Breed Differences and Taking Advantage of Complementarity Larry

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

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

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 FI CROSSES WITH ANGUS AND HEREFORD DAMS IN THE GERMPLASM EVALUATION PROGRAM AT MARCa Cycle I 70 -72 Cycle II 73 -74 Cycle III Cycle IV 75 -76 86 -90 Cycle V 92 -94 Hereford Angus Jersey S. Devon Limousin Simmental Charolais Hereford Angus Red Poll Braunvieh Gelbvieh Maine Anj. Chianina Hereford Angus Brahman Sahiwal Pinzgauer Tarentaise Hereford Angus Tuli Boran Belg. Blue Brahman Piedmontese Hereford Angus Longhorn Salers Galloway Nellore Shorthorn Piedmontese Charolais Gelbvieh Pinzgauer Cycle VI 97 -98 Hereford Angus Wagyu Norweg. Red Sw. Red&Wh. Friesian Cycle VIII 99 -00 01 -02 Hereford Angus Red Angus Limousin Charolais Simmental Gelbvieh Hereford Angus Beefmaster Brangus Bonsmara Romosinuano 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, 2003 -2004 Breed Angus Registrations 281, 965 % Breed 40. 0 Brahman Registrations % 11, 000 1. 6 10, 286 1. 5 Hereford 69, 316 9. 8 Salers Charolais 55, 034 7. 8 Santa Gertrudis 7, 500 1. 1 Limousin 49, 600 7. 0 Longhorn 7, 459 1. 1 Simmental 45, 000 6. 4 Chianina 6, 679 . 9 Red Angus 42, 178 6. 0 Braunvieh 4, 100 . 6 Gelbvieh 31, 664 4. 5 Corriente 3, 211 . 5 Shorthorn 22, 430 3. 2 Tarentaise 1, 600 . 2 Brangus 22, 311 3. 2 Highland 1, 500 . 2 Beefmaster 21, 242 3. 0 Pinzgauer 664 . 1 Maine Anjou 12, 544 2. 2 707, 283 100 TOTAL

BREED GROUP MEANS FOR PREWEANING TRAITS OF CALVES PRODUCED IN CYCLE VII OF THE GPE PROGRAM (1999 -2000 CALF CROP) No. calves born Gestation Calvings length unassist. days % Calv. diff. score Birth wt. lb. Hereford Angus Red Angus 190 189 206 ** 284. 3 281. 6 282. 1 . ** 95. 6 99. 1 . ** 1. 24 1. 01 1. 06 ns ** 90. 4 96. 2 84. 0 96. 7 84. 5 96. 7 ** 524 533 526 Simmental Gelbvieh Limousin Charolais 201 209 200 199 285. 2 284. 4 286. 2 283. 0 97. 7 97. 8 97. 6 92. 8 1. 10 1. 13 1. 40 92. 2 88. 7 89. 5 93. 7 96. 7 97. 1 96. 9 97. 1 553 534 519 540 3. 1 3. 8 13 Sire breed of calf LSD. 05 1. 5 3. 4. 20 Surv. to wn. % 200 -d wn. wt. , lb.

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.

SIRE BREED MEANS FOR REPRODUCTION AND MATERNAL TRAITS OF F 1 FEMALES MATED TO PRODUCE THEIR FIRST CALVES AT 2 YEARS OF AGE (2001 & 2002) Sire breed of female F test Hereford Angus Red Angus Simmental Gelbvieh Limousin Charolais LSD <. 05 Calf crop Calving Unassist. Birth born wnd. diff. births wt. No. % % score % lb 200 -d wt per calf cow exp lb lb 80 84 104 ns 92 83 86 ns 70 76 76 ns 1. 9 2. 0 2. 2 ns 74 72 68 ns 81. 5 79. 8 78. 2 ** 413 424 415 ns 292 325 317 98 109 97 86 79 85 87 69 68 73 73 1. 5 2. 2 2. 0 2. 1 86 64 68 69 79. 6 83. 6 80. 3 81. 6 442 447 429 430 309 307 313 315 14 15 . 6 19 4. 4 10 68

