Agricultural News
Is the 'Arms Race for Muscle' in Beef Cattle a Winning Proposition?
Thu, 14 Jun 2012 05:25:51 CDT
In the fourth and final segment of a four-part Beef Buzz series, Dr. Dave Lalman continues to talk efficiency. In this portion of his address at the recent Alltech International Symposium on the Future of Agriculture held in Lexington, Kentucky, Lalman talks about breeding to optimize particular traits.
He says beef producers are in a race for muscle. Purebred breeders are constantly trying to improve the amount and quality of muscle in their breeds.
Once again, Lalman says, the efficiency question arises: "How much muscle do you need in a cow that is going to be part of your operation for 10 or 12 years?" Increased muscling means increased maintenance costs. Do the increased maintenance costs over time erase any value added in the calves sold?
Lalman says there is a balance to be struck. He says breeders need to ponder advice like that once given by Dr. Rick Borden: "To breed for optimum means to have a target in sight beyond which you don't want to go. If your goal is to maintain an optimal level for any trait, the evidence of your accomplishment is not visible change, but lack of it."
Lalman says that commercial producers and purebred breeders have somewhat differing motives in that the breeders are following the market signals which say "more is better." Commercial producers, on the other hand, need to pay more careful attention to efficiency and the long term bottom line.
Click on the LISTEN BAR below to hear more of the BEEF BUZZ and this final segment of a four part series. The Beef Buzz is a regular feature heard on radio stations around the region on the Radio Oklahoma Network- but is also a regular audio feature found on this website as well. Check out our archives for older Beef Buzz shows covering the gamut of the beef cattle industry today.
Previous segments of this series are in our Beef Buzz section of our website- - click on the title to jump to that Beef Buzz segment:
Part One- The Cattle Frame Pendulum Swings Back and Forth And Back Again
Part Two- Can Cattle Producers Continue to Pass On Crossbred Advantages?
Part Three- Moderation in Cow Size is the Key to Profitability, Lalman Says
WebReadyTM Powered by WireReady® NSI
Top Agricultural News
More Headlines...
