Opportunities come along once in a while.  Some  will  see  the  opportunity  before  it  happens  and  most, will  say, “I should have got into that before it happened.”   A  good  opportunity  may  arise in  the  cattle  industry  by  having  struggles,  market  changes and timing of a good solution.

It is a very good time for purebred cattleman and top commercial cattleman to take a good look down the road for the next five years and plan for their future. If you are a cattle producer you are always looking for a way to make money in the cattle business.

The purebred industry relies totally on the demands of commercial cattleman. The commercial cattlemen buy the bulls that keep the purebred producer alive.

The big demand in the cattle industry in the last stretch of years has gone from breeding terminal breeds to using maternal breeds as the main herd sires. This has been a full pendulum swing. For  the  first  while,  breeding  in  this  direction will still give hybrid  vigour,  but  by continuously  breeding one  direction,  the  vigour depletes along  with weaning weights.  For the commercial producer, heavy weaning weights are very important especially when you combine them with a market that is not very strong. Also the owners of feedlot cattle like to see their cattle grow.

Cattlemen have come to like the maternal traits as they are highly important in their operation.  These cattlemen have also found over the years, that crossbreeding is one of the quickest ways to add hybrid vigour and to put more pounds back on their weaning weights.

What is needed in the cattle industry today and the next few years, is a breed of cattle that are in the middle of the road.  A maternal based breed will keep those maternal traits and also have the ability to cross well with other breeds. This breed must have excellent weaning weights, with the ability to go to the feedlot and make money for its new owner.

Here is your opportunity. What I have just described to you are the traits of the   Gelbvieh breed. Gelbvieh cattle fit the needs of cattle producers today.

I have been watching the Gelbvieh breed grow over the last 20 years. A fellow once told me that the Gelbvieh breed is a slow burning breed.  No big investors really got them off the ground like the earlier breeds that came from Europe. Gelbvieh have progressed along at a steady pace on the merit of its traits and the enthusiasm of the cattlemen who use them.

Over the years Gelbvieh has gone from a breed that people didn’t know much about, to now where great respect is growing for the breed.

This respect is building, throughout the livestock sector. Not only cattlemen but livestock sales yards, feedlots, Hutterite Colonies, embryo transplant centers, and the industries media are all recognizing Gelbvieh.

The opportunity will come to the cattlemen who take a serious look into the Gelbvieh breed. Cattlemen with a good eye for cattle should go and check out the purebred Gelbvieh cattle on the established breeders farms, go to the Gelbvieh Bull &  Female sales, and also check out the quality of Gelbvieh that are at  the purebred cattle  shows.  By going to these places you can investigate for yourself. Ask the question, “Why do these people like Gelbvieh?”  Find out the reasons cattlemen are looking to put Gelbvieh into their programs for the very first time.

The quality of the Gelbvieh breed is improving every year. The Gelbvieh Associations are very progressive and are looking for new ways to promote the breed.  The best promotion of all is when you hear industry leaders and cattlemen talking:

      “I am pleased with the way my Gelbvieh calves grow, since I got my Gelbvieh herd. I don’t chase my cows I call them. They are sure nice to handle.

“I was very impressed with the Gelbvieh calves in the Gelbvieh feeder calf sale.  This year we had liner loads of good ones. Those Gelbvieh steers were the big boys!”

 “I got into Gelbvieh after seeing my neighbour’s Gelbvieh calves over the fence.”

“I am stopping the sale for the moment; I invite the crowd to take a good look at these good strong topped Gelbvieh steers.”

“You know as bad as the market was in the fall of 2007 my Gelbvieh steers still averaged $700.00 each.”

“If you like big strapping calves in the fall, buy these Gelbvieh cross cows bred Gelbvieh.”

Talk like this spreads through the coffee shops neighbours to neighbours, and at Gelbvieh calf sales. The Gelbvieh Breed is ready for today’s livestock industry.

