Genetics

It is important for beef producers to enhance their understanding of animal breeding and genetic principles. Genetics are key for producing quality beef animals for their potential for feed efficiency, product quality and acceptability, longevity, disease resistance, fertility, calving difficulty, etc.

Basic Genetics

Beef Sire Selection Manual (NBCEC)

Performance Record Collection/Evaluation

BIF Guidelines (BIF)
Contemporary Grouping for Genetic Evaluation

Sire Selection

The Importance of Sire Selection (NBCEC)
Across Cross-Breed EPD Table (USDA-MARC)
Commercial Beef Sire Selection (Beef Cattle Handbook)
Sire Summaries (Beef Cattle Handbook)

Crossbreeding

Crossbreeding for Commercial Beef Production
Considering Crossbreeding?
Brown Bagger Series (NBCEC)
Genetic Principles (Beef Cattle Handbook)
Development and Use of Composites (Michigan State)
Role of Composites in Beef Systems (Michigan State)
Crossbreeding Beef Cattle (Virginia Tech)

Conference Proceedings

Beef Improvement Federation
National Beef Cattle Evaluation Consortium
Range Beef Cow Symposium

DNA/Molecular Genetics

Beef Sire Selection Manual (NBCEC)
Marker Assisted Selection for Tenderness and Marbling
Marker-Assisted Selection in Beef Cattle (UC-Davis)
Marker-Assisted Selection in Beef Cattle (UC-Davis)
DNA Markers: Validation and Utilization (NBCEC)
Genetic Prediction Workshop (BIF)
Molecular Approaches to Genetic Improvement (BIF)
NCBA Carcass Merit Project (BIF)

Breeds/Breed Associations

Breeds of Beef Cattle (Oklahoma State)
Beef Cattle Breed Associations (NPLC)

Genetic Defects

Congenital Defects in Cattle (Beef Cattle Handbook)
TH in Shorthorns (Shorthorn Assn.)
Merck Veterinary Manual

USDA/University Sites

USDA Meat Animal Research Center
Cow Herd Genetics (Iowa State)
Genetics Publications (Florida)

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For questions concerning this page or topics, please contact:
Bob Weaber State Extension Specialist -Beef Genetics