A breeding objective is the general goal of a breeding program – the notion of what constitutes the best animal. Selection pressure is applied to specific traits in order to meet breeding objectives. Selection pressure is a precious commodity and should not be squandered. Especially in beef cattle breeding programs where the biological time lag from selection and mating decisions until replacement heifers become cows is lengthy, as compared to other meat animal species. Determining the correct selection criterion and breeding objectives for your cow-calf operation is critically important (especially as it pertains to generating replacement heifers) as these have long-term impact on cowherd productivity and profit potential. For example, applying all selection pressure to weaning and yearling growth with no consideration of (strongly genetically correlated) mature cow size can leave a producer tethered to an excessively sized, higher maintenance input cowherd for at least a decade. Thereby, selection pressure applied to weaning and yearling growth relative to an acceptable upper limit of mature weight or mature height may lead to a more optimum outcome with regard to the value of calves sold annually and maintenance cost of the cowherd year-around.
Whether it is the purchase of herd bulls, picking AI sires, or which heifers will be kept from this calf crop to develop as herd replacements, over time, 80 – 90% of genetic change is the result of sire selection. Additive genetic change is cumulative and permanent.
Four facts should be known about a trait before applying selection pressure to it or including it in your breeding objectives, these are:
1. Heritability of the trait
2. Economic importance of the trait
3. Genetic correlation of the trait to other economically important traits
4. Measurability of the trait
The final take home point is this, determining breeding objectives and where selection pressure should be applied is unique to your operation. It should not be determined by your seedstock vendor who sells you bulls, or your neighboring cow-calf operation whose financial situation, forage base and marketing endpoint for calves may be different from your own. Now is the time to consider the unique nature of your operation and give thought to breeding goals and where selection pressure should be applied in the next bull buying season. More on that topic next week in an article addressing the analysis of your production system.
Mark breaks down why replacement females are more important than ever, what producers should be evaluating early in the process, and how today’s decisions can shape herd genetics and market value for years to come on SunUpTV from November 14, 2025. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hGZ8DbRPa1A
