role of composites in future beef production systems harlan ritchie michigan state university east...

ROLE OF COMPOSITES IN FUTURE BEEF

PRODUCTION SYSTEMS

Harlan Ritchie

Michigan State University

East Lansing, MI 48824

CROSSBREEDING

REASONS FOR CROSSBREEDINGREASONS FOR CROSSBREEDING

Breed complementarity

- Matching cattle to the production environment

- Matching cattle to market specifications

Heterosis (hybrid vigor)

““The challenge is this: How can I build a The challenge is this: How can I build a good cow herd, a good factory, that is good cow herd, a good factory, that is

reproductively efficient in my reproductively efficient in my environment and still make good environment and still make good carcasses out of that factory?”carcasses out of that factory?”

Kent Andersen

COW PHOTO

IN ARIZONA DESERT

PHOTO OF COWS

IN FLORIDA

EXAMPLES OF MATCHING BREEDTYPES TO EXAMPLES OF MATCHING BREEDTYPES TO MARKET TARGETSMARKET TARGETS

Up-scale restaurants & export, Mid Choice and higher: British X British 3/4 British x 1/4 Continental

Retail supermarkets & mid-scale restaurants, High Select to Low Choice:

1/2 British X 1/2 Continental

Extra lean market, Select grade: 3/4 Continental X 1/4 British Continental X Continental

BIOECONOMIC TRAITSBIOECONOMIC TRAITSIN U.S. BEEF INDUSTRYIN U.S. BEEF INDUSTRY

Fertility (male & female) Libido in males Calving ease Calf vigor/survival Optimum milking ability for environment Early growth, birth to market Feed conversion efficiency Optimum size for environment and marketplace Optimum maintenance requirements Heat tolerance Cold tolerance Overall efficiency within a given production environment (climate &

feed resources)

BIOECONOMIC TRAITSBIOECONOMIC TRAITSIN U.S. BEEF INDUSTRYIN U.S. BEEF INDUSTRY

Longevity/stayability Sound functional traits (skeleton, udder, eyes, etc.) Pigment around eyes and udder. Reasonable temperament Muscling/leanness Tenderness Marbling for juiciness & flavor Optimum size of retail cuts Solid color pattern Polled Others ?

TRAITS OF PRIMARY IMPORTANCE TRAITS OF PRIMARY IMPORTANCE BY INDUSTRY SEGMENTBY INDUSTRY SEGMENT

Cow herd segment Reproduction Growth Minimum maintenance cows

Feeding segment Health of incoming cattle Growth Feed conversion

Packer/retailer/consumer segment Lean yield Size of cuts Eating quality

“In the future, there must be no ‘surprise packages’. Every steak, chop and burger must be nearly identical to the last one the consumer bought.”

- A meat wholesaler

at the IGA Meat Seminar

SOLVING THE CONSISTENCY PROBLEMSOLVING THE CONSISTENCY PROBLEM

Can lack of consistency/uniformity be solved by straightbreeding?

Yes, if color is the only consistency issue.

Otherwise, no!

Hybrid vigor is too important to give up

The “Holstein” of the beef industry has not been found

VALUE OF HETEROSIS IN VARIOUS VALUE OF HETEROSIS IN VARIOUS CROSSBREEDING SYSTEMSCROSSBREEDING SYSTEMS

Crossbreeding system

% increase in lbcalf weaned per

cow exposed

Lb increaseper cowexposed

Addedvalue ($)a

Purebred 0 0 0Two-breed rotation 16% 72 lb $64.77Three-breed rotation 20% 90 lb $79.83Terminal sire x Fl cows 25% 113 lb $98.41Rotate bull breed every 4 yrs.:

Two-breed 12% 54 lb $49.26Three breed 16% 72 lb $64.77

Three-breed composite 15% 68 lb $61.36Four-breed composite 17% 76 lb $68.16Rotate Fl bulls (AB AB) 12% 54 lb $49.26a Assuming value of 450-lb base calf wt. weaned/cow exp. @ $95 and

$7/cwt price slide.

SOME PROBLEMS IN ROTATIONAL SOME PROBLEMS IN ROTATIONAL CROSSBREEDING SYSTEMSCROSSBREEDING SYSTEMS

Cumbersome in small herds. Too many biological types of cows in the herd. Too many biological types of progeny. Mismatches between biological type and the

production environment (feed, climate, etc.) Mismatches between biological type and market

requirements. Management is difficult in intensive rotational

grazing systems.

