NCERA_OLD199: Implementation and Strategies for National Beef Cattle Evaluation
Statement of Issues and Justification
The U. S. beef industry, made up of distinct segments with multiple profit centers and competition among segments, presents unique problems in developing strategies for genetic improvement. Furthermore because genetic improvement is accomplished almost entirely through the efforts of independent breeders - versus breeding companies in poultry and swine; AI studs in dairy - there is no integrated system for genetic improvement nor distinct apparent breeding goals for beef cattle. Consequently national genetic evaluation programs sponsored by breed associations have become the foundation for beef genetic improvement. The development of National Cattle Evaluation (NCE) systems - collection, analysis, interpretation and dissemination of genetic information, now involving all significant breeds, has been accomplished because breed associations pay a significant portion of the research and analysis costs via contracts with land-grant universities. (They also bear all the cost of data collection.) Also supporting NCE innovations is research from a much broader network of scientists at other universities and USDA. Results are distributed - usually biannually - to the industry via the beef breed associations. Technology adoption is exceedingly quick. The potential of this technology is enhanced through the outreach programs of research/education personnel at the breed associations and extension specialists at universities.The industry considers the NCE programs to be very successful as evidenced by the widespread use of the genetic information by the registered seedstock and commercial industries. Due to the national cattle evaluations, all breeds with developed programs have demonstrated genetic trends over time. Many of these breed associations are finding it difficult to continue such funding at the same time that demand for expanded information from industry stakeholders is growing. Therefore, close coordination among researchers and breed associations is increasingly important. This cooperation will maximize adoption of innovative applications and technologies and will minimize costs by reducing unnecessary duplication of effort.
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