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Maine-Anjou Voice ::
Kyla
Nesheim / Jeana Sankey ::
204 Marshall Road :: PO Box
1100 :: Platte City MO 64079-1100
Phone - 816.858.9954 :: Fax - 816.858.9953 ::
E-mail:
voiceeditor@kc.rr.com |
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November-December 2007 - Commercial
Connection
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New DNA Markers for Feed Efficiency
by Dave Steen, commercial marketing
director
Profit is the one vehicle
driving the Maine-Anjou acceptance in
today’s commercial cattle market.
Producers are looking for added
heterosis that will increase overall
performance, improve carcass traits and
maternal strength through fertility and
longevity in their female; while having
a direct influence on cattle that gain
more efficiently.
It is the animal’s genetic makeup that determines its
potential for feed efficiency,
tenderness, carcass quality, longevity,
fertility, etc. Environment and
management practices also help determine
how much of its genetic potential is
reached. Therefore it is important for
each producer to be aware of the methods
of management that can affect the
direction of change to improve
efficiency and the overall profit
picture.
In the last two years, feed efficiency and gain have become the
topic of most conversations in the
cattle feeding industry. This is mainly
because of the increase in the price of
grains that have cattle feeders looking
to purchase cattle with a known history
of outstanding gains and improved feed
efficiencies to help lower the cost of
production.
To help producers identify their superior genetics, Bovigen LLC,
Harahan, La., has announced a new four
marker DNA panel test that accurately
identifies an animal’s genetic ability
to efficiently convert feed. This test
gives producers the opportunity to
identify the genetic lines that are more
efficient through the testing of their
females and sire lines. To further
explain the new GeneSTAR feed efficiency
test, Calvin Gunter, Director of
Corporate Development of Bovigen, LLC,
Harahan, La., has given the American
Maine-Anjou Association (AMAA)
permission to reprint this article in
its entirety authored by Jim Johnson,
Director of Sales and Distribution.
Feed inputs usually account for 60 - 70% of the costs in feed
production. Heritability of feed
efficiency is estimated to be moderate
with the values ranging from 0.25 -
0.50. These values indicate any
improvement in feed efficiency should
definitely improve conversion rates and
overall profit. Feed efficiency is
difficult to define and most industry
experts suggest that sires, females and
finishing cattle should be evaluated.
Bovigen says that “the new GeneSTAR Feed Efficiency test will help
to identify up to a $50 difference in
feed cost between animals when ration
costs are at $165 per ton,” says Victor
Castellon, CEO of Bovigen. Quoting
GeneSTAR, “The new GeneSTAR Feed
Efficiency test is made up of four
markers which together identify as much
as a 15% difference in the total
variation of daily feed consumption. An
animal can obtain a maximum of eight
stars for feed efficiency which means
that animal should eat about four lb.
less feed per day than an animal with
zero stars. That accounts for about a
30% difference in the genetic variation
for this trait.”
To test for this new Feed Efficiency Marker, you can order a hair
collector container from Bovigen or from
the AMAA office. You simply need a hair
sample (including the root) from the
brush of the tail. Place the root end of
the hair in the sample collector
container, put your address on the form,
and mail to, Bovigen, LLC, 250 Plauche
St., Harahan, LA 70123. To obtain
information, please call Bovigen at
(877) BEEF DNA or (877) 233-3362 or
visit their Web site at
www.bovigen.com
. Bovigen also offers producers the
option to test for quality grade,
tenderness and feed efficiency from one
sample. Cost is $65 per head with
quantity discounts available. Keep in
mind, to date, we have tested over 500
bulls for tenderness with 82.4% of the
bulls being two stars or better.
National Maine- Anjou feed trial results
have shown the Maine-Anjou breed has the
propensity to be very efficient and I
encourage producers to consider testing
at least your sires and donors for the
feed efficiency trait to help identify
your superior Maine-Anjou individuals.
Bovigen, LLC, reported an independent
study showed feed efficiency has six
times as much affect on feedyard
profitability as average daily gain and
a twenty percent improvement in
efficiency would equal a $65 improvement
in profitability. Industry wide, we will
see the development of EPDs for feed
efficiency in many breeds and in the end
the slightest improvement in feed
efficiency will have a significant
impact in profitability that will affect
many areas of beef production.
By now most of you have probably received your SEK Genetics/Genetic
Horizons 2007 Fall Update Semen Catalog.
SEK Genetics and the AMAA have teamed up
to present Maine- Anjou genetics to the
commercial beef producers across the
country.
We are very honored to have this opportunity to work with Dr.
Coover and SEK Genetics to provide
today’s cattleman an alternative to
maximize efficiency, quality through
hybrid vigor for increased profits. The
Maine- Anjou breed has been incorporated
in the beef industry for almost 40 years
and has continually added value to all
phases of beef production by providing
uniformity, predictability and
consistent quality. These bulls were
selected for traits that encompassed
calving ease, excellent growth and
performance, improved carcass traits,
maternal qualities and docile
temperaments. Five of these bulls in
this publication have been tested in the
AMAA National Sire Test and all ten
bulls have been tested clean for PHA and
TH.
