Best genes pay off, study shows

Calves involved in the Dairy-Beef Integration Programme. Photo / Agresearch

Preliminary findings from a five-year study on the use of quality beef sires has confirmed the potential benefits to dairy farmers to produce high value calves with minimal calving problems by breeding to proven beef genetics.

The Beef + Lamb NZ Dairy-Beef Integration Programme undertook a five-year comprehensive analysis and demonstration of the benefits and risks involved throughout the supply chain to increase the supply of quality calves to the finishing industry.

The AgResearch-led project was funded by Beef + Lamb NZ Mid-Northern Farmer Council with in-kind support from LIC and Ezicalve (proven hereford sires).

Releasing the preliminary findings, AgResearch Farm Systems scientist Dr Vicki Burggraaf said the use of beef genetics in the dairy industry had traditionally been mainly bulls of unknown genetic merit.

"This study researched animal performance, farm financial and labour implications for the various stages of mating, calving, rearing and finishing by comparing the performance of progeny sired by proven and unrecorded hereford sires [natural and AI mating].

"DNA profiles were conducted for all dams, sires and progeny so that progeny performance could be linked to parentage. Dam attributes were recorded [frame size, liveweight and breed] to link progeny performance. Animal performance attributes of calving ease, liveweight gain and carcass attributes were also measured."

Dr Burggraaf said the study demonstrated that the use of proven sires with high Estimated Breeding Values (EBVs) for calving ease limited calving problems and those with high EBVs for liveweight produced cattle with higher growth rates.

"The use of proven beef sires on a dairy farm and the impact on the progenies' performance was demonstrated. Ezicalve hereford sires, which have high EBVs for calving ease and liveweight, were compared to unrecorded hereford sires. Using some beef semen during mating reduced mating costs," she said.

"Ezicalve sired cattle had minimal calving problems and, despite being smaller at birth, performance was similar to those sired by unrecorded bulls during rearing and finishing.

"The sire had little effect on meat quality, but cattle from the Ezicalve sire with the highest liveweight EBVs were quicker to reach slaughter targets and produced more revenue per animal than those from other Ezicalve AI (artificial insemination) sires.

Using beef sires with high EBVs for calving ease and liveweight on dairy farms therefore has benefits for both dairy and beef farmers."

Dairy Beef Integration Programme manager Doug Lineham said the findings couldn't have come at a better time for dairy farmers.

"The report provides the research validation for what is happening in the market right now," he said.

"Farmers who bred tail-end cows to proven beef semen last year are being paid two to three times more for four-day-old calves than they would for straight-bred dairy calves.

The difference can be anything from $40 for a bobby calf to $200 to $300 for a dairy/beef animal.

"A number of farmers changed their breeding strategies last year to take advantage of this increased income, but the Beef Lamb NZ Dairy Beef Integration Programme would like to see more farmers harness this opportunity to generate additional income by mating tail-end cows to proven beef sires.

"Farmers can choose between artificially breeding some cows to proven AI bulls, or purchasing or leasing proven beef sires."

The full Beef + Lamb New Zealand Dairy Beef Integration Report will be released on October 1.