Breed Differences and Taking Breed Differences and Taking Advantage of ComplementarityAdvantage of Complementarity

Larry V. CundiffLarry V. CundiffU.S. Meat Animal Research CenterU.S. Meat Animal Research Center

ARS-USDAARS-USDAClay Center, NEClay Center, NE

Brown Bagger IVBrown Bagger IVCrossbreeding Opportunities for Crossbreeding Opportunities for

the US Beef Industrythe US Beef IndustryOctober 11, 2005October 11, 2005

Cross breeding of composite populations can be used to Cross breeding of composite populations can be used to exploit: exploit:

• HETEROSISHETEROSIS

• COMPLEMENTARITY among breeds optimize COMPLEMENTARITY among breeds optimize performance levels for important traits and to match performance levels for important traits and to match genetic potential with:genetic potential with:

Market preferencesMarket preferencesFeed resourcesFeed resourcesClimatic environmentClimatic environment

BREED DIFFERENCES an important genetic resource

Complementarity(Cartwright, 1970, J. Anim. Sci. 30:706)

“Serving to fill out or complete, mutually supplying each others lack” (Webster)

Not Complimentarity“Expression of esteem or respect, or token

of esteem” (Webster)

COMPLEMENTARITY

is maximized in terminal crossing systems

Cow HerdSmall to moderate sizeAdapted to climateOptimal milk production

for feed resources

Terminal Sire BreedRapid and efficient growthOptimizes carcass composition

and meat quality in slaughter progeny

ProgenyMaximize high quality lean beefproduced per unit feed consumedby progeny and cow herd

SIRE BREEDS USED TO PRODUCE FI CROSSES WITH ANGUS AND HEREFORD DAMS IN THE GERMPLASM EVALUATION

PROGRAM AT MARCa

Cycle I Cycle II Cycle III Cycle IV Cycle V Cycle VI Cycle VII Cycle VIII 70-72 73-74 75-76 86-90 92-94 97-98 99-00 01-02

Hereford Hereford Hereford Hereford Hereford Hereford Hereford HerefordAngus Angus Angus Angus Angus Angus Angus AngusJersey Red Poll Brahman Longhorn Tuli Wagyu Red Angus BeefmasterS. Devon Braunvieh Sahiwal Salers Boran Norweg. Red Limousin BrangusLimousin Gelbvieh Pinzgauer Galloway Belg. Blue Sw. Red&Wh. Charolais BonsmaraSimmental Maine Anj. Tarentaise Nellore Brahman Friesian Simmental RomosinuanoCharolais Chianina Shorthorn Piedmontese Gelbvieh

PiedmonteseCharolaisGelbviehPinzgauer

aSire breeds mated to Angus and Hereford females, Composite MARC III (1/4 Angus, Hereford, Red Poll and Pinzgauer) cows were also included in Cycles V, VI, and VII.

BEEF BREED REGISTRATIONSNational Pedigreed Livestock Council, 2003-2004

BreedBreed RegistrationsRegistrations %% BreedBreed RegistrationsRegistrations %%

Angus 281,965 40.0 Brahman 11,000 1.6

Hereford 69,316 9.8 Salers 10,286 1.5

Charolais 55,034 7.8 Santa Gertrudis 7,500 1.1

Limousin 49,600 7.0 Longhorn 7,459 1.1

Simmental 45,000 6.4 Chianina 6,679 .9

Red Angus 42,178 6.0 Braunvieh 4,100 .6

Gelbvieh 31,664 4.5 Corriente 3,211 .5

Shorthorn 22,430 3.2 Tarentaise 1,600 .2

Brangus 22,311 3.2 Highland 1,500 .2

Beefmaster 21,242 3.0 Pinzgauer 664 .1

Maine Anjou 12,544 2.2 TOTAL 707,283 100

BREED GROUP MEANS FOR PREWEANING TRAITS OF CALVESPRODUCED IN CYCLE VII OF THE GPE PROGRAM

(1999-2000 CALF CROP)

No. Gestation Calvings Calv. Birth Surv. 200-dSire breed calves length unassist. diff. wt. to wn. wn. wt., of calf born days % score lb. % lb.

