Breed Differences and Taking

1
Breed Differences and Taking Advantage of
Complementarity
Larry V. Cundiff U.S. Meat Animal Research
Center ARS-USDA Clay Center, NE
Brown Bagger IV Crossbreeding Opportunities for
the US Beef Industry October 11, 2005
2
BREED DIFFERENCES an important genetic resource

• Cross breeding of composite populations can be
  used to exploit
• HETEROSIS
• COMPLEMENTARITY among breeds optimize
  performance levels for important traits and to
  match genetic potential with
• Market preferences
• Feed resources
• Climatic environment

3
Complementarity (Cartwright, 1970, J. Anim. Sci.
30706) Serving to fill out or complete,
mutually supplying each others lack (Webster)
Not Complimentarity Expression of esteem or
respect, or token of esteem (Webster)
4
COMPLEMENTARITY
is maximized in terminal crossing systems
Terminal Sire Breed Rapid and efficient
growth Optimizes carcass composition and meat
quality in slaughter progeny
Cow Herd Small to moderate
size Adapted to climate Optimal milk production
for feed resources
Progeny Maximize high quality
lean beef produced per unit feed consumed by
progeny and cow herd
5
SIRE BREEDS USED TO PRODUCE FI CROSSES WITH
ANGUS AND HEREFORD DAMS IN THE GERMPLASM
EVALUATION PROGRAM AT MARCa
Cycle I Cycle II Cycle III Cycle IV
Cycle V Cycle VI Cycle VII Cycle VIII
70-72 73-74 75-76 86-90
92-94 97-98 99-00 01-02
Hereford Hereford Hereford Hereford Hereford He
reford Hereford Hereford Angus Angus Angus Angus A
ngus Angus Angus Angus Jersey Red
Poll Brahman Longhorn Tuli Wagyu Red
Angus Beefmaster S. Devon Braunvieh Sahiwal Salers
Boran Norweg. Red Limousin Brangus Limousin Gelbv
ieh Pinzgauer Galloway Belg. Blue Sw.
RedWh. Charolais Bonsmara Simmental Maine
Anj. Tarentaise Nellore Brahman Friesian Simmental
Romosinuano Charolais Chianina Shorthorn Piedmon
tese Gelbvieh Piedmontese Charolais Gel
bvieh Pinzgauer
a Sire breeds mated to Angus and Hereford
females, Composite MARC III (1/4 Angus,
Hereford, Red Poll and Pinzgauer) cows were also
included in Cycles V, VI, and VII.
6
BEEF BREED REGISTRATIONSNational Pedigreed
Livestock Council, 2003-2004
Breed Registrations Breed Registrations
Angus 281,965 40.0 Brahman 11,000 1.6
Hereford 69,316 9.8 Salers 10,286 1.5
Charolais 55,034 7.8 Santa Gertrudis 7,500 1.1
Limousin 49,600 7.0 Longhorn 7,459 1.1
Simmental 45,000 6.4 Chianina 6,679 .9
Red Angus 42,178 6.0 Braunvieh 4,100 .6
Gelbvieh 31,664 4.5 Corriente 3,211 .5
Shorthorn 22,430 3.2 Tarentaise 1,600 .2
Brangus 22,311 3.2 Highland 1,500 .2
Beefmaster 21,242 3.0 Pinzgauer 664 .1
Maine Anjou 12,544 2.2 TOTAL 707,283 100
7
BREED GROUP MEANS FOR PREWEANING TRAITS OF
CALVESPRODUCED IN CYCLE VII OF THE GPE
PROGRAM(1999-2000 CALF CROP)
No. Gestation Calvings Calv.
Birth Surv. 200-d Sire breed calves
length unassist. diff. wt. to
wn. wn. wt., of calf born days
score lb. lb.
. . ns Hereford 190 284.3 95.6 1.24
90.4 96.2 524 Angus 189 281.6 99.6 1.01 84.0
96.7 533 Red Angus 206 282.1 99.1 1.06 84.5 96.7 5
26 Simmental 201 285.2 97.7 1.10 92.2 96.7 553 Ge
lbvieh 209 284.4 97.8 1.10 88.7 97.1 534 Limousin
200 286.2 97.6 1.13 89.5 96.9 519 Charolais 199 28
3.0 92.8 1.40 93.7 97.1 540 LSD.05 1.5 3.4 .20
3.1 3.8 13
8
Complementarity

Sire of Calf During the past 30 yr,
Continental breeds have significantly improved
direct calving ease relative to British breeds
(9 vs. 3 assisted, in cows gt 4 yr of age),
especially Simmental and Gelbvieh. Calves sired
by Continental European breeds, have reduced
birth weight relative to British breeds over the
past 30 years (9 vs. 4 lb). Angus and Red Angus
sired calves have relatively light birth weights
and greater calving ease than progeny by other
sire breeds.

