Breed Differences and Taking Advantage of Complementarity Larry V. Cundiff U.S. Meat Animal Research Center ARS-USDA Clay Center, NE Brown Bagger IV Crossbreeding Opportunities for the US Beef Industry October 11, 2005

Cross breeding of composite populations can be used to exploit: HETEROSIS HETEROSIS COMPLEMENTARITY among breeds optimize performance levels for important traits and to match genetic potential with: COMPLEMENTARITY among breeds optimize performance levels for important traits and to match genetic potential with: Market preferences Feed resources Climatic environment BREED DIFFERENCES an important genetic resource

Complementarity (Cartwright, 1970, J. Anim. Sci. 30:706) “Serving to fill out or complete, mutually supplying each others lack” (Webster) Not Complimentarity “Expression of esteem or respect, or token of esteem” (Webster)

COMPLEMENTARITY is maximized in terminal crossing systems Cow Herd Small to moderate size Adapted to climate Optimal milk production for feed resources Terminal Sire Breed Rapid and efficient growth Optimizes carcass composition and meat quality in slaughter progeny Progeny Maximize high quality lean beef produced per unit feed consumed by progeny and cow herd

SIRE BREEDS USED TO PRODUCE F I CROSSES WITH ANGUS AND HEREFORD DAMS IN THE GERMPLASM EVALUATION PROGRAM AT MARC a Cycle I Cycle II Cycle III Cycle IV Cycle V Cycle VI Cycle VII Cycle VIII HerefordHerefordHerefordHerefordHerefordHerefordHerefordHereford AngusAngusAngusAngusAngusAngusAngusAngus JerseyRed PollBrahmanLonghornTuliWagyuRed AngusBeefmaster S. DevonBraunviehSahiwalSalersBoranNorweg. RedLimousinBrangus LimousinGelbviehPinzgauerGallowayBelg. Blue Sw. Red&Wh.CharolaisBonsmara SimmentalMaine Anj.TarentaiseNelloreBrahmanFriesianSimmentalRomosinuano CharolaisChianinaShorthornPiedmonteseGelbvieh Piedmontese Charolais Gelbvieh Pinzgauer a Sire breeds mated to Angus and Hereford females, Composite MARC III (1/4 Angus, Hereford, Red Poll and Pinzgauer) cows were also included in Cycles V, VI, and VII.

BEEF BREED REGISTRATIONS National Pedigreed Livestock Council, BreedRegistrations%BreedRegistrations% Angus281, Brahman11, Hereford69,3169.8Salers10, Charolais55,0347.8Santa Gertrudis7, Limousin49,6007.0Longhorn7, Simmental45,0006.4Chianina6,679.9 Red Angus42,1786.0Braunvieh4,100.6 Gelbvieh31,6644.5Corriente3,211.5 Shorthorn22,4303.2Tarentaise1,600.2 Brangus22,3113.2Highland1,500.2 Beefmaster21,2423.0Pinzgauer664.1 Maine Anjou12, TOTAL707,283100

BREED GROUP MEANS FOR PREWEANING TRAITS OF CALVES PRODUCED IN CYCLE VII OF THE GPE PROGRAM ( CALF CROP) No. Gestation Calvings Calv. Birth Surv. 200-d Sire breedcalves length unassist. diff. wt. to wn. wn. wt., of calf born days % score lb. % lb. **.**.**** ns ** Hereford Angus Red Angus Simmental Gelbvieh Limousin Charolais LSD

Complementarity Sire of Calf During the past 30 yr, Continental breeds have significantly improved direct calving ease relative to British breeds (9% vs. 3% assisted, in cows > 4 yr of age), especially Simmental and Gelbvieh. Calves sired by Continental European breeds, have reduced birth weight relative to British breeds over the past 30 years (9 vs. 4 lb). Angus and Red Angus sired calves have relatively light birth weights and greater calving ease than progeny by other sire breeds.

F testnsns nsns ns**ns Hereford Angus Red Angus Simmental Gelbvieh Limousin Charolais LSD < SIRE BREED MEANS FOR REPRODUCTION AND MATERNAL TRAITS OF F1 FEMALES MATED TO PRODUCE THEIR FIRST CALVES AT 2 YEARS OF AGE (2001 & 2002) SIRE BREED MEANS FOR REPRODUCTION AND MATERNAL TRAITS OF F1 FEMALES MATED TO PRODUCE THEIR FIRST CALVES AT 2 YEARS OF AGE (2001 & 2002) Sire Calf crop Calving Unassist. Birth 200-d wt per breed born wnd. diff. births wt. calf cow exp of female No. % % score % lb lb lb

F – testns ns ns ns ns ** ns Hereford Angus Red Angus Simmental Gelbvieh Limousin Charolais LSD < SIRE BREED MEANS FOR REPRODUCTION AND MATERNAL TRAITS OF F1 FEMALES MATED TO PRODUCE CALVES SIRE BREED MEANS FOR REPRODUCTION AND MATERNAL TRAITS OF F1 FEMALES MATED TO PRODUCE CALVES AT 3-5 YEARS OF AGE ( ) Sire Calf crop Calving Unassist. Birth 200-d wt per Breed No born wnd. diff. births wt. calf cow exp of female rec. % % score % lb lb lb

Complementarity Sire of Dam (Total Maternal) Differences in calving ease and birth weight of progeny were not significant, even in 2 yr old first calf heifers. During the past 30 yr, maternal calving ease has been improved greatly in Simmental relative to HA & AH (from 6% more to 11% less assistance in 2 yr old heifers).

