253 Sire verification in multi-sire breeding systems

Abstract

An abstract of a study by Domolewski et al evaluating the use of DNA parentage testing on commercial cow-calf operations using multi-sire breeding pastures and determining associations between phenotypic and spermatological traits of bulls and number of calves sired is presented. Seven breeding pastures located within four commercial Saskatchewan ranches cooperated in this study. Study results indicated a large variation in number of calves sired by each bull in multi-sire breeding pastures. Although some phenotypic and spermatological factors can be correlated with bull prolificacy, the large variation in number of calves sired suggests that these traits alone cannot be relied on to predict bull prolificacy. If basic production records are kept on farm, there is an economic incentive to adopt this technology.