Gelbvieh genetics will really help the commercial cattlemen. They cross very well with the major breeds in Canada. Gelbvieh genetics will help boost weaning weights and they will go on and work well in the feedlots. Gelbvieh is the maternal based breed that is made to order for today’s market place.

          As a business minded cattleman, you can see that if only 10% of the commercial cattlemen in the country decide to use Gelbvieh, the demand   would be stronger than the number of Gelbvieh bulls available. More Gelbvieh bulls will be needed. Prices will be at a premium. Can you see a good opportunity here?

Investigate the Gelbvieh breed. Visit the Gelbvieh breeders and go to the Gelbvieh sales.  Purchase some top quality Gelbvieh females and get your purebred Gelbvieh herd established.  If you have purebred Gelbvieh, when the demand hits, your opportunity, will be fulfilled. 

 “OPPORTUNITY IS KNOCKING”

The Gelbvieh Breed’s Turn Is Just Around the Corner.

 Wade Davidson

Ponteix, Sask.

Director: The Man- Sask Gelbvieh Association

If you have just bought, or do not yet own, a registered Gelbvieh cow and plan to start your own registered herd from scratch, here are some tips that can help you avoid costly mistakes.

• Decide what kind and quality of cattle you want before you buy. It will be much easier if you have already established what lines of Gelbvieh genetics you want, what range of EPDs you will accept for various traits, and even what price range you are willing to pay, before you make a purchase or further purchases.

• Understand the terms and conditions of sale thoroughly before you buy registered Gelbvieh. Suggested terms and conditions are included in the CGA's Sale Code of Ethics.

• Instruct the seller or sale manager how to transfer the registration papers to you. You will want them in the name you plan to use as a member of the Canadian Gelbvieh Association (CGA). For example, if your membership name is "Jones Gelbvieh Farm", then do not have the papers transferred to "J.J. Jones".

• Check the ear tattoos of each animal you buy. They must match the tattoos on the registration certificate or those listed in the sale catalogue. Check them again when the new registration certificates are received. Every registered animal must be tattooed. Tattoos permanently tie the animal to its registered certificate.

• Contact the seller if you fail to receive the transferred certificates within 60 days after purchase.

• Be conscious of animal health and all regulations. Obtain vaccination certificates for all animals represented to have been calfhood vaccinated. Keep newly purchased animals separate from the rest of your herd for two weeks.

• Join the CGA. Applications are available from the Association. You will receive the Gelbvieh Guide with your regular membership.

• Keep accurate records from the start. Permanently record ear tag numbers, breeding dates, calving dates, tattoos and parentage of all animals.

• Identify all calves at birth with an ear tag / or tattoo. Calves must be tattooed before they can be registered.

• Enter your calves into the Association computer as soon after birth as you can. Forms for this purpose are available from the Association.

• When selling an animal and transferring the certificate to the buyer, the application on the back of the certificate must be completed and signed by the seller. Mail applications for transfer to the CGA office.

• If you have problems or questions regarding registrations, transfer or memberships contact the CGA office.

New Gelbvieh EPDs User Friendly for Commercial Producers

The new Gelbvieh EPD base is a blended-breed base that reflects the typical commercial animal. Cattle producers can now more readily see the value of Gelbvieh genetics.

Two components comprise the Gelbvieh EPD base modification. These include moving to a blended-breed base and the establishment of a foundation Gelbvieh sire base.

The new blended-breed base was developed from the 1997 Meat Animal Research Center (MARC) across breed EPD adjustment factors. In the United States many commercial cows are crossbred and include some Continental breeding, some British breeding, and some bos indicus (Brahman) influence. The blended base can be thought of as representing an animal that is 25% Gelbvieh, 25% Angus, 25% Hereford, and 25% Brahman.

In addition, a foundation Gelbvieh sire base was established. This foundation sire group represents a fixed genetic base from which all genetic progress in the Gelbvieh breed can be measured. Fifty-seven Gelbvieh bulls born prior to 1974 who have a Weaning Weight EPD Accuracy of 0.65 or greater were selected. The EPDs of these bulls were forced to average zero prior to blended-base adjustments for all traits except Calving Ease and Daughters Calving ease, which were forced to average 100.

