Page 6 - Mcfadzean Yearling 2021
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McFadzean Cattle
The bulls
We selected 50 bulls out of 540 calves, the remainder being sold as weaners. The bulls were picked on structure and muscling, they were not necessarily the biggest calves. We identified the bulls that we would be happy to use ourselves.
DNA testing
All bull calves were DNA recorded at tagging in January.
Potential sale bulls were selected late February while still on their mothers.
Heifer mating
We do not recommend that these bulls be mated with yearlings. At this point we do not have enough recorded information to guarantee birth weight and ease of calving enabling bulls to be sold as suitable for mating with yearling heifers.
Information with each Meat Maker bull
Weaning weight (WW) - An indication of the calf’s ability to grow and the cows milking ability.
Cow efficiency – Weaning weight percentage is weight of calf at weaning divided by cow’s weight at weaning
Yearling weight (YW) - A true indication of the bull’s ability to grow.
Daily weight gain (DWG) - The average daily weight gain achieved by the bull from weaning to yearling.
Scanning data as at 5/8/2021
Eye muscle area (EMA) – An indication of muscling in animal.
More positive numbers indicate better muscling on animals.
Rib fat (RF) - A measurement at the 12-13th rib, more positive numbers indicate more subcutaneous fat and earlier maturity.
Rump Fat (P8 Fat) – A measurement at the P8 site, more positive numbers indicate more subcutaneous fat and earlier maturity
Intramuscular Fat (IMF) - A measurement of marbling through the meat, more positive numbers indicate a greater degree of marbling through the carcass. Marbling scores range between 1 and 8 with 8 being extremely high.
‘The above data for each bull measures the key traits that will influence the productivity of the bull’s offspring in a commercial situation’
Company Breeding
objectives
The cow herd is the foundation of a breeding operation.
At Glenbrae
ü We have mated yearling heifers for nearly 40 years. ü Any yearlings that do not get in calf are culled.
ü Any cows that do not rear calves are culled.
ü Any cows that rear substandard calves are culled. ü All cattle culled on temperament.
Criteria when purchasing sire bulls:
Top EBV’s Growth
Fertility
Milk
Smooth shoulder
Good EMA
Width and muscle through the loins Length from hip to pin
Temperament
Positive fats
Good IMF
The key ingredient is being consistent when purchasing new sires each year and using the same criteria for both breeds.
We endeavor to purchase the bulls that fulfill our criteria. We have paid up to $20,000.00 for individual bulls and spend around $100,000.00 on bulls annually.
Not all bulls prove successful, and no matter what we have paid they will be culled if they do not perform.
Maternal or terminal?
The cows are bred to be successful maternally. Cows that do not rear good calves are culled.
Bulls with a greater percentage of Angus will have a positive effect on calf size, milk production and muscling, without being detrimental to the cow’s constitution.
Bulls with a greater percentage of Simmental will have a substantial effect on calf size, growth and muscling, but if replacements are kept the cows will be a little bigger and heavier.
Recently a visiting Canadian Angus breeder told us that Angus cattle with varying degrees of Simmental in them are fetching premiums across Canada.
MCFADZEAN MEAT-MAKER
6 YEARLING BULL SALE
