Designing Genetics and Selection for Seedstock

Breeders, Commercial Cattlemen and Show Ring Enthusiasts

ASA Fall Focus 2015: Confidence Builds Success

Scott P. Greiner, Ph.D.Extension Animal Scientist

Virginia Techsgreiner@vt.edu 540-231-9159

Putting Genetics to Work

What are your herd goals?

How fast can you get there?

What do you focus on?

Seedstock

Cow-Calf

Processor

Feeder

Consumer

Genetic Improvement∆G

Rate of genetic change influenced by:• Accuracy of selection• Selection intensity• Generation interval

Accuracy and Possible Change

  BWEPD

BIFAccurac

y

PossibleChange

“true” EPD

RangeSire A +1.0 0.25 ±2.0 -1.0 to

+3.0Sire B +1.0 0.90 ±0.3 +0.7 to

+1.3

Magnitude of Selection

Simm

CE EPD

WW EPD

MB EPD

top 20% +11.6 +70 +0.26

bottom 20% +5.8 +55 +0.00

Difference 5.8 % 15 lb. 26 MS

Simm Hybrid

CE EPD

WW EPD

MB EPD

top 20% +13.7 +68 +0.51

bottom 20% +7.1 +51 +0.13

Difference 6.6 % 17 lb. 38 MS

Genetic Progress in Multiple Traits

Application of well-designed crossbreeding system• Heterosis• Breed Complementarity

Effective use of EPDs• Within Breeds• Across Breeds

AssumptionsMaximum profitability in cow-calf

sector is associated with crossbreeding (primarily through maternal heterosis)

Angus, Red Angus, and Hereford are the British breeds of choice and compose primary base of US cow herd

Continental x British crosses are most desirable for optimizing goals of cow-calf, feeder, packer, and consumer

Breed Average EPDs: Across Breed Basis

BW WW YW Milk MB REA FT

Angus +1.4 +50 +88 +23 +0.46 +0.41 +0.01

Red Angus +1.8 +30 +56 +21 +0.09 +0.11 -0.02

Hereford +5.9 +45 +52 +2 -0.26 +0.22 -0.05

Simmental +5.5 +58 +82 +25 -0.25 +1.20 -0.19

Simm Hybrid

+4.3 +55 +82 +25 -0.06 +1.02 -0.17

Simmental among Continental breeds:Higher CE, maternal CE, WW, YW, QG, and feed efficiency

0

-25

25

100

75

50

Diff = 61 lb

Diff = 38 lbDiff = 0.4 lb

Angus Simmental

Kuehn, US MARC

Major Breed Differences Today

Continental vs. British breeds Continental breeds have dramatically reduced birth

weights and improved calving ease over last 30 +years

Angus and Red Angus sire lightest BW calves with most calving ease

Daughters of Continental and British breeds similar in reproduction, calving ease, calf survival and similar in mature size

Breed differences in weaning weight and milk much smaller than 30+ years ago

British and Continental sired progeny do not differ significantly in postweaning growth or efficiency of live weight gain

Large differences exist between British and Continental breeds for carcass traits

Sire breed least squares means for height, condition score, and Sire breed least squares means for height, condition score, and weight of Fweight of F11 cows (adjusted for condition score) at 4 years of age cows (adjusted for condition score) at 4 years of age

Four-yr-oldFour-yr-old Four-yr-oldFour-yr-old Four-year-oldFour-year-old

BreedBreedHeightHeight

ininCondition Condition

ScoreScoreWeight / (Adj. Weight / (Adj.

Wt.) Wt.) LbLb

HerefordHereford 53.1ab 6.47a 1360 a (1348a)

AngusAngus 52.5bc 6.54a 1348 a (1342ab)

Red AngusRed Angus 52.2c 6.63a 1342 a (1321ab)

SimmentalSimmental 53.6a 6.40ab 1357 a (1353a)

GelbviehGelbvieh 52.9abc 6.01c 1273 b (1282b)

LimousinLimousin 53.5a 6.13bc 1320ab (1330ab)

CharolaisCharolais

LSD <0.05LSD <0.05

53.3ab

0.8

6.47a

.29

1344 a (1339ab)

54 (51)

source: Cundiff et al., 2005, Germplasm Evaluation Program

SimmentalComplimentary traits to Angus

• Muscle/Red Meat Yield• Growth• Efficiency• Maternal

Maintain• Marbling/QG• Calving ease• Market acceptability (phenotype,

color)• Mature size

Commercial Breeding Programs

Merchandise poundsGoal:

• Output per unit of input• Optimize performance within resources

while maintaining low cost

Tools• Selection pressure (within and across

breeds)• Breed differences• Mating system

Better Feeder Cattle…

Effectively Immunized

High GrowthEfficient Growth to

PayweightMeet Carcass

Target Specifications

Properly PackagedRight Price

Sire Profit

Rankings:

Feedyard

TCSCF, Strohbehn & Busby, 2014

Post Weaning Trait Correlations with

Lifetime ProfitabilityFinal Wt. 0.80Feed:Gain -

0.34ADG 0.67Carcass Wt. 0.85RE 0.51YG 0.15MB score 0.32CH- and up

0.35

Health cost-0.23

Cost of gain -0.41

TCSCF, Strohbehn & Busby, 2014

In Search of the Optimum Cow….

Calves successfully at 2 years, annually thereafter, with minimal calving difficulty

Weans valuable calf annually that fits demands of marketplace and satisfies consumers

Highly adapted to environment and managerial resources

Optimizes revenue vs. costs of production over long life

Returns a profit!

