Option 3 (CCA Member Herds)

  1. Features:

    • Integrated program involving one or a group of CCA members
    • Focus is on purebred Charolais cattle
    • CCA maintains a list of approved reference sires complete with bull owner contact information for semen purchases
    • All registered cows in participating member herds enrolled on CHARM with birth and weaning information submitted on all progeny
    • Progeny can be designated for carcass test program at weaning or after collection of 365 day weights
    • All birth and weaning information must be submitted on all calves in the contemporary group regardless of whether they are selected for the carcass test program or not
    • All carcass test progeny will be fed and managed according to program guidelines
    • Contemporary groups must stay together with all members treated the same
    • CCA staff not involved in running the test unless contracted by the member or group
    • CCA analyzed data and reports at completion of the test
    • Guaranteed carcass EPD with a minimum accuracy of 0.40 from national cattle evaluation on all test sires at end of program, if program is CCA endorsed

  2. Specific Testing Guidelines

    • Reference sires: A minimum of two reference sires will be used in each herd. Reference sires will be previously progeny tested sires.
    • Number of progeny per test and reference sire

    The overall goal is to have a minimum accuracy value of 0.40 on each test sire at the completion of the test. The goal is to have 15 progeny from each test sire with carcass data. In the case of multiple herds each herd will have a minimum of 5 progeny per test sire. In each herd the goal is to have 5 progeny in total from two reference sires. In a perfectly designed and completed test this scenario would give an approximate accuracy of 0.49, however it is very unlikely that any test will end up with perfect distribution and equal progeny numbers per test sire so these goals build in a margin of safety.

  3. Breeding

    All cows in each test herd will be mated using AI for the reference sires and natural service or AI for the test sire(s) depending on number of sires and number of test herds. In order to keep the birth date range of calves within 90 days an estrous synchronization program with mass AI will be used in each herd unless success with a short, controlled AI breeding season can be demonstrated. To meet the progeny numbers outlined in 2 and in the case of AI each test sire will be mated to 30 cows assuming all progeny will be test progeny. The number of cows will need to be adjusted based on test conditions as outlined by the member. In the case of multiple test herds each test sire will be mated to a minimum of 10 cows per test herd. Each reference will be mated to 5 cows within each test herd. The following data will be recorded:

    • Unique cow identification (Tattoo or CHARM identification preferred)
    • Cow age in years if no CHARM record
    • AI service date(s) or date bull placed in breeding pasture
    • Sire identifications

  4. Calving and weaning

    All test calves will be uniquely identified at birth with a cross-reference to the dams identification. All male calves will be castrated by 90 days of age if they are going to be used for carcass data collection. All test calves will be managed as one contemporary group until weaning. In extreme situations the calves could be split in to more than one management group. Weaning weights will be taken when all test calves are between 140 and 270 days of age. It is imperative that all birth and weaning information is submitted on all calves in every contemporary group from which test calves are selected. The information on non-test calves is used to reduce bias in the evaluation due to selection within the contemporary group. The following data will or could be recorded:

    • Unique calf identification (required)
    • Dam identification (required)
    • Sire identification (required)
    • Date of birth (required)
    • Sex of calf (required)
    • Calving ease score
    • Birth weight
    • Weaning Management group (required)
    • Weaning date (required)
    • Actual weaning weight (required)
    • Actual weaning weigh date (if different from weaning date) (required)

  5. Feedlot and slaughter

    Test calves could be backgrounded in which case a unique calf identification, yearling management code, yearling weight and yearling weigh date is required. It is important that all test calves within a contemporary group be treated alike. All test calves will be fed at one facility for finishing. Test calves will be assigned to pens based on their weaning or yearling contemporary groups. Weaning or yearling contemporary groups of test calves can be combined in to one pen for finishing. All test calves entering the feedlot directly after weaning should have a minimum of 180 days on feed while all back-grounded test calves should have a minimum of 100 days on feed. Progeny will be designated for slaughter on a contemporary group basis at a constant industry standard endpoint. All progeny within a contemporary group should be slaughtered on the same day. In the situation that a contemporary group must be slaughtered on multiple days it is desirable to reduce the number of slaughter dates to a minimum and that each test and reference sire in the contemporary group be equally represented on each slaughter date. Progeny will be slaughtered at a plant where a certified Canadian Beef Grading Agency grader will record the grading information on the day following slaughter. Grading procedures and measures will follow Canadian Beef Grading Agency detailed guidelines. The following data will be recorded:

    • Feedlot unique identification cross-referenced to calf birth identification (required)
    • Date of arrival at feedlot (required)
    • Feedlot pen (required)
    • Date on test (optional)
    • Start of test weight (optional)
    • Date off test (optional)
    • End of test weight (optional)
    • Feedlot management group (required)
    • Slaughter date (required)
    • Slaughter weight (optional)
    • Grading date (required)
    • Carcass identification cross-referenced to feedlot identification (required)
    • Hot carcass weight (required)
    • Rib eye area (required)
    • Average fat (average of 3 fat measures around the rib eye) (required)
    • Grade fat (required)
    • Marbling score (required)
    • Marbling grade (required)
    • Estimated lean yield (required)

    Note: The post weaning gain test is optional. If members wish to record this information the following procedures are recommended. Two weeks after the last calves have entered the feedlot all calves will be officially weighed on test. Calves will be treated in an industry standard manner including implanting however all calves within a contemporary group must be treated the same. Progeny will be weighed off test following a 140-day test period.