9
SIRE BREED MEANS FOR REPRODUCTION AND MATERNAL
TRAITS OF F1 FEMALES MATED TO PRODUCE THEIR FIRST
CALVES AT 2 YEARS OF AGE (2001 2002)
Sire Calf crop Calving
Unassist. Birth 200-d wt per breed
born wnd. diff. births
wt. calf cow exp of female No.
score lb lb
lb
F test ns ns ns ns ns ns Hereford 80 92 70
1.9 74 81.5 413 292 Angus 84 83 76 2.0 72
79.8 424 325 Red Angus 104 86 76 2.2 68 78.2 41
5 317 Simmental 98 86 69 1.5 86 79.6 442 309 Gelb
vieh 109 79 68 2.2 64 83.6 447 307 Limousin
109 85 73 2.0 68 80.3 429 313 Charolais 97
87 73 2.1 69 81.6 430 315 LSD lt .05 14 15
.6 19 4.4 10 68
10
SIRE BREED MEANS FOR REPRODUCTION AND MATERNAL
TRAITS OF F1 FEMALES MATED TO PRODUCE CALVES AT
3-5 YEARS OF AGE (2002-2004)
Sire Calf crop Calving
Unassist. Birth 200-d wt per Breed
No born wnd. diff. births
wt. calf cow exp of female rec.
score lb lb
lb
F test ns ns ns ns
ns
ns Hereford 180 96 93 1.12 97.9 91.7 498 464 Ang
us 175 94 90 1.01 100.0 88.5 515 460 Red Angus
205 91 87 1.23 95.5 87.2 503 441 Simmental 214 90
88 1.03 99.1 88.2 535 463 Gelbvieh
220 89 86 1.07 98.8 89.8 527 452 Limousin
219 94 89 1.02 99.6 90.2 513 456 Charolais 210 94
91 1.18 97.2 91.3 522 475 LSD lt .05 7 8
.32 5.6 4.9 10 45
11
Complementarity

Sire of
Dam (Total Maternal) Differences in calving ease
and birth weight of progeny were not significant,
even in 2 yr old first calf heifers. During the
past 30 yr, maternal calving ease has been
improved greatly in Simmental relative to HA AH
(from 6 more to 11 less assistance in 2 yr old
heifers).
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Complementarity

• Differences in reproduction rate,and calf
  survival to weaning are not significant.
• Contrasts between British (H and A) and
  Continental European breeds (S, G, L, and C) are
  about 1/4th as great for direct (5.5 vs 22 lb)
  and 4/10th as great for maternal (10 vs. 24 lb)
  breed effects in the current evaluation as they
  were to 30 years ago.