** .** .** ** ns **Hereford 190 284.3 95.6 1.24 90.4 96.2 524Angus 189 281.6 99.6 1.01 84.0 96.7 533Red Angus 206 282.1 99.1 1.06 84.5 96.7 526

Simmental 201 285.2 97.7 1.10 92.2 96.7 553Gelbvieh 209 284.4 97.8 1.10 88.7 97.1 534Limousin 200 286.2 97.6 1.13 89.5 96.9 519Charolais 199 283.0 92.8 1.40 93.7 97.1 540

LSD.05 1.5 3.4 .20 3.1 3.8 13

Complementarity

Sire of Calf

During the past 30 yr, Continental breeds have significantly improved direct calving ease relative to British breeds (9% vs. 3% assisted, in cows> 4 yr of age), especially Simmental and Gelbvieh.

Calves sired by Continental European breeds, have reduced birth weight relative to British breeds over the past 30 years (9 vs. 4 lb).

Angus and Red Angus sired calves have relatively light birth weights and greater calving ease than progeny by other sire breeds.

F testF test nsns nsns ns ns nsns ns ns **** nsnsHerefordHereford 8080 9292 7070 1.91.9 74 74 81.581.5 413413 292292AngusAngus 8484 8383 7676 2.02.0 7272 79.879.8 424424 325325Red Angus 104Red Angus 104 8686 7676 2.22.2 6868 78.278.2 415415 317317

SimmentalSimmental 9898 8686 6969 1.51.5 8686 79.679.6 442442 309309Gelbvieh 109Gelbvieh 109 7979 6868 2.22.2 6464 83.683.6 447447 307307Limousin 109Limousin 109 8585 7373 2.02.0 6868 80.380.3 429429 313313CharolaisCharolais 9797 8787 7373 2.12.1 6969 81.681.6 430430 315315

LSD LSD << .05 .05 1414 1515 .6 .6 1919 4.44.4 1010 6868

SIRE BREED MEANS FOR REPRODUCTION AND MATERNAL SIRE BREED MEANS FOR REPRODUCTION AND MATERNAL TRAITS OF F1 FEMALES MATED TO PRODUCE THEIR FIRST TRAITS OF F1 FEMALES MATED TO PRODUCE THEIR FIRST

CALVES AT 2 YEARS OF AGE (2001 & 2002)CALVES AT 2 YEARS OF AGE (2001 & 2002)

Sire Calf crop Calving Unassist. Birth 200-d wt perSire Calf crop Calving Unassist. Birth 200-d wt perbreedbreed born wnd. diff. births wt. calf cow exp born wnd. diff. births wt. calf cow expof female No.of female No. % % % % score % score % lb lb lblb lb lb

F – testF – test ns ns ns ns ns ns ** nsns ns ns ns ** nsHerefordHereford 180180 9696 9393 1.12 1.12 97.997.9 91.791.7 498498 464464AngusAngus 175175 9494 9090 1.011.01 100.0100.0 88.588.5 515515 460460Red Angus 205Red Angus 205 9191 8787 1.231.23 95.595.5 87.287.2 503503 441441

SimmentalSimmental 214214 9090 8888 1.031.03 99.199.1 88.288.2 535535 463463Gelbvieh 220Gelbvieh 220 8989 8686 1.071.07 98.898.8 89.889.8 527527 452452

Limousin 219Limousin 219 9494 8989 1.021.02 99.699.6 90.290.2 513513 456456CharolaisCharolais 210210 9494 9191 1.181.18 97.297.2 91.391.3 522522 475475

LSD LSD << .05 .05 7 7 88 .32 .32 5.65.6 4.94.9 1010 4545

SIRE BREED MEANS FOR REPRODUCTION AND MATERNAL SIRE BREED MEANS FOR REPRODUCTION AND MATERNAL TRAITS OF F1 FEMALES MATED TO PRODUCE CALVES TRAITS OF F1 FEMALES MATED TO PRODUCE CALVES

