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Balancing growth, carcase and fertility in your breeding program

Adapted from an article by Peter Parnell

The increasing focus on “customer requirements” presents a major challenge for modern beef producers. While backgrounders, finishers, feedlotters and processors continue to push for faster growing cattle with improved carcase yield and quality there is an ongoing need to maintain on-farm productivity in the commercial breeding herds. Continued selection pressure will be required to maintain and improve reproductive performance, maternal ability and cow efficiency.

Fortunately, breeders have access to GROUP BREEDPLAN Estimated Breeding Values (EBVs) for a range of traits of importance to each segment of the beef supply chain. Through the careful use of EBVs, together with visual assessment of market suitability, maturity type and structural soundness, it is possible to achieve a high probability of selecting the best animals to meet your particular production situation and customer requirements.

There are a number of important principles that you should consider when planning a balanced breeding program. The first, and most important step, is to establish a clear set of breeding objectives for your herd. This involves analysing the current performance of your herd and comparing this with the anticipated requirements of your future customers and with your herd production targets. Once you have completed this exercise you will be well situated to specify the characteristics required in replacement breeding stock to meet your breeding goals.

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