Beef Cattle Type and Selection Tools Have Evolved to Meet Consumer Demands and Maximize Producer Profitability

Beef cattle type has evolved through selection and planned matings targeted at meeting consumer demands and maximizing producer profitability. In the 1800’s cattle were used for draft and milk. They were large-framed, light-muscled, and late-maturing, often not going to market until 3-5 years of age. In the late 1800’s, cattle breeders began selecting for more moderate frame size as well as increased fleshing ability and muscle thickness. This trend continued through the mid 1900’s. By the 1950’s, cattle were extremely small-framed and early-maturing. These cattle could not reach acceptable market weights and Choice quality grade without being overfat. The USDA implemented the beef yield grade system in 1965. Industry leaders and breed associations held type conferences to discuss concerns and to give breeders direction. Cattle breeders began selecting for cattle that could be fed to heavier weights without being overfat. In the 1960’s, European breeds began being utilized in the United States to increase frame size and lean growth. Selection for increased frame and lean growth continued through the late 1980’s resulting in cattle with excessive birth weights, extreme frame size, and poor fleshing ability. Starting in the late 1980’s, selection emphasis was again on moderation of frame, muscle thickness and fleshing ability. Breeders now also placed greater emphasis on reducing birth weights. In the 1980’s, performance records, sire evaluations, and expected progeny differences (EPD) were being utilized in conjunction with visual appraisal for selection and breeding decisions. Early cattle evaluations focused on the economically relevant traits of birth weight, weaning weight, and yearling weight. Carcass traits were also included in cattle evaluations but there were very few records submitted to breed associations. The adoption of ultrasound technology for prediction of carcass traits became common in the 1990’s and so did the selection for increased marbling and improved quality grades. Selection decisions became much more complex as the number of EPDs continued to increase. In the 2000’s and 2010’s breed associations introduced bioeconomic indexes allowing multiple traits to be combined into a single value. Breed associations also began implementing genomic enhanced EPDs. Genomic enhanced EPDs increase accuracy in young cattle and characterize genetics for traits that are difficult to measure the phenotype. The information and tools available to cattle breeders has dramatically increased and so has the complexity of breeding programs. Beef cattle type has evolved as selection decisions continue to focus on meeting consumer demands and maximizing producer profitability.