13

Hereford Sired Steers
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SIRE BREED MEANS FOR FINAL WEIGHT AND CARCASS
TRAITS OF F1 STEERS (445 DAYS)
Final Retail Marb- USDA WB Sire wt
product ling Choice shear Breed N lb
lb sc lb
Hereford 97 1322 60.7 480 526 70 9.1 Angus 98 1365
59.2 488 584 95 8.9 Red Angus 93 1333 59.1 474 59
0 93 9.2 Simmental 92 1363 63.0 522 528 66 9.5 Ge
lbvieh 90 1312 63.8 509 506 58 9.9 Limousin 84 128
6 63.7 504 504 57 9.5 Charolais 95 1349 63.7 523 5
17 62 9.6 LSD lt .05 40 1.3 16 17 0.7 0.6
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USDA QUALITY GRADE X YIELD GRADEFOR HEREFORD,
ANGUS AND RED ANGUS (N 288)
Quality grade USDA Yield grade, USDA Yield grade, USDA Yield grade, USDA Yield grade, TOTAL
Quality grade 1 2 3 4 TOTAL
Low Pr 0.0 0.0 1.7 .4 2.1
High Ch 0.0 .7 2.1 1.7 4.5
Av. Ch 0.0 1.7 7.3 2.8 11.8
Low Ch 2.8 18.4 29.5 17.0 67.7
Select 1.7 8.3 2.8 1.0 13.9
Standard 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
TOTAL 4.5 29.2 43.4 22.9 100.0
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USDA QUALITY GRADE X YIELD GRADEFOR STEERS WITH
SIMMENTAL, GELBVIEH, LIMOUSIN, AND CHAROLAIS
SIRES (n 361)
Quality grade USDA Yield Grade, USDA Yield Grade, USDA Yield Grade, USDA Yield Grade, TOTAL
Quality grade 1 2 3 4 TOTAL
Low Pr 0.0 0.0 0.0 .3 .3
High Ch 0.0 0.0 .3 0.0 .3
Av. Ch 0.3 1.9 3.1 .3 5.5
Low Ch 8.3 27.2 14.4 1.7 51.5
Select 13.6 18.3 9.1 1.1 42.1
Standard 0.3 0.0 0.0 0.0 .3
TOTAL 22.4 47.4 26.9 3.3 100.0
17
USDA Quality Grade and USDA Yield Grade is more
precisely optimized in cattle with 5050 ratios
of Continental to British inheritance than in
cattle with higher or lower ratios of Continental
to British inheritance.
Complementarity
18
British (H, A, Ra) and Continental (S, G, L, and
C) sired progeny do not differ significantly in
Efficiency of Gain (live wt gain, lb/Mcal) to
age or weight end points.
19
Progeny by British sire breeds (H, A, Ra) were
more efficient (lb live wt gain/Mcal) than those
by Continental (S, G, L, C) sire breeds to
fatness endpoints
Complementarity
20
Progeny of Continental European sire breeds (S,
G, L, and C) had more efficient gains (Live wt
gain/Mcal and retail product/Mcal) than progeny
of British sire breeds (H, A, and Ra) to weight
of retail product (496 lb retail product)
endpoints
Complementarity
21
SIRE BREED LEAST SQUARES MEANS FOR GROWTH AND
PUBERTY TRAITS OF HEIFERS IN CYCLE VII OF THE GPE
PROGRAM (1999-2000 CALF CROPs)

400-d 18 wt. month Frame Age
Preg. Sire breed wt.
wt. ht. score at
rate of female No. lb.
lb. cm. sc pub.

F test ns Hereford
81 841 950 128.4 5.5 342 94 Angus
85 869 936 127.2 5.3 340 88 Red Angus
106 868 953 126.9 5.2 339 91 Simmental
103 849 961 130.2 5.9 335 90 Gelbvieh
111 807 922 128.8 5.6 322 83 Limousin
109 824 933 129.9 5.8 363 87 Charolais
103 828 950 129.5 5.8 348 91 LSD lt
.05 31 32 1.6 .5 15 13
22
Sire breed least squares means for height, condition score, and weight of F1 cows (adjusted for condition score) at 4 years of age Sire breed least squares means for height, condition score, and weight of F1 cows (adjusted for condition score) at 4 years of age Sire breed least squares means for height, condition score, and weight of F1 cows (adjusted for condition score) at 4 years of age Sire breed least squares means for height, condition score, and weight of F1 cows (adjusted for condition score) at 4 years of age
Four-yr-old Four-yr-old Four-year-old
Breed Height in Condition Score Weight lb
F test
Hereford 53.1ab 6.47a 1360 a (1348a)
Angus 52.5bc 6.54a 1348 a (1342ab)
Red Angus 52.2c 6.63a 1342 a (1321ab)
Simmental 53.6a 6.40ab 1357 a (1353a)
Gelbvieh 52.9abc 6.01c 1273 b (1282b)
Limousin 53.5a 6.13bc 1320ab (1330ab)
Charolais LSD lt0.05 Plt 0.05 53.3ab 0.8 6.47a .29 1344 a (1339ab) 54 (51)
23
Sire breed deviations from Hereford-Angus crosses for height, weight, and weight adjusted for condition score of F1 cows a Sire breed deviations from Hereford-Angus crosses for height, weight, and weight adjusted for condition score of F1 cows a Sire breed deviations from Hereford-Angus crosses for height, weight, and weight adjusted for condition score of F1 cows a Sire breed deviations from Hereford-Angus crosses for height, weight, and weight adjusted for condition score of F1 cows a
Cow Cow Cow
Breed Height in Weight lb Adj. Weight lb
Cycle I II VII I II VII I II VII
HAx 0.0 0.0 0 0 0 0
Red Angus --- 0.6 - - -12 - -- -24
Simmental 6.3 0.8 23 -3 29 8
Gelbvieh 6.0 0.1 23 -87 34 -60
Limousin 5.0 0.7 11 -40 15 -12
Charolais Cont. avg. 6.2 0.5 5.9 0.5 51 -16 27 -36 53 -1 33 -16
a Data for Cycles I and II are averaged over cow
ages 2 8 yr od age (Arango et al.,2004). Data
for cycle VII are for 4 yr old cows.
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Complementarity

