Genetics are the point of the arrow when it comes to the livestock industry. Although genetics are of equal importance to disciplines such as herd management, nutrition, animal health, marketing, forages, record keeping and Human Resources, genetics remain the prime mover.
As the last link in the value chain, the consumer being the first link, genetics determine how the rest of the value chain flourishes or fails.
It is the duty of the seedstock producer to act as a scientist with their ranch or farm being their laboratory. By adapting theirgenetics to the particular environment, resources and objectives they're dealing with, the seedstock producer experiments, invents and proves or disproves genetics.
There are an abundance of selection tools available to cattle breeders. These tools vary from traditional to cutting edge and are all used to differing degrees within both the beef and dairy industries.
The selection tools I'll discuss in this article include phenotype, pedigree, in-herd indexes, Production Based Culling, EBVs/EPDs, and Genomics/ Genomic enhanced EPDs.