It is important to realize that the difference between the EPDs of two Gelbvieh animals will remain exactly the same under the new base as under the traditional base. The adjustments that resulted in the new base affect only the numeric value of the EPDs.

It will take some time and practice to become familiar with the new EPDs. But there is a way to jump-start your understanding of the new numbers. All you need to do is memorize: 3 30 60 and 15. Learn these four numbers, and you'll have no problem interpreting any Gelbvieh animal's EPDs. Here's how it works1/4

3 is for Birth Weight EPD. If you're looking to stay near or below breed average on birth weight, your reference point is a birth weight EPD of +3 pounds. Animals significantly below 3 for birth weight will be below breed average. The further below 3 you go, the further you are below breed average for birth weight.

Animals with birth weight EPDs above 3 are above breed average. If they are very far above 3, they're likely to produce heavy birth weights.

EPDs are an excellent tool for commercial producers to use in evaluating bulls to use in their programs. EPDs give a more accurate idea of how each bull's progeny will perform. Remember 3-30-60-15 and you are on the way to understanding the new Gelbvieh EPDs.

(Gelbvieh World February 1999)

ET Embryo Transfer

Dam of Merit* An asterisk (*) appearing on the pedigree signifies a Dam of Merit (DOM). One * represents 1 year for which she was a DOM. A measure of longevity, fertility and productivity, a dam of merit must meet the following criteria: Calve before 24 months, wean a live calf each year and breed back to have a calf within a 365 day period and have a weaning weights on these calves that ratio at 100 or higher. She will be four years old before she is eligible.

EPD Expected Progeny Differences are calculations based on performance records submitted on each animal and compared to that of their relatives and their progeny in all international Gelbvieh herds in order to measure the genetic potential of the animal without the influence of management and environment. New EPD’s are generated twice each year incorporating new data supplied by the breeders.

ACC Accuracy is a estimate of the confidence that can be assigned to an EPD. The more data that have been submitted on this animal, his relatives and especially progeny, the more reliable the EPD becomes. For example, .90 or greater would be considered extremely accurate (seen in AI sires with hundreds of progeny in many herds). On the other hand, a yearling bulls EPD accuracy is based entirely on the EPD's of his parents, siblings or other relatives and is rather low. This value would be influenced by the accuracy associated with their parents and siblings (An AI sire with high accuracy EPD’s would be very predictable and contribute to a greater level of confidence (accuracy) in the expected performance of his progeny. Even though the accuracy of EPD’s from animals without progeny are relatively low, they are considerably more accurate than performance data alone. Birth weight and weaning weight measures actual performance within the herd they reside in for that moment in time. These factors are influenced by management, environment and a limited genetic pool. Ratios are more accurate as they compare one animal against pen mates that you assume all had the same treatment. EPD’s go a step further by taking ratios and comparing them against records of progeny and relatives in other herds and over as many years as new data are supplied.

CE Calving Ease EPD A measure of the ease in which this animals calves are born. This EPD would be influenced by the shape of the calf as well as the ability of the dam to calve easily (including the shape and size of the dam’s pelvis)

BW Birth weight EPD is an important indicator of calving ease and reflects the size of calf expected relative to another calf.

WW Weaning weight EPD A measure of a calf’s performance up to the time of weaning.

YW Yearling weight EPD A measure of a calf’s performance after weaning to 365 days.

M Milk EPD reflects the milking ability inherited .

TM Total maternal EPD In recognition of the fact that there are two main influences on a calf’s performance up to weaning, maternal effects (the direct maternal ability of a cow to produce milk) and genetic effects (the expression of the calf’s genes inherited from both dam and sire), the Total Maternal EPD is calculated using 1/2 the WW added to the Milk EPD and has no accuracy associated with it directly.