The AMAA would like to thank the
following seedstock breeders who so
graciously consigned their bulls to
SEK’s Fall 2007 Update:
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If anyone has questions concerning
the bulls in the commercial lineup,
please feel free to contact the
owners, myself or Dr. Coover at SEK
Genetics. The AMAA would like to
thank Dr. Coover for his assistance
and in giving the Maine-Anjou breed
the unique opportunity to showcase
this selected group of sires in
SEK’s Fall Update Catalog. This is
the first time Maine- Anjou bulls
have been specifically selected and
targeted for the commercial
cattleman. The future is ours if we
embrace it. With continued selection
for a balance of economic traits,
the Maine-Anjou breed will provide
producers with the flexibility and
genetic reach to meet or exceed
industry goals.
I will be attending sales this fall and winter and if I can be of
help in any way please feel free to
contact me at (515) 201-3281.
Continue to breed with Commitment
and Direction!
Maines on the Move,
Dave Steen
CORRECTIONS
There was a misprint in Dave Steen’s
Commercial Connection from the
October 2007 Maine-Anjou Voice. We
apologize for the mistake or any
inconvenience this may have caused.
Please note the following
corrections:
• The Top Group of Five National
Steers for Average Daily Gain 1st
Place should be 2.930 lb./day
— A.W. Thorne, Adair, Okla.
• The Top Individual Junior Heifer
for Average Daily Gain 1st Place
should be 3.087 lb./day
— Abbie Rademacher, Loup City, Neb.
• The Top Individual Junior Steer
for Average Daily Gain was omitted
and should be as follows: 1st Place
should be 3.353 lb./day
— Trevor Schultz, Loup City, Neb.
Article reprinted with permission of
Bovigen, LLC, Harahan, La.
Bovigen Releases
New GeneStar Feed
Efficiency Markers
Producers in every
sector of the cattle industry are facing rising costs, but none that impact the
bottom line more than the cost of feed. To maintain profitability, producers
must be able to identify genetic lines that provide the most feed efficient
animals possible. Bovigen is addressing this ever increasing need with a true
technological breakthrough, the industry’s first and only DNA test that can
identify an animal’s genetic ability to efficiently convert feed.
Bovigen has released four markers appropriately named GeneStar Feed
Efficiency. These four markers
are significantly associated with NFI or Net Feed Intake, sometimes called
Residua Feed Intake or Net Feed Efficiency. NFI is defined as actual feed
intake minus
expected feed intake, based on its requirements for maintenance and growth. NFI
is shown to have no association to mature weight, average daily gain, carcass
weight, marbling or back fat. This is not to be confused with Feed Conversion or
Feed Conversion Ratio, which is feed intake divided by average daily gain. Feed
Conversion was commonly used in the past but is being replaced by NFI because
selected animals had higher weight gains with no reduction in feed intake. In
addition, selecting for Feed Conversion directly influenced mature weight in the
cow herd and therefore feed requirements as well.
The new GeneSTAR® Feed Efficiency test is made up of four markers
which together identify over 4 lb. of daily feed consumption or around 15-20%
difference in daily consumption, which contributes to over $50 per head given a
ration cost of $175/ton. Like NFI, this test shows no affect on other measures
like mature weight, average daily gain, carcass weight, quality grade, yield
grade or back fat.
Obviously these markers can demonstrate
a significant economic impact for cattle
feeders, however, they can also
appreciably influence the profitability
of cow/calf and seedstock producers as
well. This excerpt from Grow Safe’s
return on investment technical sheet
demonstrates the cost advantage of just
a 2.25 lb. reduction in feed intake per
day over a 150 day feeding period.
The Grow Safe table also demonstrates
the value of a bull that will reduce
feed costs in his progeny if he sires 30
progeny per year for a four year period.
This is in addition to his genetic value
with consideration to reduction in
maintenance costs associated with his
daughters over their lifetime of
production. The next table gives us a
closer suggestion of the overall value
of a bull that can make an impact on
feed efficiency. Taken from the results
of bulls sold through the Olds College
Bull Test and demonstrates the value of
bulls sold with High Efficiency vs.
bulls with Low Efficiency and bulls not
tested.
The Selling Price of High
vs. Low Efficiency
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There are also some studies being
conducted that associate NFI with
cow maintenance and forage
consumption, which could have a
substantial impact on a cows
lifetime cost of production,
stocking rate and lb. of beef
produced per acre. And still yet
other studies that suggest selecting
for NFI will also reduce the amount
of methane and manure
released into the environment. In
the longer term those effects could
reduce the impact of beef production
on the environment. With experts
suggesting feed costs typically make
up 60-65% of the variable costs of
beef production. Lowering feed costs
will have a dramatic impact on
profitability and competitiveness in
every sector of the industry.
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