AT 3-5 YEARS OF AGE (2002-2004)AT 3-5 YEARS OF AGE (2002-2004)

Sire Calf crop Calving Unassist. Birth 200-d wt perSire Calf crop Calving Unassist. Birth 200-d wt perBreedBreed No No born wnd. diff. births wt. calf cow exp born wnd. diff. births wt. calf cow expof female rec.of female rec. % % % % score % score % lb lb lblb lb lb

Complementarity

Sire of Dam (Total Maternal)

Differences in calving ease and birth weight of progeny were not significant, even in 2 yr old first calf heifers.

During the past 30 yr, maternal calving ease has been improved greatly in Simmental relative to HA & AH (from 6% more to 11% less assistance in 2 yr old heifers).

• Differences in reproduction rate,and calf survival to weaning are not significant.

• Contrasts between British (H and A) and Continental European breeds (S, G, L, and C) are about 1/4th as great for direct (5.5 vs 22 lb) and 4/10th as great for maternal (10 vs. 24 lb) breed effects in the current evaluation as they were to 30 years ago.

ComplementarityComplementarity

SIRE BREED MEANS FOR FINAL WEIGHT AND CARCASS TRAITS SIRE BREED MEANS FOR FINAL WEIGHT AND CARCASS TRAITS OF F1 STEERS (445 DAYS)OF F1 STEERS (445 DAYS)

Hereford 97 1322 60.7 480 526 70 9.1Angus 98 1365 59.2 488 584 95 8.9Red Angus 93 1333 59.1 474 590 93 9.2

Simmental 92 1363 63.0 522 528 66 9.5Gelbvieh 90 1312 63.8 509 506 58 9.9Limousin 84 1286 63.7 504 504 57 9.5Charolais 95 1349 63.7 523 517 62 9.6

LSD < .05 40 1.3 16 17 0.7 0.6

Final Retail Marb- USDA WBSire wt product ling Choice shearBreed N lb % lb sc % lb

USDA QUALITY GRADE X YIELD GRADEFOR HEREFORD, ANGUS AND RED ANGUS (N = 288)

Quality

grade

USDA Yield grade, %TOTAL1 2 3 4

Low Pr 0.0 0.0 1.7 .4 2.1High Ch 0.0 .7 2.1 1.7 4.5Av. Ch 0.0 1.7 7.3 2.8 11.8Low Ch 2.8 18.4 29.5 17.0 67.7Select 1.7 8.3 2.8 1.0 13.9Standard 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0TOTAL 4.5 29.2 43.4 22.9 100.0

USDA QUALITY GRADE X YIELD GRADEFOR STEERS WITH SIMMENTAL, GELBVIEH, LIMOUSIN, AND CHAROLAIS SIRES (n = 361)

Quality

grade

USDA Yield Grade, %TOTAL 1 2 3 4

Low Pr 0.0 0.0 0.0 .3 .3

High Ch 0.0 0.0 .3 0.0 .3Av. Ch 0.3 1.9 3.1 .3 5.5Low Ch 8.3 27.2 14.4 1.7 51.5

Select 13.6 18.3 9.1 1.1 42.1Standard 0.3 0.0 0.0 0.0 .3TOTAL 22.4 47.4 26.9 3.3 100.0

USDA Quality Grade and USDA Yield Grade is more precisely optimized in cattle with 50:50 ratios of Continental to British inheritance than in cattle with higher or lower ratios of Continental to British inheritance.

Complementarity

British (H, A, Ra) and Continental (S, G, L, and C) sired progeny do not differ significantly

in Efficiency of Gain (live wt gain, lb/Mcal) to age or weight end points.

