The Kansas Beef Cattle Improvement Program

Beef Cattle Improvement

Recent Developments in Beef Cattle Improvement

Profit from cattle enterprises is influenced by the value of sale animals, less the costs of their production. Ever-changing production and economic circumstances provide both threats and opportunities to cow-calf producers, bull breeders and feedlotters. Feeding strategies and other aspects of management typically require continuous betweenand within-year modification in order to optimize marg...

Genetic Improvement of Reproduction in Beef Cattle

Reproduction is a key profit driver in beef cattle production systems around the world. However genetic evaluation for reproduction traits is generally limited or non-existent. This is likely a function of low levels of recording reproduction traits, and low heritabilities. Traditional BLUP based genetic evaluations have been used effectively in beef for generating estimated breeding values and...

The Genetic Improvement of Carcass Composition in Beef Cattle

Although carcass trait selection programs have primarily focused on carcass marbling (quality grade), recent changes in the North American beef industry will very likely increase the economic importance of carcass composition (yield grade). Ultrasound technology is a valuable tool in these efforts. This review summarizes recent research pertaining to the role of ultrasound in improving carcass ...

Genetic improvement in feed efficiency in beef cattle

Net feed conversion efficiency (NFCE) describes whether an animal eats more or less feed than expected for its size and growth rate. Early results from the Trangie NFCE Project, and from the Beef CRC, show that considerable variation in NFCE exists within each of the British breeds tested and is moderately heritable. Estimates of heritability for average daily gain, 365-day weight, feed intake,...