1. 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

2. 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

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

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

5. 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

6. American Angus Association 2005

7. 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

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

9. 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

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

11. 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

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

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

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

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

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

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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

19. American Angus Association 2005
Producer Questions
Where do I find Breed Averages?
American Angus Association 2005

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

21. 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

22. 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

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

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27. American Angus Association 2005
STEP 1
American Angus Association 2005

28. American Angus Association 2005
Help Screen
American Angus Association 2005

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STEP 2
American Angus Association 2005

30. Help Screen

31. American Angus Association 2005
STEP 3
American Angus Association 2005

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