Discussions of genetics typically focus on the cow calf producer, however genetics play just as much of a role in the stocker industry as they do cow/calf.
Now that we have left behind a few years of severe droughts and hay shortages, there has been renewed talk about beef herd reconstruction in the U.S. fueled by a couple years of encouraging calf prices.
New genetic tools, similar to those being used to aid selection in the whole animal, are being used to improve our understanding of the relationships among the rumen micro-organisms along with how they interact with their hosts.
As beef herds become involved in making decisions about bulls for next breeding season, herd health and reproductive disease should be considered in the context of what age and type of bulls are being purchased.
The Sand Hills Calving System has demonstrated an effective way to reduce calf diarrhea by decreasing the buildup of pathogens in the environment and breaking the transfer of pathogens from older calves to young susceptible calves.
Participants at the 2014 Beef Production Field Day will get hands-on training for artificial insemination, and help with calving and pre-breeding exams.