0.114

0.116

0.118

0.12

0.122

0.124

0.126

0.128

0.13

0.132

H A Ra S G L C

Time, 187d, LSD<.05 = .008WT, 750-1300,LSD<.05 = .009

Progeny by British sire breeds (H, A, Ra) were more efficient (lb live wt gain/Mcal)

than those by Continental (S, G, L, C) sire breeds to fatness endpoints

0.105

0.11

0.115

0.12

0.125

0.13

0.135

H A Ra S G L C

Fat th. .43 in, LSD<.05 = .007Fat trim 24.8%,LSD<.05 = .007Marb. = SM00,LSD<.05 = .007

Complementarity

Progeny of Continental European sire breeds (S, G, L, and C) had more efficient gains (Live wt gain/Mcal and retail

product/Mcal) than progeny of British sire breeds (H, A, and Ra) to weight of retail product (496 lb retail product) endpoints

0

0.02

0.04

0.06

0.08

0.1

0.12

0.14

H A Ra S G L C

RP = 496 lb, LSD<.05 = .009lb RP/Mcal, LSD<.05 = .006

Complementarity

SIRE BREED LEAST SQUARES MEANS FOR GROWTHSIRE BREED LEAST SQUARES MEANS FOR GROWTHAND PUBERTY TRAITS OF HEIFERS IN CYCLE VII OFAND PUBERTY TRAITS OF HEIFERS IN CYCLE VII OF

THE GPE PROGRAM (1999-2000 CALF CROPs)THE GPE PROGRAM (1999-2000 CALF CROPs)

400-d 18 wt. month Frame Age Preg.400-d 18 wt. month Frame Age Preg. Sire breed wt. wt. ht. score Sire breed wt. wt. ht. score at rate at rate of female No. lb. lb. cm. sc pub. %of female No. lb. lb. cm. sc pub. %

F testF test ** ** **** ** ** ** ** nsnsHerefordHereford 81 81 841841 950950 128.4128.4 5.55.5 342 342 9494AngusAngus 85 85 869869 936936 127.2127.2 5.35.3 340340 8888Red Angus Red Angus 106106 868868 953953 126.9126.9 5.25.2 339339 9191

Simmental Simmental 103103 849849 961961 130.2130.2 5.95.9 335335 9090Gelbvieh Gelbvieh 111111 807807 922922 128.8128.8 5.65.6 322322 8383Limousin Limousin 109109 824824 933933 129.9129.9 5.85.8 363363 8787CharolaisCharolais 103 103 828828 950950 129.5129.5 5.85.8 348348 9191

LSD LSD << .05 .05 3131 3232 1.6 1.6 .5 .5 1515 1313

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

years of ageyears of age

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

BreedBreedHeightHeight

ininCondition Condition

ScoreScoreWeightWeight

lblb

F testF test ** ** **

HerefordHereford 53.1ab 6.47a 1360 a (1348a)

AngusAngus 52.5bc 6.54a 1348 a

(1342ab)

Red Red AngusAngus

52.2c 6.63a 1342 a

(1321ab)

SimmentSimmentalal

53.6a 6.40ab 1357 a (1353a)

GelbviehGelbvieh 52.9abc 6.01c 1273 b (1282b)

LimousinLimousin 53.5a 6.13bc 1320ab

(1330ab)

CharolaisCharolais

LSD LSD <0.05<0.05

* P< 0.05* P< 0.05

53.3ab

0.8

6.47a

.29

1344 a

(1339ab)

54 (51)

Sire breed deviations from Hereford-Angus crosses for Sire breed deviations from Hereford-Angus crosses for height, weight, and weight adjusted for condition score of height, weight, and weight adjusted for condition score of

FF11 cows cows aa

CowCow CowCow CowCow

BreedBreedHeightHeight

ininWeight Weight

lblbAdj. WeightAdj. Weight

lblb

CycleCycle I & II VII I & II VII I & II VII

HAxHAx 0.0 0.0 0 0 0 0

Red Red AngusAngus

--- 0.6 - - -12 - -- -24

SimmentaSimmentall

6.3 0.8 +23 -3 29 8

GelbviehGelbvieh 6.0 0.1 +23 -87

34 -60

LimousinLimousin 5.0 0.7 11 -40 15 -12

CharolaisCharolais

Cont. avg. Cont. avg.