• Continental and British breeds do not differ in
  weight or height today,
• with one exception, Gelbvieh are significantly
  lighter.
• Indications are that the reduced cow weights
  for Gelbvieh are associated
• with negative genetic trends for birth weight in
  compared to slightly
• positive or null genetic trends for birth weight
  in other breeds.

25
Matching Genetic Potential to the Climatic
Environment (Olson et al., 1991)
26

• TRADEOFFS
• Bos indicus x Bos taurus crosses excel in
• Weaning weight per cow exposed
• Cow efficiency
• but these advantages are tempered by
• Older age at puberty
• Reduced meat tenderness

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Boran
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SIRE BREED MEANS FOR FINAL WEIGHT ANDCARCASS
TRAITS OF F1 STEERS (447 d)
Final USDA 14-d Sire wt
Retail product Choice Shear breed No.
lb lb lb
Hereford 106 1270 61.9 449 70.3 10.6 Angus 101
1278 62.2 454 84.6 8.9 Brahman 76 1199 63.8 449
30.4 12.9 Boran 138 1116 62.6 400 47.2 11.3 Tuli 1
58 1110 63.4 405 63.8 10.1 Nellore 97 1224 65.0 4
65 51.4 ---- LSD lt .05 48 1.7 18 22.2 1.3
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BREED GROUP MEANS FOR REPRODUCTION AND MATERNAL
TRAITS
2-years of age 3 to 7
years of age Sire Calf
200-day wt Calf 200-day wt.
breed Age at crop per
per cow crop per per cow
of puberty, wnd. calf exposed
wnd. calf exposed female
No. days lb lb
lb lb
Hereford 152 355 73.8 419 300 88.7 474 422 Angus
130 351 74.4 437 313 86.3 493 426
Avg. 282 353 74.1 428 307 87.5 483 424 Brahman
Original 82 429 54.3 456 238 85.9 511 440
Current 208 423 69.6 476 319 82.7 521 430
Avg. 244 426 62.0 466 279 83.2 516
435 Boran 206 396 83.3 444 357 86.2 488 421 Tuli
244 371 74.6 413 296 84.1 471 397 Nellore 82 406
75.1 463 324 91.6 514 461 LSD lt
.05 13 13.9 18 62 6.7 14 36
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Genotype X Environment Interaction
Cycle VIII MARC LSU MF F
Hereford X Angus X Beefmaster X X
Brangus X X Romosinuano X X Bonsmara X X
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SIRE BREED MEANS FOR FINAL WEIGHT AND CARCASS
TRAITS OF F1 STEERS (426 DAYS, 2001 2002 CALF
CROPS)
Final Retail USDA Sire ADG wt
product Marb. Choice
Breed N lb/d lb lb score

