Minnesota Cattle

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Crossbreeding offers two primary advantages: heterosis (also called hybrid vigor) and the opportunity for breed complementarity. When the performance of crossbred offspring exceeds the performance of the purebred parents, the difference is called heterosis. In other words, the whole can be greater than the sum of the parts. For instance, if straightbred Hereford and Angus calves average 500 pounds at weaning and Hereford x Angus calves average 525 pounds, the heterosis realized is (525-500)/500, or 5 percent. Maximizing Heterosis Realization of heterosis is the closest thing to a free lunch that can be found in the cattle business. Thus, all commercial beef cattle producers should seek to maximize heterosis in their herds. Some crossbreeding systems offer a greater degree of heterosis than others, and some traits respond more to crossbreeding than others. Heterosis is realized in inverse proportion to heritability for a given trait. In other words, lowly heritable traits offer the most heterosis, highly heritable traits the least. Table 1 lists beef cattle traits of economic importance and their heritability estimates. In general, reproductive traits are lowly heritable, growth traits are moderate and carcass traits are highly heritable. Thus, differences in reproductive performance between herds are virtually all due to environment and management, while differences in growth or carcass traits are due primarily to genetics. Also, reproductive traits will respond the most to crossbreeding, carcass traits the least. Read more...

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ADAMS RANCH 33RD ANNUAL SALE AVERAGES $3,100
Adams Ranch held their 33rd Annual Cattle Sale on Thursday, November 10, 2011 at the home ranch in Fort Pierce, Fla.
REPOPULATION AFTER DROUGHT SPAWNS NEW RULES
Looking into the future has always been somewhat tricky in the beef business. Far sighted visions or crystal ball predictions stemming around what next year's calf crop is going to look like or where future prices will be are often put on hold by more immediate tasks at hand. Planning ahead can often be tied to the immediacy of Mother Nature.
SOUTHEASTERN CATTLE PRODUCERS COULD MAKE MONEY WITH STOCKERS
“Rain or shine, wet or dry, do you want to make more money from your cows next year?” asks a Texas AgriLife Research forage scientist.
WATER IS THE MOST IMPORTANT NUTRIENT FOR CATTLE
Many producers take water for granted. They have ponds in many pastures or they make sure the float valve in the metal stock tank is working properly, keeping the tank full. But what happens if the pond is low or dry or if the flow to the stock tank is interrupted?
IT'S THE PITTS -- WHAT'LL YOU HAVE?
Did you read where scientists have been successful in implanting human genes into cows? This is no joke. It seems that scientists wanted to make cow's milk more like human milk so that soccer moms will never have to be inconvenienced to nurse their young.
TAKE STEPS TO PREVENT SCOURS IN CALVES
Many ranchers experience a few cases of diarrhea in young calves, and some years are worse than others. Scours can be caused by certain kinds of bacteria, viruses or protozoa.
THE WORLD ACCORDING TO HOOTER MCCORMICK -- WHAT FRIENDS ARE FOR
Lonnie Johnson had plenty of phobias if you paid close attention, or if you'd known him since he was a kid like Hooter and the gang had.
STUDY CONFIRMS BEEF'S ROLE IN A HEART-HEALTHY DIET
In a first of its kind study, researchers at The Pennsylvania State University demonstrated that eating beef everyday as part of a heart-healthy diet can improve cholesterol levels.
SOUTHERN CONNECTION CHAROLAIS SALE AVERAGES $2,286
The Southern Connection Charolais Sale was held October 22, 2011, in Calhoun, GA.
IT'S THE PITTS -- FROM LEEUARY TO PITTSTOBER
Whenever I get the much-appreciated free calendars at the start of every year there are a few months I'd like to tear out right then and there and be done with them. Sadly, I have to go through the process of living through these much-dreaded months.
PROPER NUTRITION REQUIRES RESEARCH AND PLANNING
This article is the fifth and final installment of a series discussing supplementation options, considerations and strategies. Given the challenges that 2011 “enjoyed” every producer is looking for a bit of breathing room in the coming year.
HUNTIN' DAYLIGHT -- TIME TO PATCH THE ROOF
By all reckoning, 2012 is going to be one of those years when cow-calf producers will have the economic opportunity to fix what needs fixing, be it genetics, management, facilities and whatnot.
BLACK INK -- COMMON GROUND
They say it takes all kinds to make the world, and the adage is all about people. Look around the mall, watch TV or check out the Internet and you find ready evidence of the individuality of individuals.
I AM ANGUS AIRS TONIGHT AT 6 PM CENTRAL ON RFD-TV
A special Christmas edition of the American Angus Association®'s popular I Am Angus television series will air at a new time, Monday, Dec. 19 at 7 p.m. Eastern (6 p.m. Central) on RFD-TV.
ENERGY REQUIREMENTS IN FEED NOT AS CLEARLY DEFINED
Over the last few weeks we've been discussing supplementation basics and economics – and how these can be applied by the cattle producer. Up to this point we have largely focused on meeting the protein needs of the animal, the different forms and some of the costs.

Minnesota Cattle Links

Ag Universities

University of Minnesota
We are a landgrant college whose mission is to teach, conduct research, and share our findings through outreach efforts.
http://www.coafes.umn.edu/
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