{"id":9773,"date":"2023-08-25T12:41:36","date_gmt":"2023-08-25T17:41:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.absglobal.com\/au\/?p=9773"},"modified":"2025-10-08T19:02:27","modified_gmt":"2025-10-09T00:02:27","slug":"beef-profitability","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.absglobal.com\/au\/beef-profitability\/","title":{"rendered":"There\u2019s a Fork in the Road. It\u2019s Time to Take It."},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Publish Date: 29\/8\/23<\/em>\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There\u2019s a fork in the road for beef producers, and those who embrace it will reap the rewards. The fork represents the vast difference between genetics that maximize feedlot and carcass performance versus genetics that optimize maternal efficiency and profitability at the farm gate.<\/strong> Some producers have already reached this fork in the road, and indecisiveness about which path to take has likely led to sacrifices. The decision to breed \u201cdown the middle,\u201d or not embrace diverging paths has almost certainly resulted in a sacrifice in either maternal or terminal traits.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Read more about making matings with intent.<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Historically, a bull had to do everything well, from pasture to plate. Today, with tools like fixed-time AI and Sexcel, we can laser-focus our breeding decisions to create maternally efficient replacement females and exceptionally profitable feeder cattle, without sacrifice. Whether you are concerned about sustainability, efficiency, or making the most of your resources at hand, embracing the \u201cFork in the Road\u201d may be your solution to maximizing profitability. The most exciting part is you do not have to compromise any longer.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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With ABS, you have the tools and genetic offerings to take either path or segment your herd to achieve both.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

EBVs, EPDs and genetic selection tools such as genomics and economic indexes have accelerated us to a point where we can create cattle that generate exceptional profit in the feedlot and on the rail. But is that type animal truly practical at a farm or ranch level? Likely not in all cases.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Handpicking the Right Genetics for a Cow Herd<\/strong> <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

We routinely see cattle that push boundaries for carcass and live weight, a capability that is highly desirable in the cattle feeding industry. Those same cattle tend to have exceptionally high appetites and growth rates which leads to fewer days on feed and improved efficiency. All things favored in the feedlot.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

On the other hand, imagine these same traits manifested as large mature sizes, high feed intake, and increased maintenance requirements in a cow herd. Over recent decades, many farmers have steadily watched their once-moderate statured cows trend toward a much larger, higher input type of female. While it clearly takes more land and feed resources to maintain these cows, the industry trends for weaning weight indicate that their output has not offset that increase.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Still, we can\u2019t ignore the demands of the cattle feeder, the packer, or the consumer in our quest for efficiency. Expectations at each of these levels have never been higher.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Expectations of the Feeders, Packers, and Consumers<\/strong> <\/h2>\n\n\n\n