Q: Without measuring for feed intake, are we selecting in the wrong direction now?
A: 'What happened in the dairy industry when all they selected for was output, without looking at inputs?'
Dr John Basarab's enthusiasm for matching what is going on inside the cow, calf and feedlot steer with the overall good of the Alberta Beef Industry has made him a global Feed Intake superstar. I was lucky to have an interview with him. These are just some random thoughts from that:
We originally were selecting for GROWTH, and that is a function of:
age, sex
mature size,
body composition (muscle, fat)
....and intake.
Now we can measure INTAKE ...and that is a function of:
metabolic rate
digestability / rumen function
some behaviour traits..
....we are not really sure yet, but intake is the missing link in the GROWTH equation.
Q: the more data we build up on cattle, particularly with genomic selection, are we all going to end up with Angus, where most of the data is?
A: The environment will always dictate the cow - having the w rong cow means that it's going to cost too much in inputs to optimise fertility. It's OK for the pig industry to have 2 or 3 global breeding lines because they only have one environment.
A bull sale is the end result of something you are doing really well: Set a clear breeding goal and stick to it; use good data collection; use a selection index; enhance with genome technology.
A: 'What happened in the dairy industry when all they selected for was output, without looking at inputs?'
Dr John Basarab's enthusiasm for matching what is going on inside the cow, calf and feedlot steer with the overall good of the Alberta Beef Industry has made him a global Feed Intake superstar. I was lucky to have an interview with him. These are just some random thoughts from that:
We originally were selecting for GROWTH, and that is a function of:
age, sex
mature size,
body composition (muscle, fat)
....and intake.
Now we can measure INTAKE ...and that is a function of:
metabolic rate
digestability / rumen function
some behaviour traits..
....we are not really sure yet, but intake is the missing link in the GROWTH equation.
Q: the more data we build up on cattle, particularly with genomic selection, are we all going to end up with Angus, where most of the data is?
A: The environment will always dictate the cow - having the w rong cow means that it's going to cost too much in inputs to optimise fertility. It's OK for the pig industry to have 2 or 3 global breeding lines because they only have one environment.
A bull sale is the end result of something you are doing really well: Set a clear breeding goal and stick to it; use good data collection; use a selection index; enhance with genome technology.
Greenfeed System from South Dakota - measuring methane emissions in pasture, using alkaline trace in feed pellets which are delivered to the animal in the hopper. While it is waiting between cupfuls of pellets methane samples are taken, measured in real-time, and sent to a computer.
Trials this summer alongside grow-safe water feeders and group laser methane emission measurements on high and low RFI cattle. Exciting times in the sleepy little agricultural town of Lacombe.
Trials this summer alongside grow-safe water feeders and group laser methane emission measurements on high and low RFI cattle. Exciting times in the sleepy little agricultural town of Lacombe.