Beef Producers’ Questions Answered By Breed Association Representatives

By Crystal McNett Assistant Editor
Thursday, October 23, 2008 7:43 AM CDT

Breed associations are working to keep up with the changing beef industry by offering management and marketing tools to beef producers. The Wisconsin Cattlemen’s Association, Wisconsin Cattlewomen’s Association, Bobcat Plus and the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture Trade and Consumer Protection invited three representatives of the largest beef breed associations in the U.S. to World Beef Expo to discuss how they are assisting cattlemen in producing and marketing high quality cattle and beef.

On the panel were Craig Huffhines, executive vice president of the American Hereford Association; Bryce Schumann, CEO of the American Angus Association; and Kelly Schmidt, north central region field services representative with the American Simmental Association.

Each had the chance to explain what their respective association is doing to help producers maintain profitability in the changing beef industry. They also were able to address questions from the audience.

Genetic abnormalities

On the topic of genetic abnormalities, an audience member asked how each breed association is working to battle these problems.

Schmidt: The American Simmental Association has been conducting multi-breed genetic evaluations and gathering data on TH, PHA and curly calf syndrome. The 50 most used bulls are tested, which account for roughly 92 percent of all calves born. With this testing, these bulls can be identified as a carrier and resulting offspring must be tested.

These animals are still able to be registered so that the abnormalities can be found and tracked. The Association is working with breeders to know where the carriers of these genetic abnormalities are and to address the problem.

Huffhines: The American Hereford Association recognizes that genetic abnormalities will be part of the beef population, and as diversity within the breed decreases, those abnormalities become more devastating.

One abnormality that the Hereford Association is monitoring is Idiopathic Epilepsy. This condition’s symptoms are identifiable when an animal is under a small amount of stress and it goes into a seizure for one to 20 minutes.

Huffhines reminded breeders to report this and other abnormalities when they are seen so that the Association can work with researchers to identify the genetic marker for the abnormality. From that information, a test can be developed to identify carriers before symptoms occur. “If you don’t panic, you will get through this,” Huffhines reminded.

Schumann: The American Angus Association is dealing with the newly identified genetic abnormality, Curly Calf Syndrome. Calves with this defect are born dead with bent and twisted spines and stiff joints.

Over the course of 10 days, 48 different cases have been reported. Forty-seven of those had the same sire on both sides of the pedigree, reported Schumann. That sire’s name has been posted to the American Angus Association’s website.

The Angus Association is currently working to develop a test for Curly Calf Syndrome and is hoping to have it ready by February 2009.

Weaning weight ratio

In regards to efficiency, the question was raised if the breed associations are working to create a cow weight to weaning weight ratio.

Huffhines: This issue is to be addressed by the Hereford Association through an index on the registration paper.

Schumann: The Angus Association wants to look beyond the cow weight to weaning weight ratio, and look at the input cost of the calf. The Angus Association wants to measure efficiency by incorporating genomic data into genetic evaluations.

Schmidt: The American Simmental Association is working with an all-purpose index that identifies the money generated by a cow over her lifetime. Input costs and the size of the cow will be examined to find how it will affect the weaning weight of the calf.

Breed positioning

An audience member questioned why breeds aren’t differentiating themselves as either a maternal breed or a terminal sire breed so that producers can take advantage of hybrid vigor.

Schumann: The Angus breed is able to have segmentation within the breed to identify maternal and terminal sire lines.

Huffhines: Each breeder’s breeding objectives are different. The Hereford Association is working to promote the Hereford breed’s advantages and let breeders select animals to their objectives.

Schmidt: The Simmental breed offers complimentary traits that bring advantages to other breeds. Breeders can look at genetic lines and see where they fit into their breeding preferences.

Youth

An audience member asked, “What is the future of youth programming?”

Huffhines: There’s a lot of energy in the youth programs of the American Hereford Association. Young people are the most precious resource of the industry and those currently in the industry need to help bring youth back to the ranch.

Schmidt: Youth programs are a big focus of the American Simmental Association. It is working to initiate a youth leadership program.

Schumann: A lot of untapped opportunities lie in youth programs. A key focus is to stay in touch with these young leaders as they become young professionals in the industry.

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