LUBBOCK, TX – Cattle producers may need to put more weight on proven function than genetic projections when selecting animals for long-term profitability.
Isaiah Shnurman of Genetic Hedging Solutions argues that cattle often show their value before a producer opens a catalog. Structure, sound feet and legs, body capacity, disposition, fertility, and longevity can reveal whether an animal is likely to work in a real-world production system.
The concern is that the seedstock industry often leans heavily on expected progeny differences and genomic predictions. Those tools can help, but they may not fully show whether a cow can breed back, hold condition, stay sound, and wean calves year after year.
For commercial cattlemen, the strongest proof is production history. A mature cow that has raised calves consistently on grass has already passed several economic tests, including fertility, adaptation, and durability.
Shnurman’s point is not to reject data, but to put it in order. Evaluate structure and phenotype first, performance second, pedigree third, and predictions last.
Farm-Level Takeaway: Proven cattle that stay sound, breed back, and wean calves are still the foundation of cow-calf profitability.