librarian
Well-known member
http://gallowayworld.org/1997_files/1997%20-%20Beef%20Cattle%20Breeding%20-%20Past,%20Present%20%26%20Future.pdf
We all know this, but Shorthorns, found at the root of so many composites and synthetics, deserve this kind of selection direction emphasis.
...."For these reasons, I believe that future selection programs will be designed to produce an optimum cow, adapted to and productive under the conditions imposed by the ranch environment. The final criterion will be profitability which will also control how much intervention in terms of feed, health care, environmental control and associated investment in machinery, buildings and other facilities that could be justified. Most of the performance testing programs promoted and used over the past 40 years have encompassed selection criteria which lead to maximizing of particular performance traits.
My conclusions after 40 years of research is that maximum must give way to optimum - optimum cow size, optimum milk production, optimum birth weights - the optimum finally being determined by net economic return. The optimum would differ under different soil / climatic zones and could well differ from ranch to ranch. Performance testing programs in the future will be designed to aim for a combination of traits that are predicted to produce the most profit for the enterprise. Simulation models will be used to predict the best combination of traits, management alternatives, input costs and returns to produce the greatest profits.
Whatever hopes breeders might have for their breed in commercial production of the future, their breed will have to fit into profitable crossbreeding programs.
We all know this, but Shorthorns, found at the root of so many composites and synthetics, deserve this kind of selection direction emphasis.
...."For these reasons, I believe that future selection programs will be designed to produce an optimum cow, adapted to and productive under the conditions imposed by the ranch environment. The final criterion will be profitability which will also control how much intervention in terms of feed, health care, environmental control and associated investment in machinery, buildings and other facilities that could be justified. Most of the performance testing programs promoted and used over the past 40 years have encompassed selection criteria which lead to maximizing of particular performance traits.
My conclusions after 40 years of research is that maximum must give way to optimum - optimum cow size, optimum milk production, optimum birth weights - the optimum finally being determined by net economic return. The optimum would differ under different soil / climatic zones and could well differ from ranch to ranch. Performance testing programs in the future will be designed to aim for a combination of traits that are predicted to produce the most profit for the enterprise. Simulation models will be used to predict the best combination of traits, management alternatives, input costs and returns to produce the greatest profits.
Whatever hopes breeders might have for their breed in commercial production of the future, their breed will have to fit into profitable crossbreeding programs.