by Kim Kester

Animal selection criteria such as conformation, docility and body size can be judged accurately by visually evaluating an animal. Pedigreed animals also have expected progeny differences (EPDs) from the sire and dam to inform retention within the herd. However, commercial animals may not have pedigree data available, and their selection must be made by other means. Visual evaluation is an excellent starting point, and incorporating genomic reports can further improve selection decisions.

Genomic reports include a variety of traits used for selection purposes to help meet your herd goals. Genetics companies offer beef animal genomic testing for maternal, performance and terminal traits, as well as indexes that combine multiple traits from different categories. A limited number of companies offer a hybrid vigor (heterosis) test. Hybrid vigor is not heritable and is used to assess increased vigor of an individual due to crossbreeding.

The following characteristics are evaluated by genomic testing:

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Benefits of genomics in beef selection

Numerous tools are available to inform cattle producers’ breeding decisions. Animal data from genomics should be used to improve confidence in decisions, but should not entirely replace the use of visual characteristics or performance data with EPDs.

Hair or blood samples can be taken from calves at weaning or from bred heifers to make replacement decisions. Having genomic reports available also can add value for marketing purposes if selling as replacements. Because samples can be pulled from calves, genomics can accelerate genetic progress by allowing decisions to be made at a younger age. This also provides deeper insight than “eyeballing” crossbred animals that may not have extensive pedigree data.

Take advantage of hybrid vigor that cannot be determined through performance data. Hybrid vigor has a strong influence on traits with low heritability, such as maternal and fertility traits. Better hybrid vigor translates to better fertility, feed efficiency and stayability in the herd.

Identify your best and worst future performers. If you have a large group of replacement heifers and need to make cuts, genomics easily identifies the animals with the least potential in a group. Save on rearing costs by culling sooner. On average, it costs about $2,000 to raise a replacement heifer. Significant costs can be eliminated by making selections early on.

Example case: Commercial cattle

The two commercial heifers pictured at the beginning of this article are the top and bottom of a group of replacement heifers in the University of Wisconsin-Madison beef herd. Heifer L026 (left) has a hybrid vigor score of 7 out of 10, compared to L066’s score of 2. This means L026 has a 20% greater chance of breeding as a yearling, a 20% greater chance of staying in the herd until 6 years old and a 10% lower chance of a negative health event. L026 also has better calving ease, better feed efficiency and heavier hot carcass weight.

In this case, genomics was an effective tool that revealed clear differences within a group of animals and helped make selections to improve the future of the herd.

Kester is the University of Wisconsin-Madison Extension regional livestock educator for Grant, Green, Iowa and Lafayette counties.