Beef cattle breeding in Canada

다국어 초록 (Multilingual Abstract)

To produce better beef more efficiently, genetics of beef cattle must be improved, which requires a nationwide, long-term genetic improvement program for beef cattle. Agriculture Canada started performance test programs (ROP program for beef) in 1956; (a) Station test and (b) the On-farm test. Station test program were effective in playing an important role for the genetic improvement of Canadian beef cattle up to the middle of 1980's. As the national EBVs became available in Canada since 1976 the importance of using station-tested bulls began to erode significantly since late 1980's for reason of its incapability of identifying the best animals on a national base. Routine evaluation of EBVs on 7-traits seemed to provide most of the tools needed for Canadian beef producers to maximize both genetic gain and production efficiency of their own herds.
Toward the development of new trends in today's consumers demand for leaner beef with higher eating quality which are uniform and predictable in consistency with a minimum level of variations for given qualities, Canadian beef breeders will have to improve not only those traits of importance of the past but also for carcass traits of importance int he future. The sue of advanced technologies and devices will become necessary, but the on-farm test program will continue to be the bases of Canadian beef improvement program.