Genetics

BeefTalk: Don't take bull fertility for granted

Late May and early June are prime bull turnout times in the beef business, so the final check needs to be done now to make sure every bull is ready to go. Full story

Breeding for premium heifers  

Wyoming rancher John Kinchen describes his commercial Red Angus operation, his selection priorities and plans for marketing premium heifer calves and bred replacement heifers. Full story

Who let the bulls out?

With spring calves hitting the ground around the state, Kentucky cattle producers should begin to plan now for the breeding season to follow. Full story

Tour of Kansas feedlot shows quality premiums start pre-breeding

Missouri beef producers learned that how their calves perform in feedlots starts with what happens on their farms—even before breeding time. Full story

Consortium outlines challenges, potential for genomics

Applying genomic information or DNA testing to cattle selection is the latest in a long line of methods producers have used to improve the genetic features of livestock over centuries of production. And while the technology already has some practical applications, scientists have just scratched the surface of its overall potential. The National Beef Cattle Evaluation Consortium (NBCEC) has published a white paper titled “Delivering Genomics Technology to the Beef Industry,” summarizing the history, challenges and future outlook for using genomic information toward genetic progress in beef cattle. Full story