1. National Beef Cattle Evaluation Consortium Brown Bagger Seminar Carcass EPDs Integrating Carcass and Ultrasound October 22, 2008 Sally L. Northcutt Genetic Research Director American Angus Association ®

2. Decision Making Tools...

3. Genetic Evaluation Models: End Product BIF Genetic Prediction Committee BIF Board of Directors BIF Guidelines revision passed June 9, 2007 Jointly analyze carcass and ultrasound data and report in a carcass EPD format Carcass weight, marbling, rib, and fat EPDs Use an age-constant endpoint

4. Genetic Evaluation Models: End Product American Angus Association Board of Directors June 2007 meeting Approved to pursue combining the ultrasound and carcass AHIR® data to compute one set of carcass EPDs. November 10, 2007 Approved the release of new carcass EPDs with the Fall 2008 National Cattle Evaluation.

5. Why New Carcass EPDs? Simplify selection tools for commercial bull buyers using Angus genetics. Consolidate predictions for animals with carcass and/or ultrasound data. Focus on the economically relevant traits affecting quality and yield grade. Enhance the genetic evaluation through improved prediction models. Provide a platform for implementing future technologies for genetic improvement.

6.  81,711 progeny records   Initiated 1974 Carcass Database Fall 2008 Steers and Heifers Sire/maternal grandsire model 1979 base year Pedigree-estimated Interims

7. Ultrasound Database Fall 2008  Initiated 1998   935,548 Records Bulls, Heifers, Steers Animal model 1997 base year Interims may include individual performance deviation

8. Trait Relationships  Carcass traits –Value and economic relevance –Observed on fed steers and heifers  Ultrasound traits –Indicator traits –Observed in yearling bulls/heifers  Goal is to have genetic predictors for carcass traits.

10. Genetic Parameters – Marbling and IMF MarbIMF-BIMF-CIMF-S Marb.45.66.52.84 IMF-B.38.89.90 IMF-C.40.95 IMF-S.26

11. Example: Marbling EPD Marbling scores (steers and heifers) Ultrasound %IMF (bulls, heifers, and steers) Animal Model Marbling EPD EPD units are carcass marbling score. %IMF data is an indicator of carcass marbling. EPDs and ACCs are not directly comparable to previously published EPDs for carcass and ultrasound.

12. Marbling EPD (Marb) Bull A+.71 Bull B +.12 Difference.59 Expected marbling score difference in future progeny A B Sire Comparison: Marbling EPD

13. Education

14. Carcass EPD Layout – Fall 2008

15. Considerations Accuracies on animals with no carcass progeny are dramatically reduced. Breeders need to utilize percentile rankings and not focus on the absolute numeric EPD value. If the EPDs change, then the $Value ($Grid and $Beef) rankings change.

16. Reproduction Feed Efficiency Herd Health Carcass Merit Genomics Marker Assisted Selection Whole Genome Selection

17. Genomic Selection

18. National Beef Cattle Evaluation Consortium Brown Bagger Seminar Carcass EPDs Integrating Carcass and Ultrasound October 22, 2008 Sally L. Northcutt Genetic Research Director American Angus Association ®