This is an exciting time of year as we anticipate how our previous years’ breeding decisions will impact our upcoming calf crop. With this excitement, it is also very important to emphasize the importance of multiple trait selection and the use of data to drive our selection decisions.
Multiple trait selection, by definition, is identifying all traits that require improvement, are important for cattle success in your operation, and selecting all those traits at specific levels to identify the most complete animal to make sustained progress in your operation. While I cannot emphasize how important multiple trait selection is to your operation, these are just a couple of reasons it is important:
1. It’s important to remember, a bull is going contribute half of the genetics to a large number of calves. Those particular bulls you select will influence your operation for many years beyond their first calf crop. Their influence will be significant and will be observed at multiple time points in the production system.
For example, their influence will be observed in that calf crop, when you market those calves and if you’re keeping replacement heifers. In particular, his influence on those replacement heifers will be seen when they breed, how they raise a calf, if they rebreed and how long they remain in your herd. As such, that one breeding has the potential to impact your herd for many years beyond that first calf crop.
2. Multiple trait selection is vital to for cattle to be productive and have longevity in your production system. Identifying all the traits making a complete cow that can produce a highly marketable calf with your production resources cannot be understated. Remember, there are so many traits, and at specific levels, that make a cow compatible and profitable in your operation.
To summarize, there are so many traits that make an animal successful and profitable in your operation. Identifying all the traits that make the most complete animal and the level of those traits are essential for sustained improvement. Furthermore, applying multiple trait selection ensures you will not only improve your herd, but you will have animals compatible with your production resources and goals. 
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Matthew Garcia
- Beef Cattle Specialist
- Utah State University
- Email Matthew Garcia