6.2 0.5

5.9 0.5

51 -16

27 -36

53 -1

33 -16 aa Data for Cycles I and II are averaged over cow ages 2 – 8 yr od ageData for Cycles I and II are averaged over cow ages 2 – 8 yr od age(Arango et al.,2004). Data for cycle VII are for 4 yr old cows. (Arango et al.,2004). Data for cycle VII are for 4 yr old cows.

ComplementarityComplementarity• Continental and British breeds do not differ in weight or height today, with one exception, Gelbvieh are significantly lighter.

• Indications are that the reduced cow weights for Gelbvieh are associated with negative genetic trends for birth weight in compared to slightly positive or null genetic trends for birth weight in other breeds.

Matching GeneticMatching GeneticPotential to the Potential to the Climatic EnvironmentClimatic Environment

(Olson et al., 1991)(Olson et al., 1991)

TRADEOFFSTRADEOFFS

Bos indicus Bos indicus xx Bos taurus Bos taurus crosses excel incrosses excel in

•Weaning weight per cow exposedWeaning weight per cow exposed

•Cow efficiencyCow efficiency

but these advantages are tempered by:but these advantages are tempered by:

•Older age at pubertyOlder age at puberty

•Reduced meat tendernessReduced meat tenderness

Boran

Final USDA 14-dSire wt Retail product Choice Shearbreed No. lb % lb % lb

Hereford 106 1270 61.9 449 70.3 10.6Angus 101 1278 62.2 454 84.6 8.9

Brahman 76 1199 63.8 449 30.4 12.9Boran 138 1116 62.6 400 47.2 11.3Tuli 158 1110 63.4 405 63.8 10.1

Nellore 97 1224 65.0 465 51.4 ----

LSD < .05 48 1.7 18 22.2 1.3

SIRE BREED MEANS FOR FINAL WEIGHT ANDCARCASS TRAITS OF F1 STEERS (447 d)

2-years of age 3 to 7 years of age Sire Calf 200-day wt Calf 200-day wt. breed Age at crop per per cow crop per per cow of puberty, wnd. calf exposed wnd. calf exposed female No. days % lb lb % lb lb

Hereford 152 355 73.8 419 300 88.7 474 422Angus 130 351 74.4 437 313 86.3 493 426 Avg. 282 353 74.1 428 307 87.5 483 424

Brahman Original 82 429 54.3 456 238 85.9 511 440 Current 208 423 69.6 476 319 82.7 521 430 Avg. 244 426 62.0 466 279 83.2 516 435

Boran 206 396 83.3 444 357 86.2 488 421Tuli 244 371 74.6 413 296 84.1 471 397

Nellore 82 406 75.1 463 324 91.6 514 461

LSD < .05 13 13.9 18 62 6.7 14 36

BREED GROUP MEANS FOR REPRODUCTION BREED GROUP MEANS FOR REPRODUCTION AND MATERNAL TRAITSAND MATERNAL TRAITS

Cycle VIIICycle VIII

MARCMARC LSULSU M&FM&F F F

HerefordHereford XX AngusAngus XXBeefmasterBeefmaster XX XXBrangusBrangus XX XXRomosinuanoRomosinuano XX XXBonsmaraBonsmara XX XX

Genotype X Environment Genotype X Environment InteractionInteraction

SIRE BREED MEANS FOR FINAL WEIGHT AND CARCASS TRAITS OF F1 STEERS (426 DAYS, 2001& 2002 CALF CROPS)

Hereford 102 3.02 1245 61.8 466 515 52Angus 103 3.15 1283 60.0 469 548 71 Brangus 107 2.99 1256 62.1 481 497 42Beefmaster 103 3.10 1296 61.2 482 483 35

Bonsmara 104 2.80 1183 63.4 464 487 37Romosinuano 102 2.71 1150 64.4 452 488 37

LSD < .05 .09 29 1.1 13 24 13

Final Retail USDASire ADG wt product Marb. Choice

Breed N lb/d lb % lb score %

Proceedings: Symposium on Tropically Adapted BreedsRegional Project S-1013

American Society of Animal ScienceSouthern Section Meeting

February 8, 2005Little Rock, Arkansas

Productivity of F1 cross females (Cundiff, 2005)

