Improving Disposition In Cattle Using Docility EPDs In Selection T
F. DAVID KIRKPATRICK KNOXVILLE, TENN.
emperament reflects the ease with which animals respond to handling, treatment and
routine management. Animals with disposition problems are a safety risk to handlers, them- selves and other cattle as well as a liability for exposure for pro- ducers. Surveys of commercial
cow-calf producers rank disposition or tempera- ment as important as calving ease in selection cri- teria for bulls in their breeding programs. Heritability estimates for temperament in beef and dairy cattle have been reported to be moderate to high, indicating that selection for improved tem- perament can be effective. Cattle behavior has been shown to have an im-
pact on economically important traits in the beef industry. Research from the Tri-County Steer Car- cass Futurity Cooperative has shown a difference of $62.19 per head in net dollars returned in favor of the most docile cattle compared to the most ag- gressive cattle in the feedlot. The more aggressive cattle had, on the average, lower average daily gains, lower quality grades and a higher incidence of dark cutters. Docility Expected Progeny Differences (EPDs) is
one of the newer EPD values developed by the beef industry. It was first implemented by the North American Limousin Foundation and is now being used by the American Angus Association along with other breeds. Docility EPDs are developed from a yearling tem-
perament score submitted on an individual animal to its particular breed association. Scores should be measured while cattle are restrained with the headgate but without motion restricted by
squeeze. The docility score provided below is de- signed to subjectively evaluate differences in dis- position when animals are processed through a squeeze chute. 1. DOCILE. Mild disposition. Gentle and easily
handled. Stands and moves slowly during processing. Undisturbed, settled, some- what dull. Does not pull on headgate when in chute. Exits chute calmly. 2. RESTLESS. Quieter than
average, but may be stubborn during processing. May try to back out of chute or pull on headgate. Some flicking of tail. Exits chute promptly. 3. NERVOUS. Typical temperament is manage-
able, but nervous and impatient. A moderate amount of struggling, movement and tail flicking. Repeated pushing and pulling on headgate. Exits chute briskly. 4. FLIGHTY (Wild). Jumpy and out of control,
quivers and struggles violently. May bellow and froth at mouth. Continuous tail flicking. Defecates and urinates during processing. Frantically runs fence line and may jump when penned individu- ally. Exhibits long flight distance and exits chute wildly. 5. AGGRESSIVE. May be similar to Score 4, but
with added aggressive behavior, fearfulness, ex- treme agitation and continuous movement, which may include jumping and bellowing while in chute. Exits chute frantically and may exhibit at- tack behavior when handled alone. 6. VERY AGGRESSIVE. Extremely aggressive
temperament. Thrashes about or attacks wildly when confined in small tight places. Pronounced attack behavior. The four categories used in developing Docility EPDs were Docile (Score 1), Restless (Score 2), Nervous (Score 3) and the combined Flighty, Aggres- sive and Very Aggressive group (Scores 4, 5 and 6). The Docility EPD is pre-
and other cattle as well as a liability for exposure for producers.
problems are a safety risk to handlers, themselves
Animals with disposition
sented as a percentage, where a higher value is considered more favorable in terms of docile tem- perament. Docility EPDs can be used as a part of a com-
plete selection program in the event that a breeder needs to make improvement in a cattle herd’s temperament. For example, suppose you are experiencing
temperament
problems in your herd and wanted to make improvement in that trait. You have selected two different bulls that excel in other traits of importance to your herd and want to make sure you might not increase temperament problems. Be sure
to evaluate those two bulls’ Docility EPD. For example, bull 1 has a Docility EPD of 25 and
bull 2 has a Docility EPD of 10, for a difference of 15 percentage points between the two (25-10=15). On average, assuming the two bulls were mated to comparable set of females, one would expect 15 more calves out of 100 sired by bull 1 to have a temperament in the most docile score compared with calves sired by bull 2. If the two bulls were similar in the other traits of importance to your herd, bull 1 would be the most prudent choice. If producers were not comparing two different
bulls and wanted to make sure that they were not bordering on increasing temperament problems in the herd by the single bull they were considering, it would be wise to compare that bull’s Docility EPD with the breed average Docility EPD to deter- mine where that bull ranks within the breed from the standpoint of temperament. The current breed average EPDs for Docility are shown below. Just like EPDs for other traits, you can use Docility EPDs to rank animals within a breed but not be- tween breeds. Docility EPDs (Spring 2011) Avg. Range Limousin (Current sires) +14.8 -26 to +45 Angus (Current sires) +9 -32 to +42 Limousin (non-parent) +16.4 Angus (non-parent males) +10
∆
DR. F. DAVID KIRKPATRICK: Professor/Extension Beef Cattle Specialist, University of Tennessee
2011-12 Certified Livestock Manager CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS PAGE Location: DeKalb County Farm Bu-
reau Building, 1350 W. Prairie Drive, Sycamore, IL. For directions go to http://web.ex-
tension.illinois.edu/bdo/findus.html or call the DeKalb County Extension Office at (815) 758-8194. Registra- tion will start at 8:30 am and the workshop presentations will begin at 8:50 am. Participants arriving after 9:20 am cannot be certified for at- tending the workshop. The Illinois Department of Agriculture written exam will be offered at 1:00 pm. • February 21, 2012, Mt. Carroll, IL.
THIS WORKSHOP HAS A SWINE EM- PHASIS. Location: Carroll County Farm Bu-
reau Building, Rt 64 & Rt 78, 811 S. Clay Street, Mt Carroll, IL. For direc- tions contact the Extension Office at (815) 835-2070. This workshop will primarily be aimed at swine produc- ers with examples and discussion, but is open to ALL producers. Regis- tration will start at 8:30 am and the workshop presentations will begin at 8:50 am. Participants arriving after 9:20 am cannot be certified for at- tending the workshop. The Illinois Department of Agriculture written exam will be offered at 1:00 pm.
• February 22, 2012, Freeport, IL. THIS WORKSHOP
HAS A
BEEF/DAIRY EMPHASIS. Location: Stephenson County Farm
Bureau Building, 210 W. Spring Street, Freeport, IL. For directions call Stephenson
County Extension Office at (815) 235- 4125. This workshop will primarily be aimed at beef/dairy producers with examples and discussion, but is open to ALL producers. Registration will start at 9:30 am and the work- shop presentations begin at 9:50 am. Participants arriving after 10:20 am cannot be certified for attending the workshop. The Illinois Department of Agriculture written exam will be of- fered at 2:00 pm. • March 7, 2012, Springfield, IL. Location: Illinois Department of
Agriculture Building, Auditorium, Illi- nois State Fairgrounds, South Gate, Springfield, Illinois. For directions call the Sangamon County Extension Office at (217) 782-4617. Registration will start at 8:30 am and the work- shop presentations begin at 8:50 am. Participants arriving after 9:20 am cannot be certified for attending the workshop. The IL Department of Agri- culture written exam will be offered at 1:00 pm.
∆ October 21, 2011 / MidAmerica Farmer Grower • 31
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