Hereford 102 3.02 1245 61.8 466 515 52 Angus 103 3
.15 1283 60.0 469 548 71 Brangus 107 2.99 1256
62.1 481 497 42 Beefmaster 103 3.10 1296 61.2 482
483 35 Bonsmara 104 2.80 1183 63.4 464 487 37 Rom
osinuano 102 2.71 1150 64.4 452 488 37 LSD lt
.05 .09 29 1.1 13 24 13
33
Proceedings Symposium on Tropically Adapted
Breeds Regional Project S-1013 American Society
of Animal Science Southern Section
Meeting February 8, 2005 Little Rock, Arkansas
34
Productivity of F1 cross females (Cundiff, 2005)
2 yr olds 2 yr olds 2 yr olds 3-7 yr olds 3-7 yr olds 3-7 yr olds
Sire breed Wn rate 205-d wt/ Calf, lb 205-d wt/ cow ex, lb Wn rate 205-d wt/ Calf, lb 205-d wt/ Cow ex, lb
Hereford 77 bc 428 e 322 bc 89 a 483 c 430 abc
Angus 73 cd 451 d 325 bc 86 a 503 b 434 abc
Brahman 65 d 473 b 308 c 84 a 527 a 444 abc
Nellore 73 bcd 471 bc 347 bc 91 a 513 ab 467 a
Boran 83 bc 447 bd 371 b 86 a 498 b 429 abc
Brangus 87 bc 451 bcd 399 b
Beefmaster 89 b 457 bcd 409 b
Bonsmara 71 cd 428 de 310 bc
Tuli 75 bc 417 e 311 bc
Romosinuano 82 bc 388 f 321 bc

35
Conclusions
36
Complementarity

Sire of Calf During the past 30 yr,
Continental breeds have significantly improved
direct calving ease relative to British breeds
(9 vs 3 assisted), especially Simmental and
Gelbvieh. Calves sired by Continental European
breeds, have reduced birth weight relative to
British breeds over the past 30 years (9 vs 4
lb). Angus and Red Angus sired calves have
relatively light birth weights and greater
calving ease than progeny by other sire breeds.


37
Complementarity

Sire of
Dam (Total Maternal) Differences in calving ease
and birth weight of progeny were not significant,
even in 2 yr old first calf heifers. During the
past 30 yr, maternal calving ease has been
improved greatly in Simmental relative to HA AH
(from 6 more to 11 less assistance in 2 yr old
heifers).
38
Complementarity
F1 Females
Gelbvieh and Simmental still reach puberty at
younger ages than Briths breeds or other
Continental European breeds. Differences in
reproduction rate,and calf survival to weaning
are not significant. Contrasts between British
(H and A) and Continental European breeds (S, G,
L, and C) are about 1/4th as great for direct
(5.5 vs 22 lb) and 4/10th as great for maternal
(10 vs. 24 lb) breed effects in the current
evaluation as they were to 30 years ago.
39
F1 Cow Size
Continental and British breeds do not differ in
weight or height today, with one exception,
Gelbvieh are significantly lighter.
Indications are that the reduced cow weight for
Gelbvieh are associated with negative genetic
trends for birth weight compared to slightly
positive or null genetic trends for birth weight
in other breeds.
40
Complementarity
British (H, A, Ra) and Continental (S, G, L, and
C) sired progeny do not differ significantly in
postweaning Average daily gain or efficiency of
live wt gain to age or weight end points.
Progeny by British sire breeds (H, A, Ra) were
more efficient (lb live wt gain/Mcal) than those
by Continental (S, G, L, C) sire breeds to
fatness Endpoints.
Progeny of Continental European sire breeds (S,
G, L, and C) had more efficient gains (Live wt
gain/Mcal and retail product/Mcal) than progeny
of British sire breeds (H, A, and Ra) to weight
of retail product (496 lb retail product)
endpoints.
41
USDA Quality Grade and USDA Yield Grade is more
precisely optimized in cattle with 5050 ratios
of Continental to British inheritance than in
cattle with higher or lower ratios of Continental
to British inheritance.
Complementarity
42
Matching Genetic Potential to the Climatic
Environment

• In hotter more humid climates of the gulf
  coast cattle with 50 tropical adapted
  germplasm may be optimal.
• In more intermediate subtropics, cattle with
  25 tropically adapted germplasm may be
  optimal.

43
COMPLEMENTARITY
is maximized in terminal crossing systems
Terminal Sire Breed Rapid and efficient
growth Optimizes carcass composition and
meat quality in slaughter progeny
Cow Herd Small to moderate
size Adapted to climate Optimal milk production
for feed resources
Progeny Maximize high quality
lean beef produced per unit feed consumed by
progeny and cow herd
44
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