Page 20 - MWC 02-04-2021s

The Midwest Cattleman · February 4, 2021 · P20
Heifer-Fertility Research
Lays Groundwork for DNA

Genetic Test by Heather Smith Thomas for the Red Angus Magazine

A non-profitable eford heifers for his research, can use reproductive tract scores,
heifer does not and producers who participate pelvic measurements and fetal
breed, breeds will get free genomic-enhanced age from ultrasound pregnancy
late or comes in EPDs for their females. diagnosis as indicator traits to
open after her Fertility Indicator Traits more accurately predict heifer
first calf. Her The beef industry needs infor- pregnancy. Reproductive tract
spot in the herd mative indicator traits for heif- scores and pelvic measurements
must then be er fertility prediction, similar to can also be used to predict the
replaced by an- calving ease and carcass traits. onset of puberty.”
other heifer that “Currently we don’t have any Settling a heifer early allows
takes two years predictions of heifer puberty, and her more time to recover after
to develop. with the heifer pregnancy predic- calving, with more chance to
Producers tions that we do have, we don’t rebreed. Jordan Thomas, Uni-
utilize multiple give any credit to the heifers versity of Missouri state beef
ways to select that calve early in the breeding reproduction specialist, is also
Ninety days after the start of breeding season, a veterinarian heifers but de- season,” Decker involved with
will pregnancy ultrasound and measure fetal age to determine termining fu- said. this research.
when the heifer was bred. ture fertility has “We have in- He said heifers
Fertility in cattle is the largest been elusive. Dr. Jared Decker, dicator traits that become
driver of profitability in the beef associate professor at the Uni- like birthweight pregnant in the
industry – no calf, no income. It’s versity of Missouri, is starting a for calving ease, first 21 days
expensive to develop heifers as research project to look at genet- and ultrasound will stay in the
replacement females. A heifer ics of fertility and heifer puberty data for carcass herd over a year
that is fertile, settles early in the with a grant from USDA Nation- traits,” contin- longer, on aver-
breeding season and continues to al Institute of Food and Agricul- ued Decker. age, and wean
raise a calf every year for a long ture. He is currently recruiting “Perhaps we more pounds
life of productivity is profitable. 2,500 Red Angus and 2,500 Her- Dr. Jared Decker of calf during Jordan Thomas