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The Midwest Cattleman %u00b7 October 24, 2024 %u00b7 P15The industry has applied aggressive selection pressure to increase post-weaning growth and carcass weight. This selection pressure has led to an increase in mature cow weight. %u201cIn fact, over a 30-year career, assuming a ranch manager used herd sires representing only industry average growth and carcass weight, the operation%u2019s cows would weigh about 230 pounds more today. That increase in mature cow body weight relates to about a 13% reduction in stocking capacity to apply the same grazing pressure on a given land base,%u201d he said.Today, several breed associations produce and publish mature cow weight expected progeny differences (EPDs). This selection tool can be used to control mature cow size and indirectly, stocking capacity on the ranch.Lalman provided data indicating a moderate, positive phenotypic correlation between forage diet intake and a concentrate-based diet intake over several experiments. Surprisingly, in these same studies, there was no relationship between forage diet weight gain and concentrate diet weight gain. He summarized these studies by suggesting that feed intake EPDs provided by breed associations may work reasonably well to control feed intake in the cow herd. Secondly, he suggested that weight gain based on high-quality concentrate diets may not reflect the ability of cattle to thrive in a forage environment, especially a low-quality forage environment.Lalman shared data from 353 proven Angus sires (above 0.5 accuracy for feed intake and mature cow weight EPD). From this data he demonstrated that there are numerous proven Angus sires that are expected to produce females with above average mature cow weight but below average feed intake. He also pointed out a few sires with below breed average mature cow weight and above breed average feed intake. %u201cMature cow weight is a good place to start to control feed intake in the cow herd, but mature weight is an indicator trait. It is a proxy used to produce an estimate of feed intake and it isn%u2019t always an accurate estimate of an animal%u2019s genetic capacity. Similarly, we have demonstrated that the feed intake EPD should work reasonably well for a cow consuming forage. Perhaps we should be using these two traits in combination to identify cows that have modest appetite but are highly productive%u201d.Lalman also shared data generated over the past few years in their research program at Oklahoma State University related to the influence of milk yield on feed intake. In general, their group has found that beef cows%u2019 forage intake is more sensitive to milk yield than previously thought and previously published by the National Academy of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine%u2019s Nutrient Requirements of Beef Cattle. %u201cOur data suggests that each one-pound increase in milk yield is associated with about 0.4 pounds increase in feed intake. The previously published coefficient was half that at 0.2,%u201d he said.Lalman%u2019s presentation provided a comprehensive overview of cow efficiency, emphasizing that building better cows isn%u2019t just about boosting production %u2014 it%u2019s about creating a balanced, cost-effective, and sustainable operation. By focusing on cost control, thoughtful genetic selection, and efficient feed use, cattle producers can improve the overall efficiency of their operations, ultimately leading to greater profitability and long-term success.To watch the full presentation, visit https://youtu.be/ZXWJaqpLVx0?si=2Ktp28yvkv0nhqar. For more information about this year%u2019s Symposium and the Beef Improvement Federation, including additional presentations and award winners, visit BIFSymposium.com.makes chicken products. The lawsuit contends, in part, that a federal poultry-products law preempts Florida from imposing the ban.Walker wrote that the company argues that the \imposes an inconsistent 'ingredient requirement' by prohibiting the sale or distribution of food products that contain cultivated chicken meat as an ingredient.\he wrote the company could not identify a law or regulation \'ingredient requirement' with respect to 'cultivated meat.%u201dThe denial of the preliminary injunction does not end the lawsuit. In supporting the ban, state officials have pointed to questions about the safety of cultivated meat. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the U.S. Department of Agriculture last year approved UPSIDE to manufacture and sell its products.cattlerange.comcontinued from page 7continued from page 3THE FULL PICTUREFEDERAL JUDGE