re-evaluate)
Choosing Genetics
-look nearby first
-choose seedstock operations with similar management ideals
-match breeding lines to your goals
-ask questions, you are making very important decisions about the future of your herd.
