“The beef industry is on an unsustainable path because aggressively selecting for enhanced mature size, muscle and milk potential isn’t necessarily good for the commercial operation given typical forage resources,” said David Lalman, Oklahoma State University extension beef cattle specialist. He says we need to do a better job of breeding cows to match forage resources found on most commercial cow/calf operations.
Source: Hay and Forage Grower, June 28, 2016.
Feed inputs and costs per cow/calf are growing, while limited data suggests that production is not. Old and new tools are available to aid in making selection decisions, which Lalman believes should become a priority if your cattle are to match typical commercial systems and resources.
INSIGHTS: Bringing top genetics into a new environment is not always the best choice if the genetics are not matched to the conditions. Lalman makes the case for moderation in genetics to match the local resources and maintain a focus on economically relevant traits.