7.1: What is a Performance Record?

As defined by Webster, "performance" is "the execution of the function required," and "record" is "that which is written to perpetuate a knowledge of events." When these two definitions are combined and applied to beef cattle, it becomes clear that a performance record is "something written down relative to a required function of beef cattle." Performance records are simply a documentation of the performance level for a given trait of an individual animal or in a herd which gives direction for applying techniques of selection.

7.2: Utilization of Performance Records

The emphasis on the definition of performance records should be on "required' and "written." First there are several functions required of beef cattle if they are to perform profitably. Most producers cannot mentally record all of these functions and recall them when they want to make objective decisions relative to their herds. Second, when producers write down a record on a required function of a particular animal or herd, they assume full responsibility to enforce the appropriate penalties on animals not meeting this requirement.

If commercial cattle producers provide an adequate environment for an animal to express its genetic potential in meeting a required function, they should hold the animal responsible for not meeting this requirement. For example, conception which requires estrus and ovulation by the cow, and sperm production and service of cows by the bull, is a measure of performance. If commercial producers require conception and record pregnancy test information to improve their knowledge of these functions, conception becomes a performance record. If the environment they provide is adequate for conception to occur and it does not occur, the producer must assess appropriate penalty for failure. In essence, this is record utilization. If commercial producers fail to use their records in making management decisions, their records become useless, and they have wasted time by keeping them.

To put performance record use in perspective, certain basic facts relative to animal production must be recognized. These are: (1) in different environments, cattle perform differently; (2) in the same environment, cattle perform differently; and (3) the management provided is a part of the environment in which cattle must perform.

Records commercial producers should keep and on what traits records should be kept depend on the extent to which they plan to use the records in decision making. Records need to be accurate, meaningful, easy to collect, and accurately analyzed to aid effective use. This involves (1) using individual animal records made within a given management system or environment as a basis for decisions, and (2) pooling individual records into a herd performance record for use in making decisions relative to the entire management system. Comparison of records should only be made on a "within- management system" or "contemporary group basis.

The way cattle respond to any given situation is limited by their genetic capability and the environmental limitations. For example, a group of cattle may have the genetic capability to reach 1,100 pounds yearling weight but, due to nutritional limitations, they may reach only 900 pounds.

What can a commercial cattle producer expect from record utilization? The response to selection will depend on the heritability of the trait and the production limitations of the environment. There are four major environmental responses that can easily be measured: (1) percentage of calf crop weaned per cow exposed, (2) length of calving season, (3) weaning weight, and (4) yearling weight.

The response that can be expected in a herd improvement program where emphasis is placed on factors that are affected by environment, will be limited by the level of the environment and management. If the inputs are not provided, the outputs will be restricted. If the environmental level including management is low, the response in herd improvement programs in those factors that are environmentally influenced will be low.

Performance records in commercial herds will allow for maximizing growth management of the herds in total as well as individuals within the herds. Records will pinpoint the areas of opportunity to change environmental pressures to optimize growth potential and, thereby, increase potential profit.

Beef production at the commercial cow-calf level, in its simplest definition, is growth management. A beef animal starts to perform the moment it is conceived. It continues to perform from that point until it reaches its finished endpoint. However, growth in itself is meaningless unless it is set in a time frame. The amount of growth achieved in a given time period must be measured in terms of costs and returns.

Growth management used to maximize profit can be broken into two segments: (1) the management of genetic material to optimize growth, and (2) the management of the environment to optimize growth.

Several factors that contribute to the total growth the herd produces are reproduction, survival rate, genetic potential, and environment.

The only permanent change we can make in growth in a given time is through genetic improvement. The chance of making genetic improvement through beef cattle selection without records is greatly reduced because errors will tend to cancel correct judgments.

If genetic improvement is to be accomplished, superior animals must be selected and inferior animals culled from the herd. Performance records can (1) provide commercial producers with the information necessary to determine the level of production or pounds of beef produced per cow exposed per year, and (2) identify cows that produce inferior as well as superior offspring. Commercial producers must eliminate poor producers and perpetuate those that are superior to optimize total pounds of beef produced by the herd and assure that it is done economically. When producers select for superior performance in their herds, they also select for adaptability, early calving or fertility, milk production, and growing ability.

