BREEDING BEEF ON HOLSTEIN: PRODUCING CROSSBRED CALVES THAT ARE PROFITABLE FROM THE DAIRY TO THE MEAT PACKER

• Sponsoring Institution: National Institute of Food and Agriculture
• Project Status: COMPLETE
• Funding Source: AFRI COMPETITIVE GRANT
• Reporting Frequency: Annual
• Accession No.: 1028042
• Grant No.: 2022-67011-36547
• Cumulative Award Amt.: $169,755.00
• Proposal No.: 2021-09485
• Project Start Date: Dec 15, 2021
• Project End Date: Dec 14, 2024
• Grant Year: 2022
• Program Code: [A7101]- AFRI Predoctoral Fellowships

Recipient Organization
PENNSYLVANIA STATE UNIVERSITY
408 Old Main
UNIVERSITY PARK,PA 16802-1505

Performing Department
Animal Science

Non Technical Summary
The inception of sexed semen has allowed dairy producers to generate replacement heifers from their best animals and mate their remaining cows to beef semen to produce added-value crossbred calves. Though pre-weaned crossbred calves are realizing higher prices than Holstein bull calves, post-weaning efficiency and carcass performance reports indicate that beef ×dairy do not consistently outperform purebred Holstein steers. There is a need for public selection criteria for beef on dairy matings to produce crossbred calves that perform consistently in the US beef production system.We will use farm data to investigate if beef service sires impact calving ease and subseqent lactational performance of Holstein cows to ensure that there are not unintended consequences to the dairy producer when matingbeef×dairy. We will also determine if the genetics that beef bulls contribute to their native progeny's carcass performance influence the carcass performance ofbeef×dairy progeny differently. Finally, we will disseminate our findings through various methods of Extension programming and ensure that the needs of all stakeholders are considered when selecting sires to utilize in beef×dairy matings.The proposed research and programming will directly improve genetic selection methods for beef × dairy crossbreeding and sustainably integrate the beef and dairy industry. Further, it will help prepare the fellow for an academic career in research and Extension.

Animal Health Component

80%

Research Effort Categories

Basic

10%

Applied

80%

Developmental

10%

Classification

Knowledge Area (KA)	Subject of Investigation (SOI)	Field of Science (FOS)	Percent
303	3440	1081	40%
303	3410	1081	20%
303	3399	1081	40%

Knowledge Area
303 - Genetic Improvement of Animals;

Subject Of Investigation
3440 - Meat, dairy cattle; 3410 - Dairy cattle, live animal; 3399 - Beef cattle, general/other;

Field Of Science
1081 - Breeding;

Keywords

applied genetics

beef x dairy

crossbred

genomics

sire selection

Goals / Objectives
The goal of the proposed project is to increase profitability of F1 beef × Holstein calves across the beef supply chain through the development of beefservice sire selection criteria.The objectives are as follows:1. Determine if difficult calving events and subsequent lactation performance of Holstein cows mated to beef bulls differ from those mated to Holstein bulls.2. Determine if the terminal single-trait EPDs of beef bulls re-rank when derived from beef × Holstein offspring performance.3. Bridge the gap between dairy producers, calf growers, and meat packers through implementation of local and national Extension programming on beef × dairy crossbreeding.