2 –yr olds 3-7 yr olds

Sire breed

Wn rate

%

205-d wt/

Calf, lb

205-d wt/cow ex, lb

Wn rate

%

205-d wt/

Calf, lb

205-d wt/

Cow ex, lb

Hereford 77 bc 428 e 322 bc 89 a 483 c 430 abc

Angus 73 cd 451 d 325 bc 86 a 503 b 434 abc

Brahman 65 d 473 b 308 c 84 a 527 a 444 abc

Nellore 73 bcd 471 bc 347 bc 91 a 513 ab 467 a

Boran 83 bc 447 bd 371 b 86 a 498 b 429 abc

Brangus 87 bc 451 bcd 399 b

Beefmaster 89 b 457 bcd 409 b

Bonsmara 71 cd 428 de 310 bc

Tuli 75 bc 417 e 311 bc

Romosinuano 82 bc 388 f 321 bc

Conclusions

Complementarity

Sire of Calf

During the past 30 yr, Continental breeds have significantly improved direct calving ease relative to British breeds (9% vs 3% assisted), especially Simmental and Gelbvieh.

Calves sired by Continental European breeds, have reduced birth weight relative to British breeds over the past 30 years (9 vs 4 lb).

Angus and Red Angus sired calves have relatively light birth weights and greater calving ease than progeny by other sire breeds.

Complementarity

Sire of Dam (Total Maternal)

Differences in calving ease and birth weight of progeny were not significant, even in 2 yr old first calf heifers.

During the past 30 yr, maternal calving ease has been improved greatly in Simmental relative to HA & AH (from 6% more to 11% less assistance in 2 yr old heifers).

Gelbvieh and Simmental still reach puberty at younger ages than Briths breeds or other Continental European breeds.

Differences in reproduction rate,and calf survival to weaning are not significant.

Contrasts between British (H and A) and Continental European breeds (S, G, L, and C) are about 1/4th as great for direct (5.5 vs 22 lb) and 4/10th as great for maternal (10 vs. 24 lb) breed effects in the current evaluation as they were to 30 years ago.

F1 Females

Complementarity

Continental and British breeds do not differ in weight or height today, with one exception, Gelbvieh are significantly lighter.

Indications are that the reduced cow weight for Gelbvieh are associated with negative genetic trends for birth weight compared to slightly positive or null genetic trends for birth weight in other breeds.

F1 Cow Size

British (H, A, Ra) and Continental (S, G, L, and C) sired progeny do not differ significantly in postweaningAverage daily gain or efficiency of live wt gain to age orweight end points.

Progeny by British sire breeds (H, A, Ra) were more efficient (lb live wt gain/Mcal) than those by Continental (S, G, L, C) sire breeds to fatness Endpoints.

Progeny of Continental European sire breeds (S, G, L, and C) had more efficient gains (Live wt gain/Mcal and retail product/Mcal) than progeny of British sire breeds (H, A, and Ra) to weight of retail product (496 lb retail product) endpoints.

Complementarity

USDA Quality Grade and USDA Yield Grade is more precisely optimized in cattle with 50:50 ratios of Continental to British inheritance than in cattle with higher or lower ratios of Continental to British inheritance.

Complementarity

Matching GeneticMatching GeneticPotential to the Potential to the

Climatic EnvironmentClimatic Environment

• In hotter more humid climates of the gulf coast cattle with ~ 50% tropical adapted germplasm may be optimal.

• In more intermediate subtropics, cattle with ~25% tropically adapted germplasm may be optimal.

COMPLEMENTARITY

is maximized in terminal crossing systems

Cow HerdSmall to moderate sizeAdapted to climateOptimal milk production

for feed resources

Terminal Sire BreedRapid and efficient growthOptimizes carcass composition and meat quality in slaughter progeny

ProgenyMaximize high quality lean beefproduced per unit feed consumedby progeny and cow herd

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