Archive for September, 2010
Posted on September 23, 2010 - by Russell
Do We Want F1 Certification?
By Jack Johnson
Until now our association has not been ready for an F1 program, and I’m still not sure it is ready to embrace such a concept. We are talking about publicizing one of the best-kept secrets in the beef business today. We, as an association, have done little to make known the merits of the F1 Texas Longhorn cow. If the economic values of Longhorn cross cows were generally known, there would be no need for an F1 certification program, because these cows can and will sell themselves.
Had the use of genetics and the advantages of heterosis been known and understood in 1884, the near demise of the Texas Longhorn would never have happened. One hundred years ago, cattlemen were importing the best of the exotic bulls of the times to mate with native Texas Longhorns. From this mating with massive numbers of Texas Longhorn cows, they selected the best for replacement range cows.
Now we are marketing great numbers of our lowest quality Texas Longhorn bulls to be used on replacement heifers without recognizing that the progeny of these matings which do become range cows and carry our genetic banner to the beef business will not be nearly as efficient as they would if we were regarding the beef business as our primary source of income rather than a dumping ground for our cull bulls.
An F1 certification program is, after all, nothing more than a marketing tool to introduce our breed’s genetics to the beef business. If association members will accept and implement breeding practices that will preserve, protect and promote the genetic traits of reproductive efficiency that have made this breed different from others, an F1 certification program is feasible and will keep our breed healthy far into the future. Otherwise, it is futile.
I have been accused, probably with justification, of being radical and controversial for saying too often and too emphatically that our breed is being damaged by our strong emphasis, as an association, on the length and shape of horns rather than on the strong capabilities of Texas Longhorns to reproduce themselves systematically under almost any conditions. Horns are the hallmark of the Texas Longhorn breed, and I like big-horned cattle.
However, reproductive efficiency has been severely damaged in other breeds by doing exactly what we are doing today in our breed, but for different reasons. While we are reducing our fertility today by emphasizing horn length above all else, other beef breeds have been directing their attention to the production of a superior feedlot steer. They have paid strict attention to birth weights, weaning weights, daily gain, feed conversion and carcass desirability. In doing this, they ignored fertility, longevity and hardiness. Consequently, the female counterparts to the improved feedlot steer are not economically efficient as range cows. The reproductive abilities of the females in other breeds have been reduced by emphasizing, in their breeding programs, the male traits of gainability and feed conversion.
We, as Texas Longhorn breeders, have the answer to their dilemma. With the F1 we can sell back to the beef business the reproductive efficiency they have squandered in their quest for efficient feeder cattle. We need to begin to be very careful not to squander too much of our breeding efficiency in trying to produce longer and longer horns. I mention this because all of us have seen many times cows of questionable fertility sell at higher figures because of superior horn growth. Many of these sub-fertile cows have been treated by all known artificial means, super-ovulated with drugs and placed in embryo transfer programs to produce highly promoted herd sires whose semen will then be scattered throughout the breed, carrying with it the damaging sub-fertility of a dam with little to offer besides tremendous horn growth. Every time this happens, it decreases those valuable traits our breed has had in abundance. If we are serious about an F1 certification program to promote the use of our genetics in the beef business, we must also promote within our breed the preservation of the traits we wish to sell.
The primary advantage of an F1 certification program is to increase the sales of registered Texas Longhorns at respectable prices. If we are to accomplish this goal, we must all be equally involved. Research must be done to provide acceptable proof of the claims we make with regard to functional efficiency or breeding values.
Advertising and promotion must constantly be directed toward the beef industry to establish in the minds of beef-oriented people that we have the genetics they need to improve their production. Acceptable means must be developed by A.I. and E.T. rules committees to protect our inherent fertility, longevity and mothering capabilities. It will have to become evident throughout our association that we consider ourselves a beef breed rather than a historic relic.
We need within our breed a system to recognize and emphasize those 18- to 24-year-old cows with unbroken production records, and those bulls that have consistently produced daughters with these capabilities. These are the animals whose progeny should be in embryo transfer and artificial insemination and bringing superior prices in our sales.
A serious F1 certification represents a new direction for our association and presents many difficult questions to be resolved:
Cost of Certification. What will it cost the TLBAA and how can we recover these expenses?
Quality Control. Should F1 certified cows be from registered dams of another breed? What breeds are acceptable? Should we place minimum standards on Texas Longhorn bulls that are used as sires of certified F1 females? Should the dams of certified F1s be inspected to assure quality in the progeny?