Project Methods
Objective 1: Historic herd records will be used to compare calving events and subsequent lactations of Holstein dams of crossbred beef and purebred Holstein calves. Farm records will be acquired from Holstein herds across the country that keep electronic records of calving difficulties in the form of calving scores, health events, and milk production. Health events of particular interest are dystocia, stillbirth, retained placenta, and metritis. The MIXED procedure of SAS (v. 9.4) will be used to evaluate the traits of calving score and mature equivalent 305 day adjusted milk, fat, and protein yield and the GLIMMIX procedure will be used to evaluate the binomial health event data. Model-building to select for relevant fixed effects will occur; it is likely that models will include a contemporary group effect such as herd-year-season of calving, a parity effect, and effect of calf sex. As it is recommended to breed genetically inferior multiparous cows to beef, models will be adjusted for the dam's EPD (or PTA) for the respective trait evaluated. Breed of service sire (beef of Holstein) will be a fixed effect and animal will be a random effect. A similar model will only include cows mated to beef sires and the sire breeds will be accounted for as a fixed effect. Statistical significance will be considered at P < 0.05 and tendencies at P < 0.10.Objective 2: Hair from the tail with roots or blood will be sampled from F1 beef × Holstein offspring (n = 800) for genotyping using the Neogen Igenity® Beef chip (42K SNP). Genotypes of steers (n = 300) will come from calves obtained for a project being conducted by my mentor (Felix) born over a span of three years on dairies in central Pennsylvania. Steers will be reared by a commercial calf grower and finished on Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture feedlot equipped with an electronic feed intake monitoring system. Phenotypes of feedlot feed efficiency, average daily gain, and dry matter intake, and carcass characteristics (USDA Quality and Yield Grades, carcass weight, back fat, and rib eye area) will be available from steers. Additional genotypes and corresponding carcass characteristics will be available from crossbred heifers (n = 100) raised by one of the dairies where steers were sourced from and from another Pennsylvania dairy raising crossbred heifers and steers (n = 400). Tenderness will be evaluated on the steers from Felix's project using Warner-Bratzler shear force. Single-step genomic best linear unbiased predictions will be made using the BLUPF90 family of programs to derive EPD values for intake and carcass traits. Models are likely to include fixed effects of herd-year-season of birth, age at processing, and sex and random effects of relationship, which will be a blended file of pedigree and genomic relationships. The EPD values of traits of the beef sires generated by breed association will be Pearson and Spearman rank correlated with those derived in our analysis. Additionally, the phenotypes of genotyped crossbreds will be Pearson and Spearman rank correlated with the genomic predictions derived by Igenity® Beef.Objective 3: Over the course of the funding period, Extension programming will be designed and implemented. Initial programming will focus on educating dairy producers about how their crossbred calves move through the beef supply chain and grid system pricing which they may not be familiar with. Later programming will include more of our direct results as we acquire and analyze them and how producers can apply them. Local programming will comprise of an annual presentation of results at Penn State's Ag Progress Days and regular article contributions to the Penn State Extension website (extension.psu.edu). Collaboration with Penn State Extension's Livestock and Dairy teams will provide additional support to local producers with timely recommendations. I will also work with Extension specialists in other states to ensure comprehensive and timely programming. I will coauthor popular press articles for publication in Progressive Dairy and Hoard's Dairyman with Dr. Dechow to reach a more national audience of producers and consultants. Results from Aim 1 and 2 will be compiled into an applied Extension presentation; the presentation material will be accessible to colleges and universities with 2-year dairy management programs as a recorded seminar and an accompanying lesson plan to ensure that the incoming generation of dairy producers are armed with the most recent information available.Efforts: In addition to the programming developed in Objective 3, manuscripts will be published regarding the results of Aims 1 and 2 and findings will be presented at scientific meetings.Evaluations: Data will be evaluated per methods above. Additionally, eachmentor will complete a formal evaluation of my research, scientific communication, and scientific reasoning abilities annually. My mentors will assess my written communications and presentations with me. Undergraduate students will have an opportunity to review my teaching abilities which my mentors will review with me. Similarly, following Extension seminars and webinars attendees will be surveyed regarding quality and contents of the programming which I will review with Dr. Felix to determine my performance and how to change future programming.

Progress 12/15/23 to 12/14/24

Outputs
Target Audience:Target audiences included beef and dairy cattle farmers, beef and dairy processers,beef and dairy industry stakeholders, researchers in animal science, and youth and undergraduate students interested in animal science. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?The PI attended the Plains Nutrition Council Spring Meeting in 2024, which allowed for continuing education, networking, and research results to be presented. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?In addition to the Extension materials produced to fulfill Aim 3, results have also been disseminated privately to industry stakeholders including Select Sires and Certified Angus Beef. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?Analyses for Aim 2 including the derivation of genomic expected progeny differences for carcass traits of sires of beef x dairy progeny and genome-wide associate studies will be completed in Fall of 2025 with publications to follow.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? Aim 1: Aim 1 was completed in 2023. Aim 2: 100K SNP genotypes have been processed for ~100K beef x dairy progeny. Aim 3: A total of 14 Extension presentations related to beef x dairy crossholders have been given to stakeholders in PA and across the nation. Additionally, 6 print articles have been written, including 1 in a major dairy publication (Hoard's Dairyman) and 1 in a major beef publication (Progressive Cattle), and 2 podcastsand 1 video have been produced.

