The Commercial vs Registered Debate
Every cattle producer has a different ruler that they measure their bulls against. Seedstock producers want big names in the parentage, strong EPD numbers and breed setting phenotype. Commercial cattle focus on gain potential of the calves, will a bull produce quality replacement females and if the phenotype will survive the environment their ranch is in. An article published by Legends Cattle Company out of Texas, Benefits of a Commercial Bull, inspired me to think about what parameters are important and what we should be thinking about when selecting bulls. Todd Garrett asks the hard question, do we need to use the registered bull?
Todd Garrett asks the hard question, do we need to use the registered bull?
Not using registered bulls exclusively can open up a lot of doors genetically and phenotypically. My largest concern would be the lack of information that is available on the bull I was choosing but as Garrett outlines in his article there a new ways through DNA testing to find out a bulls exact genetic potential without the uncertainty associated with some EPD figures. This is an exciting prospect to think about! Being able to add hybrid vigor through composite bulls without it taking generations, testing are bulls for more accurate results and custom ordering the traits we want to focus on all sound like positives to me.
The other factor to think about, that many argue is the most important, is price. Registered bulls are usually more expensive and finding exactly what we need can be difficult within commercial budgets and time constraints. Commercial or composite bulls could offer more selection within friendlier budgets. The overhead that we pay to buy bulls out of registered programs just doesn’t factor in to commercial bulls. Personally I think the possibility of being able to seek out another commercial producer that has a similar herd situation and buying a bull from them sounds more forward thinking and a better use of my dollar.
As a producer I am not saying to completely throw the registered bull catalog out the window but I am challenging you to expand your thought process on what your herd goals are. Maybe running half registered bulls and half composites makes sense for you in the coming years to add some more maternal traits, maybe running composites on your mature cows and registered back on your heifers could improve your frame score, the possibilities are endless. This new thought on looking at ALL bulls as possible breeding options opens up a new way for us to think.
Let me know your thoughts or concerns, I’d love to keep this debate going and get your ideas!
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Pacific Coast Cattle 
Just the fact that you happen to be in the know of a lot of today’s industry changes is impressive. You’re idea, along with Todd Garret’s, is a big question a lot of today’s producers have been asking themselves. the only major concern of mine is getting a lot of the older generation cattle producers to see the changes and adapt. Especially the ones who don’t like trying to fix something that isn’t broke.
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That is the major concern for any young cattle producer in the industry – how do we get the previous generations to let us change some of the norm. The key point here is the price point, all producers want to cut their bottom line, if results can improve and price of the bulls can go down we should be able to get them to consider the change. My number one way to get them to consider it is to “try it” for a season and we’ll see if we can get you the results that you want. Once one herd gets results the word of mouth amongst producers is amazing!
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