Brittany Flowers and Jessica Simpson BREEDS/GENETICS/EPDS

Cloverbud Objectives

Upon completion of the beef breeds/genetics/EPDS unit CLOVERBUD 4-Her’s 8 years & under) will be able to:

• Distinguish the difference in a beef cow and a dairy cow

• Identify the different breeds of beef cattle based off of appearance

• Identify Continental breed characteristics

• Identify British breed characteristics

• Identify the purpose of a dual-purpose cow

Junior Objectives Upon completion of the beef breeds/genetics/EPDS unit JUNIOR 4-H’ers (9-13 years) will be able to:

• Distinguish the difference in a beef cow and a dairy cow

• Identify the different breeds of beef cattle based off appearance

• Identify Continental breed characteristics

• Identify British breed characteristics

• Identify the purpose of a dual-purpose cow

• Identify the origins of beef cattle breeds

• Define genetics

• Define gene

• Define DNA

• Define EPD

Senior Objectives Upon completion of the beef breeds/genetics/EPDS unit SENIOR 4-H’ers (14-18 years) will be able to:

• Distinguish the difference in a beef cow and a dairy cow• Identify the different breeds of beef cattle based off of appearance• Identify Continental breed characteristics• Identify British breed characteristics• Identify the purpose of a dual-purpose cow• Define genetics• Define gene• Define DNA• Identify the role genetics play in cattle quality• Distinguish the difference in dominant and recessive genes• Define EPD• Understand the economic importance of quality genetics in beef cattle• Identify EPDs as management, maternal, production, and carcass

BEEF CATTLE BREEDS

British and Continental Cattle Breeds

British breeds are breeds that were developed in the British Isles and were brought

to the United States in the late 1700s through the late 1800s.

Continental European breeds are also commonly referred to as "exotic" breeds.

Many of these breeds are relatively new to the U.S., being imported in the late

1960's and early 1970's primarily to improve the growth rate and leanness of

existing breeds.

British Cattle Breeds Breed Examples

Angus Devon Galloway Hereford Shorthorn

Characteristics Examples

Smaller frame sizeEarly Maturity Fertility Calving ease Meat tenderness Heavier marbling in the meat

Continental Cattle Breeds Breed Examples

• Belgian Blue • Charolais • Chianina• Limousin• Maine Anjou • Simmental

Characteristics Examples

• Larger frame size• Later maturity • Rapid weight gain of feed • Large yield of beef • Lean meat

Maternal vs. Terminal

Maternal breeds are known for their fertility, milk production and mothering ability Terminal breeds are known for their growth, carcass quality and meat producing ability.

What's the Difference

What's the Difference Dairy • Angular• Body Capacity• Strong Feet and Legs• Udder Quality

v Convert forage and grain to milk

Beef• Stockier• Muscling• Carcass Quality• Adaptable

v Convert forage and grain to meat

Dual Purpose Cattle

Dual purpose breeds are considered acceptable for both milk and beef, but can be less productive and efficient at both.

Who am I • Originated in Scotland• Naturally polled • Known for their carcass quality and maternal instincts

• Hint: Can be found in two different colors

Black Angus and Red Angus

Photo Credit: Ok State University

Who am I• Developed by the Lasater Ranch in Texas

• 50% Brahman, 25% Hereford, and 25% Milking Shorthorn

• Dual Purpose

• Generally light red to dark red and some will have white mottle on their faces.

Beefmaster

Photo Credit: Ok State University

Who am I • Developed in the Southwestern United States

• Well-defined hump, dewlap and excess skin.

• They have the capability of tolerating high temperatures and humidity.

Brahman

Photo Credit: C & R Farms

Who am I • Originated in Belgian

• Large sized animal with rounded outline and prominent muscles

• The color can be white, blue roan, and sometimes black

• Known for their quiet temperament

Belgian Blue

Photo Credit: Blue Cattle Association:

Who am I • Originated in Germany

• Solid cream to reddish-yellow color and even now black

• Known as a general purpose breed with good milking abilities

• Originally horned but the majority are now polled

• Known for their quiet disposition, docility

Gelbvieh

Photo Credit: OK State University

Who am I • Developed by the USDA Experiment Station in Louisiana.

• I am resistant to diseases, very hardy, have outstanding maternal instincts.

• I am usually completely black or red in color and naturally polled

• Hint: 3/8 Brahman and 5/8 Angus

Brangus

Photo Credit: C & R Farms

Who am I • Developed in France

• Known for their fast growth and lean meat

• Medium to large framed beef cattle with a very deep and broad body.

• White in color with pink muzzle

Charolais

Who am I • Developed in England

• Red bodies and white faces

• Can be polled or horned

• Known for their vigor and foraging ability and for their longevity.