GL Gestational Length EPD is a estimate of the length of gestation. The Gelbvieh average is considered to be 287 days. Some calves tend to be born earlier, some later and this tendency can be inherited. Earlier may be desirable in order to reduce the birth weight. Calves can gain several pounds a day in utero.

SC Scrotal Circumferance EPD is a relatively new addition and as a result somewhat less accurate until more data accumulates on more animals. Size of testicles, as estimated by measuring scrotal circumferance, is considered to be an important indicator of both male fertility (serving capacity) and female fertility (daughters of bulls with larger testicles tend to mature earlier). Testicle size is an inherited trait and, therefore, another useful tool to evaluate fertility.

Carcass EPD’s These are EPD’s which can be used to identify seedstock with superior carcass traits. CW Carcass Weight, RE Rib Eye Area, M Marbling and F Fat.

WW Adj 205 Weaning weight adjusted measured between 160 and 240 days and adjusted to 205 days. CGA also adjusts WW to reflect the level of performance expected for the age of the dam.

BW% Birth weight of calf as a percent of dam weight. 7% is the commonly accepted average across breeds. Using this figure calves from cows that weight 1000, 1500 and 2000 lbs would be 70, 105 and 140 lbs respectively. In choosing a bull for heifers, a BW% of less than 7% would be desirable although the shape of the bull is also important. Overall, we use numbers to help us choose the bull that produces the largest calf that can be born safely to maximize the two major economic factors of calving ease and performance.

CW or MW Current Weight or Mature Weight. Current Weight represents actual weight on last date weighed. Mature weight is used for animals greater than 3 years where available.

% Gelbvieh The Canadian Gelbvieh Association has a program in place for breeding up registered percentage animals to purebred status. Once they qualify the are considered to be 100% for calculations.

Gelbvieh (pronounced gelp-fee)or yellow cattle were developed in the three Franconian districts of the Northern Bavaria region of Germany in the early 19th century. The "red-yellow Franconian cattle" were developed from several local strains including the Celtic-German Landrace and Heil-Brown cattle. Thus, with stringent sire testing and planned mating programs, Gelbvieh were moulded into a superior dual purpose animal for beef and milk production.

Starting in 1850, systemic breeding work began in stud herds. These local strains have been further improved with intensive breeding work since 1870.

Several societies for improving the breeding of cattle were formed. They aimed to select the best bulls for traits such as single color, fitness, and milk production. In 1887 the breed society for Yellow Fanconia Cattle for middle and upper Fanconia in Nurnberg was founded. It was followed by the breed society for Gelbvieh in lower Fanconia, based in Wurzburg and founded in 1889.

Since WW II , Germany has used a stringent selection program to repopulate its cattle herds. Only 3% of the registered cows were used to provide bulls. These cows were selected on structural soundness and conformation. In the 1960's Red Danish cattle were introduced to the herd book to improve milk production.

Gelbvieh were selected for carcass traits: length of loin, leanness, early growth and maturity. In Europe, there were far fewer cattle per farm unit and close contact with farm animals ensured that docility and longevity were also part of this formula. All of this, in a golden brown, totally pigmented animal with dark hooves and genitalia. (Pigmentation is a trait which is now believed to reduce problems associated with soft hooves, sunburned udders and cancer eye.) Gelbvieh animals also adapt to most range or climatic conditions.

In addition, Gelbvieh were required to have outstanding maternal traits: fertility, excellent mothering instincts, good udders and prolific milk production. Gelbvieh females meet these requirements and excel in early puberty, quick re-breeding, high milk production, well-developed, structurally correct udders with pigmented teats, strong legs and feet to give them longevity. They will produce a live calf with minimum calving difficulty, and produce high weaning weights every year.

In 1972, the first Gelbvieh genetics were imported into Canada when the Gelbvieh bull, Flag (CGA No. 1) arrived from Germany.

Gelbvieh are currently the sixth largest beef breed in Canada, registering over 3,500 head of animals annually with more than 300 active members in the Canadian Gelbvieh Association.

