2. Update on Multi-Breed Genetic Evaluation
Dr. John Hough, Vice President
Benyshek and Hough Consulting Services
Athens, GA

3. Start with the Basics

4. EPD Expected Progeny Difference

5. Accuracy Value between .00 and .99

6. EPDs are used to compare the Genetic Potential of one animal to another

7. *Maternal Grand Progeny
EPD Example
Sire
BW EPD
WW EPD
Milk EPD
Bull 1
2.8 9 2
Bull 2
1.6 12 -3
Difference
+1.2
+5*
*Maternal Grand Progeny

8. Basis of EPD Calculation Performance information on individual calves within a contemporary group submitted to SCBA

9. Contemporary Group = Group of calves given the same opportunity to perform A group of cattle of the same sex, born in the same season, at the same location, managed alike from birth to the time of measurement

10. SCBA Genetic Evaluation Conducted by AGI (Dr Sally Northcutt)

11. Multi-Breed Evaluation
Evaluates animals across breeds (within the SCBA database)
Combines information from animals of different breed of origin

12. Multi-Breed Evaluation (MBE) Utilized in SCBA Growth Model: Birth, Weaning, Milk and Post-weaning Gain (Yearling) EPDs Single-Breed Evaluation Utilized in SCBA Ultrasound Model: Fat, Ribeye & IMF EPDs

13. What is Different with MBE
Contemporary Grouping
Heterosis
Breed Effects

14. MBE Contemporary Grouping
Breed composition not used
Crossbred progeny evaluated
ET progeny evaluated
EPDs comparable between crossbred and purebred animals

15. Heterosis
The Superiority of a crossbred animal relative to the average of its straight bred parents
Reproduction = High
Growth = Moderate
Carcass = Low

16. Breed Effects Pedigrees traced back as far as possible
Breed combinations of these “Founder” animals are determined
All genes of an animal come from these Founders

17. MBE Breed Biological Types
British (B)
Continental (C)
Zebu (Z)
Angus
Charolais
Africander
Devon
Gelbvieh
Brahman
Hereford
Limousin
Gyr
Murray Grey
Salers
Nellore
Shorthorn
Simmental
Sahiwal
Senepol

18. MBE Heterosis Effects Breed Direct Maternal Combo* Birth Wean Gain
Z x Z
0.0
C x Z
7.5
48.0
28.2
2.1
53.2
B x Z
56.2
C x C
1.9
21.3
9.4
1.0
18.8
B x C
B x B
* Z=Zebu, C=Continental, B=British

19. MBE Breed of Founder Effects
Direct
Maternal
Combo
Birth
Wean
Gain
Angus
0.0
Hereford
7.8
2.0
6.3
2.5
-15.3
Shorthorn
11.2
20.6
13.2
3.5
21.0
Charolais
20.8
66.2
35.6
4.0
13.3
Gelbvieh
15.8
58.5
-8.1
39.8
Simmental
17.5
61.9
40.5
34.1
Limousin
11.7
25.6
-2.9
0.4
Zebu
18.5
19.0
-9.0
-16.5
19.2
British Beef*
-1.0
-8.0
-3.2
5.1
British Dairy
-1.1
-4.0
51.3
Cont Beef
60.3
38.3
-2.0
Cont Dairy
14.0
41.7
16.7
61.6
* Senepol = British Beef

20. Current EPD Models * Effect / Trait Birth Weaning PW Gain Ultrasound
Fixed Effects *
Direct Heterosis
Maternal Heterosis
Direct Breed Effect
Maternal Breed Effect
Direct Genetic Effect
Maternal Genetic Effect
Maternal Permanent Environmental Effect

21. EPD Correlations (Sires with >= 2 progeny n=1,318)
Trait
Correlation
Birth
.92
Weaning
.89
Milk
.85
Yearling
.90
Post-Weaning Gain
.86

22. Future? Continue with MBE
Potentially refine / breed specific Heterosis and Breed Effects
Utilize more sophisticated techniques, such as…

23. DNA (Genomic enhanced EPDs)
Two Companies currently offer tests
Pfizer
Igenity
No Senepol-specific tests are currently available
Between 800-1,000 DNA samples are required to implement genomic model

24. Understand Current Genetic Values and How to Use Them
Most Important
Understand Current Genetic Values and How to Use Them