Publications

• Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2024 Citation: Basiel, B.L. and T.L. Felix. September 25, 2024. Finding value beyond the sale barn. Hoards Dairyman.
• Type: Theses/Dissertations Status: Published Year Published: 2024 Citation: Basiel, B.L. February 20, 2024. Efficacy of beef � dairy breed across production systems. Dissertation. https://etda.libraries.psu.edu/catalog/20154blb5624

Progress 12/15/21 to 12/14/24

Outputs
Target Audience:Target audiences included beef and dairy cattle farmers, beef and dairy processers, beef and dairy industry stakeholders, researchers in animal science, and youth and undergraduate students interested in animal science. Changes/Problems:Publication of results for Aim 2 is currently delayed. Analyses, including the derivation of genomic expected progeny differences for carcass traits of sires of beef x dairy progeny and genome-wide associate studies, and subseqent publication will be completed when the PI secures an academic postion where time and resources can be commited for project completion. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?The PIattended 7professional association meetings (American Dairy Science Association annual meeting (2022, 2023), World Congress on Genetics Applied to Livestock Production (2022), ADSA-ASAS Northeast annual meeting (2022),Dairy Cattle Reproductive Council annual meeting (2022),Midwest American Society of Animal Science annual meeting (2023), and Plains Nutrition Council Spring Meeting (2024)) and presented data at 3 local conferences. ith project funding.Atmeetings, the PI attended sessions that enhanced career development, including sessions that covered transitioning from graduate school to career, continued learning opportunites in animal breeding and production, and networking opportunities with professionals from around the world that work in government, industry, or academia.Further, the PIdisseminated results at meetings with academic and industry professionals in attendance. Further, the numerous Extension presentations delivered have offered opportunities for both formal and informal evaluation from stakeholder attendees and supervisors. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Results have been disseminated through formal, peer-reviewed, publication, scientific meetings, Extension presentations, and various media outputs.Further, results were disseminated privately to industry stakeholders including Select Sires and Certified Angus Beef. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? Nothing Reported

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? Aim 1: Data from 10 dairy herds located in the Northeast and Midwest United States were analyzed and published in the Journal of Dairy Science in 2024. Portions of analyses for Aim 1 were presented at the American Dairy Science Association annual meetings in 2022 and 2023 and at a university research expo. Multiparous dairy cows mated to beef service sires had greater gestation length than those mated to Holstein sires; Limousin and Wagyu-sired calves were gestated for the greatest amount of time, 5 and 8 days longer than Holstein-sired calves, respectively. Crossbred beef-sired calves had a greater probability of being stillborn than Holstein-sired calves but calves sired by 4 other beef breeds had the same probability of being stillborn as Holstein-sired calves. Dystocia risk was the same among cows that had beef-sired calves and those that had Holstein-sired calves. Likewise, early-lactation clinical health event probability, early-lactation cull risk, and milk, fat, and protein yield did not differ between cows that had beef or Holstein-sired calves. Aim 2: 100K SNP genotypes have been processed for ~500 beef x dairy progeny.Carcass characteristic phenotypes were acquired for all genotyped beef × Holstein progeny that will be evaluated. Aim 3:A total of 14 Extension presentations related to beef x dairy crossholders have been given to stakeholders in PA and across the nation. Additionally, 6 print articles have been written, including 1 in a major dairy publication (Hoard's Dairyman) and 1 in a major beef publication (Progressive Cattle), and 2 podcasts and 1 video have been produced. Additionally, a beef x dairy sire selection lesson plan was developed and used in some of the aforementioned Extension presentations and for teaching senior undergraduates.

