Option 1: CCA Controlled, Contract Herds

  1. Features:

    • Complete control by the CCA from breeding to data analysis
    • Cattle owned or controlled from birth to carcass data by the CCA
    • All cattle produced by test matings are fed and managed at one location using industry standard practices
    • Cows will be crossbred cows or straightbred commercial cows of a breed other than Charolais
    • Use of reference sires from previous CtoC tests
    • Supervision of all aspects of program by CCA staff
    • Groups of bulls will be tested with preference to young bulls with excellent EPDs for carcass and meat quality traits
    • Guaranteed carcass EPD with a minimum accuracy of 0.65 from national cattle evaluation on all test sires at end of program
    • Complete data collection from breeding to carcass including gain on test
    • CCA analyzed data and reports at every stage of the test, birth, weaning, off test and carcass

  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

    Cows will be crossbred cows or straightbred commercial cows of a breed other than Charolais and will represent a cross-section of the Canadian commercial industry as much as possible. All cows in each test herd will be randomly mated using AI. A breeding chute randomization procedure will be used. 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 each test sire will be mated to 40 cows in total. 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 10 cows within each test herd. The following data will be recorded:

    • Unique cow identification
    • Cow age in years
    • Cow breed composition
    • AI service date(s)
    • Sire identification

  3. Calving and Weaning:

    All 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. All 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 calves are between 140 and 270 days of age. The following data will be recorded:

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

  4. Feedlot and slaughter:

    All calves will be transported to a commercial feedlot facility for finishing. Calves will be assigned to pens based on their weaning contemporary groups. Weaning contemporary groups of calves can be combined in to one pen for finishing. 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. All progeny will be on feed for a minimum of 180 days. 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
    • Date of arrival at feedlot
    • Feedlot pen
    • Date on test
    • Start of test weight
    • Date off test
    • End of test weight
    • Feedlot management group
    • Slaughter date
    • Slaughter weight (if possible)
    • Grading date
    • Carcass identification cross-referenced to feedlot identification
    • Hot carcass weight
    • Rib eye area
    • Average fat (average of 3 fat measures around the rib eye)
    • Grade fat
    • Marbling score
    • Marbling grade
    • Estimated lean yield