A new genomic test for female cattle can tell a cow/calf producer which to retain for breeding and which to send to the feedlot, and the decision can be made shortly after birth.
Time was, a cow/calf producer trying to improve the genetics of his or her cow herd had to wade through generations of carcass performance data to decide which heifers should have been kept for breeding and which should have been sent to the feedlot. It could take generations to make even small improvements in the pool of desirable genetic traits contained in a single herd.
It doesn’t have to be that way anymore.
INHERIT SELECT
Zoetis, a New Jersey veterinary medicine, biodevices and genetic test developer and manufacturer, now has a genomic test for females called Inherit Select. It is a multi-breed genomic test giving producers predictions for 16 traits and three economic indices.
Predictions from Inherit Select can give commercial cow/calf producers the genetic insights to make replacement female selection and breeding decisions, said Larry Gran, Zoetis cattle genetics specialist, in Belle Fourche, SD.
The Inherit Select test can provide information on things like expected birth weight of the calves a certain female may produce, their weaning weights, docility and udder conformity, Gran said. It also can provide insight into the carcass quality of the tested female’s offspring along with feedlot performance predictions.
Sixteen inheritable traits are highlighted with the Inherit Select test, which form three economic indices, he said. The Cow/Calf Index predicts birth weight, weaning weight, yearling height, docility, scrotal circumference, teat and udder composite, milk and mature weight.
The Feedlot Carcass Index predicts yearling weight, dry matter intake, feed to gain, carcass weight, intramuscular fat, ribeye area and fat thickness, Gran said. Tenderness is forecast but is outside the Feedlot/Carcass Index.
The Total Return Index takes in all of the expected measurable traits in the first two indices except for the tenderness index.
The test also can be used to identify the breed composition of each animal tested, a company release said. Such information can be used to help select the right bulls for breeding in order to harness the power of hybrid vigor, the release said.
MARKETING WITH GENOMIC INFORMATION
As the beef-consuming public becomes more aware of the greater eating quality of well-marbled and tender beef and feedlots remain focused on feed efficiency, such genetic information on the mothers of a set of calves destined for the feedlot could add value to the calves, Gran said.
However, Zoetis still was working on the return on investment for cow/calf producers, he said. It should be helpful to select the right cows and heifers for the breeding herd at least.
But as potential calf buyers become aware of the genomic testing being done by certain cow/calf producers, the reputation could generate more per animal at the time of sale.
Inherit Select costs $28 a head, and a yield-grade and marling test runs $19.50 each.
CATTLE, BEEF RECAP
Fed cattle trading was reported this week at $109 to $118 per cwt on a live basis, down $2 to $3 from last week’s range. Dressed-basis trading was seen at $176 to $187 per cwt, down $2 to $3.
The USDA choice cutout Thursday was down $23.64 per cwt at $272.26, while select was off $16.37 at $260.41. The choice/select spread narrowed to $11.85 from $19.12 with 137 loads of fabricated product sold into the spot market.
The CME Feeder Cattle index for the seven days ended Wednesday was $128.65 per cwt, unchanged. This compares with Thursday’s Aug contract settlement of $134.72, up $0.50.