7.3: Measuring Performance

Traits of economic importance are commonly referred to as performance traits which contribute to efficiency of production and desirability of product. The attention each trait receives in the selection program should be based primarily on the objectives of the breeding program or how the offspring will be utilized.

The simplest measure of performance is weaning weight. This trait gives a combined measure of milking ability of the dam and genetic growth potential of the calf. A height measurement or frame score might also be determined at weaning. Animals retained on the farm or ranch until they are yearlings should again be weighed and measured. Condition scores should be taken each time cattle are weighed because weights have little meaning unless the animal's condition is known. A performance record will mean less if it does not specify the conditions and time frame under which each record was made.

Commercial producers desiring to use performance records to change the genetic potential of their herds have three alternatives. First, they can take advantage of another beef producer's performance program by purchasing breeding stock which, in most instances, will be sires. Second, they can establish a performance program in their own herd. Third, they can do both. To make progress, the producer must understand and effectively evaluate performance records to determine which animals to select for future mating.

The progress made will depend on the accuracy of the records, the superiority of the animals under consideration, heritability of traits, number of traits considered and level of management in the herd.

Table 7.2 shows different levels of participation in performance testing. The first column of the table shows a management change or goal. This column starts with no changes in present management and progresses to full participation in a complete performance testing program. The second column shows the management practice that must be instituted to achieve the goal. The third column describes what is involved in the management practice. The fourth column describes the possible effects on the cow herd from the management practice change or level of participation.

Table 7.2. Beef Improvement Guidelines: Goals and Performance Testing Practices for Beef Producers

7.4: Implementing Improvement Programs

7.4.1: Selecting and implementing a breeding program. The commercial cattle producer has two basic choices in establishing and carrying out a breeding program:

7.4.1.1: Straight breeding or pure breeding. With a straight breeding program, only one breed is used. It is the obligation of management to make progress through selection and at the same time provide an optimal environment that will allow the animals selected to express their genetic potential. Any trait to be improved must be improved in the context of the breed that is being worked on within a herd.

7.4.1.2: Crossbreeding. Research has documented that crossbreds are generally superior to straightbreds in one or more traits. This superiority occurs because of hybrid vigor and the possibilities offered by breed complementarity. Traits low in heritability, such as fertility, respond most to crossbreeding. Since none of the traits of economic importance in beef cattle production are completely heritable, all traits respond to selection in varying degrees.

Highly heritable traits respond well to selection whereas the lowly heritable traits respond poorly to selection but well to crossbreeding. Therefore, knowledge of heritability of traits is important in balancing selection with crossbreeding to optimize production. Equally important is the knowledge of the basic production capabilities of breeds used in a crossing program.

Crossbreeding is an effective method of improving efficiency of production in commercial cow-calf herds. However, commercial cattle producers should objectively study crossbreeding systems and consider advantages and disadvantages before deciding which is suitable to their environmental resources.

A planned rating system is the nucleus of a successful crossbreeding program. The mating system should maintain heterosis at an optimum level and permit uninterrupted production of a uniform product from generation to generation. Matching the crossbreeding system to the facilities and environment is of utmost importance. Likewise, the choice of breeds is similarly important.

Too few commercial cattle producers currently using crossbreeding have implemented plans that will perpetuate their crossbreeding programs beyond the lifespan of their current cowherd.

There are numerous crossbreeding systems. Factors that determine which system is best for a given commercial producer include: (1) the cattle producer's production objectives; (2) the system must be matched to the level of management (i.e., the number of breeding pastures available, whether or not A.I. is used, etc.) and environment; and, (3) means to accommodate the generation or acquisition of replacement heifers.

Basic crossbreeding systems include:

• Two-breed, terminal cross. This system uses straightbred cows and a bull of anothet breed and is a terminal cross if stopped at this point. This system produces maximum hybrid vigor in the individual calf but no maternal heterosis.
• Three-breed, terminal cross. This system uses an F1 crossbred cow and a bull of a third breed and produces maximum hybrid vigor in the cow and the calf.
• Two-breed crisscross or rotation. This system produces only about two-thirds maximum hybrid vigor but is an excellent system and offers the advantage of being able to produce all replacement females. In this system, bulls of two breeds are maintained in two separate herds, and the daughters of one breed of bull are bred to the other breed of bull and vice versa.
• Three- or four-breed rotational cross system. This system is similar to the two-breed rotation, except that three or more breeds of bulls are maintained. The same number of distinct groups are eventually created. Females are designated to each of these groups and are bred to the breed of bull to which they are least related.
• Combination crisscross/terminal system. Many other combination systems can be conceived using the basic principles of the four preceding systems. One very workable system for a larger herd is to keep 40 to 50 percent of the cowherd in a seedstock herd and 50 to 60 percent in a terminal cross herd.

