Selecting the Right Livestock Replacement

Selecting the Right Replacement

Robert S. Wells, Ph.D., PAS
Livestock Consultant

Develop a Plan

2

Start with the End in sight.
Start with the End in sight.

When are you going to market the cattle?

Sell at Weaning…

Replacement Heifers

• What Breeds Should you consider?
What Breeds Should you consider?
– Types
– Heterosis
– Complementarity effects p y
– Marketing goals

• What is the Right Cow Type?
Wh t i th Ri ht C
T ?
• What is the Right Bull?
What is the Right Bull?
• Where to buy cattle?

2 Subspecies of Cattle
2 Subspecies of Cattle
• Bos taurus
– British breeds (Angus, Hereford)
– Continental breeds (Charolais, Simmental,
Limousin, Gelbvieh, etc.)

• Bos indicus (Zebu, humped cattle)
Bos indicus (Zebu, humped cattle)
– Brahman a a
– Nelore
– Gir, etc.
Gir etc

Pure Breeds

Angus (British)

Reputation: Carcass and Maternal p Hereford (British)

Reputation: Maternal, easy fleshing, longevity p , y g, g y

Simmental (Continental)

Reputation: Maternal and growth p g

Simmental (Continental)
Simmental
(Continental)

Gelbvieh (
Gelbvieh (Continental)
Continental)

Reputation: Maternal and growth p g

Gelbvieh (Continental)
Gelbvieh
(Continental)

Limousin (Continental)
Limousin
(Continental)

Reputation:
Reputation: G p Growth

Charolais (Continental)
Charolais
(Continental)

Reputation: Growth p Shorthorn

Reputation: Maternal and Carcass p Longhorn

Reputation: Hardiness, Lean beef p ,

Corriente

Reputation: Hardiness, roping stock p , p g

Composites p or

Cross Breds
Cross
Breds

Black Baldy
Black Baldy

Super Baldy

Commercial Angus

Ultra Black
Ultra Black

Balancer

LimFlex

Hybrid vigor = Heterosis
Hybrid vigor
= Heterosis

Hybrid Vigor
Hybrid Vigor
• The
The increase/decrease in a particular trait increase/decrease in a particular trait when compared to