Invited Review: Effects of selection for milk production on cow-calf productivity and profitability in beef production systems

2020 ◽  
Vol 36 (1) ◽  
pp. 70-77 ◽  
Author(s):  
J.T. Mulliniks ◽  
J.K. Beard ◽  
T.M. King
Keyword(s):  
Milk Production ◽  
Production Systems ◽  
Beef Production ◽  
Selection For ◽  
Cow Calf

Cow–calf reproductive, genetic, and nutritional management to improve the sustainability of whole beef production systems

2015 ◽  
Vol 93 (6) ◽  
pp. 3197-3211 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. R. White ◽  
M. Brady ◽  
J. L. Capper ◽  
J. P. McNamara ◽  
K. A. Johnson
Keyword(s):  
Production Systems ◽  
Nutritional Management ◽  
Beef Production ◽  
Cow Calf

scholarly journals 75 Historical view of stocker health and performance of Southeast origin cattle

2019 ◽  
Vol 97 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 24-24
Author(s):  
Jeffery A Carroll ◽  
Paul R Broadway ◽  
Nicole Burdick-Sanchez ◽  
Wade Nichols
Keyword(s):  
Management Practices ◽  
Production Systems ◽  
Genetic Selection ◽  
Morbidity And Mortality ◽  
Full Potential ◽  
Contributing Factors ◽  
Beta Agonists ◽  
Genetic Potential ◽  
Selection For ◽  
Cow Calf

Abstract Anecdotal evidence suggests that weaning/stocker weights, ADG, and carcass weights have increased for Southeast cattle over the last 30 years. Simultaneously, morbidity and mortality have not improved, and according to some reports, have significantly increased. Albeit, over the last 30 years, there have been several new vaccines and antibiotics introduced into the beef cattle market. Ceteris paribus, there appears to be a discrepancy related to prevailing theories that placing heavier cattle into stocker and feedlot operations reduces the incidence of morbidity and mortality. But, has there truly been an increase in weaning weights or placement weights of stocker/feedlot calves over the last 30 years? Perhaps, even with greater genetic selection by cow/calf producers for improved weaning weights and pre-weaning ADG, the genetic potential of these animals is not being realized until the stocker/feedlot sector. Indeed, Engler et al. (2014) reported that hot carcass weight (HCW) increased 4.9 lbs per year from 2001 to 2013 while others have reported no actual increase in weaning weights during this period. Undoubtedly HCW have increased, but the contributing factors are multifaceted including genetic selection for increased lean deposition, better nutritional programs, and the expanded variety of growth promoting implants, ionophores, and beta agonists. Likewise, morbidity and mortality are multifaceted manifestations affected by a variety of inputs including genetics, nutrition, environmental stressors, immunocompetence, and the prevalence and genetic diversity of pathogens. Therefore, while genetic selection for increased pre-weaning performance may be more prevalent, cow/calf producers may not be reaping the full potential of their calves due to management practices that do not capitalize on the genetic potential of the pre-weaned calf. Placing more emphasis on genetic selection for pre-weaning growth may have inadvertently resulted in calves that are less resistant to the stresses and strains associated with post-weaning production systems.

Stochastic Simulation of Pasture-Raised Beef Production Systems and Implications for the Appalachian Cow-Calf Sector

2007 ◽  
Vol 30 (4) ◽  
pp. 27-51 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jason R. Evans ◽  
Mark Sperow ◽  
Gerard E. D'Souza ◽  
Edward B. Rayburn
Keyword(s):  
Stochastic Simulation ◽  
Production Systems ◽  
Beef Production ◽  
Cow Calf

scholarly journals 108 Impacts of dam age and milk production on cow/calf profitability

2019 ◽  
Vol 97 (Supplement_2) ◽  
pp. 60-61
Author(s):  
Travis Mulliniks ◽  
Joslyn Beard ◽  
Tasha King
Keyword(s):  
Milk Production ◽  
Production Efficiency ◽  
Retention Rate ◽  
Economic Value ◽  
Beef Cows ◽  
Offspring Performance ◽  
Increase Production Efficiency ◽  
Weaning Weight ◽  
Selection For ◽  
Cow Calf

Abstract Cow herd profitability can be greatly influenced by reproductive success, average age of herd, and genetic potential within the environment. Productivity is influenced by cow age with calf weaning weight, increasing from 2 to 5 yr of age in dams. With that in mind, increasing average age of the cowherd has the potential to increase cow/calf profitability. Culling cows before 5 yr of age negatively impacts production efficiency due to decreased calf weaning weight in younger cows and subsequently, increase replacement rate and costs. Therefore, reproduction in young cattle is important to overall economic efficiency within the cow herd and a driving factor in longevity. Due to decreased reproduction and offspring performance, young females have previously been considered an economic liability. The effect of increased average cow age within the herd along with increased pregnancy rate of young cows has shown to increase production efficiency by decreasing replacement rates and adding greater production potential with increased calf weaning weights. In young beef cows, partitioning nutrients away from lactational demands allows for nutrients to be utilized for cow growth and reproduction. An increase in selection for milk production has resulted in beef cows undergoing greater nutritional stress during early lactation, which ultimately reduces cowherd reproduction and efficiency. Although a big emphasis is placed on output traits, economic value of reproduction is 5 times greater than growth or maternal output traits in beef cattle. In addition, the value of the added milk production may not fully be captured, due to extensive environments with limited nutrients. Even in environments with greater feed resources, selection for milk production may led to a decrease in reproduction, production efficiency, and cowherd retention rate.