Herford

Who am I• Developed in England

• They can be polled or horned

• Moderately framed

• Red, white, or roan in color

• Known for their maternal ability, can be considered a dual purpose breed

Shorthorn

Who am I • Developed on the King Ranch in Texas

• 5/8 shorthorn and 3/8 Brahman

• Known for their growth rate and hardiness

• The coat is light or dark red, with white on no more than 50 percent of his underbelly.

Santa Gertrudis

Photo Credit: Farming Truth

Who am I

• Originated in the west-central past of France

• Solid to golden-red in color with lighter circles around the eyes and muzzle

• When slaughtered at an early age, they yield a high percentage of lean meat with

minimum fat

Limousin

Who am I• Imported into the US from Switzerland, France, and Germany

• Originally they were known for being red and white spotted

• They are known for their fast growth, milking abilities, and meat quality

Simmental

Photo Credit: PA Simmental Association

GENETICS

What are Genetics and Why do we care? Genetics- The science of genes and how traits are passed on from one generation to the next and how genes interact with each other and environment.

Mendel discovered the basic principles of heredity through experiments with pea plants. His work became the foundation of modern genetics and leading to the study of heredity.

Genetics: The BasicsWhy we care

Understanding basic genetics and the principles of inheritance. Genetics are necessary to improve livestock.

To improve cattle the goal is to join together male sperm and female eggs that have a high proportion of desirable genes to produces offspring that carry those desirable traits.

The difference between two animals are a results of genetics and environmental (weather, feed, management) factors

Terms to Know • Gene- basic unit of inheritance, consists of a DNA sequence at a specific site on

a chromosome

• DNA- The molecule that forms the genetic

• Chromosome- Long strands of DNA and associated proteins present in the nucleus of every cell

• Locus – location, the specific site of a gene on the chromosome

• Homolog- One of a pair of chromosomes having corresponding loci

Terms to Know• Allele- An alternative form of a gene

• Multiple Alleles- more than two possible alleles at a locus

• Genotype- Combinations of genes at a single locus or at a number of loci. The genetic make-up of an animal.

• Punnett Square- Used to discuss possible genotypic combinations from a given mating

Terms to Know • Hereditary- Passing, or capable of passing, naturally from parent to offspring

• Heritability- The proportion of an animal’s phenotype that is due to genetics

• Homozygous- Having identical alleles for a single trait.

• Heterozygous- Having two different alleles of a particular gene or genes

Terms to Know• Heterosis- Result of crossing two breeds. When two breeds are crossed the

offspring often outperform the average of the parents. Also known as hybrid vigor.

Example: Brangus

• Phenotype- How a trait is expressed.

Example: red coat color, weaning weight.. Results are due to a combination of genotype and environment.

GENETICS: THE BASICS IN CATTLE

Simple Gene Inheritance • When a characteristic is controlled by one pair of genes.

Example Shorthorn Cattle

• A white shorthorn has two white genes and a red shorthorn has two red genes. This breeding could result in a roan offspring

• A roan shorthorn has one red gene and one white geneThis breeding will result in red shorthorns and roan shorthorns

Dominant and Recessive Gene Inheritance

Selction- Mating animals to produce certain characteristics

Dominant- Genes that mask/cover up other genes (Traditionally, upper case on the Punnett Square)Recessive- The gene that is masked/covered up (Traditionally, lower case on the Punnett Square)

Polled characteristic is dominant to the horned featureIf a polled bull is bred to a horned cow the offspring will be polled.

Photo Credit: Extension.org

Genetic Progress

When breeding cattle, a certain proportion of the offspring will be genetically superior to the average of their parents. With this there is a chance to make genetic progress.

Culling cattle that are lower than average in desirable traits, allows frequency of those undesirable traits in the herd to be lower.

Traits of Economic Importance 1. Reproductive performance

Fertility level Calving easeMaternal ability

2. Growth rate and feed efficiency Weaning and Yearling weight EPD

3. Confirmation traits Structural soundness

4. Carcass traitsProportion of fat to leanness measured by yield grade

EPDs (EXPECTED PROGENY DIFFERENCE)

Expected Progeny Differences

For production traits the best tools for making selection decisions are EPDs

EPDs represent the genetic component of an animal’s phenotype that is expected to be passed on to the next generation.

The EPD value predicts the genetic transmitting ability of an animal as a parent in actual units for the trait of interest.

Expected Progeny DifferencesReference American Angus Associationhttp://www.angus.org/nce/definitions.aspx

Sample EPD

$Value Index vs Accuracy $Value Index ($Value)-an economic selection index allows multiple change in several different traits at once pertaining to a specific breeding objective. The $Value is an estimate of how future progeny of each sire are expected to perform, on average, compared to progeny of other sires if the sires were randomly mated to cows and if calves were exposed to the same environment.

Accuracy (ACC)- is the reliability that can be placed on the EPD. An accuracy of close to 1.0 indicates higher reliability. Accuracy is impacted by the number of progeny and ancestral records included in the analysis.

