Author
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Macneil, Michael |
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Submitted to: Research Update for Fort Keogh Livestock and Range Research Laboratory
Publication Type: Other Publication Acceptance Date: 6/15/2005 Publication Date: 7/15/2005 Citation: Macneil, M.D. 2005. Economic evaluation of terminal sires for use in commercial beef production. 2005 Research Update for Fort Keogh Livestock and Range Research Laboratory. p. 7-9. Interpretive Summary: Breeding objectives facilitate implementation of consistent selection toward a specified goal. In a business context, profit maximization is often that goal. Thus, the aim of the research reviewed here was to develop economic breeding objectives for terminal sires. It is argued that commercial production systems provide the framework from which to develop breeding objectives for seedstock. Breeding objectives were developed for Angus, Charolais, Hereford, Limousin, and Simmental using economic input consistent with future projections of the respective breed organizations. The biological and economic framework was an aggregated model of an integrated beef production system that was employed in simulating commercial beef production in situations typical of the U.S. Use of crossbreeding was assumed, except in the objective developed for Angus. For each breed, economic values for survival, growth, feed intake, and carcass related phenotypes were calculated by approximating partial derivatives of profit with respect to each of the phenotypes. In general, results indicate a need for consistent multiple trait selection with joint consideration of both fitness and production traits and with differential emphasis on their components. Technical Abstract: Breeding objectives facilitate implementation of consistent selection toward a specified goal. In a business context, profit maximization is often that goal. Thus, the aim of the research reviewed here was to develop economic breeding objectives for terminal sires. It is argued that commercial production systems provide the framework from which to develop breeding objectives for seedstock. Breeding objectives were developed for Angus, Charolais, Hereford, Limousin, and Simmental using economic input consistent with future projections of the respective breed organizations. The biological and economic framework was an aggregated model of an integrated beef production system that was employed in simulating commercial beef production in situations typical of the U.S. Use of crossbreeding was assumed, except in the objective developed for Angus. For each breed, economic values for survival, growth, feed intake, and carcass related phenotypes were calculated by approximating partial derivatives of profit with respect to each of the phenotypes. In general, results indicate a need for consistent multiple trait selection with joint consideration of both fitness and production traits and with differential emphasis on their components. |