• Rotate sire breed. Rotation of sire breed every two to four years starts with the available and adapted female breed. It allows limited use of breed complementarity and ultimately benefits from both individual and maternal heterosis.
• Specific four-breed cross system. In this system, F1 cows are mated to F1 bulls whose genetic traits come from different breeds. If this system is continued past a terminal cross situation, a composite breed is developed.

To make a crossbreeding system work, it is necessary for breeds to be combined in the system so calving difficulty is minimized in the young cows. Excessive calving difficulty and calf losses caused by use of breeds widely divergent in size cannot be tolerated either in young or mature cows.

The crossbreeding advantages of calf crop and growth to weaning are additive. Therefore, the total gain expected from crossbreeding systems using crossbred cows compared with averages from straightbred matings is 20 to 25 percent in pounds of calf weaned per cow exposed in the breeding herd. Even greater gains (up to 35 to 50 percent) may be expected from crossbreeding in the Gulf Coast area when Brahman cattle are included in the crosses. Maximum benefit from crossbreeding can only be attained when adequate management is available.

Various publications such as "Crossbreeding Beef Cattle for Western Range Environments" (TB-88-1, a WRCC-1 authored publication by the Nevada Agricultural Experiment Station, Reno, NV) are available which discuss crossbreeding systems m considerably more detail.

• A controlled breeding and calving season or seasons.
• Selection and use of sires superior in traits important to the system.
• Selection of replacement females.
• Culling of the cowherd based upon reproduction and production.

The commercial herd manager may elect to use one or more proven performance procedures or may elect to use a complete performance testing program including single-sire breeding pastures and individual animal weights. The herd manager who wishes to use a complete performance program may elect to use programs operated by performance organizations such as state beef cattle improvement association (BCIA's) or may use a personal computer with the appropriate software package. In the final analysis, the goal in improving a commercial herd is to increase the total output of the herd while holding additional cost down, and creating a greater profit.

The several performance procedures available to the commercial producer include:

7.4.2.1: Controlled breeding and calving season or seasons. In any herd improvement program, the breeding and calving seasons must be set to best match the pasture and forage system with the environment and management. In a complete performance testing program, comparisons between animals can only be made in an appropriate contemporary group. To make such comparisons and to manage and maximize reproductive efficiency in the herd, calves must be born in a relatively short period. In most herds, the calving season should be 60-80 days for mature cows and 30-45 days for virgin heifers. Strung out calving is not conducive to making valid comparisons, the basis for valid selection and genetic improvement.

7.4.2.2: Sire selection. This is singly the most important factor in making genetic progress. In herds where all replacement females are produced within the herd, sires are responsible for 100 percent of the genetic improvement. There are several factors to be considered. A primary consideration in a commercial operation is breed of sire. Sire breeds are selected for complementarity in the crossbreeding system. Another important consideration in sire selection is genetic superiority in traits of priority. There are three basic traits to consider: calving ease, growth potential, and maternal ability. Individual performance records on the young sire to be used naturally are very important. Since birth weight in the calf is the factor which causes the largest percentage of calving difficulties, it is important that birth weight of the sire be considered. As far as growth is concerned, the major factor to be considered is adjusted yearling weight and ratio, with secondary importance being given to adjusted weaning weight and ratio and post-weaning gain and ratio.

A person selecting bulls must realize that there is a strong genetic correlation between all of the growth traits including birth weight and mature size. Maternal traits are extremely important for sires which will produce replacement females. Such sires should be out of cows with positive within-herd adjusted weaning weight ratios on calves produces.

Because of new analysis procedures used by breed associations, data on young (non-parent) bulls is now available which is superior to individual performance records alone. This new data is in the form of Expected Progeny Differences (EPDs) for such traits as birth weight, weaning weight, yearling weight, maternal weaning weight, and maternal milk. In addition, some breed associations present EPDs for height, scrotal circumference, gestation length, calving ease direct and maternal calving ease. An EPD is a prediction of how future progeny of a sire are expected to perform for a particular trait as compared to a fixed breed average. "Difference" is the key to understanding EPDs. Each EPD has an accuracy figure associated with it which is a reliability measure and on non-parent bulls will be relatively low. The same kind of data is available for progeny-proven bulls in breed sire summaries and the accuracies on their data may be much higher. Comparisons of EPDs should be made within breed only.

