SANTA GERTRUDIS SECTION
We have to continue to make the right genetic deci- sions going forward and make sure that the product aligns with what the industry needs,” Jorgenson says. Using those tools is made easier for Santa Gertrudis
breeders through a partnership with Brad Wright of Ranch Hand Analytics LLC, a service company that assists ranchers with data collection, recordation and analysis, to improve their cattle and ranch profi tabil- ity. Wright works with a number of Santa Gertrudis breeders to maintain and assist in production record- keeping, as well as utilizing production records and genetic information after analysis by SGBI. “Santa Gertrudis breeders have been very progres-
sive in using genomic-enhanced EPDs. They are also very receptive to my services because they understand the need to get on top of their recordkeeping systems. It’s a lot easier to stay current than it is to get current on records,” Wright says. Now that prices have leveled off and the record prof-
sound information leads to decisions with predictable results. SGBI has developed and will continue to develop tools that assist commercial cattlemen and seedstock producers in making sound management decisions,” Strait concludes.
The Santa Gertrudis of the future Jorgenson brings a unique perspective to the Santa
Gertrudis breed, having managed feedlots and feeding operations in Montana, Nebraska and the Dakotas for years before coming to King Ranch. He is a big sup- porter of genomics and industry tools that combine science with the art of beef production. “There are still a lot of environmental and manage-
ment factors that come into play that will not allow genomics to trump everything else. Cattle still have to go out and work and produce a calf and make it. That is the nice thing about multiple-trait selection — the genomics are there but the phenotypes are a valida- tion of the genotype, and vice versa. They work hand in hand,” Jorgenson says. “We simply must use the tools we have to breed bet- ter cattle. That will be the critical component to this.
Cattle still have to go out and work and produce a calf and make it.
62 The Cattleman June 2016
itability in the cattle industry of the past few years is settling, Wright feels that the demand for cattle with strong EPD and genetic profi les will increase. “The value separation will increase on cattle and
bulls with genomic-enhanced EPDs due to the increases in accuracy that these cattle offer to the customer. Everyone will reap the rewards of the efforts put into the data, information and accuracy increases of the past few years,” Wright says.
Santa Gertrudis versatility The ability to use cutting-edge selection tools and
take advantage of heterosis ensures profi tability. Santa Gertrudis is a compatible cross with a wide variety of breeds and the Santa Gertrudis and Santa Gertrudis F1 female excel in the traits of longevity, stayability, calving ease and early breed-back. While cow fertility and reproduction have the great-
est impact on a beef producer’s bottom line, those traits are, unfortunately, lowly heritable. The good news is that these are traits that gain the most from crossbreed- ing heterosis, making the Santa Gertrudis F1 female even more appealing. Confi rming the value of the Santa Gertrudis F1
female, a panel of 12 commercial cattlemen named Santa Gertrudis F1s the top pen of females 2 years in a row at the San Antonio Livestock Exposition Bull and Commercial Female Sale. “I think this supports claims that the Santa Gertrudis F1 is the female of choice with commercial cow-calf operators,” Ford says. According to Ford, the Santa Gertrudis genetic
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