Why should I be crossbreeding?

The simplest answer may be the question – “Why not?”

Although this seems overly simple, it really is the best answer. Look at any other major protein source and you will find an overwhelming prevalence of hybrids, or crossbreeding! Cereal grains, vegetables, forage crops, pork, poultry, most are some form of crossbred in today’s commercial applications.

Direct heterosis alone is reason enough for crossbreeding, but the real value comes in adding maternal heterosis and what it can do for your entire cowherd performance levels. Imagine making up to a 25% difference in your results just by changing the bulls you are using! I know that many say this can’t be done, but let me assure you that not only can it be done, it is being done. Visit with anyone who has a structured and planned crossbreeding effort in place and they will be able to share many amazing success stories. SimAngus are the perfect fit for today’s cattle production cycle and have real world application in all segments of the beef industry.

Aside from the above, it really gets quite simple – crossbreeding pays! Don’t just take our word for it, there has been literally decades of research conducted at the US Meat Animal Research Center that documents the profound effects of crossbreeding. When you come visit us at Trinity Farms, you will get a chance to view first hand some of the fantastic results of crossbreeding. The science of this phenomenon is well proven; add the art of breed complementarity with thoughtful selection and you will find an extremely productive and unique program that we know you will appreciate.

Why crossbreed? Why not?

Don't just take our word for it:

Episode 16: Crossbreeding heterosis for both terminal and maternal performance?

Recently Robb had the pleasure of sitting down for a chat with Justin Mills with the Working Ranch Radio Show to discuss the important influence heterosis has on both terminal and maternal performance of your cowherd. Click the link below to take a listen!

https://www.podbean.com/ew/pb-bqiuz-ff53c1

Putting the Best Foot Forward

Written by: Lane Giess, American Simmental Association, Director of Commerical and Non-traditional Data Programs and Special Projects

For years the beef industry has focused on maximizing cowherd profitability through the tangible, measurable traits; calving ease/birth weight, weaning weight, carcass weight and quality. These are all traits that can impact a commercial cattlemen’s bottomline, but what about the intangibles? If you’ve ever had to cull because of docility, fertility, poor feet and legs, inability to milk, or inadequate mothering ability, you know what I’m talking about. That’s why cow longevity is one of the most important traits to the commercial cattlemen, and at the heart of cow longevity is feet and leg structure.

Soundness is one of those traits at the forefront of discussion among cattlemen across the country, and for good reason, selecting for improved soundness significantly improves the likelihood of an animal to successfully stay in the herd. This reduces culling costs of developing replacements and leads to a much more productive cow herd. The American Simmental Association (ASA) is in the midst of developing tools that the ASA membership and their customers can use to select for improved mobility.

How it’s done:

Soundness can be evaluated on a quantitative scale of measurement to gather phenotypes. A 1 to 9 scale is appropriate where 5 is considered optimum. A sample of traits relating to overall soundness are Claw Shape, Hoof Angle and Rear Leg Set (see the rubrics *below*). When scoring it’s important to score the entire cow herd and whole contemporary groups of yearling to 18-month-old bulls and heifers. 

Bottom Line:

Heritability ranges for feet and leg traits fall in the 0.20 - 0.30 range depending on breed population. This means progress can be made for feet and leg structure over time. Seedstock breeders who pay attention to the genetics of their herd and make selection decisions for improved feet and leg traits in the animals they supply the commercial industry will bring added value to commercial bull buyers who experience issues with soundness.

Trinity Farms:

Recently, Trinity Farms participated in a research project where the entire cow herd was scored for 14 traits relating to feet and leg structure. Over 700 Trinity animals were measured in two days and those animals will ultimately be included in one of the most comprehensive analysis of feet and leg structure and its impact on beef cattle longevity. This study is a continuation of the Kansas State University Feet and Leg analysis funded by the American Simmental Association, Red Angus Association of America and the Kansas Global Food Systems Initiative. Results of this study and more information regarding feet and leg structure will be discussed at the Generations of Excellence Female Sale on October 4.

Demystifying USDA Beef Grades by Rebecca Morris

Click on title to be taken to the original article.

