Selection Tools for Beef Cattle Improvement AMERICAN ANGUS ASSOCIATION Selection Tools for Beef Cattle Improvement 2005 National Angus Conference September 27, 2005 Sally L. Northcutt Genetic Research Director American Angus Association 2005

American Angus Association 2005 The evolution of livestock measurement AVERAGE DAILY GAIN WITHIN HERD RATIOS ESTIMATED BREEDING VALUE EXPECTED PROGENY DIFFERENCES $ VALUES: BIO-ECONOMIC INDEXES American Angus Association 2005

American Angus Association 2005 AHIR = Data Management TurningData Into... American Angus Association 2005

...Decision Making Tools... American Angus Association 2005

Capturing Value Through Genetics Calving Ease Cow Size/Milk Growth/Efficiency Carcass Merit “Very rarely is an effective breeding program based solely on a single trait.” American Angus Association 2005

American Angus Association 2005

Solutions for Commercial Bull Buyers ...Decision Making Tools... Solutions for Commercial Bull Buyers Bridges for the “Information Gap” Selection Tools, Commercial Programs, Data Management American Angus Association 2005

Outputs create Revenue Indexes EPDs Outputs create Revenue Inputs generate Expense American Angus Association 2005

Simplicity Convenience Multi-Trait What are Indexes? Simplicity Convenience Multi-Trait INDEX -- A combination and weighting of multiple traits and their relative economic impact into one value that can be used to rank animals. Challenging to Develop Simplistic to Use Directional Change in Multiple Traits American Angus Association 2005

AMERICAN ANGUS ASSOCIATION $Value Indexes Weaned Calf $W Postweaning $F $G $B Cow Energy $EN American Angus Association 2005

American Angus Association 2005 Key Components Feedlot Value ($F) WW and YW EPDs and their relationship Projected ADG Value Costs Feed Consumption and Cost Differences American Angus Association 2005

American Angus Association 2005 Key Components Grid Value ($G) End Product Carcass EPDs Ultrasound EPDs Quality Grade Yield Grade American Angus Association 2005

American Angus Association 2005 Feedlot Value ($F) Grid Value ($G) Beef Value ($B) $ per head difference American Angus Association 2005

How to Find Them… Breakout of Grid Value ($G) Quality Grade ($QG) Yield Grade ($YG)

American Angus Association 2005 Weaned Calf Index ($W) … Economic Impact Birth Weaning Direct Maternal Milk Mature Cow Size American Angus Association 2005

American Angus Association 2005 $W: Weaned Calf Value Economic Impact: EPDs Birth weight, Weaning weight Maternal milk Mature weight / height Yearling weight / height American Angus Association 2005

American Angus Association 2005 Research Sources: Cattle Fax National Research Council (NRC) US Meat Animal Research Center SPA and University Cow Calf Budgets AAA Database American Angus Association 2005

American Angus Association 2005 Producer Questions Where do I find Breed Averages? www.angus.org American Angus Association 2005

American Angus Association 2005 Cow Energy Value ($EN) … Energy Savings Annual Savings $/Cow/Year Economic Impact Energy Requirements Lactation & Maintenance American Angus Association 2005

Higher $Values are more favorable. Cow Maintenance Energy Requirements Mature Size & Milk EPDs Savings Impact $/Cow/Year Higher $Values are more favorable. American Angus Association 2005

American Angus Association 2005 Using $W and $EN … Consider Feed Resources Limited Feed Higher $EN, then select for $W Abundant Feed Higher $W, with lower priority $EN American Angus Association 2005

American Angus Association 2005 Interactive … Custom $Values Weaned Calf ($W) Feedlot ($F) Grid ($G) Beef ($B) American Angus Association 2005

American Angus Association 2005

American Angus Association 2005 STEP 1 American Angus Association 2005

American Angus Association 2005 Help Screen American Angus Association 2005

American Angus Association 2005 STEP 2 American Angus Association 2005

Help Screen

American Angus Association 2005 STEP 3 American Angus Association 2005

American Angus Association 2005

American Angus Association 2005