Cody Jorgensen spoke recently at the HPJ Live event in Wichita, Kansas. (Journal photo by Lacey Vilhauer.)

Beef genomics and DNA testing are topics that keep popping up in the livestock arena, but are they valuable for both the purebred and commercial producer, and can they result in additional profits? Cody Jorgensen, chief livestock officer at Jorgensen Land and Cattle in Ideal, South Dakota, spoke about this subject at the recent HPJ Live event held in Wichita, Kansas, Aug. 6 to 8. 

JLC is considered one of the largest producers of registered and commercial Angus bulls in the nation—selling more than 6,000 bulls per year—but Jorgensen said it all starts with the cow. The operation has four family members and includes 1,500 momma cows, known as parent stock. In addition to the parent stock, JLC has about 20 cooperator herds, or what Jorgensen referred to as genetic partners, and they add up to about 12,000 cows. He said this is what creates the supply for their bulls on an annual basis.  

“This cow herd controls the genetics for all of the bulls that we market throughout the course of the year,” he explained. “We really have to be careful with selection on this cow herd because if there is a mistake made at this level, it can trickle down and affect a lot of cattle. If we get the cow right, then a lot of things come easy for us.” 

Using GEPDs 

JLC utilizes Genomic Enhanced Estimated Breeding Differences, or GEPDs, which are different from Expected Progeny Differences, because GEPDs include DNA testing, making them more advanced and accurate. Jorgensen admitted DNA tests can be confusing and difficult to utilize in making breeding decisions. He said there are more than 50 traits measured in the testing and reviewing the results can be daunting.  

“A lot of times when you just send in DNA, the information sits on your desk and you don’t know what to do with it,” Jorgensen said. “We want to be able to physically help you take the DNA, send it in, get the results, interpret the results, and then be able to help you make sound decisions based on genomics, on your replacement females.” 

Operations like JLC offer producers help in decoding the data provided in these tests, and at that point the information becomes extremely valuable to cattle raisers. JLC utilizes AgBoost, which is a genetic management software for producers. It helps cattle producers analyze genetic data and improve their herds. 

The value of genomics 

Jorgensen said he is often asked three questions related to whether or not genetic testing is worth the effort and inputs. The first query is if GEPDs correlate with real world results. To explain his answer, Jorgensen used an example of a group of calves his operation had sorted into four different quadrants based on GEPDs for weight—including birth, weaning and yearling weights. 

“We sorted this based on the DNA results, and then weighed them,” Jorgensen explained. “The difference between the worst set of calves and the best set of calves at weaning weight was 88 pounds. That’s $264 difference at weaning time, and that’s probably light in today’s market. That doesn’t count anything else, that’s just strictly weight. To answer their question, yes, GEPDs work, and here’s real life data to prove it.” 

The next question Jorgensen is often asked is if testing calves pays. He said based on the research JLC has compiled, over the lifetime of a cow, they can expect a $76 return on investment per calf with DNA testing. 

“That’s $450 extra return per cow if you add up her calf crop,” Jorgensen explained. “That’s a nine-to-one return, so it makes sense.” 

Is genetic progress possible? 

The final question producers ask is if they can actually make genetic progress. Jorgensen said the short answer is yes. In another real-life example, he explained that one of JLC’s clients had been using their extensive genetic consulting work since 2021 and she has been making great strides in genetic improvement for her herd. 

“Her overall AgBoost score in 2021 was 4.8, and most of our genetic partners average 5.7, so she was way below average,” he said.  

By using DNA to direct her decision making, she was able to increase her score to a 6.1 in just one or two calf crops, according to Jorgensen. 

“That’s incredible, and by 2023 she went from a 6.1 up to a 6.8 and she’s kicking the crap out of the rest of the multipliers. You can make genetic progress, no question about it.” 

Making decisions for the future of a cattle operation without understanding the genetic merit of a herd or the implications of the choices made as a rancher manager is a sure way to miss out on genetic improvement. Utilizing data can point producers in the right direction and give them the information needed to make informed and wise breeding decisions for an operation. 

Lacey Vilhauer can be reached at 620-227-1871 or [email protected].