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Genetic Testing is Just a Tool. Use it to Build a Better Herd.

Zoetis Beef Genetics
Zoetis Beef Genetics
(Zoetis Beef Genetics)

For generations, commercial producers, like Jordan Willis from Cokeville, Wyoming, have trusted their instincts to raise quality cattle and improve performance with each breeding season. They’ve developed their herds based on what they see and know about their cattle.

More recently, widespread drought in key beef pockets across the U.S. challenged commercial producers’ ability to develop their herds. As a result, many are faced with replenishing their significantly depleted beef cow and replacement heifer inventories. While herd-rebuilding can feel like a daunting task, it also presents a prime opportunity to build a better herd through genetic testing.

Putting Genetic Testing to Work

Genetic testing offers a practical, proven tool that gives producers access to dependable genetic predictions and actionable insights about an animal’s performance potential. This information along with producers’ expansive cattle knowledge can help them make practical herd decisions in a matter of weeks, rather than years.

Historically, other than when buying bulls, only seedstock producers have benefitted from genetic testing and the valuable information it provided. Now, commercial producers can reap the benefits from genetic testing. They can use the data and insights to establish a baseline for their herd’s strengths while identifying areas for improvement they might have otherwise overlooked by selecting the oldest or biggest heifers.

This is what influenced Willis’ decision to implement genetic testing. Initially, he tested primarily for parentage to identify which bulls were doing a good job for him. But parentage was just the tip of the iceberg. Today, he employs genetic testing as a key tool for replacement heifer selection and breeding decisions.

Genetic testing gives producers the opportunity to make informed, practical decisions based on genetic potential instead of experimenting with selections and waiting for them to turn out. By providing future predictability, genetic testing has become a necessary, tried-and-true tool giving commercial producers, like Willis, confidence in their decisions and the ability to accelerate their operations’ progress.

In a time of rebuilding and developing herds at record-high prices, information from genetic testing can be used to confidently pressure-test visual observations to inform and validate critical selection, breeding and marketing decisions.

Making More Informed Management Decisions

Applying the data and insights from genetic testing, producers can select the best-performing replacement heifers early so they can focus development resources. Producers can make more informed bull-buying decisions knowing the genetic potential of their “keep” heifers to complement the foundations built in the cow herd. Genetic testing with Zoetis also can provide parentage results to validate bulls’ breeding performance. Parentage confirmation is a simple tool to help build a successful mating program.

In Willis’ situation, prior to genetic testing, he prioritized maternal traits, like fertility. While genetic testing results confirmed his herd’s superior maternal traits, it also revealed carcass merit and performance as areas for opportunity.

Today, he collects DNA samples on about 80 percent of his heifer crop during spring branding and uses genetic results to identify replacement heifers that balance maternal and carcass traits. The result has been improved performance and carcass traits, plus they’ve seen mature cow weight come down — a win, win.

Willis has been able to fine-tune carcass traits and improve the average genetic potential of his entire herd with the data and insights he’s received from genetic testing. Knowing the performance potential of each heifer not only helps him manage the heifers he keeps, but it also helps ensure he’s marketing quality heifers that will perform and thrive for the producers he sells to.

When marketing cattle, the individual trait and index predictions from genetic testing with Zoetis can help producers identify relevant characteristics to differentiate the quality and value of their animals from others in the market.

“I wouldn't go back to before genetic testing our calves,” said Willis. “Just the benefit it brings to our herd is huge.”

Producers can complement their own “cowboy” intuition with genetic testing from Zoetis to feel confident in their selection, breeding and marketing decisions. As an experienced participant in genetic testing, Willis offered this takeaway for other commercial producers: “Why not have this tool to take with you to help better your cow herd?”

Add Genetic Testing to Your Toolbelt

Regardless of operation size or goals, genetic testing from Zoetis provides dependable and comprehensive genetic predictions to help producers build and improve their herds. Zoetis offers support and resources to help producers select the right genetic test, determine which heifers to test and develop best-practices for sample collection and submission. The team of beef genetics experts at Zoetis can help interpret testing results and develop actionable insights so producers can maximize their genetic testing investment.

Let’s get to work. Visit BeefGenetics.com to learn more.

All trademarks are the property of Zoetis Services LLC or a related company or a licensor unless otherwise noted.

© 2023 Zoetis Services LLC. All rights reserved. GNB-00085

 

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