Beef Cattle Breeding Programmes : Progress and Prospects

INTRODUCTION Beef breeding programmes have developed significantly in the last 24 years since the 1 WCGALP. Breeding programs as defined here include the definition of breeding objectives, recording and genetic evaluation programs to develop selection criteria and developments in selection and mating technology to optimize genetic progress for the objective. Available today are tools for the implementation of breeding programs, which were at one point only a concept. The objectives of this paper are to review the current state of applied beef cattle breeding programs and related technologies and speculate on future prospects. The emphasis will be on specialized beef breeding programs in the developed world with reference to specific experience in Canada, acknowledging that this is not relevant to beef production in all areas of the world. However, for much of the developed world where specialized beef production is common the following developments and prospects could be valid.