Suppose you wanted to show your neighbor that EPDs can be used effectively in small herds. To prove this point, you plan to breed a group of yearling Gelbvieh heifers to one HIGH birth weight EPD sire and one LOW birth weight EPD sire. The objective of your experiment is to breed enough heifers to produce 10 bull calves from each sire. You will then show him the birth weight difference between the two sire groups. Two proven Gelbvieh A.I. sires are chosen for your experiment: Mr. 709R "Doc" as the high birth weight sire (+4.5 BW EPD) Mr. Sensation 506S as the low birth weight sire (-3.8 BW EPD).

You could find the needed heifers, breed them, and wait nearly a year for the results. Or, you could utilize the AGA database and simulate the experiment using actual data from hundreds of heifers that had calves in the past by these sires. AGA has birth weight records on 253 first-calf heifers that produced Doc-sired bull calves. The database also contains 554 heifers that had bull calves sired by Mr. Sensation.

It's much faster and less expensive to use the AGA database, so you decide to go that route. Your neighbor agrees that randomly selecting 10 bull calves from each sire's data pool will prove (or disprove) the usefulness of EPDs in small groups of cattle. The selections must be made randomly from within the available birth weight data. However, with this condition met, results of this "virtual experiment" should reflect what would happen if the test was actually conducted on a group of Gelbvieh heifers.

Results Show Large Birth Weight Difference

The accompanying table shows actual birth weights on 20 bull calves (10 from each sire) that were randomly selected from available AGA data. As expected, most of the birth weight difference between the sire groups was caused by sire genetics. Dams of these bull calves had very similar BW EPDs on average. And remember, all of these bull calves were born to first calf-heifers, so calving difficulty would be expected to accompany the heavier birth weights.

Randomly Selected Bull Calf Birth Weights* (lbs.)

*All calves were born to first calf-heifers.

As it turns out, there was a 12 pound difference in birth weight between the two sire groups. This is somewhat larger than expected, given the difference in the two sires' BW EPDs (8.3 pounds). Keep in mind, however, that the small sample size (10 head per sire) provides limited opportunity for precise genetic expression.

Most importantly, your neighbor is now convinced that EPDs do work. After seeing the results of this experiment, it is clear to him that Doc, on average, sires significantly heavier calves than Mr. Sensation, just as their BW EPDs predicted. Birth weights are highly variable, because they are subject to many non-genetic influences (such as weather, plane of nutrition, etc...). Even so, EPDs are good predictors of group performance, even within fairly small groups of cattle. Your neighbor has now seen this first hand. The virtual experiment was a real success. And it sure was a lot easier calving those heifers on paper!

(Gelbvieh World, December, 1998)

By Tom Brink, AGA Executive Director

As the industry has moved the direction of value-based marketing over the past decade, commercial producers have been putting more emphasis on carcass traits. Exactly how much emphasis to place on carcass traits is one of the dilemmas facing producers. However, a second dilemma that producers face is determining which carcass traits to place the emphasis on. Should producers have to choose between Yield Grade and Quality Grade or is there a way to get adequate levels of both while maximizing profit potential?

Under current value-based fed cattle marketing agreements, cattle producers are rewarded for producing cattle that are above average in marbling and lean yield, and have no out-of-bounds carcass weights. Having a good balance of marbling AND lean yield is the key, according to Gelbvieh Alliance data. Gelbvieh Alliance data indicates that cattle with a balance of marbling and yield earn $19.00 more in premiums per head, on average, than cattle extremely high in marbling/low in lean yield or extremely high in lean yield/low in marbling.

If a cow/calf producer focuses on maximizing marbling, generally yield will suffer. An attainable target that most commercial cattle producers should aim for is 70% Choice or better, 70% Yield Grade 1 & 2s, and 0% out cattle, while keeping carcass weight at an acceptable level.

