In beef production, genetics play a critical role in both management and profitability. Regardless of the size of your operation or whether you are a commercial or purebred breeder, keeping records is an important part of managing your herd genetics. “Without accurate records you have no way of knowing whether or not your herd is improving or if you are simply going in circles,” explains Karin Schmid, Beef Production and Extension Lead with Alberta Beef Producers.
Today, producers are flooded with information as genetic tools and prediction accuracies are continuously improving. With all this information, it can be overwhelming to turn knowledge into breeding decisions that meet specific operational goals.
Keeping records to track genetic improvements
How can genetic selection help me achieve my farm goals? Which breeding system is right for my operation? What records do I keep? How do I use these records?
Collecting, maintaining and analyzing records takes a commitment, but the payoff is worth it.
It’s not enough to know which data to collect, you have to know how to use it. To assist producers with this process, the Beef Cattle Research Council (BCRC), in partnership with the Canadian Beef Breeds Council, Alberta Beef Producers, Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture, Maritime Beef Test Station and the University of Guelph, launched a free Records for Tracking Genetic Improvements email course in February 2024. A new updated version was recently released in November 2024.
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