Publications

• Type: Peer Reviewed Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2024 Citation: Basiel, B.L., A.A. Barragan, T.L. Felix, and C.D. Dechow. 2024. The impact of beef sire breed on dystocia, stillbirth, gestation length, health, and lactation performance of cows that carry beef � dairy calves. J. Dairy Sci. 107(4):2241-2252. doi: 10.3168/jds.2023-24112.
• Type: Theses/Dissertations Status: Published Year Published: 2024 Citation: Basiel, B.L. February 20, 2024. Efficacy of beef � dairy breed across production systems. Dissertation. https://etda.libraries.psu.edu/catalog/20154blb5624
• Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2024 Citation: Basiel, B.L. and T.L. Felix. September 25, 2024. Finding value beyond the sale barn. Hoards Dairyman.
• Type: Peer Reviewed Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2022 Citation: Basiel, B.L. and T.L. Felix. 2022. Board Invited Review: Crossbreeding beef � dairy cattle for the modern beef production system. Transl. Anim. Sci. 6-2:1-21. doi:10.1093/tas/txac025.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2022 Citation: Basiel, B.L., T.L. Felix, and C.D. Dechow. 2022. Gestation length and dystocia of Holsteins mated to Holstein and beef breed service sires. J. Dairy Sci. (Suppl. 1) 105:47.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2023 Citation: Basiel, B.L., T.L. Felix, and C.D. Dechow. 2023. Early-lactation health event frequency of cows that carried beef or Holstein-sired calves. J. Dairy Sci. (Suppl. 1) 106:153. ADSA Annual Meeting. Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2023 Citation: Basiel, B.L., T.L. Felix, and C.D. Dechow. 2023. Early-lactation health event frequency of cows that carried beef or Holstein-sired calves. Penn State Gamma Sigma Delta Research Expo. University Park, PA.

Progress 12/15/22 to 12/14/23

Outputs
Target Audience:Target audiences included beef producers and consultants, dairy producers and consultants, researchers in animal science, and youth and undergraduate students interested in animal science. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?The PI has attended two scientific meetings (American Dairy Science Association and Midwest American Society of Animal Science) to disseminate research. Additionally, the PI has disseminated results at meetings with academic and industry professionals in attendance. Networking occurred at all meetings and sessions related to career development were attended. Further, the numerous Extension presentations delivered have offered opportunities for both formal and informal evaluation from stakeholder attendees and supervisors. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Results have been disseminated through formal, peer-reviewed, publication, scientific meetings, Extension presentations, and written and audio media. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?Aim 1: Completed. Results will continue to be disseminated through Extension programming in support of Aim 3. Aim 2: Single-step genomic analysis will be conducted on carcass traits to derive expected breeding values of beef sires. Manuscript will be prepared and submitted. Aim 3: A minimum of 5 additional presentations will be delievered to stakeholders and 3 print articles will be prepared related to beef× dairy production.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? Aim 1: Data from 10 dairy herds located in the Northeast and Midwest United States were analyzed and published in the Journal of Dairy Science. Multiparous dairy cows mated to beef service sires had greater gestation length than those mated to Holstein sires; Limousin and Wagyu-sired calves were gestated for the greatest amount of time, 5 and 8 days longer than Holstein-sired calves, respectively. Crossbred beef-sired calves had a greater probability of being stillborn than Holstein-sired calves but calves sired by 4 other beef breeds had the same probability of being stillborn as Holstein-sired calves. Dystocia risk was the same among cows that had beef-sired calves and those that had Holstein-sired calves. Likewise, early-lactation clinical health event probability, early-lactation cull risk, and milk, fat, and protein yield did not differ between cows that had beef or Holstein-sired calves. Aim 2: Carcass characteristic phenotypes were acquired for all genotyped beef× Holstein progeny that will be evaluated. 100k SNP genotype panels are currently being processed for the progeny. Pedigree is currently being constructed. Aim 3: Six Extension presentations have been delivered to audiences of beef and dairy producers and industry consultants. Data from Aim 1 has been presented in addition to data related to sire selection for beef× Holstein matings and growth and carcass phenotypes. An article was published on Penn State Extension's website and another article is in progress. Addtionally, results of Aim 1 were featured on a podcast. An additional 5 presentations are scheduled for 2024 as are two print media articles for Progressive Cattle and Hoard's Dairyman.