Production EPDs • Calving Ease Direct (CED)- is expressed as a difference in percentage of

unassisted births, with a higher value indicating greater calving ease in first-calf heifers.

• Birth Weight EPD (BW)- expressed in pounds, is a predictor of a sire's ability to transmit birth weight to his progeny compared to that of other sires.

• Weaning Weight EPD (WW)- expressed in pounds, is a predictor of a sire's ability to transmit weaning growth to his progeny compared to that of other sires.

• Yearling Weight EPD (YW)-expressed in pounds, is a predictor of a sire's ability to transmit yearling growth to his progeny compared to that of other sires.

• Residual Average Daily Gain (RADG)-expressed in pounds per day, is a predictor of a sire’s genetic ability for postweaning gain in future progeny compared to that of other sires, given a constant amount of feed consumed.

Production EPDs• Dry Matter Intake (DMI)- expressed in pounds per day, is a predictor of

difference transmitting ability for feed intake during the postweaning phase, compared to that of other sires.

• Yearling Height EPD (YH)- is a predictor of a sire's ability to transmit yearling height, expressed in inches, compared to that of other sires.

• Scrotal Circumference EPD (SC)- expressed in centimeters, is a predictor of the difference in transmitting ability for scrotal size compared to that of other sires.

Maternal EPDs• Heifer Pregnancy (HP)- is a selection tool to increase the probability or chance

of a sire's daughters becoming pregnant as first-calf heifers during a normal breeding season. A higher EPD is the more favorable direction and the EPD is reported in percentage units.

• Calving Ease Maternal (CEM)- is expressed as a difference in percentage of unassisted births with a higher value indicating greater calving ease in first-calf daughters. It predicts the average ease with which a sire's daughters will calve as first-calf heifers when compared to daughters of other sires.

• Maternal Milk EPD (Milk)- is a predictor of a sire's genetic merit for milk and mothering ability as expressed in his daughters compared to daughters of other sires. In other words, it is that part of a calf's weaning weight attributed to milk and mothering ability.

Maternal EPDs• Herds (MkH)- indicate the number of herds from which daughters are reported.• Daughters (MkD)- reflects the number of daughters that have progeny weaning

weight records included in the analysis.• Mature Weight EPD (MW)- expressed in pounds, is a predictor of the difference

in mature weight of daughters of a sire compared to the daughters of other sires.• Mature Height EPD (MH)- expressed in inches, is a predictor of the difference in

mature height of a sire's daughters compared to daughters of other sires.• Cow Energy Value ($EN)- expressed in dollar savings per cow per year,

assesses differences in cow energy requirements as an expected dollar savings difference in daughters of sires.

Management EPDs • Docility (Doc)- is expressed as a difference in yearling cattle temperament, with

a higher value indicating more favorable docility. • Claw Set EPD (Claw)- is expressed in units of claw-set score, with a lower EPD

being more favorable. • Foot Angle EPD (Angle)- is expressed in units of foot-angle score, with a lower

Pulmonary arterial pressure EPD (PAP)- is expressed in millimeters of Mercury (mmHg), with a lower EPD being more favorable.

Carcass EPDsCarcass Weight EPD (CW)- expressed in pounds is a predictor of the differences in hot carcass weight of a sire's progeny compared to progeny of other sires.Marbling EPD (Marb)- expressed as a fraction of the difference in USDA marbling score of a sire's progeny compared to progeny of other sires.Ribeye Area EPD (RE)- expressed in square inches, is a predictor of the difference in ribeye area of a sire's progeny compared to progeny of other sires.Fat Thickness EPD (Fat)- expressed in inches, is a predictor of the differences in external fat thickness at the 12th rib of a sire's progeny compared to progeny of other sires.Group/progeny (C Grp/ Pg and U Grp/Pg)- reflects the number of contemporary groups and the number of carcass and ultrasound progeny included in the analysis.

Hair Shedding EPDsHair Shed EPDs- is expressed in units of hair shed score, with a lower EPD being more favorable indicating a sire should produce progeny who shed their winter coat earlier in the spring.

Key point to remember about EPDs

Always keep in mind, one EPD can always affect another. This is where you must decide what is most important for your operation and find the best balance for your herd.

Question

Brittany Flowers

Livestock and Forages

Aiken County

(803) 649-6297

bepeaco@clemson.edu

Reference

1. (n.d.). Retrieved September 03, 2020, from

http://www.angus.org/nce/definitions.aspx

2. Beef resource handbook. (2001). Columbus, OH, OH: Ohio State University

Extension.

3. Breeds of Livestock, Department of Animal Science. (1995). Retrieved

September 03, 2020, from http://afs.okstate.edu/breeds/cattle/

4. Shorthorns – Maternal or Terminal? (2020). Retrieved September 03, 2020, from

https://bowmansuperiorgenetics.com/shorthorns-maternal-or-terminal/