Maternal HeterosisAdvantage of the Crossbred Cow

Advantage of crossbred cow vs. straightbred• Reproductive efficiency• Maternal ability• Longevity

Increased lifetime productivity

Maternal heterosis accounts for largest portion of total heterosis advantage (60%)

Heritability and Heterosis of Various Traits and Their Impact on Components of Cow-Calf

Profitability

Trait Heritability

HeterosisImpact on Production

Costs

Impact onProduction

Output

Reproduction

Low High Favorable Positive

Calf Survival

Low High Favorable Positive

Longevity Low High Favorable Positive

Milk 20% Mod. Variable Positive

Calving Difficulty

15% Mod. Unfavorable Negative

Mature Size 50% Mod. Variable Positive

Calf Weight 40% Mod. Variable Positive

Genetic Targets OPTIMIZING

PRODUCTIVTY

Reproduction Calving

Ease/Survival Growth Maternal Ability Carcass Merit

MANAGE COSTS OF PRODUCTION

Reproduction Mature Size Milk Production Stayability

Benchmarks: PB Simm

Benchmarks: Simm Hybrid

Key Traits: Cow-Calf Calving Ease Direct Growth (weaning, post weaning) Carcass merit- RE, MB Maternal Calving Ease Milk Reproduction, Longevity, Stayability Mature size/frame Coat color Udder quality Phenotype

TSI

API

Seedstock ProgramsMerchandise breeding value

(genetics)Goal:

• Provide superior genetics for use by commercial producers

• Optimize investments in technology and costs of production with revenue

Tools• Selection pressure• Technologies

Seedstock: KeysFocus on the profitablity of their

customersBase decisions on data and

customer feedbackParticipate in total herd

enrollmentUtilize genetic technologiesEngaged in the success and

challenges of their customers

Genetic Positioning for the Future

Where have we been?Where are we now?Where are we going?How do we get there?

Beef Operations, Inventory, and Herd Size

Small Herds90% operations44% inventory

Large Herds10% operations56% inventory

NASS, USDA

Basic Principle of Genetic Improvement:

Any trait(s) of relevance must be measured and recorded to provide a

benchmark and basis for moving forward!

Importance of THEEPDs for economically relevant

traits which are particularly important to cow-calf producers• Reproduction• Stayability

Enhanced accuracy of selection for all reported traits (ie. better EPDs)

Sire Dam

WW EPD +40 WW EPD +30

WW EPD +40

WW EPD +35Individual Performance

Few Progeny

WW EPD +45

WW EPD +47

Many Progeny

Pedigree Estimate Low Accuracy 0.05-0.20

Low-Medium Accuracy 0.20-0.35

High Accuracy 0.80-0.99

Medium Accuracy 0.60-.80

Genomics

Genomic Influence on ACC

Genomic results incorporated into EPDs as correlated trait

Impact on ACC dependent on proportion of additive genetic variance explained by genomic result• Most traits 36-49%

Similar to 8-20 progeny records (trait dependent)

Influence of Information on EPDs and Accuracy

Yearling Bull- pedigree + own CE, BW, WW, YW (smaller amount of data)

  CEDEPD

BW EPD

WWEPD

YWEPD

MilkEPD

+70.05

+1.90.05

+570.05

+1010.05

+220.05

+ genomics

+70.35

+1.00.35

+610.29

+1070.32

+230.24

GenomicsGenetic predictors for hard to

measure traits• Tenderness• Carcass• Heifer pregnancy• Intake/efficiency

Enhanced API

What about genetic diversity?

Genetic variation within breed is important to minimize inbreeding while allowing continued genetic progress

Pedigree diversity without compromising genetic merit

Key Traits: Cow-Calf Calving Ease Direct Growth (weaning, post weaning) Carcass merit- RE, MB Maternal Calving Ease Milk Reproduction, Longevity, Stayability Mature size/frame Coat color Udder quality Phenotype

TSI

API

Seedstock

Is Phenotype Economically Relevant?

Heritabilities of Phenotypic Traits

Stature (height) .60

Body length .39 Muscling .42 Capacity .44 Femininity .32 Rear legs (hock

set) .12 Foot/pastern

angle .13 Udder

attachment .23 Udder depth .35 Teat size .39

Kirschten, 2002

History of Showing Livestock

Historically to Promote IdealsEstimate Animal ValueEncourage Quality and Genetic

ChangePromotion of Livestock and Meat

IndustryPromotion of Individual ProgramsYouth Education and

Development

Today?Promotion of Individuals and Programs

Youth Development and Education

Promote Phenotypic IdealsAdd Value…..Promote Positive Genetic Change?

History of Performance Shows

Several Breeds Have ExperienceSimmental and Red Angus Substantial Cost…..Substantial Value?Created vs. Mitigated Controversy?Variation in the Priority and

Application of Genetic Info have been Substantial.

Variation in the Priority of Phenotypic Traits have been Substantial.

It’s Still Judging……..Bottom Line!

ASA Progress Through Performance (PTP) Shows

Encourage the incorporation of performance data in the showring

Educate breeders regarding EPDs and their use in the industry

Blending Shows and EPDsUse of EPDs enhances relevance to other

segments of industryEffects reputation/impression of breedAdds level of objectivity to showringJunior exhibitors- education, industry

applicationShows continue to be forum for

socialization, gathering of breeders and discussion

Phenotype is economically relevant, however not in leu of documented genetic merit

CE +7.1 (55%)

YW +83 (2%)

MB +0.21 (40%)

API +113 (30%)

TI +73 (3%)

CE +9.7 (40%)

YW +99 (1%)

MB +0.56 (20%)

API +134 (15%)

TI +95 (1%)

SummarySimmental is well positioned to be the

complimentary breed of choice to British genetics

Breeding programs should focus on complimentary traits relevant to all sectors of the industry

Technology (THE, DNA, etc.) are critical for assessing genetic merit and designing genetics

Phenotype is economically important, but not in leu of objective predictors of genetic merit