Genetic tools deliver the greatest value when producers know what they want their cattle to accomplish and consistently measure whether those cattle are meeting the goal.
That was the message from Dr. Randall Raymond, Simplot Livestock director of research and veterinary services, during the 2026 Beef Improvement Federation Symposium in Boise, Idaho.
Raymond outlines how Simplot uses targeted crossbreeding, genomic information and data collected throughout the production chain to build more productive cattle and capture more value.
“If a trait can be measured and it’s heritable, we can, with discipline, put selection pressure on it and change populations,” Raymond says.
Separate Maternal and Terminal Goals
Simplot’s system includes distinct maternal and terminal breeding programs. The company uses Angus and Hereford genetics to build its maternal base, while Charolais genetics provide terminal growth, muscle, red-meat yield, carcass quality and feed efficiency.
The approach allows Simplot to emphasize longevity, reproductive performance and environmental adaptability in replacement females without sacrificing terminal performance.
“We have to live with these females for their lifetime, hopefully 10 to 12 years,” Raymond says. “We can change our terminal-sire bull battery overnight if we don’t like what we have built. But the cow herd has to be consistent.”
The company is now in its 22nd year of targeted crossbreeding. Every black heifer is bred Hereford, while white-faced heifers are bred Angus. Genomic testing helps identify higher-merit heifers for maternal breeding, while the remaining females can be bred to terminal sires.
The system also creates an easily recognized calf crop. Smoky calves are terminal animals, while black calves can be considered as replacement candidates.
“[We] make things simple so that we can execute the plan that we laid out,” Raymond explains.
Let Performance Data Guide Selection
Simplot’s vertical integration allows the company to collect information from the cow-calf operation through the feedyard and packing plant. Those records are returned to the genetic evaluation system, which creates a feedback loop based on commercial performance.
The company applies economic weights to traits including growth, feed intake, carcass merit, health and eating quality. Raymond says the weights are reviewed and adjusted when performance data show the cattle are not responding as intended.
For example, early selection pressure reduced feed intake but did not increase average daily gain. Simplot adjusted its index to place more emphasis on gain. Over the past decade, average daily gain increased 6%, while dry matter intake increased 3%. This showed improved feed conversion.
The company’s feeder-calf profitability index indicates it has added more than $100 per calf through terminal-sire selection and disciplined use of genetic information, Raymond says.
Health is also part of the economic equation. Simplot has selected for resistance to bovine respiratory disease and is studying congestive heart failure, which Raymond explains could carry even greater economic importance because of when those affected cattle are lost.
Keep the Consumer in the Selection Index
Production efficiency is only valuable if the final product satisfies consumers. Simplot has evaluated sensory traits through trained and consumer panels, along with Warner-Bratzler shear-force testing.
That research supports LOT 29, the company’s premium beef program built around proprietary Simplot genetics. Cattle entering the program are genomically screened for traits including tenderness, marbling and other consumer-focused characteristics, Raymond says.
The LOT 29 Prime and Upper One-Third Choice program combines USDA Prime with the highest tier of USDA Choice beef. Program specifications require Simplot Precision Genetics and include documented sire verification through individual animal identification, DNA profiles, breeding records and cattle movement records. The program targets marbling scores of modest or higher, along with fine-to-medium marbling texture, to deliver consistent tenderness and flavor.
Simplot deliberately places more economic emphasis on marbling than current market signals alone would justify because consumer eating experience supports long-term beef demand and opportunities for branded-beef premiums.
“We’ve seen our protein competitors in the chicken and pork space chase growth and chase efficiency at the expense of eating experience,” Raymond says. “Eating experience is important.”
For producers, Simplot’s experience offers a practical lesson: Genetics create value when selection goals reflect the production environment, economically important traits and the needs of the customer. Progress also requires producers to verify results and change direction when the cattle reveal something different.
“Our success depends on having well-defined goals, having a lot of discipline, having models that are accurate and being willing to modify our models when your ground truth is telling you they’re not right,” Raymond says.
Access the 2026 BIF Symposium presentation archive, which is continuously updated, at BIFSymposium.com.