Sometimes EPDs may not be available on yearling bulls. However, if we assume an individual receives half of his genetic component from his sire and half from his dam, we can estimate his EPD if we have access to pedigree performance for the various traits as follows:

Thus, to make fewest mistakes and greatest progress, progeny proven bulls with relatively high accuracy EPDs should be used Al when possible.

In selecting young sires for natural service, the best avenue is to select sons of superior, progeny-proven sires which are superior based upon non-parent EPDs and individual performance records. Groups of young sires selected in this manner are more apt to produce as expected and will cause real genetic improvement in a commercial herd.

7.4.2.3: Individual Animal Identification. Whether or not complete performance records are kept, it is highly advisable to have permanent, visible individual identification on each cow in the herd. Such can be achieved by the use of fire or freeze brands or large eartags. If eartags are used, cows should also carry a tattoo for permanent identification in the event large tags are lost. It is also highly recommended that calves be identified, preferably with the same number as their dams, at birth and that the number and birth date of each calf be recorded.

In large minimum-management herds, individual identification of all animals may not be practical. Keeping useful cow records on these operations may not require calves to be identified with their mothers. It is desirable, though, for the number on each cow to show year of birth so age can be easily identified.

In herds with cows individually identified, it is strongly recommended that a record sheet or card be kept in a loose-leaf binder or file. This cow's record should include her calving record which quickly shows calving history and production level. A complete health record on the cow may also be kept on this form. These type records may be computerized if such equipment is available.

7.4.2.4: Individual weaning and yearling weights. In commercial herds using a complete performance testing program, calves should be individually weighed and perhaps scored for condition and frame size at weaning. These weights should be taken at actual weaning between 160 to 250 days of age. Weights and scores, once recorded, should be sent to the performance organization for computation or be processed on the farm or ranch personal computer. In most cases, yearling weights will be taken only on heifers though steers may also be weighed if they are retained. Yearlings may be weighed at 12, 15 or 18 months of age with records being computed by the performance organization or on the personal computer.

In evaluating performance records, both actual weights and adjusted weights may be useful. Weight ratios are most useful for evaluating genetic merit within the herd.

7.4.2.5: Replacement female selection. Although most genetic change within a herd ultimately comes through sires, heifer selection is an important tool. In most commercial herds, due to the expense of getting a young female into production, it is desirable to select the number of replacement females based on the expected cuffing rate. Depending on available feed resources, a number in excess of that needed for replacement should be retained as replacements at weaning time. The largest heifers should be retained as replacements, whether they are larger because of greater age or better performance. If individual performance information is available, the heifers with low ratios should be discarded. Any heifers with visible unsoundness should also be culled. It is not economically justifiable to retain heifers that do not have the potential to reach puberal weight by the appropriate age under the available nutritional regime.

Selected heifers should be grown enough to be bred at 13 to 15 months of age and calve as two-year-olds. They should be exposed to bulls that will cause a minimum of calving difficulty for a 45-day period and palpated for pregnancy 60 days after the end of the breeding season. Any heifers not pregnant should be sold. First-calf heifers then should be given a severe culling based on their first calf crop weaned.

One of the largest concerns in beef herds is reproductive performance of first-calf heifers. It may be difficult to get a high percentage of first-calf heifers nursing calves, bred back for the second lactation. Management and nutrition are both critical. These young females should definitely be handled in groups separate from the mature cowherd.

The major goal of the commercial cow-calf producer is to convert available nutritional resources (primarily forage and crop residues) into pounds of calf and to sell it for a profit.

The commercial cow-calf enterprise is most often part of a total farming or ranching business and contributes to the total production and profit of that operation. Thus, the enterprise must compete for production inputs and management expertise.

BIF member organizations and other educational entities, such as the Cooperative Extension Service, have a tremendous educational job in assisting commercial cow-calf producers to: (1) match environment and genetics with the appropriate management level, and (2) to adopt and apply proven genetic principles that will more accurately allow producers to optimize production and maximize profit.