In November 2007, Eagle Pass Ranch invested in the future of their genetic program by installing a state of the art feeding system that accurately weighs and documents every mouthful of feed each individual animal consumes.  This new technology will enable Eagle Pass to produce seedstock that will have a superior genetic makeup for feed efficiency.

Feed efficiency (or “FE”) is one of the top economic factors in the profitability of cow calf producers as well as the feedlot sector.  University research has estimated that there is a $50-75 per head difference in the cost to maintain or feed an individual animal each year.  FE is a moderate to highly heritable trait, which means that selection of highly efficient bulls and females will most likely transmit to their progeny.

The focus at Eagle Pass Ranch is to initially identify superior animals for FE and through an aggressive artificial insemination and embryo transfer program make rapid progress in raising the overall efficiency of our entire Angus, Gelbvieh, and Balancer seedstock herds.

In doing this, we will keep the other economically relevant traits intact.  These are traits that have made Eagle Pass genetics sought after by commercial cattleman nationwide; calving ease, weaning growth, moderate mature size, adequate milk, high fertility, and sound structure.

---Researchers predict feed savings of $50 per head for each calf sired by a top FE bull.

Our first Feed Efficiency (or “FE”) test group was comprised of individuals selected from our crop of yearling bulls.  We tested 120 bulls that will be available in our March 19 bull sale.  These bulls were selected from a group of 370 to maximize the data potential.

To accomplish this, we selected 35 Angus, 35 Gelbvieh and 50 Balancers bulls.  While they were bulls we were confident would make the bull sale cut, we paid more attention to getting a broad cross section of sires and pedigrees.  We had a number of big, rugged bulls that we did not have room for in the test unit.  Their only problem is that they would have had duplicate pedigrees and would have reduced the diversity of the test group.

On March 19, all of the bulls from the FE test unit will sell.  There will be a portion that we will want to collect semen from prior to delivery so that we may capitalize on their superior FE genetics.  Each bull from the test group will have an FE test score and a DNA score for FE along with the other standard weights, measurements, and DNA scores.  While this may take a little more time and effort to sort through, it will reap large dividends for you in the superior FE it will introduce into your herd.  We would be happy to help you select the right bulls for your operation.

GrowSafe Feeding Systems of Canada is the manufacturer of the unit and a more complete description of the system can be seen on their web site at www.growsafe.com.
The system is comprised of feeding stations or “nodes” that are basically poly tubs sitting on load cells with stanchion bars that only allow one bull to eat out of a node at one time.  There are fifteen of these nodes housed in a pole barn that is open on one side.

Each bull has an electronic (EID) tag in its ear and when the bull enters the node a sensor in the poly tub identifies the EID tag.  Each time the bull takes a bite of feed the weight difference in the tub is transmitted to a computer that adds the feed weight to that bull’s daily intake total.

The total daily intake number is the most important; however, the system also tracks the number and size of bites a bull takes in a feeding event, which nodes the bull eats from, how long it eats, the time of day it eats, and the outside temperature when it eats.

The protocol for a feed efficiency test is set by the Beef Improvement Federation, a group comprised of university researchers, feedlot operators, cow-calf operators, and agri-businessmen.  They have determined that the test needs to run for 84 days with the first 14 days being an acclimation period.  An average of two consecutive daily weights at the beginning of the 70 day test and a similar weighing at the end of the test is used for the analysis.  The bulls are also weighed every two weeks to monitor performance during the test.

This animal weight data is then analyzed in conjunction with the feed intakes to get the feed to gain conversion.  GrowSafe will run the data for us as well as Kansas State University.  In addition to a feed conversion score, the analysts will give each bull a Residual Feed Intake (RFI) score.  The difference in RFI scores is that each bull is given a benchmark feed intake that he should consume given his size, maturity, and gain rate.  The amount the bull consumes over or under the benchmark determines his RFI score.

For years producers and in particular seedstock producers have made claims of superiority in feed efficiency without much science to back it up.  Our philosophy at Eagle Pass is “You can’t improve what you don’t measure”.

Research by Dr. Herd, Dr. Denny Crews and others document that selection for low RFI, measured post-weaning, will lead to a decrease in feed intake of 10% in young cows with no compromise in growth performance or increase in mature cow size.  It will also increase weaned calf weight as a percent of dam’s feed intake by 15%.  That’s profitability!

Eagle Pass Ranch is working with the Igenity (Merial) and Bovigen R&D labs to help validate their DNA markers for feed efficiency.  New DNA markers are being found as the research by these companies continue, but the markers still represent only a fraction of the total DNA spectrum.

Individual animal performance for FE, validated by a positive DNA score for FE is absolutely the best, no fail measure.  DNA testing for quality grade, yield grade, and tenderness continues also.

Wednesday, March 19 at 1:00 PM we will offer 250 Angus, Gelbvieh, and Balancer bulls at the Eagle Pass Ranch sale facility.

There will be 60 virgin two year olds in the offering that weigh from 1,600-2,000 pounds.  This is the best set of 2’s we have ever sold.  They are moderate in frame size (54-56”) and average over 1,800 pounds.  They have never been offered for sale and are top notch quality. There will be about 10 Angus, 20 Gelbvieh, and 30 Balancers.

There will also be about 190 spring yearlings weighing from 1,200 to 1,450 pounds.  These bulls were grown on a high roughage ration and are hard muscled.  Many were part of our feed efficiency test.  Nearly 150 will be Balancers with more red Balancers than in recent years.

All bulls will have a complete DNA profile for Quality Grade, Yield Grade, and Tenderness.  As always the bulls will be semen tested and guaranteed for the first breeding season.  We will deliver the bulls or pay you $50 to haul them sale day.

--We produce and sell genetics, not just bulls and heifers …much like a seed corn company

The comparison of Eagle Pass Ranch to DeKalb or Pioneer is not that farfetched.  We spend a lot of time, effort and capital trying to breed superior genetics.  If we can increase our customer’s profitability by $50-100/head over our competitors it is similar to selling you seed corn that wins the test plot by 20 bushels/acre.

The next group of cattle going on our FE test will be 120 replacement heifers.  They will have similar pedigrees to the bulls on test, which will result in even more accurate data.  We plan to ultrasound the heifers for external and internal fat at the start and finish of the test to determine the effect of FE on fleshing ability.  The heifers will then be AI bred and we will analyze the effect of FE and fleshing ability on fertility.

Finally, we will finish a group of steers in the FE test barn.  Again, they will have similar pedigrees to the bulls and heifers.  We should get a lot of very good data on the effect of FE on quality grade, yield grade and profitability.

Technology is changing very fast in the beef business.  Eagle Pass Ranch is committed to help convert available technology into profitability for our seedstock customers.