Research Projects Continue to Document Value of Hereford Genetics

Jack Ward
We have seen another
incredible sale season and
increased demand for good,
well-documented Hereford
genetics. As many of you
know, the American Hereford
Association (AHA) has spent
a great deal of resources
documenting the value of
Hereford genetics in real
world commercial settings
through various research
projects and young sire tests.
Circle A Ranch
Table 1 shows results of
the 2010-born calves from
Circle A Ranch. We are
still working on the feed
by Jack Ward, chief operating officer and director of breed improvement
efficiency report, but this
table does give a breakdown
of performance through the
various stages of production.
At Circle A, the test is
a bit different from some
of the other tests because
Hereford breeders supplied
bulls for natural service after
artificial insemination (AI).
In addition to the steer
performance, the heifer
mates have been sold through
Circle A Ranch’s spring sale
as bred heifers. According to
Circle A staff, the demand
for the females has been
very strong and, again, the
pregnancy rate has been
jward@hereford.org
Research Projects Continue to Document
Value of Hereford Genetics
Table 1: Circle A 2010-born calves
Name
Reg. No.
BW
Ratio
WW
Ratio
YW
Ratio
MB
Ratio
HCW
Ratio
FT
Ratio
REA
Ratio
KEG S650 Lexus U830 42890521 100 96 97 90 100 84 100
CK Mr On Target J103 42827294 103 115 96 106 100 98 103
KEG S650 Lexus U819 42890528 92 98 97 97 100 113 86
JET Mr R706 42825020 103 104 101 104 99 119 100
JDB 154 Williams N041 42389372 92 112 100 108 99 97 91
Huth P093 Progressive U001 42914977 85 106 96 111 98 94 98
JDB 767G Advance N037 42389368 105 109 97 90 100 100 106
MCR PPF Mark Domino 252 42300237 100 100 101 91 99 89 100
EFBeef Schu-Lar S604-009K G824 ET 42672710 99 101 100 101 104 95 103
Sparks Domino 2U 42892522 97 93 100 91 100 103 107
Moser 242 All Around 17U ET 42997385 105 97 103 144 98 127 92
STAR Its All About Me 408U 42924364 100 91 99 94 100 89 104
JET Mr X605 42703634 100 106 98 94 99 108 96
JET Mr X818 42909757 99 102 100 102 98 97 101
Loewen M326 46U 42881269 95 97 98 90 96 122 95
JET Mr X624 42703677 99 107. 103 105 99 100 101
STAR Red Hills Eff’s Boogie 40U 42872284 101 83 102 100 101 86 107
JET Mr L715 42824845 101 108 102 86 101 91 107
Sparks P18 10T 42780515 105 93 107 105 102 98 95
Sparks P18 18T 42780520 103 100 102 96 101 108 100
Sparks Domino 404T ET 42813579 107 99 101 83 102 75 103
Sparks M326 5U 42892516 101 98 100 113 102 114 104
better than the ranch average
of the Angus females.
Simplot Ranch project
The AHA has also entered
into another long-term
research project with J.R.
Simplot Co. with ranches
in four western states. The
project was set up to see
how Hereford bulls would
perform when bred to
predominately black heifers.
In addition to the usual
performance collection, we
plan to look at longevity and
fertility on the crossbred
females. To date, Simplot has
collected birth weight (BW)
and calving ease (CE) scores
and a calf vigor score (see
Table 2). The calf vigor score
is one that looks at how long
it takes a calf to get up and
start nursing or if it needed
assistance. Table 3 shows
results from the first calf
crop born at Simplot.
This spring the second
set of heifers was AI-bred
to continue the long-term
project with Simplot.
Genomics
In addition to these research
projects, the AHA keeps
moving forward in the area
of genomics. In this issue you
Table 2: Calf vigor score
1
2
Up and sucking within 30
minutes, vigorous.
Up within 1-2 hours, suckling
without assistance.
3 Suckling with assistance.
4
5
No suckle reflex. Drench
needed.
Unwilling to rise. Dead
shortly after birth.
12 / July 2012 Hereford.org

Table 3: Simplot 2012-born calves
Sire name Reg. No. Avg. BW CE Vigor
Bar JZ Traditions Legend 463S 42693193 77 1.06 1.00
UPS Domino 3027 42426386 80 1.00 1.00
Huth P093 Progressive U001 42914977 79 1.32 1.18
KCF Bennett 9126J S100 42681148 81 1.08 1.00
TH 49U 719T Sheyenne 3X 43101191 76 1.08 1.04
TH 122 71I Victor 719T 42800895 74 1.07 1.15
/S 3027 Domino 8502U 42907988 80 1.11 1.00
Huth R002 Puckerator W002 43022870 81 1.27 1.12
79 1.12 1.06
Angus sire
Tender Ten, ABS bull 75 1.08 1.05
will find information about the changes
occurring with DNA technology, which
include moving labs from Maxxam to
GeneSeek. (See Page 100.)
This change will allow the AHA
to provide more services including
50k genomic assisted information for
expected progeny differences (EPDs)
and testing for horned/polled and
for tenderness.
The procedures for how to order a
DNA kit and how to submit samples will
be very similar to how they are handled
today. Hair will still be used and kits will
look basically the same. You will find
information on costs and opportunities
on Page 104.
HRF plans fundraiser
The Hereford Research Foundation
(HRF) is planning another online
fundraising auction for later this
summer. Watch for announcements
in Hereford eNews and on Hereford.org.
This year’s offering will include
a pheasant hunting trip offered by
Rausch Herefords in South Dakota,
a guided fly fishing trip offered by
Dave Hanson in the Big Sky country of
Montana and also a duck hunting trip
offered by the Shaw family of Caldwell,
Idaho. These are just a few of the
items to be offered. Proceeds from
this online auction and other similar
fundraising activities allow the AHA
to continue to design research and
breed improvement projects. HW
Hereford.org July 2012 / 13