Frozen Semen Of A Test Sire example essay topic

Quincy Hands Mrs. TerpstraEnglish II 22 October 2001 Expected Progeny Differences Expected Progeny Differences, also known as EPD's, can guarantee consumer satisfaction and greater producer profitability in cattle production (Gardiner). EPD's provides the predictability needed through numerical comparisons for each desired trait being considered (Fink 1). They are acquired through a computer data based system as a result of sire evaluation test. Sire evaluation tests are done by comparing new young sires with older existing reference sires. As additional data is gathered accuracy levels for a given sire are improved (Briggs 28).

With stacked pedigrees of known genetics, production traits and end product are more predictable and of a higher quality (Gardiner). Also with proper breeding and feeding techniques and the use of EPD's you can produce the "DREAM" beef animal. Gardiner Angus Ranch (GAR) is one of the top Angus seed stock producers in the nation. Triangle H Grain & Cattle Co. does a high percentage of the sire evaluation testing for GAR. At Triangle H, which my father owns and manages, we use frozen semen of a test sire to breed our herd for a calving season. This is usually done in early June.

We breed our herd with the frozen semen through a process called artificial insemination. Once the calves are born we take a birth weight and compare it to birth weights from calves of older existing reference sires such as Pinnacle, Precision, and Prime Time. The same is done with weaning weight, yearling weight, yearling height, scrotal circumference, and clear through to the packing plant where we compare carcass traits. As more calves of the same sire are put through the tests the accuracy level for that sire improves (Hands).

Many people understand how we get the results but they don't understand what we do with them. The following is a good example that explains how we use EPD's to improve herds. A rancher has 40 cows and their calf crop is below average in weight and only has approximately 40 percent grading choice or higher. To improve these traits the farmer would research the pedigrees of many different sires to find a sire that has a below average birth weight, an above average yearling weight, and an above average marbling percentage. People also wonder why you want a below average birth weight when you want bigger calves.

The reason for this is that if you have too big of calves at birth you will increase calving problems, more risk of death during calving, and the female calves will also have trouble calving in the future. Once the rancher finds a sire that meets his needs he buys semen from that sire and breeds it into his herd. Through continuous breeding the traits will gradually improve. After approximately four breeding seasons, the rancher will have considerably larger calves and more that likely 90 percent grading choice or higher. This is definitely a drastic improvement. Although you can pick the traits you would like to change you also need to pay attention to all the other traits.

Dr. Twig Marston of KSU says this very well, "Relationships between traits exist, and you can't select for one without influencing the others (Smith)". This is a very true quote. This means that if you find a sire that fits your needs you need to make sure all of the other traits are within a reasonable range because you don't want to improve one trait and mess up another trait. By determining the strengths and weaknesses of a herd, and properly selecting the traits you would like to improve and the ones you would like to stay the same you can not only produce the "DREAM" beef animal, but you can also be producer efficient and have consumer satisfaction. This will greatly improve the producer profitability. Mark Gardiner of GAR says, "Both production efficiency and carcass traits can be selected for at the same time through proper utilization of EPD's (Gardiner)".

This information proves that with EPD's you can predict genetic traits, use them to strengthen a beef-breeding program, and produce the "DREAM" beef animal that meets the consumer's expectations and is also cost effective. A quote from my father, Sam Hands, sums this up very well, "EPD's have allowed us to double our percent grading choice or higher while also increasing production efficiency by 10 percent in the last seven years (Hands)".

Bibliography

Briggs, Hilton M. Modern Breeds of Livestock. Toronto, Canada: The Macmillan Company, 1969.
Fink, Gayle n. "Where is your fit for surviving in 2006?" Fink Beef Genetics News.
September 2001: 1+.
Gardiner, Mark. Personal Interview. 15 September 2001.
Hands, Sam. Personal Interview. 16 September 2001".
Sire Evaluation". American Angus Association. n. d, 18 Sept. 2001 web end search.
cf m September 2001, 1 & 7.
Smith Troy. "Don't Jump the Track". Angus Journal. July 2001: 246-247.