Page 13 - Sep302021

The Midwest Cattleman · September 30, 2021 · P13
Evaluating Bull Productivity

By Justin Sexten, Performance Livestock Analytics
is based on the opportunity to ered applying the results to sults but in this case the key
manage the individual animal, the previous generation. metric was parentage.
a key principle to precision A recent article in Agri- Since multiple bull pastures
animal management. A goal culture by Gary Bennett and are commonplace for cow-calf
of precision livestock farming co-workers at the USDA Meat operations this project sought
(PLF) is to find ways to man- Animal Research Center eval- to understand how implement-
age the individual in a group uated the ability of genetic ing a genetic test can provide
Few commercial producers setting. Most PLF discussion testing results to inform man- insights into the variation in
consider the process of culling of genetic improvement has fo- agement decisions around bull calves sired by each bull with-
bulls based on productivity. cused on the tested generation. prolificacy. Genetic testing en-
The reason, most bulls ulti- Few experiments have consid- compasses a wide range of re- continued on page 16
mately cull themselves due to
injury or old age. With the in-
vestment needed to purchase
new herd sires, few producers
look to cull bulls based on calf Missouri Hereford Association
performance so long as they
continue successfully servicing
cows.
This approach varies by seg- Opportunity Sale
ment, as seedstock producers
tend to turn genetics faster,
with few waiting for bulls to
cull themselves. Genetic test- Sunday, December 5, 2021 • Sedalia, MO • Noon
ing has clearly accelerated the
genetic advancement process. Offering 70 Lots
The ability to evaluate poten-
tial at birth ultimately reduces Bred Heifers • Show Heifers • Fall Pairs • Open Yearling Heifers • Spring Pair Splits • Herd Bulls
the number of bulls developed
to “see how they turn out”. Breed Leading Sires Represented plus many others
The value of genetic testing Churchill Red Bull 200Z • Churchill Kickstart 501C • Chez Dante 652D • R Excitement 4356
NJW 79Z Z311 Endure 173D ET • /S Mandate 66589 ET • R Leader 6954 • TH Frontier 174E
Callaway HUTH FTF Torque C002 • MSU TCF Revolution 4R • C&L RR KJ 364C Jalapeno 973E

Livestock Spring Breds

Center, Inc. Fall Opens

On I-70, 4 miles east of
Kingdom City, MO on outer road

573-642-7486

Feeder Sale

Monday
12:30 p.m.

1st Thursday Night
of Each Month

6:00 p.m.

Special Cow Sale

Jack Harrison Hosted by: Missouri Hereford Association • For more information, please contact
573-386-2138 Matt Reynolds -- Secretary/Treasurer -- Huntsville, MO -- 660.676.3788 -- reynoldscattle@cvalley.net

John P. Harrison www.moherefords.org

573-386-5150