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Goals
1. Prove value of Simmental / Simbrah carcass traits.
2. Identify sires with superior carcass genetics for ultimate breed improvement.
3. Cooperative commercial/feedlot/packer project.
Details
- Your bull will be tested for carcass traits genetics, i.e. Marbling, %Retail Cuts, Carcass Weight, by matings for carcass contemporary groups in one of the commercial test herds cooperating with ASA.
- At least one known carcass reference sire will be included as a benchmark for the test bulls in your commercial group.
- Most commercial cooperators will randomly mate 200-600 commercial cows at once or over a short period to make up our test groups.
- Data collected at slaughter will be used for the calculation of carcass EPD's and increasing EPD accuracies.
- Procedures for all phases of the project are designed to maximize the quality, accuracy and ultimate value of the carcass data.
Benefits
- Knowledge of carcass value genetics for sire selection and consistent genetic progress both for your herd and the Simmental/Simbrah breeds.
- ASA staff is responsible for coordination, standardization, collection and validation of data on all sires, thus maximizing the validity and value of information.
Cooperative efforts with some of the best and largest commercial herds across the country.
- Production data collection when possible including feedlot performance.
Programs and Costs
- Bull owner/owner's provides the test cost+units of semen required for particular test.
- Your test cost provides synchronization materials, A.I. service, reference sire semen, calf identification, blood typing for sire verification if necessary, incentives for terminal commercial projects, calf feedlot follow through, carcass data collection and processing.
OPTION 1
$3000 test costs and 60 units of semen
- Approximately 20-30 slaughter progeny on your bull and reference sire.
- Reference sire status for you bull at project completion.
- Priority into terminal commercial herd situations when available.
OPTION 2
$1500 test costs and 60 units of semen
- Your bull must qualify as one of the top 25 registry sires.
- Other details are the same as Program #1
OPTION 3
$1500 test costs and 30 units of semen
- 10-15 slaughter progeny per sire.
- May be ideal to sample young potentially influential sires.
- Results in lower accuracy than option #1 and may not qualify a young sire for reference sire status.
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To promote the ASA Carcass Merit Program, ASA has launched a new video spotlighting the carcass merit herds: Stuart Land and Cattle, Rosedale, VA; E.L. Peterson Ranch, Judith Gap, MT; the Bair Ranch Foundation Ranch, Martinsdale, MT; and the Wang Ranch in Wibaux, MT. ASA Intern Alena Ogg worked tirelessly to coordinate efforts to have the new video available for the opening BIF reception. The video was well received and we are proud to share it with you. Click here 