Cattle stratified on genetic merit segregate on carcass characteristics, but there is scope for improvement1

Berry, D.P.; Pabiou, T.; Brennan, D.; Hegarthy, Patrick J; Judge, Michelle M

doi:10.1093/tas/txz042

Cited by 2 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 35 publications

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“…In fact, Connolly et al (2019) reported that animals in the top 25% for a terminal index had a greater predicted yield of higher value carcass cuts as well as more total meat yield, relative to animals in the bottom 25%; cut yields were predicted from video image analysis ( Pabiou et al, 2011 ). Similarly, Berry et al (2019b) , using actual primal-cut weight data, reported that the weight of primal cuts increased almost linearly with increasing genetic merit for a total merit terminal index. Thus, beef cattle of high total genetic merit for a terminal index are expected to yield carcasses of superior quality and value, in comparison to their low total genetic merit counterparts, which helps ensure economic sustainability for both the primary producer and the abattoir.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 92%

“… Connolly et al (2016) for example, using a national database, illustrated that genetically elite cattle (i.e., top 25% for a terminal index) had, on average, heavier and better conformed carcasses, with less fat cover, relative to animals of low genetic merit (i.e., bottom 25% for a terminal index). Berry et al (2019b) extended this, documenting heavier yields of higher value primal carcass cuts in cattle excelling on the Irish terminal index. Nevertheless, apart from experimental studies with a relatively small number of animals ( Clarke et al, 2009 ), few have attempted to quantify the association between animal total merit index, feed intake, and efficiency in beef cattle.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 83%

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Feed and production efficiency of young crossbred beef cattle stratified on a terminal total merit index1

Kelly

Conroy

Murphy

et al. 2020

Translational Animal Science

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Abstract Few studies have attempted to quantify the association between a terminal total merit index with phenotypic feed and production efficiency in beef cattle, particularly when feed efficiency is itself explicitly absent as a goal trait in the index. The objective of the present study was to quantify the differences in phenotypic performance for feed intake, feed efficiency and carcass traits of crossbred bulls, steers and heifers differing in a terminal total merit index. A validation population of 614 bulls, steers and heifers that were evaluated for feed intake and efficiency in the same feedlot and subsequently slaughtered at the end of their test period was constructed. The Irish national genetic evaluations for a terminal index of calving performance, docility, feed intake and carcass traits were undertaken with the phenotypic records of animals present in the validation population masked. The validation population animals were subsequently stratified into four groups, within sex, according to their terminal index value. Mixed models were used to quantify the association between terminal genetic merit and phenotypic performance; whether the associations differed by sex was also investigated. The regression coefficient of phenotypic feed intake, carcass weight, carcass conformation or carcass fat on its respective estimated breeding values was 0.86 kg DM/d, 0.91 kg, 1.01 units and 1.29 units, respectively, which is close to the expectation of one. On average, cattle in the very high terminal index stratum had a 0.63 kg DM/d lower feed intake, a 25.05 kg heaver carcass, a 1.82 unit better carcass conformation (scale 1 to 15) and a 1.24 unit less carcass fat score (scale 1 to 15), relative to cattle in the very low terminal index stratum. Cattle of superior total genetic merit were also more feed efficient (i.e., had a lower energy conversion ratio, lower residual feed intake and greater residual gain), had a greater proportion of their live-weight as carcass weight (i.e., better dressing percentage) and were slaughtered at a younger age relative to their inferior total genetic merit counterparts. This study provides validation of an all-encompassing total merit index and demonstrates the benefits of selection on a total merit index for feed and production efficiency, which should impart confidence among stakeholders in the contribution of genetic selection to simultaneous improvements in individual animal performance and efficiency.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 92%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 83%

Feed and production efficiency of young crossbred beef cattle stratified on a terminal total merit index1

Kelly

Conroy

Murphy

et al. 2020

Translational Animal Science

Self Cite

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show abstract

“…Proper and transparent validation of any new tool is crucial to its acceptance by industry. Breeding goals can be validated using a controlled experimental study (Clarke et al, 2009a;Coleman et al, 2009) or a crosssectional analysis of a large data set; the latter can be undertaken at the level of the animal (Connolly et al, 2016;Berry et al, 2019c;Twomey et al, 2020) or the herd (Ramsbottom et al, 2012). Berry and Ring (2020a) used a data set of 123,785 calving records and carcass information from 48,875 animals to validate the dairy-beef index proposed by Berry et al (2019a); of particular interest in their validation study was a comparison with the status quo of selecting beef bulls for use on Irish dairy females based on a combination of genetic merit for easy calving and short gestation.…”

Section: Beef-on-dairy Breeding Goalsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Invited review: Beef-on-dairy—The generation of crossbred beef × dairy cattle

Berry

2021

Journal of Dairy Science

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Because a growing proportion of the beef output in many countries originates from dairy herds, the most critical decisions about the genetic merit of most carcasses harvested are being made by dairy producers. Interest in the generation of more valuable calves from dairy females is intensifying, and the most likely vehicle is the use of appropriately selected beef bulls for mating to the dairy females. This is especially true given the growing potential to undertake more beef × dairy matings as herd metrics improve (e.g., reproductive performance) and technological advances are more widely adopted (e.g., sexed semen). Clear breed differences (among beef breeds but also compared with dairy breeds) exist for a whole plethora of performance traits, but considerable within-breed variability has also been demonstrated. Although such variability has implications for the choice of bull to mate to dairy females, the fact that dairy females themselves exhibit such genetic variability implies that "one size fits all" may not be appropriate for bull selection. Although differences in a whole series of key performance indicators have been documented between beef and beef-on-dairy animals, of particular note is the reported lower environmental hoofprint associated with beef-on-dairy production systems if the environmental overhead of the mature cow is attributed to the milk she eventually produces. Despite the known contribution of beef (i.e., both surplus calves and cull cows) to the overall gross output of most dairy herds globally, and the fact that each dairy female contributes half her genetic merit to her progeny, proxies for meat yield (i.e., veal or beef) are not directly considered in the vast majority of dairy cow breeding objectives. Breeding objectives to identify beef bulls suitable for dairy production systems are now being developed and validated, demonstrating the financial benefit of using such breeding objectives over and above a focus on dairy bulls or easy-calving, short-gestation beef bulls. When this approach is complemented by management-based decision-support tools, considerable potential exists to improve the profitability and sustainability of modern dairy production systems by exploiting beef-on-dairy breeding strategies using the most appropriate beef bulls.

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Cattle stratified on genetic merit segregate on carcass characteristics, but there is scope for improvement1

Cited by 2 publications

References 35 publications

Feed and production efficiency of young crossbred beef cattle stratified on a terminal total merit index1

Feed and production efficiency of young crossbred beef cattle stratified on a terminal total merit index1

Invited review: Beef-on-dairy—The generation of crossbred beef × dairy cattle

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