What started in 2013 with the purpose of determining parentage has transitioned to a key tool in selecting the next generation of the Rosebrook Farms’ cow herd.
“Genomic testing is really working for us,” Dan Rosebrook says. “We have more and more heifers meeting our DNA target because of multiple generations of testing and selection.”
Rosebrook Farms is a multigenerational cattle and crop farm located near Lincoln in north-central Kansas. It all started in 1972 when Rosebrook, a high school freshman, and his brother, Dale, a recent high school graduate, bought 90 bred heifers, and it has grown to a herd of more than 630 commercial cows.
“We cut our teeth in the cattle business calving out those 90 heifers,” Rosebrook recalls. “Dale and I learned through the school of hard knocks.”
The brothers worked slowly putting together pasture and cropland.
“We had wonderful neighbors who we worked with and as they retired, we gradually put more land together,” Rosebrook explains.
Today, Rosebrook Farms is managed by the brothers, along with Rosebrook’s son, Mike, and Dale’s son, Jeremy, each specializing in what they do best — but all working together to get the job done. Rosebrook’s passion is the cow herd, with Dale overseeing crop production; Mike is the sprayer man while Jeremy manages equipment and leads the swathing.
Selecting Replacements Using Genomic Index
With the main objective of raising better cows, Rosebrook quotes Angus breeder Everett Benoit saying, “the maternal side is what is going to make you the money.”
Rosebrook says improved carcass quality and producing a quality end product for the consumer is important, but their main target with the Rosebrook genomic index is to help in the selection of elite replacement heifers.
The Rosebrooks collect DNA tissue at branding time and then submit the samples to Neogen. This allows the family time to evaluate the genomic test results prior to selecting replacement heifers in the fall at weaning.
Working with Rick Pfortmiller, Neogen Kansas territory manager, the Rosebrooks have developed an index to fit the goals of their operation.
“We have tweaked and adjusted the weights of different traits to what is most important to us,” Rosebrook explains. “My biggest fear is that we aren’t shooting for the right target. We are doing the best we can today with the information we have to select a top quality female; we hope she is the right cow for the future.”
Key traits in the Rosebrook index include stayability, docility and calving ease direct. Along with the selection index, the family appreciates the parentage tool within genomic testing.
“Parentage testing is eye opening in itself,” Rosebrook says. “It helps identify the aggressive breeders and the lazy breeders. Last year we had one bull sire 65 calves.”
The Cow Herd
The Rosebrooks calve in January and February with the goal of having 800-lb.-to-900-lb. calves by early December. This calving season also allows them to focus on the cows when farming is not top of mind.
Rosebrook says 10 years ago they made a switch from Angus to SimAngus bulls to increase heterosis. He explains the decision was made after retaining ownership on their calves and determining they needed more ribeye. They continue to synchronize all heifers and artificially inseminate them to low-birthweight Angus bulls.
Today the Rosebrook family sells load lots at Farmers & Ranchers Livestock in Salina. Targeting 800 lb. to 900 lb., the family typically sells a majority of their steer calves in early December and a lighter group in early January. They also sell about 150 replacement heifers in February.
The family keeps about 110 replacements a year. As they select heifers, the genomic information is the first cut, Rosebrook explains.
Heifers must also pass a pelvic exam, and the Rosebrooks consider the dam’s udder score. All cows are udder scored at calving.
“We also sort on disposition,” he says. “We won’t accept a goofy heifer.”
Rosebrook says docility is part of the index, but they also visually monitor and evaluate attitude.
“It does match up to the DNA,” he confirms, comparing a heifer’s attitude to her genomic docility ranking.
The Rosebrooks tested their steers for the first time in 2024. Rosebrook says to benefit from the steer testing, the data should be used in marketing efforts and steers sold to a customer base who will value the extra information.
Another benefit of the genomic testing, according to Rosebrook, is the samples are also PI-tested, which increases marketability at the sale barn.
The Power of Genomic Testing
Pfortmiller compares genomic testing to precision agriculture. Just as crop farmers use advanced soil and fertilizer technologies, cattle producers can use genomics to make more informed breeding and management decisions.
He emphasizes DNA testing is not about immediate results but about understanding an animal’s potential over its lifetime.
Pfortmiller started in his current role in 2007, at a time when tests were primarily focused on coat color, parentage and a few carcass traits. Today, Neogen offers a comprehensive test covering 17 traits at half the original cost, with significantly improved accuracy.
“Today, we’re at 17 traits at $30,” Pfortmiller says. “We’re probably two or three times more powerful today in the depth of our test than we were 18 years ago.”
The process is simple — collecting a tissue sample takes less than 10 seconds and doesn’t require veterinary assistance.
One of Pfortmiller’s roles is helping producers understand what the data means and how they can use it in their breeding and selection program, he says. Education about the results is key to helping producers evaluate the genetic potential of an animal and make informed breeding and culling decisions.
“Genomic testing is a risk management tool,” Pfortmiller summarizes. “It helps producers understand an animal’s potential earlier than traditional methods, allowing them to make more informed decisions about which animals to keep or sell.”
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