So, how do commercial producers reach this 70-70-0 goal? Crossing breeds of cattle that compliment each other in terms of marbling, fat, and muscle is the first step. The current differences in biological types (breeds) available to commercial cattle producers provide them with a powerful tool for genetic improvement. Gelbvieh Alliance data shows that different biological types have different strengths and weaknesses when hanging in the packing plant.

Crossing heavily British cattle with Continental breeds and highly Continental cattle with a British breed produces calves that should be balanced in terms of marbling and muscling. After taking advantage of as much breed effect as possible in a crossbreeding program, the use of carcass EPDs could assist cattlemen in reaching the 70-70-0 goal. In most situations cow-calf producers should take advantage of the strengths and weaknesses associated with the different breed biotypes before relying too heavily on carcass EPDs.

By balancing British and Continental biological types in a crossbreeding program, cattle producers maximize hybrid vigor and produce calves that will be balanced from a quality grade and yield grade standpoint. To maximize their returns in the packing plant producers do not need to make a choice between muscling and marbling; they need to choose both. By developing crossbreeding programs that take advantage of the strengths and weaknesses of breed biotypes, and using carcass EPDs properly, cow-calf producers can "have their cake and eat it too" when it comes to carcass traits.

(Gelbvieh World, April 2000)

By Surcy Peoples, AGA Director of Commercial Marketing

Every Gelbvieh breeder should develop a good working knowledge of Gelbvieh carcass characteristics. When a potential bull buyer asks about Gelbvieh carcasses, an accurate response will go a long way toward making a sale. Effectively communicating the strengths of your cattle---and the Gelbvieh breed---is an important aspect of seedstock marketing.

Gelbvieh excel in several important carcass traits, which should be relayed to both current and potential customers. Gelbvieh have a reputation for being a lean and muscular breed, with excellent growth rates. These core traits are clearly seen when Gelbvieh carcasses hang on the packer's rail. Gelbvieh carcasses are leaner and more muscular than average, with more pounds of saleable beef.

Carcass Weight. Pounds are what we sell in the beef business, so the importance of carcass weight should never be underestimated. Pounds create dollars, and Gelbvieh are excellent pound-makers. Gelbvieh have a significant carcass weight advantage because of their rapid growth rate and somewhat above-average size.  Gelbvieh-sired animals averaged almost two months younger at slaughter, which puts them at a significant weight disadvantage compared to other Alliance cattle. Despite this age difference, Gelbvieh carcasses still weighed more than the average Alliance carcass. This makes a strong statement for Gelbvieh's ability to create added value through added weight. Extra pounds are a documented strength of the breed.

Yield Grade 1s & 2s. Every beef carcass has three primary components: muscle, fat and bone. Fat and bone aren't worth much. It's the muscle (meat) that gives a carcass its value. Yield Grade 1 and Yield Grade 2 carcasses have significantly more muscle and less fat than Yield Grade 3s and 4s. Thus, it is desirable to have a high percentage of Yield Grade 1s and 2s.

Gelbvieh are lean and muscular, and they consistently produce a high percentage of Yield Grade 1s and 2s. Ultrasound data reveals that yearling Gelbvieh bulls have 1.0 to 2.0 square inches more ribeye area and one-tenth inch less backfat (on average) when compared to British-breed bulls at the same age. Like the other Continental breeds, Gelbvieh produce carcasses with high red-meat yields.

Choice and Prime Quality Grades. Breeds like Gelbvieh that excel in leanness aren't typically high in marbling (intra-muscular fat). Marbling is the primary factor that determines quality grade. As a result, these breeds produce fewer Choice and Prime carcasses.

Gelbvieh quality grades are similar to those seen in other Continental breeds. Choice and Prime percentages averaged from 37% to 49% in the Charolais, Limousin, Simmental and Salers breeds, based on Gelbvieh Alliance data. The overall average for all Continental breeds is 44% Choice and Prime. Thus, Gelbvieh are a typical Continental breed when it comes to marbling and quality grade.