THE

COMPOSITE

CONCEPT

PHOTO OF KEITH GREGORY

PHOTO OF COMPOSITE BREEDS BOOK COVER

PERCENTAGE OF MAXIMUM POSSIBLE HETEROSIS PERCENTAGE OF MAXIMUM POSSIBLE HETEROSIS AMONG VARIOUS CROSSBREEDING SYSTEMSAMONG VARIOUS CROSSBREEDING SYSTEMS

% of maximum % increase in

possible lb calf weaned/

heterosis cow exposed

Pure breeds 0 0

2-breed rotation 67 16

3-breed rotation 86 20

F1 cow and term. sire 100 23

2-breed composite 50 12



Rotating F1 bulls:

AB AB 50 12

AB AD 67 16

AB CD 83 19

MARC COMPOSITE POPULATIONSMARC COMPOSITE POPULATIONS

MARC I (75:25 Continental: British)

1/4 Charolais, 1/4 Limousin,

1/4 Braunvieh, 1/8 Hereford, 1/8 Angus

MARC II (50:50 Continental: British)

1/4 Gelbvieh, 1/4 Simmental,

1/4 Hereford, 1/4 Angus

MARC III (25:70 Continental: British)

1/4 Pinzgauer, 1/4 Simmental,

1/4 Hereford, 1/4 Angus

PHOTO OF MARC I STEERS

PHOTO OF MARC II STEERS

PHOTO OF MARC III STEERS

RETAINED HETEROSIS RETAINED HETEROSIS IN COMPOSITESIN COMPOSITES aa

Composites

minus Expected

Trait Purebreds difference

Birth wt (males), lb 5.1** 2.5

200-day wt (males), lb 33.7** 33.3

368-day wt (males), lb 59.8** 48.3

Age at puberty (females), days -17** -16

Scrotal circumference, cm 1.1** 1.0

Pregnancy rate, % 4.1** 4.6

Calves born, % 3.8** 5.0

Calves weaned, % 4.4** 5.4

200-d wt./cow exposed, lb 50** 46

a F2, F3, and F4 generations.

**p<.01.

RETAINED HETEROSIS RETAINED HETEROSIS IN COMPOSITESIN COMPOSITESaa

Composites

minus

Trait Purebreds

Final slaughter wt., lb 50.3**

Avg. daily gain, lb 0.6**

Carcass wt., lb 32.6**

Dressing percentage, % .17

Fat thickness, in. .02

Ribeye area, sq. in. .48**

KPH fat, % .30**

Marbling score .05aF3 generation progeny.

** p< .01.

RETAINED HETEROSIS RETAINED HETEROSIS IN COMPOSITESIN COMPOSITESaa

Composites

minus

Trait Purebreds

Retail product % -.97**

Retail product, lb 13.7**

Fat trim, % 1.28**

Fat trim, lb 16.5**

Chemical fat in 9-11 rib cut 1.23**

Shear force, lb .09

Sensory tenderness score -.02aF3 generation progeny.

** p< .01.

RETAINED HETEROSIS RETAINED HETEROSIS IN COMPOSITESIN COMPOSITES

Composites

minus

Trait Purebreds

Cow wt. (2-7 yr. or more), lb 42**

Cow condition score .3*

Cow wt. adj. for condition score, lb 30**

200-day milk yield, lb 574**

200-day wt. of calves, lb 34**

200-day wt. of calves adj. for milk 14*

* p <.05.

** p <.01.

PHENOTYPIC COEFFICIENTS OF VARIATION (CV) FOR PHENOTYPIC COEFFICIENTS OF VARIATION (CV) FOR GROWTH AND CARCASS TRAITS OF STEERS GROWTH AND CARCASS TRAITS OF STEERS

Trait Purebreds Composites

CV a,b

Birth wt. .12 .13

200-day wean. wt. .12 .11

438-day slaughter wt. .08 .08

Ribeye area .10 .10

% of fat trim .19 .20

% bone .07 .07

% retail product .04 .06

Shear force .22 .21

aCV=Standard Deviation divided by Mean.b Values not statistically different.

PHENOTYPIC COEFFICIENTS OF VARIATION (CV) FOR PHENOTYPIC COEFFICIENTS OF VARIATION (CV) FOR PRODUCTION PRODUCTION

TRAITS OF FEMALESTRAITS OF FEMALES


CV a,b

Gestation length .01 .01

Birth wt. .11 .12

Preweaning ADG .09 .09

Weight, 1 yr. .08 .08

Weight, 2 yr. .07 .08

Weight, 3 yr. .08 .08

Weight, 4 yr. .08 .08

Weight, 5 yr. .03 .03

Puberty age .08 .07aCV=Standard Deviation divided by Mean.b Values not statistically different.