Differences in reproduction rate,and calf survival to weaning are not significant. Contrasts between British (H and A) and Continental European breeds (S, G, L, and C) are about 1/4th as great for direct (5.5 vs 22 lb) and 4/10th as great for maternal (10 vs. 24 lb) breed effects in the current evaluation as they were to 30 years ago. Complementarity

Hereford Sired Steers

SIRE BREED MEANS FOR FINAL WEIGHT AND CARCASS TRAITS OF F1 STEERS (445 DAYS) Hereford Angus Red Angus Simmental Gelbvieh Limousin Charolais LSD < Final RetailMarb-USDAWB Sire wt product lingChoice shear BreedN lb% lb sc % lb

USDA QUALITY GRADE X YIELD GRADE FOR HEREFORD, ANGUS AND RED ANGUS (N = 288) Quality grade USDA Yield grade, % TOTAL Low Pr High Ch Av. Ch Low Ch Select Standard 0.0 TOTAL

USDA QUALITY GRADE X YIELD GRADE FOR STEERS WITH SIMMENTAL, GELBVIEH, LIMOUSIN, AND CHAROLAIS SIRES (n = 361) Quality grade USDA Yield Grade, % TOTAL Low Pr High Ch Av. Ch Low Ch Select Standard TOTAL

USDA Quality Grade and USDA Yield Grade is more precisely optimized in cattle with 50:50 ratios of Continental to British inheritance than in cattle with higher or lower ratios of Continental to British inheritance. Complementarity

British (H, A, Ra) and Continental (S, G, L, and C) sired progeny do not differ significantly in Efficiency of Gain (live wt gain, lb/Mcal) to age or weight end points.

Progeny by British sire breeds (H, A, Ra) were more efficient (lb live wt gain/Mcal) than those by Continental (S, G, L, C) sire breeds to fatness endpoints Complementarity

Progeny of Continental European sire breeds (S, G, L, and C) had more efficient gains (Live wt gain/Mcal and retail product/Mcal) than progeny of British sire breeds (H, A, and Ra) to weight of retail product (496 lb retail product) endpoints Complementarity

SIRE BREED LEAST SQUARES MEANS FOR GROWTH AND PUBERTY TRAITS OF HEIFERS IN CYCLE VII OF THE GPE PROGRAM ( CALF CROPs) 400-d 18 wt. month Frame Age Preg. 400-d 18 wt. month Frame Age Preg. Sire breed wt. wt. ht. score at rate Sire breed wt. wt. ht. score at rate of female No. lb. lb. cm. sc pub. % of female No. lb. lb. cm. sc pub. % F test**** ** **ns Hereford Angus Red Angus Simmental Gelbvieh Limousin Charolais LSD <

Sire breed least squares means for height, condition score, and weight of F 1 cows (adjusted for condition score) at 4 years of age Four-yr-oldFour-yr-oldFour-year-old BreedHeightinConditionScoreWeightlb F test *** Hereford 53.1 ab 6.47 a 1360 a (1348 a ) Angus 52.5 bc 6.54 a 1348 a (1342 ab ) Red Angus 52.2 c 6.63 a 1342 a (1321 ab ) Simmental53.6 a 6.40 ab 1357 a (1353 a ) Gelbvieh 52.9 abc 6.01 c 1273 b (1282 b ) Limousin53.5 a 6.13 bc 1320 ab (1330 ab ) Charolais LSD <0.05 * P< ab a a (1339 ab ) 54 (51)

Sire breed deviations from Hereford-Angus crosses for height, weight, and weight adjusted for condition score of F 1 cows a CowCowCow BreedHeightinWeightlb Adj. Weight lb CycleI & II VII HAx Red Angus Simmental Gelbvieh Limousin Charolais Cont. avg a Data for Cycles I and II are averaged over cow ages 2 – 8 yr od age (Arango et al.,2004). Data for cycle VII are for 4 yr old cows.

Complementarity Continental and British breeds do not differ in weight or height today, with one exception, Gelbvieh are significantly lighter. Indications are that the reduced cow weights for Gelbvieh are associated with negative genetic trends for birth weight in compared to slightly positive or null genetic trends for birth weight in other breeds.

