Farm Update:

Despite a relatively warm summer our pastures continued to be productive throughout so it was not necessary to start feeding hay until early September. Fortunately hay prices have fallen by 30% this year to the lowest level in 5 years. Once again we have an eclectic variety of calves coming next spring sired by extremely rare, quality Heritage Shorthorn bulls from Canadian Image to Scottshill Major Clark. Resurrecting some of the finest Shorthorn genetics has continued be our guiding force.

Quarterly Topic: AI Versus AI: Short Changing The Shorthorn Breed?

History:

One could argue that there have been four inflection points in the evolvement of cattle genetics: Mendalian Genetics, Artificial Insemination, Embryo Transfer, and Artificial Intelligence. Most breeders are familiar with the concept of Mendalian Genetics from their high school biology class so I will not rehash it. Artificial Insemination (A. Insem.) has been around for almost a 100 years although it really started to be fully utilized in the 1950’s. Embryo Transfer started to emerge in the 1970’s and 1980’s but has only come into its own the last 15-20 years with the development of In Vitro Fertilization now accounting for over 80% of all embryo production. Artificial Intelligence (A. Intel.) is the new watchword that encompasses all aspects of society including cattle breeding. A prior Shorthorn Bulletin has discussed the many facets of Embryo Transfer. Thus this Shorthorn Bulletin will focus on A. Insem. and A. Intel.

The Construct:

Recently I was reading an article about the future of the Shorthorn breed and cattle in general. The article purported to describe how genomic testing was the driving force behind the improvement in the Shorthorn breed. Anyone who has followed the cattle industry the last twenty years has seen the rise of numbers/EPDs as the driving force behind the promotional efforts of most cattle breed associations. The question is whether that has really resulted in better animals or are there other explanations? The title of this article refers to artificial insemination versus artificial intelligence, and what impact they have had on the Shorthorn breed. The hope of all cattle breed associations is now based on projecting that artificial intelligence (the new marketing story invading every aspect of our daily lives ) will establish their breed and specific individuals as superior to all others.

Artificial Insemination:

Having grown up on a dairy farm in the 50’s and early 60’s I was exposed to the merits of using A. Insem. at a young age. My Dad starting using this technology in about 1955: first Curtiss Breeders then American Breeders Service (ABS). He also used the Dairy Herd Improvement Association (DHIA) program to test our dairy cows on a monthly basis. On a year to year comparison it was easy to see both the genotype and phenotype improvement in his herd of 120 dairy cows. I still remember certain cows that embodied many of the qualities of modern dairy cows. He decided to quit dairying in 1965 when I decided to go off to college. There is no question A. Insem. made a tremendous improvement in his herd but I emphasize he utilized his “own eye” to significantly improve the phenotype. These experiences as a “kid” drove home the point that numbers (DHIA testing at that time) should not be the only driving force in herd improvement.

Looking at how A. Insem. has been fruitful in moving the needle for cattle in a positive direction should be taken within certain limitations as evidenced by the size fascination during the 80’s and 90’s in conjunction with the employment of many continental breeds in crossbreeding such as Maine Anjou and Charlois. Shorthorns were not immune to the crossbreeding rage, along with the incorporation of Irish “Shorthorns”, who were supposed to be the salvation of the Shorthorn breed. When A. Insem. is used within a herd to improve it, rather than follow the latest trends, impactful results can quickly materialize. When it is used to follow the current cattle industry genetic fads monetary gains may be minimal. Today’s Shorthorns have become a mix of genetics from other breeds due to opening their herd book. Subsequently real improvement in Shorthorns has become increasingly difficult because the genetic variability that other breeds bring to the Shorthorn genetic pool creates more uncertainly rather than predictable improvement. A Insem. has facilitated this Shorthorn trait dilution when it could have been used solely to incorporate and spread the best traits of the Shorthorn breed. This short changes the Shorthorn breed in both breed integrity and breed value.