PHENOTYPIC COEFFICIENTS OF VARIATION (CV) FOR PHENOTYPIC COEFFICIENTS OF VARIATION (CV) FOR PRODUCTION TRAITS OF BULLSPRODUCTION TRAITS OF BULLS


CV a,b

Gestation length .01 .01

Birth wt. .11 .12

Preweaning ADG .10 .11

200-day wean. wt. .09 .09

Postweaning ADG .11 .11

368-day wt. .08 .08

368-day ht. .03 .03

368-day scrotal circ. .07 .07

aCV=Standard Deviation divided by Mean.b Values not statistically different.

VARIATION IN COMPOSITES VARIATION IN COMPOSITES VS. PUREBREDSVS. PUREBREDSaa

Estimates of genetic standard deviations and phenotypic coefficients of variation were similar for parental purebreds and composite populations for most traits.

Estimates of heritability were similar for purebreds and composites. Thus, no increase in genetic variation was observed in composites.

The similarity of genetic variation for composites and purebreds is believed to result from the large number of genes affecting major quantitative traits.

Therefore, composite populations have a relatively high degree of uniformity for quantitative traits both within and between generations.

aGregory et al. (1999)

MAJOR CONCLUSIONS FROM MAJOR CONCLUSIONS FROM MARC COMPOSITE STUDYMARC COMPOSITE STUDYaa

Composite breeds provide a simple means to use high levels of heterosis.

Composites are a highly effective way to use breed differences (complementarity) to achieve and maintain optimum breed composition for production and carcass traits.

Composites have similar uniformity for production and carcass traits both within and between generations.

Composites offer herds of any size an opportunity to simultaneously use high levels of heterosis and breed complementarity.

aGregory et al. (1999).

COMPOSITE DEVELOPMENTCOMPOSITE DEVELOPMENT

Selecting the parent breeds: Critical step Define how composite will be used Exploit breed differences

(complementarity) Pay special attention to lowly heritable

traits and/or traits hard to measure

(e.g., temperament, structural traits, etc.)

CARCASS TRAITS OF TWO PUREBRED BRITISH BREEDS AND SIX CARCASS TRAITS OF TWO PUREBRED BRITISH BREEDS AND SIX PUREBRED CONTINENTAL BREEDS HARVESTED AT 438 DAYS OF PUREBRED CONTINENTAL BREEDS HARVESTED AT 438 DAYS OF

AGE AGE aa

TraitAvg. of Angusand Hereford

Avg. of sixContinental breeds

Harvest wt., lb 1127 1236*Carcass wt., lb 686 748*Adj. Fat thickness, in .46 .16*Ribeye area, sq in 10.54 12.82*Marbling score 5.31 4.75*% Choice or higher 68.5 30.6*% retail product 60.8 68.9*Shear force, lb 10.54 11.61*Tenderness score 5.32 4.95*a Summary of 1,066 steer progeny in U.S. MARC GPU Study (Gregory et al.,

1999).* Statistically significant difference (P < .05).


Sample widely within the breeds so as to avoid inbreeding and maintain heterosis

Select the best foundation animals possible within the lines


Avoid inbreeding and maintain

heterosis: Have large herd (500 + cows), or Cooperate with other composite

breeders, or Reconstitute the composite from time

to time (open herd)

HYBRID BULLSHYBRID BULLS

Hybrid bulls may be the way to exploit the

composite concept: Simplicity Rotate unrelated F1 bulls

Percentages of retained heterosis: AB AB = 50% AB AD = 67% AB CD = 83%

HYBRID BULLSHYBRID BULLS

Compared to purebred bulls: Slightly earlier puberty (2 to 5%) Higher sperm concentration and motility Slightly higher pregnancy rates (0.2 to 3.7%)

No differences in standard deviations of

traits of progeny sired by either hybrid or

purebred bulls.

SUMMARY OF THE SUMMARY OF THE COMPOSITE CONCEPTCOMPOSITE CONCEPT

Composites can offer: Simplicity Breed complementarity so as to match bioeconomic

traits with the environment and with market requirements

Heterosis, if inbreeding is avoided Can help avoid genetic antagonisms Uniformity from generations to generation

Variation in quantitative traits is no greater

in composites than in straight-breds

SUMMARY OF THE SUMMARY OF THE COMPOSITE CONCEPTCOMPOSITE CONCEPT

Potential Challenges:

Variation in qualitative traits (color, horns, etc.) Perception of large variation in quantitative traits Sources of unrelated seedstock so as to avoid

inbreeding Use of inferior parent stock Marketing the concept Adequate data base to generate EPDs

Other?