Matching Genetic Potential to the Climatic Environment (Olson et al., 1991)

TRADEOFFS TRADEOFFS Bos indicus x Bos taurus crosses excel in Weaning weight per cow exposedWeaning weight per cow exposed Cow efficiencyCow efficiency but these advantages are tempered by: but these advantages are tempered by: Older age at pubertyOlder age at puberty Reduced meat tendernessReduced meat tenderness

Boran

Final USDA14-d Sire wt Retail productChoiceShear breed No. lb% lb % lb Hereford Angus Brahman Boran Tuli Nellore LSD < SIRE BREED MEANS FOR FINAL WEIGHT AND CARCASS TRAITS OF F1 STEERS (447 d)

2-years of age 3 to 7 years of age Sire Calf 200-day wt Calf 200-day wt. breed Age at crop per per cow crop per per cow of puberty, wnd. calf exposed wnd. calf exposed female No. days % lb lb % lb lb Hereford Angus Avg Brahman Original Current Avg Boran Tuli Nellore LSD < BREED GROUP MEANS FOR REPRODUCTION AND MATERNAL TRAITS

Cycle VIII Cycle VIII MARCLSU M&F F M&F F Hereford X AngusX BeefmasterXX BrangusXX RomosinuanoXX BonsmaraXX Genotype X Environment Interaction

SIRE BREED MEANS FOR FINAL WEIGHT AND CARCASS TRAITS OF F1 STEERS (426 DAYS, 2001& 2002 CALF CROPS) Hereford Angus Brangus Beefmaster Bonsmara Romosinuano LSD < Final Retail USDA SireADG wt product Marb. Choice BreedN lb/d lb % lb score %

Proceedings: Symposium on Tropically Adapted Breeds Regional Project S-1013 American Society of Animal Science Southern Section Meeting February 8, 2005 Little Rock, Arkansas

Productivity of F1 cross females (Cundiff, 2005) 2 –yr olds 3-7 yr olds Sire breed Wn rate % 205-d wt/ Calf, lb 205-d wt/ cow ex, lb Wn rate % 205-d wt/ Calf, lb 205-d wt/ Cow ex, lb Hereford77 bc 428 e 322 bc 89 a 483 c 430 abc Angus73 cd 451 d 325 bc 86 a 503 b 434 abc Brahman65 d 473 b 308 c 84 a 527 a 444 abc Nellore 73 bcd 471 bc 347 bc 91 a 513 ab 467 a Boran 83 bc 447 bd 371 b 86 a 498 b 429 abc Brangus 87 bc 451 bcd 399 b Beefmaster89 b 457 bcd 409 b Bonsmara 71 cd 428 de 310 bc Tuli 75 bc 417 e 311 bc Romosinuano 82 bc 388 f 321 bc

Conclusions

Complementarity Sire of Calf During the past 30 yr, Continental breeds have significantly improved direct calving ease relative to British breeds (9% vs 3% assisted), especially Simmental and Gelbvieh. Calves sired by Continental European breeds, have reduced birth weight relative to British breeds over the past 30 years (9 vs 4 lb). Angus and Red Angus sired calves have relatively light birth weights and greater calving ease than progeny by other sire breeds.

Complementarity Sire of Dam (Total Maternal) Differences in calving ease and birth weight of progeny were not significant, even in 2 yr old first calf heifers. During the past 30 yr, maternal calving ease has been improved greatly in Simmental relative to HA & AH (from 6% more to 11% less assistance in 2 yr old heifers).

Gelbvieh and Simmental still reach puberty at younger ages than Briths breeds or other Continental European breeds. Differences in reproduction rate,and calf survival to weaning are not significant. Contrasts between British (H and A) and Continental European breeds (S, G, L, and C) are about 1/4th as great for direct (5.5 vs 22 lb) and 4/10th as great for maternal (10 vs. 24 lb) breed effects in the current evaluation as they were to 30 years ago. F 1 Females Complementarity

Continental and British breeds do not differ in weight or height today, with one exception, Gelbvieh are significantly lighter. Indications are that the reduced cow weight for Gelbvieh are associated with negative genetic trends for birth weight compared to slightly positive or null genetic trends for birth weight in other breeds. F 1 Cow Size

British (H, A, Ra) and Continental (S, G, L, and C) sired progeny do not differ significantly in postweaning Average daily gain or efficiency of live wt gain to age or weight end points. Progeny by British sire breeds (H, A, Ra) were more efficient (lb live wt gain/Mcal) than those by Continental (S, G, L, C) sire breeds to fatness Endpoints. Progeny of Continental European sire breeds (S, G, L, and C) had more efficient gains (Live wt gain/Mcal and retail product/Mcal) than progeny of British sire breeds (H, A, and Ra) to weight of retail product (496 lb retail product) endpoints. Complementarity

USDA Quality Grade and USDA Yield Grade is more precisely optimized in cattle with 50:50 ratios of Continental to British inheritance than in cattle with higher or lower ratios of Continental to British inheritance. Complementarity

Matching Genetic Potential to the Climatic Environment In hotter more humid climates of the gulf coast cattle with ~ 50% tropical adapted germplasm may be optimal. In more intermediate subtropics, cattle with ~25% tropically adapted germplasm may be optimal.

COMPLEMENTARITY is maximized in terminal crossing systems Cow Herd Small to moderate size Adapted to climate Optimal milk production for feed resources Terminal Sire Breed Rapid and efficient growth Optimizes carcass composition and meat quality in slaughter progeny Progeny Maximize high quality lean beef produced per unit feed consumed by progeny and cow herd

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