Overall, Gelbvieh dollar up well when sold on a carcass-merit basis. The breed's advantage in leanness, muscle and pounds typically offsets its lower quality grades. Gelbvieh-sired carcasses have been worth $4 more per head than the average of all Gelbvieh Alliance cattle.

The strengths of the Gelbvieh breed are also very complementary to the strengths/weaknesses of British breeds. Gelbvieh excel in leanness, muscle and pounds. British breeds (especially Angus and Red Angus) excel in marbling, but their carcasses weigh less and have more waste fat.

Gelbvieh's leanness, muscularity and strong growth characteristics also result in better feed efficiency in the feedlot. The Gelbvieh Alliance has documented a 10% feed-to-gain advantage for Gelbvieh-sired versus Angus-sired cattle. Fat deposition is metabolically less efficient than lean tissue deposition, which is the reason British breeds are often less efficient from a feed-to-gain standpoint.

Trait complementarity with British breeds opens up a huge opportunity for Gelbvieh breeders. Many of the nation's cow/calf operations have British-based cows. These herds can benefit greatly from Gelbvieh's growth and maternal traits, as well as from the complementary nature of Gelbvieh/British carcass traits. Value-based grids reward pounds, leanness and quality grade, and Gelbvieh x British cattle do an excellent job balancing these important carcass traits.

Carcass traits are becoming increasingly important in today's beef business. Gelbvieh breeders need to place some selection pressure on the important carcass traits (muscle, leanness, marbling and pounds). However, carcass traits should not take precedence over pasture traits like fertility, calving ease, disposition and growth.

The advent of Gelbvieh Carcass EPDs allows breeders to begin incorporating economically important carcass traits into a balanced, multi-trait selection plan. Generally speaking, breeders should maintain Gelbvieh carcass strengths (muscle and leanness), while placing positive selection pressure on marbling. Marbling in the Gelbvieh breed can use improvement. Sires that are significantly below breed average for marbling should be discriminated against. At the same time, breeders must avoid "single-trait selection" for marbling at the expense of muscle, leanness and other Gelbvieh core-competency traits.

(Gelbvieh World, October, 1998)

By Tom Brink, AGA Executive Director

The power of feedlot performance cannot be denied nor should its importance be underestimated. Gelbvieh Alliance data indicates that differences in feedlot performance are twice as important from an economic standpoint than differences in carcass value. So while carcass traits such as marbling and yield may garner a lot of press, performance is what pays the bills.

In order for cattle to perform well in the feedlot, cattle must stay healthy, gain weight rapidly and efficiently convert feed into gain. Cattle that have a high average daily gain (ADG) and a low Feed-to-Gain (F/G) ratio are what feedlots look for in order to generate profit. That’s exactly what Gelbvieh do.

Gelbvieh-sired cattle not only out-performed other cattle representing a large number of breeds when it came to feedlot performance, but also were more profitable. The Gelbvieh Alliance currently has close-out data on 4,684 head of Gelbvieh-sired cattle (82 pens). The comparisons shown here demonstrate how Gelbvieh-sired cattle performed versus the average for all Gelbvieh Alliance cattle (1,447 pens, representing 73,805 head).

Gelbvieh out-performed all Alliance cattle by nearly 3% on ADG, resulting in 15 to 25 more pounds of salable live weight at the end of the feeding period. Even more impressive is how Gelbvieh-sired cattle compare to all Alliance cattle in feed efficiency. The Gelbvieh-sired cattle converted feed into gain 6% more efficiently than all Alliance cattle. A low feed conversion has a tremendous impact on feeding margins by lowering feed costs. Feed costs are recognized as the second most important cost associated with feeding cattle.

With advantages like these, it comes as no surprise that the Gelbvieh-sired cattle have earned an average profit of $30.06 - that’s more than 30 times the average for all Alliance cattle.

Superior performance and higher profits prove that Gelbvieh truly are feedlot friendly.

(Gelbvieh World Magazine)