WHAT CAN WE LEARN

FROM THE PORK

INDUSTRY?

STRUCTURAL CHANGES IN STRUCTURAL CHANGES IN THE PORK INDUSTRYTHE PORK INDUSTRY

Over 40% of the nation’s hogs are marketed by operations producing over 50,000 hogs per year.

The 50 largest pork producers market 50% of the nation’s hogs.

Smithfield Foods, the nation’s largest producer and packer, produces 14% of the nation’s hogs, which represents 70% of it’s slaughter capacity.

In 1991, the top six pork packers had 49% of total slaughter

capacity. Today they have 75% of total slaughter capacity.


In 1993, only 11% of all hogs were sold on some type of prearranged, marketing contract with packers.

Today, 74% of all hogs are marketed under some form of contract

agreement.

This indicates the odds are high that the pork industry will be vertically

coordinated, within the decade.

The probability that pork will become totally vertically integrated like

the poultry industry, from hatchery through processor, is not high, but

a lot depends on the success of Smithfield Foods, which is 70%

vertically integrated and produces one-seventh of U.S. hogs.

SOURCE: Glenn Grimes, Univ. of Missouri.

PHOTO OF JOE LUTER,

CEO,

SMITHFIELD FOODS


The key for the survival of independent hog producers is to find ways to become interdependent.

The industry needs to come up with methods for its various sectors to share profits so that independent producers can be rewarded if they generate the right kind of hogs, and allow packers and further processors to be profitable as well.

SOURCE: Steve Meyers, NPPC.

SWINE BREEDING SYSTEMSSWINE BREEDING SYSTEMS

Commercial use of A.I. has grown from 15% in 1990 to approximately 70% today:

- Over 90% of sows in the 50 largest operations are bred A.I.

Genetic Companies dominate the seedstock market, providing about

70% of today’s commercial genetics:

- Over 95% of the genetics in the 50 largest commercial

operations is provided by companies.

Independent breeders provide the remaining 30% of commercial

genetics:

- Ten to twenty breeders account for much of this.

- Most of the rest of the independent breeders service the club pig

industry.

PHOTO OF LEAN VALUE ADVERTISMENT

WHY ARE THE GENETIC WHY ARE THE GENETIC COMPANIES DOMINANT?COMPANIES DOMINANT?

They make full use of within-breed selection, breed differences (complementarity), hybrid vigor, and DNA technology.

They have been successful in combining reproduction, growth, and carcass traits into well-designed breeding programs for the commercial industry.

They are full-service oriented, offering assistance in:

- Nutrition

- Herd Health

- Total Quality Management (TQM)

- Marketing and Risk Management

- Record Systems

- New Technology Updates

INDEPENDENT SWINE INDEPENDENT SWINE BREEDERSBREEDERS

The few independent breeders that are still marketing to significant numbers of commercial producers have become “full-service seedstock providers.”

They generally supply more than one breed, often three or four breeds.

They sell semen as well as boars. They maintain a staff of sales and service

representatives.

PHOTO OF WALDO FARMS AD

PARTIAL LIST OF SWINE PARTIAL LIST OF SWINE GENETICS COMPANIESGENETICS COMPANIES

PIC (Pig Improvement Company) - UK DeKalb Choice Genetics - USA (Monsanto) NPD (Northern Pig Development) - UK/USA

(Smithfield Foods) Cotswold - UK Babcock Swine - USA GenetiPorc - Canada Seghers - Belgium Newsham Hybrids - UK Danbred - Denmark

SWINE GENETIC COMPANIESSWINE GENETIC COMPANIES

Several companies are global and provide genetics for widely diverse environments. Genetic lines are specifically designed for their targeted environments.

Traditional rotational crossbreeding systems and rotational boar lines are being phased out by companies; too inefficient. Economics are dictating the move to terminal breeding systems.

