Beef Cattle Disposition Can Make a Difference

Beef Cattle Disposition Can Make a Difference

Most ranchers have experienced that more than usually alert cow — you know the one whose head always seems to be higher than the rest of the herd and is more owlie to be around? University of Idaho Extension Beef Specialist Dr. Benton Glaze says keeping those higher strung unruly animals can affect a rancher’s bottom line in several negative ways.
Glaze: “I think often times it is over looked when we have either family or helpers workers are out there that are interacting with the animals. When there is one that has a bad temperament. each one of those individuals are at some risk of injury. I think we forget about that. In addition to that, I think it affects their bottom line from the standpoint of an animal’s productivity. There are several studies out there that show as animals get to the feed lot or if we measure different performance traits — that when they have bad dispositions they don’t perform as well and that really affects a producer’s bottom line.”
Although disposition is a moderate to high heritable trait, Dr. Glaze adds it is important to remember
Glaze: “There is still is some environmental influence on disposition. so the way we treat animals and handle animals also has a impact on their disposition as well.”

 

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