Advocating for Agriculture

As you know, folks in production agriculture are some of the absolute finest individuals you will ever come across. It is very rewarding to have the opportunity to be associated with such a great group of people. Unfortunately, although we in agriculture know this well, it is not always a story that we are so adept at telling the rest of the masses.

When we have events at the ranch, we often make the following statement, “Have you eaten today? If so be sure to hug a farmer”! At first you may think that odd, but I can tell you that with all of the activities we host attempting to bring those not involved in agriculture to the ranch for an educational opportunity, it is alarming how many people in the world do not realize how their food is produced or where it comes from. We don’t blame this on them, it is all they know, but we have come to the realization if we are to have a higher opinion of who we are and what we do in agriculture, it is up to us to tell the story.

We in agriculture can tell our story better than anyone else – we just need to make more of an effort to do so. So we challenge you to be an advocate for agriculture in any way that you can, especially when that opportunity involves a chance to inform the consumer of our truly world class products and about what we do and why we do it.

Explore Beef Experience - An in-depth look at the beef industry in Washington state

We have participated in the Washington State Beef Commission Explore Beef Experience for years. This typically is a 2 day event that starts with a visit and tour of Trinity Farms as the representative for the Cow/Calf sector of the beef industry. The backgrounds of participants has been very diverse and the effort has always been to have those in positions of potential influence of public opinion attend. This program has been extremely well received and has become a flagship of the Washington State Beef Commission’s educational efforts. To learn more visit www.wabeef.org

Beef Counts: Washington's Beef Community United Against Hunger

Hunger is a very real problem here in America, even right here in our own local communities. But through the Beef Counts program, the Washington Beef Community is fighting back! In fact, since 2010 the program and its partners have provided over 1 million servings of beef to local families and seniors in need!

We are truly honored to be a part of such wonderful community, committed to changing the world for the better, one serving of beef at a time!

Check out the video above and to learn how you can get involved visit: www.wabeef.org/beefcounts.

Annual Kindergarten Farm Days

Wow, if you every think your day is rough on the ranch, just invite a bunch of kindergarteners out for a Farm Days field trip and you will end your day wondering how do those teachers do it every day. No wonder they need a whole summer vacation! What a wonderful opportunity to start them young and help them understand the purpose of a farm. Even more rewarding is the opportunity to impact so many of the parents that attend each year. It is amazing to us that even in this rural community we live in, how many people are so disconnected from agriculture that they have no real understanding of where their food comes from. We have a lot of opportunity for education here!

Support for Wounded Warrior Project

2019 will be the 7th year we have chosen to support the Wounded Warrior Project through our fundraising effort at our annual bull sale. Although this is not a direct link in the respect some of the other events that we participate in may be, we feel it is every bit as important. We feel blessed to get to choose what we do in our great nation and it is due in a large part to so many out there fighting for our freedoms. Please join us in supporting this very worthy cause. Learn more at www.woundedwarriorproject.org

The Power Behind Genomics

Why DNA test? We have been asking ourselves that same question for a while. Our foray into DNA testing started years ago with confirmation of parentage and testing for homozygosity for color and polled/horned traits. Then with the uproar that surrounded genetic defects a few years ago, we added another layer to our DNA testing profiles. Our recent experience with testing for genomic enhancement began with testing of a few select bulls each year that we thought could have stud bull potential.

In 2016 we decided to begin testing ALL of our sale bulls in an effort to provide our customers not only the most up to date, genomic enhanced EPDs available, but even more importantly to provide another layer of risk management with the associated accuracies. Although we don’t know exactly where all of this is headed, we can guarantee that genomics will be a part of everyone’s future. The dairy, pork and poultry industries have fully embraced its use and I believe that we will see exponential application occur in the beef industry over the next few years.

All of the bulls in this year’s sale have had complete genetic testing and all results will be published in our catalog. Every bull will have the most up to date and accurate genomic enhanced EPDs available, all bulls will be identified for homozygosity for both color and polled and all bulls sell free of all known genetic defects. All of this is in addition to the standard performance testing, ultrasound for carcass traits, pre-sale breeding soundness exam, and the Trinity Farms stamp of approval that you have come to know and trust.