Simulated Efficiency of Beef Production for a Midwestern Cow-Calf-FeedLot Management System. I. Milk Production

1979 ◽  
Vol 49 (1) ◽  
pp. 70-82 ◽  
Author(s):  
David R. Notter ◽  
J. O. Sanders ◽  
G. E. Dickerson ◽  
Gerald M. Smith ◽  
T. C. Cartwright
Keyword(s):  
Milk Production ◽  
Management System ◽  
Beef Production ◽  
Cow Calf

A comparison of two contrasting milk production systems for high genetic merit autumn calving dairy cows in a grassland based production environment

1999 ◽  
Vol 1999 ◽  
pp. 76-76
Author(s):  
C.P. Ferris ◽  
F.J. Gordon ◽  
D.C. Patterson ◽  
C.S. Mayne
Keyword(s):  
Dairy Cows ◽  
Milk Production ◽  
Protein Concentration ◽  
Production Systems ◽  
Production Environment ◽  
Genetic Merit ◽  
Short Term Study ◽  
Two Systems ◽  
High Feed ◽  
Feed Value

In a previous short term study, Ferris et al. (1997) demonstrated that similar levels of nutrient intake and animal performance could be obtained by either increasing silage feed value and reducing concentrate feed level, or by reducing silage feed value and increasing concentrate feed level. The principles established in this study were incorporated into this trial to examine two systems of milk production over a full lactation, including both the winter and grazing periods.Forty high genetic merit dairy cows (PTA95 fat + protein = 38.2 kg), in their second or subsequent lactation, were used in a continuous design full lactation study. Animals had a mean calving date of 1 November and were allocated to one of two systems of milk production, HF or HC, within 36 hours of calving. During the winter, animals on system HF were offered a silage with high feed value characteristics, supplemented with 5.5 kg of concentrate (crude protein concentration of 280 g/kg DM) through an out-of-parlour feeding system.

Effects of extending the grazing season in beef production systems

2001 ◽  
Vol 2001 ◽  
pp. 116-116 ◽  
Author(s):  
B.J. O’Neill ◽  
M.J. Drennan ◽  
P.J. Caffrey
Keyword(s):  
Production Systems ◽  
Rural Environment ◽  
Environment Protection ◽  
Beef Production ◽  
Grazing Season ◽  
Protection Scheme ◽  
Grass Silage ◽  
Feed Costs ◽  
The Cost ◽  
Eu Support

The cost of grazed grass is less than half that of grass silage (O’Kiely, 1994) and incomes from beef production are low and largely dependent on EU support schemes. Thus the income from beef production could be incresed by reducing feed costs through increasing the proportion of grazed grass in the diet and optimising the use of the various support schemes. The objective of this two-year study was to examine the effects on the performance of yearling cattle of turnout to pasture three weeks earlier than normal. This was examined within two suckler beef production systems. One was a standard system similar to that outlined by Drennan (1993) and the second was compatible with the Rural Environment Protection Scheme (REPS).

scholarly journals Beef heifer fertility: importance of management practices and technological advancements

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarah E. Moorey ◽  
Fernando H. Biase
Keyword(s):  
Breeding Season ◽  
Production Systems ◽  
Transcript Abundance ◽  
Antral Follicle ◽  
Economic Losses ◽  
Beef Heifers ◽  
Management Procedures ◽  
Beef Heifer ◽  
Fertility Potential ◽  
Cow Calf

Abstract The development of replacement heifers is at the core of cow-calf beef production systems. In 2020, the USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service reported 5.771 million beef heifers, 500 pounds and over, are under development for cow replacement. A compilation of data from several studies indicate that between 85% and 95% of these heifers will become pregnant in their first breeding season. Several thousands of heifers being raised for replacement may not deliver a calf on their first breeding season and result in economic losses to cow-calf producers. Many management procedures have been developed to maximize the reproductive potential of beef heifers. Such approaches include, but are not limited to the following: nutritional management for controlled weight gain, identification of reproductive maturity by physiological and morphological indicators, and the implementation of an estrous synchronization program. The implementation of management strategies has important positive impact(s) on the reproductive efficiency of heifers. There are limitations, however, because some heifers deemed ready to enter their first breeding season do not become pregnant. In parallel, genetic selection for fertility-related traits in beef heifers have not promoted major genetic gains on this particular area, most likely due to low heritability of female fertility traits in cattle. Technologies such as antral follicle counting, DNA genotyping and RNA profiling are being investigated as a means to aid in the identification of heifers of low fertility potential. To date, many polymorphisms have been associated with heifer fertility, but no DNA markers have been identified across herds. Antral follicle count is an indication of the ovarian reserve and is an indicator of the reproductive health of a heifer. We have been working on the identification of transcriptome profiles in heifers associated with pregnancy outcome. Our current investigations integrating protein-coding transcript abundance and artificial intelligence have identified the potential for bloodborne transcript abundance to be used as indicators of fertility potential in beef heifers. In summary, there is an ongoing pressure for reducing costs and increasing efficiency in cow-calf production systems, and new technologies can help reduce the long-standing limitations in beef heifer fertility.

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