SIRE BREED MEANS FOR REPRODUCTION AND MATERNAL TRAITS OF F 1 FEMALES MATED TO PRODUCE CALVES AT 3 -5 YEARS OF AGE (2002 -2004) Sire Breed of female F – test Hereford Angus Red Angus Calf crop Calving Unassist. Birth No born wnd. diff. births wt. rec. % % score % lb 200 -d wt per calf cow exp lb lb 180 175 205 ns 96 94 91 ns 93 90 87 ns 1. 12 1. 01 1. 23 ns 97. 9 100. 0 95. 5 ns 91. 7 88. 5 87. 2 ** 498 515 503 ns 464 460 441 Simmental Gelbvieh 214 220 90 89 88 86 1. 03 1. 07 99. 1 98. 8 88. 2 89. 8 535 527 463 452 Limousin Charolais 219 210 94 94 89 91 1. 02 1. 18 99. 6 97. 2 90. 2 91. 3 513 522 456 475 7 8 5. 6 4. 9 10 45 LSD <. 05 . 32

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).

Complementarity • 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 1/4 th as great for direct (5. 5 vs 22 lb) and 4/10 th as great for maternal (10 vs. 24 lb) breed effects in the current evaluation as they were to 30 years ago.

SIRE BREED MEANS FOR FINAL WEIGHT AND CARCASS TRAITS OF F 1 STEERS (445 DAYS) Final Retail Marb- USDA WB Sire wt product ling Choice shear Breed N lb % lb sc % lb Hereford Angus Red Angus 97 98 93 1322 1365 1333 60. 7 59. 2 59. 1 480 488 474 526 584 590 70 95 93 9. 1 8. 9 9. 2 Simmental Gelbvieh Limousin Charolais 92 90 84 95 1363 1312 1286 1349 63. 0 63. 8 63. 7 522 509 504 523 528 506 504 517 66 58 57 62 9. 5 9. 9 9. 5 9. 6 40 1. 3 16 17 0. 6 LSD <. 05

USDA QUALITY GRADE X YIELD GRADE FOR HEREFORD, ANGUS AND RED ANGUS (N = 288) Quality grade Low Pr USDA Yield grade, % TOTAL 1 2 3 4 0. 0 1. 7. 4 2. 1 High Ch 0. 0 . 7 2. 1 1. 7 4. 5 Av. Ch 0. 0 1. 7 7. 3 2. 8 11. 8 Low Ch 2. 8 18. 4 29. 5 17. 0 67. 7 Select 1. 7 8. 3 2. 8 1. 0 13. 9 Standard 0. 0 0. 0 TOTAL 4. 5 29. 2 43. 4 22. 9 100. 0

USDA QUALITY GRADE X YIELD GRADE FOR STEERS WITH SIMMENTAL, GELBVIEH, LIMOUSIN, AND CHAROLAIS SIRES (n = 361) Quality grade USDA Yield Grade, % 4 TOTAL. 3. 3 Low Pr 1 0. 0 2 0. 0 3 0. 0 High Ch 0. 0 . 3 Av. Ch 0. 3 1. 9 3. 1 . 3 5. 5 Low Ch 8. 3 27. 2 14. 4 1. 7 51. 5 13. 6 18. 3 9. 1 1. 1 42. 1 0. 3 0. 0 . 3 22. 4 47. 4 26. 9 3. 3 100. 0 Select Standard TOTAL

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.

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.

Complementarity 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

SIRE BREED LEAST SQUARES MEANS FOR GROWTH AND PUBERTY TRAITS OF HEIFERS IN CYCLE VII OF THE GPE PROGRAM (1999 -2000 CALF CROPs) Sire breed of female F test Hereford Angus Red Angus Simmental Gelbvieh Limousin Charolais LSD <. 05 400 -d wt. No. lb. 18 wt. month wt. ht. lb. cm. Frame Age score at sc pub. Preg. rate % 81 85 106 * 841 869 868 * 950 936 953 ** 128. 4 127. 2 126. 9 ** 5. 5 5. 3 5. 2 ** 342 340 339 ns 94 88 91 103 111 109 103 849 807 824 828 961 922 933 950 130. 2 128. 8 129. 9 129. 5 5. 9 5. 6 5. 8 335 322 363 348 90 83 87 91 31 32 1. 6 . 5 15 13

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-old Four-year-old Breed Height in Condition Score Weight lb 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) Simmental 53. 6 a 6. 40 ab 1357 a (1353 a) Gelbvieh 52. 9 abc 6. 01 c 1273 b (1282 b) Limousin 53. 5 a 6. 13 bc 1320 ab (1330 ab) Charolais 53. 3 ab 6. 47 a 1344 LSD <0. 05 0. 8 . 29 54 * P< 0. 05 a (1339 ab) (51)