Publications

• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2023 Citation: Basiel, B.L., A.A. Barragan, T.L. Felix, and C.D. Dechow. 2023. The impact of beef sire breed on dystocia, stillbirth, gestation length, health, and lactation performance of cows that carry beef � dairy calves. In press. J. Dairy Sci. doi:10.3168/jds.2023-24112.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2023 Citation: Basiel, B.L., T.L. Felix, and C.D. Dechow. 2023. Early-lactation health event frequency of cows that carried beef or Holstein-sired calves. ADSA Annual Meeting. Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2023 Citation: Basiel, B.L., T.L. Felix, and C.D. Dechow. 2023. Early-lactation health event frequency of cows that carried beef or Holstein-sired calves. Penn State Gamma Sigma Delta Research Expo. University Park, PA.

Progress 12/15/21 to 12/14/22

Outputs
Target Audience:Target audiences included dairy producers and industry consultants, beef producers, undergraduate students studying animal science, and dairy science researchers. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?The PI has attended 4 professional association meetings (American Dairy Science Association annual meeting, World Congress on Genetics Applied to Livestock Prodcution, ADSA-ASAS Northeast annual meeting, and Dairy Cattle Reproductive Council annual meeting) with project funding. At 3 of the meetings, results were formally disseminated. At all meetings, the PI attended sessions that enhanced career development, including sessions that covered transitioning from graduate school to career, continued learning opportunitesin animal breeding and production, and networking opportunities with professionals from around the world that workin government, industry, or academia. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Results have been disemminated through programming and conferences detailed above. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?Aim 1: Final analysis of farm records will be completed and a manuscript will be prepared and submitted to the Journal of Dairy Science for publication. Aim 2: The remaining genotypes will be collected from crossbred calves and processed. Pedigree will be built and analysis will be performed. Aim 3: More Extension tours and seminars will be hosted and at least 1 Extension publication will be written. An Extension webinar will also be organized to target producers outside of Pennsylvania.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? Aim 1. Determine if difficult calving events and subsequent lactation performance of Holstein cows mated to beef bulls differ from those mated to Holstein bulls. Preliminary analysis was performed on records of 7 PA dairy herds on gestation length, dystocia, and stillbirth incidences of Holstein cows mated to Holstein or beef breed bulls. Preliminary results suggest that beef service sires do not result in different rates of dystocia nor stillbirth in Holsteins when compared to Holstein service sires. However, cows mated to beef breeds carried their calves for an average of two days longer than those mated to Holsteins. Variation in gestation length also exists between the beef sire breeds included in the data set. Results were presented at the American Dairy Science Association 2022 annual meeting and presented as a poster at the American Dairy Science Association/American Society of Animal Science Northeast Region meeting, the Penn State Dairy Nutrition Workshop, and the Dairy Cattle Reproduction Council meeting. Additional records have been obtained from herds in other regions of the country. 2. Determine if the terminal single-trait EPDs of beef bulls re-rank when derived from beef × Holstein offspring performance. DNA has been sampled from ~250 calves for genotyping and is being processed. 3. Bridge the gap between dairy producers, calf growers, and meat packers through implementation of local and national Extension programming on beef × dairy crossbreeding. Preliminary results of Aim 1 have been presented at two producer-facing meetings. Additionally, ~130 producers attended Extension toursat Penn State's Ag Progess Days onbeef × dairy crossbreeding. The PI will be giving a beef x dairy seminar to dairy producers on December 7. Two Extension articles on beef x dairy are also in preparation and will be available on Penn State's Extension website by year's end.

Publications

• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2022 Citation: Basiel, B.L. and T.L. Felix. 2022. Board Invited Review: Crossbreeding beef � dairy cattle for the modern beef production system. Transl. Anim. Sci. 6-2:1-21. doi:10.1093/tas/txac025.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2022 Citation: Basiel, B.L., T.L. Felix, and C.D. Dechow. 2022. Gestation length and dystocia of Holsteins mated to Holstein and beef breed service sires. J. Dairy Sci. (Suppl. 1) 105:47.
• Type: Other Status: Awaiting Publication Year Published: 2022 Citation: Extension article