PHOTO OF TERMINAL COMPOSITE BOAR

AND MATERNAL

COMPOSITE SOW

PIC TERMINAL BOARS PIC TERMINAL BOARS FOR COMMERCIAL USEFOR COMMERCIAL USE

PIC 280 = L15 (Purebred Duroc)

PIC 327MQ = L27 (Nearly straight Hampshire; RN gene removed)

PIC 337 = L65 (Approx. 1/2 Duroc, 1/4 LW, 1/4 Pietrain)

PIC 356 = L65 x L27

PIC 366 = L65 x (L62 [Pietrain] x L27)

PIC 367 = L65 x (L65 x L27)

PHOTO OF PIETRAIN BOAR

PHOTO OF PIETRAIN CARCASS

EXAMPLE OF PORK PRODUCTION, USING EXAMPLE OF PORK PRODUCTION, USING PIC GENETICSPIC GENETICS

Great Grandparent Matings

L2 X L2 (Pure Line Landrace)

L3 X L3 (Pure Line Large White)

Grandparent Matings

L2 X L3 = L42 Gilt

Parent Matings

L19 Boar (3/4 Duroc, 1/4 LW) x L42 Gilt = C22 Gilt (Camborough Gilt)

Commercial Matings

Terminal Boar x C22 Gilt = Market Progeny

TRENDS IN SWINE SELECTIONTRENDS IN SWINE SELECTION

Strong selection pressure on % lean from mid-1980’s to now. Currently, pork is about as lean as it needs to be.

Pork lost meat quality in its guest for leanness. Now emphasis is on improving water holding capacity, color, and firmness:

- A 24-hr. postmortem pH no lower than 5.5 for

adequate color.

- Minolta color lightness score of less than 50 for adequate color.

- Genetic companies are including these traits in their selection indexes.

Because of it’s impact on throughput in finishing houses, growth rate will receive increasing emphasis.

LEAN MEAT WITH ABOVE-AVERAGE LEAN MEAT WITH ABOVE-AVERAGE EATING QUALITYEATING QUALITY

“The key to future competitiveness and profitability in the swine industry is the efficient production of lean pork products with above-average eating quality.”

Tom BaasIowa State University

PHOTO OF PIC BOARS BRED FOR HIGHER MEAT QUALITY

PHOTO OF NATIONAL SWINE REGISTRY SIRE SUMMARY

EPD’s IN NATIONAL EPD’s IN NATIONAL SWINE EVALUATIONSWINE EVALUATION

Number of pigs born alive. Litter wt. at weaning, adjusted to 21 days of age. Days to reach 250 lb. live wt. Backfat thickness, adjusted to 250 lb. live wt. Pounds of fat-free lean, adjusted to

185 lb. carcass wt.

ECONOMIC INDEXES IN ECONOMIC INDEXES IN NATIONAL SWINE EVALUATIONNATIONAL SWINE EVALUATION

Terminal Sire Index (TSI): Ranks sires for use in a terminal sire breeding system.

Sow Productivity Index (SPI): Ranks individuals for maternal traits only.

Maternal Line Index: A general purpose index that combines EPDs for all maternal and terminal traits.

PHOTO OF OTHER SWINE REGISTRY MAGAZINE

PHOTO OF AMERICAN BERKSHIRE GOLD

BRANDED PORK

ADAPTING TO A

CHANGING BEEF

INDUSTRY

GLOBAL BEEF PRODUCTIONGLOBAL BEEF PRODUCTIONIN THE FUTUREIN THE FUTURE

The beef industry will adopt breeding systems somewhat similar to the pork industry.

The commercial industry will talk about lines of genetics (e.g., L125) rather than specific breeds such as Angus or Hereford.

These lines will be based on complementary genetic mixes that are composites of pure breeds.

Pure breeds will still be necessary to support these commercial lines.

SOURCE: Ben Ball, Elders Limited

GLOBAL BEEF PRODUCTIONGLOBAL BEEF PRODUCTIONIN THE FUTUREIN THE FUTURE

No longer will one product be marketed 6 or 7 times before it is consumed. It will be marketed once.

But it will be marketed through a strong alliance between the genetics provider (the most critical stage), through the various other stages, to the final retail outlet.

The real keys to the industry will lie at each end of the chain: genetics and the customers.

SOURCE: Ben Ball, Elders Limited

CHALLENGES ANDOPPORTUNITIES

FOR BREED ASSOCIATIONS

ADAPTING TO A CHANGING ADAPTING TO A CHANGING INDUSTRYINDUSTRY

Assist breeders in the evolving process of becoming full-service genetic providers.

Assist breeders that have common objectives in

development of coordinated marketing

programs.

Develop systematic programs for producing,

recording, and marketing hybrid seedstock.

COMPOSITE BREEDINGCOMPOSITE BREEDING

The proliferation of composite breeding is not a matter of if, but when. If not now, when?

It seems clear. The science is sound. The evidence is compelling. The time is now. Let’s move ahead!

role of composites in future beef production systems harlan ritchie michigan state university east...

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