Management. How much work load will this program place on our staff? How soon can we expect increased sales of registered bulls to justify the expense? Will our computer capabilities be sufficient to handle the program?
Timing. How soon can we be ready to start certification? Will our breeders understand and accept such a program? How may we avoid such certification being confused with an up-breeding program such as other breeds accept?
These and many other questions must be answered if an F1 certification program is to be successful. It is simply a marketing tool that, if done properly, will provide us with a healthy future in the beef industry. Halfway measures probably will not be notably beneficial to anyone.
Editor’s note: The F1 certification program was discussed at the October 23, 1984 meeting of the TLBAA Steering Committee and approved for presentation to the Board of Directors, which can adopt or reject the proposal.
What is your opinion of the F1 certification proposal? We welcome your response to this and other issues.
Source: The Longhorn Scene, December 1984 issue, Opinion Corner, pages 40 & 67.
*The TLBAA did adopt an F1 (commercial crossbreeding) certification program. Information on registering F1 Texas Longhorns can be found in the TLBAA Official Handbook, Rules and Regulations, Section 1. – Required Information for Registration, subsection (m).
Posted on September 3, 2010 - by Russell
First Time Buyers Checklist
The following is a checklist of some basic things to keep in mind when evaluating cattle that you are thinking about purchasing. These may seem like simple and obvious things that would not be easily over looked. But they are when a buyer is not focused on the overall quality of the animal but rather on one trait. First time buyers and sometimes even experienced buyers will lose focus of the overall quality of an animal. In most cases it is the amount of horn that overwhelms the buyer and makes them lose focus. In some instances I have seen a buyer overlook a major genetic defect because the animal was young and had 80” inches tip-to-tip. If you want to be taken seriously and be involved in this breed for a long period of time you will not want to overlook genetic defects just because the animal has a lot of horn. Horns alone are for the “collector”….the total package animal is for the serious Longhorn breeder. An educated buyer is one that will be happier and more profitable with his purchases.
ü Functionality of an Animal
o Does it have a correct bovine structure?anatomy-of-a-texas-longhorn-cow , anatomy-of-a-texas-longhorn-bull
o Good top line? Easy movement in hips and shoulders?
o Is it sound on its feet, legs and joints? No swelling in the joints? Can the animal move and travel well and easily?
o Mouth and jaw – Is the mouth and jaw set straight and correct? A crooked nose, mouth and/or jaw will make it more difficult for the animal to forage.
These are important to the overall health and well-being of the animal. If the animal is structurally unsound it will have problems making good use of forage and pasture. Bulls with structural problems will have difficulty in keeping up with the cow herd, thus they will not be able to service the cows.
ü Reproduction
o Bulls – Does he have two evenly developed testicles, hanging straight without any signs of a twist? Does he have a normal size sheath and penis opening? Swelling around the opening could indicate an injury or infection.
o Females – Does her reproductive area look normal for her age? Does she have a calf at side? Is she palpated bred or just exposed for a long period of time? Under development (looking like a virgin heifer) on an older female that should have had a calf or two could indicate a possible breeding problem.
o Ask the seller about production history. Most will be more than willing to provide that information.
ü Udder – Is the udder functional? This is a must! If she can’t raise a fat and healthy calf, she is useless! If she has a calf at side it will give you some idea as to the quality of her udder.
ü Body Condition – Is the animal overly fat? Is the animal extremely thin? Each one of these body conditions could indicate possible problems. An overly fat animal could be a poor or non-breeder. An extremely thin animal could just be a hard keeper or it could indicate several possible problems, some of which are correctable. A couple of these would be coming from poor range or pasture with poor nutrition or the animal needs treatment for parasites. Numerous medical reasons could be the cause of poor body condition and some could be severe.
ü Pedigree – Is the pedigree of proven genetics? In order to know the quality of the pedigree…Do Your Homework. Study pedigrees in sale catalogs, attend sales as a spectator, visit websites and ask questions. Often the cattle that an individual likes or is drawn to will have similar bloodlines. While studying pedigrees and bloodlines keep in mind that the most advertised (bulls and cows) pedigrees are not always the best or most proven. They just happen to be owned by someone who can afford to advertise.
ü Horn – Are they of good length and shape? Horn is a must–after all this breed is the Texas Longhorn. Horn is not the most important trait and the reason why it is lower on the list. You can have the longest horn cow in the breed but if she has defects then you don’t have much in my opinion except a shoulder mount to hang on your wall.