Artificial Intelligence:

There is no doubt that A. Intel. is taking the cattle industry by storm. In fact if it is not inserted into “everything cattle” the conclusion seems to be that it is not important. Whether it is disease, reproduction, trait selection, or feed efficiency A. Intel has an answer for you to just mention a few of the ways A. Intel. is at the forefront of the “new cattle industry”. Whether this will ultimately put more money in your pocket after all of the additional expenses, is another story. With the recent purchase of Digital Beef by 701X a new trait test, new EPD permutations, or new testing demands by breed associations will only be a $bill away. Recently in the “Shorthorn Country” a comment was made regarding the constant changes being made to EPD formulations and whether the “fix is in” regarding how and why data/algorithms are being changed to produce a different result. The fact that the American Shorthorn Association has had to address this issue indicates to me there are a lot of breeders like myself that do not trust the data for various reasons. I have commented on some of the questionable assumptions made about the whole investigation of EPD basics in past Shorthorn Bulletins. I do believe, from a Veterinarian’s perspective, that A. Intel. can bring forth positive developments in the areas of animal health and reproduction but at a cost. Whether this will result in higher profits is open to debate. The reality is that A. Intel. can short change the Shorthorn breed because new costs and tests will ultimately cause small breeders to get out and discourage new individuals from getting in. It is important to note that most Shorthorn breeders have fewer than 10 cows and are more interested in shows than EPDs or algorithms.

The Contrast:

When viewing the virtues of A. Insem. versus A. Intel. the pragmatic person will look at all aspects and realize that A. Insem. has cost and selection benefits that A. Intel. will never attain. If the end results with A. Intel. is gene editing and enhanced EPDS, with resultant “cookie cutter cattle”, then the dynamics favor A. Intel. over A. Insem. At that point I would not want to be a seller of range bulls because that market will be dead. The JBS’s and Walmart’s of the world will own the cattle genetics and cattle breeders will be in same boat as farmers who used to breed hogs or chickens. They are now essentially tenant farmers. I have always believed good management, along with objective phenotype/genotype selection, will put more dollars in a breeder’s pocket than anything else. In many cattle operations profits will disappear trying to meet the standard of the “new marketplace”. Melding A. Insem. and A. Intel. can certainly have positive results but at what cost? That is the real question for most Shorthorn breeders.

Future:

Ultimately I believe that cattle genetics will be shaped by gene editing through the utilization of A. Intel. There are many reasons for this. Expediency of standardization through gene editing will eliminate the varieties of the genetic selective process that is currently utilized throughout the livestock industry and will be the new driving force. Societal acceptance will be accomplished by the changing political environment and cost savings. It all comes down to money and who does it first. (I suspect the Chinese will take the lead.)

Two caveats I see that could potentially change this paradigm are animal rights and the environmental movement. It has become quite clear over the last 20 years that they both will ultimately determine whether beef is on the table a 100 years from now, or whether everyone will be eating artificial meat (protein).

With the almost exponential increase in A. Intel.’s ability to sort out questions that have pervaded the animal kingdom for eons major changes are coming. One example is the current work being done, utilizing A. Intel., to understand the language of pigs. If “pig language” is fully understood, and they are considered to have high “intelligence”, then there will be a massive movement to ban their processing and the pig’s standing in the animal kingdom will rise dramatically.

The increasing power of the environmental movement to “throw animal agriculture under the bus” will ultimately alter the criterion under which animal agriculture is allowed to exist despite mitigation efforts as exemplified by the utilization of feed additives to reduce methane production by the rumen.

What Does This Mean For Shorthorns?

I will be addressing this question extensively in my next Shorthorn Bulletin. Suffice it to say that Shorthorns’ path forward will be narrow. The encroaching realities of the “modern world ” will conclusively eliminate many of the tenets employed by current Shorthorn breed associations and Shorthorn breeders to perpetuate their existence. Those that adapt will survive. The rest will be cast into the dustbin of history.

Download PDF

Future Topic: Are Heritage Shorthorns a Separate Breed of Cattle?

Joseph Schallberger, DVM, PhD
Whispering Hills Farm
Member Academy of Veterinary Consultants