Sire breed deviations from Hereford-Angus crosses for height, weight, and weight adjusted for condition score of F 1 cows a Breed Cow Cow Height in Weight lb Adj. Weight lb Cycle I & II HAx 0. 0 VII 0. 0 I & II VII 0 0 -- -12 - -- -24 Red Angus --- 0. 6 Simmental 6. 3 0. 8 +23 -3 29 8 Gelbvieh 6. 0 0. 1 +23 -87 34 -60 Limousin 5. 0 0. 7 11 -40 15 -12 Charolais 6. 2 0. 5 51 -16 53 -1 Cont. avg. 5. 9 0. 5 27 -36 33 -16 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 Bos indicus x Bos taurus crosses excel in • Weaning weight per cow exposed • Cow efficiency but these advantages are tempered by: • Older age at puberty • Reduced meat tenderness

Boran

SIRE BREED MEANS FOR FINAL WEIGHT AND CARCASS TRAITS OF F 1 STEERS (447 d) Sire breed No. Final wt lb Retail product % lb USDA Choice % 14 -d Shear lb Hereford Angus 106 101 1270 1278 61. 9 62. 2 449 454 70. 3 84. 6 10. 6 8. 9 Brahman Boran Tuli 76 138 158 1199 1116 1110 63. 8 62. 6 63. 4 449 400 405 30. 4 47. 2 63. 8 12. 9 11. 3 10. 1 97 1224 65. 0 465 51. 4 ---- 18 22. 2 Nellore LSD <. 05 48 1. 7

BREED GROUP MEANS FOR REPRODUCTION AND MATERNAL TRAITS Sire breed of female Age at puberty, No. days 2 -years of age 3 to 7 years of age Calf 200 -day wt. crop per per cow wnd. calf exposed % lb lb % lb Hereford Angus Avg. 152 130 282 355 351 353 73. 8 74. 4 74. 1 419 437 428 300 313 307 88. 7 86. 3 87. 5 474 493 483 422 426 424 Brahman Original Current Avg. 82 208 244 429 423 426 54. 3 69. 6 62. 0 456 476 466 238 319 279 85. 9 82. 7 83. 2 511 521 516 440 435 Boran Tuli 206 244 396 371 83. 3 74. 6 444 413 357 296 86. 2 84. 1 488 471 421 397 Nellore 82 406 75. 1 463 324 91. 6 514 461 LSD <. 05 13 13. 9 18 62 6. 7 1436

Genotype X Environment Interaction Cycle VIII MARC LSU M&F F Hereford X Angus X Beefmaster X X Brangus X X Romosinuano X X Bonsmara X X

SIRE BREED MEANS FOR FINAL WEIGHT AND CARCASS TRAITS OF F 1 STEERS (426 DAYS, 2001& 2002 CALF CROPS) Final ADG wt lb/d lb Retail product % lb USDA Marb. Choice score % Sire Breed N Hereford Angus 102 3. 02 1245 103 3. 15 1283 61. 8 466 60. 0 469 515 548 52 71 Brangus Beefmaster 107 2. 99 1256 103 3. 10 1296 62. 1 481 61. 2 482 497 483 42 35 Bonsmara 104 2. 80 1183 Romosinuano 102 2. 71 1150 63. 4 464 64. 4 452 487 488 37 37 24 13 LSD <. 05 . 09 29 1. 1 13

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 F 1 cross females (Cundiff, 2005) 2 –yr olds Sire breed Wn rate % 205 -d wt/ Calf, lb 3 -7 yr olds 205 -d wt/ Wn rate % 205 -d wt/ Calf, lb 205 -d wt/ Cow ex, lb cow ex, lb Hereford 77 bc 428 e 322 bc 89 a 483 c 430 abc Angus 73 cd 451 d 325 bc 86 a 503 b 434 abc Brahman 65 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 Beefmaster 89 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).

Complementarity F 1 Females 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 1/4 th as great for direct (5. 5 vs 22 lb) and 4/10 th as great for maternal (10 vs. 24 lb) breed effects in the current evaluation as they were to 30 years ago.

F 1 Cow Size 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.

Complementarity 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.

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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