Beef producers can only prosper if they can cut costs while improving their herd performance. Prices for their meat vary greatly, and greater efficiency in production means survival in bad markets. Beef cattle genetics, which study heredity and trait transfer from parent to off-spring, can help when producers combine them with practical measures.
Genetics is the study of heredity, or how traits are passed from parent to off-spring. There are many new techniques in the cattle industry as a result of these studies. Line-breeding, or mating two cows with similar gene pools, can result in maximizing certain traits like rapid growth and top carcass quality (ratio of meat to bone, lean to fat, higher-quality cuts to lesser). However, breeding closely-related animals in order to get certain traits can lead to problems, like infertility, low survival rates in calves, and less resistance to disease.
Embryo transplanting is when a prime cow is mated to a superior bull and her fertilized eggs harvested. Surrogate mother cows carry her off-spring and nurture the calves, each of which carries her excellent bloodline. Embryo transplants are of benefit to those who are raising breeding stock, but meat-producing ranchers have found that less high-tech measures may achieve higher profits.
Many farmers find that combining new knowledge with tried-and-true methods from their practical experience works best. Culling has been done by successful producers for generations. This involves the regular removal of less productive animals from the herd, to save on the cost of feeding and care. With knowledge gained from checking genetic records, the herdsman can pair high-producing cows with bulls selected for the traits they pass along that mesh with the rancher's goals for production and herd improvement.
A basic knowledge of heredity explains what ranchers already know, that breeding animals with similar genetic backgrounds (within the breed and with some common ancestors) can reduce health and vitality. Out-breeding, which means choosing animals within the breed but of different strains, works better in terms of conception, ability to carry and nurture a calf, and length of productive life.
Cross-breeding, or mating a male and a female of two different breeds, works even better. The good traits of each breed are transferred with marked success, with the off-spring often being better than either parent. Careful matching of breed characteristics has produced some fine types of cross-breds with hybrid vigor and resilience.
Artificial insemination, using frozen semen, makes the best bulls available to ranchers everywhere. There are bulls with great performance records for meat production, and others whose strength is producing cows who conceive easily, carry calves successfully, and nurture them well. Things like birth weight, growth rate, and early maturity are all found in genetic records kept by breed associations.
Success in the cattle industry comes with good herd management and proper care of the very best cows obtainable. Genetics helps get the most out of the effort and expense of raising beef.
Genetics is the study of heredity, or how traits are passed from parent to off-spring. There are many new techniques in the cattle industry as a result of these studies. Line-breeding, or mating two cows with similar gene pools, can result in maximizing certain traits like rapid growth and top carcass quality (ratio of meat to bone, lean to fat, higher-quality cuts to lesser). However, breeding closely-related animals in order to get certain traits can lead to problems, like infertility, low survival rates in calves, and less resistance to disease.
Embryo transplanting is when a prime cow is mated to a superior bull and her fertilized eggs harvested. Surrogate mother cows carry her off-spring and nurture the calves, each of which carries her excellent bloodline. Embryo transplants are of benefit to those who are raising breeding stock, but meat-producing ranchers have found that less high-tech measures may achieve higher profits.
Many farmers find that combining new knowledge with tried-and-true methods from their practical experience works best. Culling has been done by successful producers for generations. This involves the regular removal of less productive animals from the herd, to save on the cost of feeding and care. With knowledge gained from checking genetic records, the herdsman can pair high-producing cows with bulls selected for the traits they pass along that mesh with the rancher's goals for production and herd improvement.
A basic knowledge of heredity explains what ranchers already know, that breeding animals with similar genetic backgrounds (within the breed and with some common ancestors) can reduce health and vitality. Out-breeding, which means choosing animals within the breed but of different strains, works better in terms of conception, ability to carry and nurture a calf, and length of productive life.
Cross-breeding, or mating a male and a female of two different breeds, works even better. The good traits of each breed are transferred with marked success, with the off-spring often being better than either parent. Careful matching of breed characteristics has produced some fine types of cross-breds with hybrid vigor and resilience.
Artificial insemination, using frozen semen, makes the best bulls available to ranchers everywhere. There are bulls with great performance records for meat production, and others whose strength is producing cows who conceive easily, carry calves successfully, and nurture them well. Things like birth weight, growth rate, and early maturity are all found in genetic records kept by breed associations.
Success in the cattle industry comes with good herd management and proper care of the very best cows obtainable. Genetics helps get the most out of the effort and expense of raising beef.
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