GENETICS FOR GRASS FED BEEFTARGET END POINT??

CHOICE SELECT

Phenotypes & Genotypes to Hit the Target?

DIFFERENCE OF GROWTH CURVES IN GENDER

FAT

BONE

MUSCLE

A body fat content of 20 percent to 25 percent of empty body weight is needed for good eating quality.

Frame score is a convenient way of describing the skeletal size of cattle. Hip height, converted to frame score is a linear measurement that helps cattle producers evaluate lean-to-fat ratio potential of an individual animal. Large framed animals tend to be heavier at all points of the growth curve and leaner and later maturing. Small framed animals tend to be lighter, fatter and earlier maturing. With appropriate height and growth curves, most animals should maintain the same frame score throughout their life, regardless of when they are evaluated.

Bulls

Growing and Selling Pasture-Finished Beef: Results of a Nationwide Survey

PASTURE BASED SYSTEMS FOR APPALACHIA

BREEDS TO CONSIDER

British, British X, British X Continental

THERE IS MORE VARIATION WITHIN A BREED THAN AMONG BREEDS!

Dr. Larry Cundiff, USDA, MARC

Genetics

i.e. Individuals within a breed do not all have the same genetics for a number of production traits

1953 GRAND CHAMPION BULL – 1953 - Chicago

1988 GR. CH BULL – DENVERFrame score 10

1919 GR. Champion Bull - Chicago

Mature Height

Mature weight

SELECTION TOOLS (EPDs) THAT ASSIST IN DESIGNING THE ACCEPTABLE FEMALE

MATCH GENETICS TO FEED RESOURCES NOT RESOURCES TO GENETICS

SELECT COWS THAT ARE:

LOW MAINTENANCE – LOW INPUT

MODERATE FRAME

MODERATE MILK

EASY FLESHING

STRUCTURALLY SOUND

DOCILE

1050 Lb. 4 Frame

Expected progeny differences (EPDs) are an estimate of the genetic value of an animal as a parent for a specific trait. Differences in EPDs between two individuals of the same breed predict differences in performance between their future offspring. EPDs are calculated for birth, growth, maternal, and carcass traits and are reported in the same units of measurement as the trait (normally pounds). .

A number of different breeds (24) have genetic evaluations (EPDs) on a number of traits and can be accessed by searching their websites

EPD is the expected difference in future progeny performance of one individual relative to another individual(s).

EPDs can be used to compare all cattle within a breed.

Expected Progeny Difference

EPDs do not

predict actual

performance. =

BULL A BULL B

WW EPD, lb. +40 +56

The EPD Difference between Bull A and Bull B is 16 lb.

Weaning Weight EPD - Example

EPDs Predict Genetic Differences

Between Individuals

Calves sired by BULL B would be expected to average

16 Lbs. more at weaning than calves sired by BULL A

Cow Energy Value ($EN), expressed in dollar savings

per cow per year, assesses differences in cow energy requirements as an expected dollar savings difference in

daughters of sires. A larger value is more favorable when comparing two animals (more dollars saved on feed energy expenses). Components for computing the cow $EN savings difference include lactation energy requirements and energy costs associated with differences in mature cow size.

Angus Maternal EPDs

MILK is a predictor of a sire's genetic merit for milk and mothering

ability as expressed in his daughters compared to daughters of other sires. In other words, it is that part of a calf's weaning weight attributed to milk and mothering ability.Match milk to available resources.

Calving Ease Maternal (CEM), is expressed as a difference in percentage of unassisted births with a higher value indicating greater calving ease in first-calf daughters. It predicts the average ease with which a sire's daughters will calve as first-calf heifers when compared to daughters of other sires. Improves fertility

Mature Height EPD (MH),expressed in inches, is a predictor of the difference in mature height of a sire's daughters compared to daughters of other sires. Maintains pressure on Frame

Mature Weight EPD (MW), expressed in pounds, is a predictor of the difference in mature weight of daughters of a sire compared to the daughters of other sires. Wasdesigned to help breeders either decrease orIncrease mature size of cows in herd.

SPRING 2016 AMERICAN ANGUS ASSOCIATION

www.angus.org

KNOW THE BREED CURRENT AVERAGES

Be aware of the current breed averages

Maintenance Energy (ME) EPD - predicts differences in daughters’ maintenance energy requirements and is expressed in Mcal/Month. Since 70% of cowherd feed costs are used in maintaining weight and condition, this EPD allows for the selection of bulls whose daughters will require less feed and reduce cowherd

expenses. The lower the number the better.

Breed Avg = 1 (Spring 2016)

RED ANGUS ASSOCIATIONMaternal EPDs

Calving Ease Direct (CED) - predicts the probability of calves

being born unassisted out of 2-year-old heifers. Red Angus’

CED EPD is the best predictor of calving ease. The CED EPD

includes variation in BW plus other influential genetic factors such

as gestation length, calf shape, etc. Higher the number the better.

Breed Avg. = 6 (Spring 2016)

Calving Ease Maternal (CEM) - predicts the probability of a

given animal's daughters calving unassisted at two years of

age. It includes not only the predisposition for a female to calve

unassisted, but also her contribution to her calf's traits (birth

weight, calf shape, etc.) that make it more likely to be born

unassisted. Higher the number the better.

Breed Avg. = 4 (Spring 2016)

Red Angus Maternal EPDs (cont’d)

Stayability (STAY) – predicts the probability of a

bull’s daughters remaining productive until at least

six years of age. Why six? That’s how long it takes

a female to breakeven given all the expenses of

Development. Higher the number the better.

Breed Avg. = 10 (Spring 2016)

Heifer Pregnancy (HPG) - predicts the probability of

heifers conceiving to calve at two years of age. Many Breeds

offer genetic predictions of yearling bull scrotal

Circumference as an indicator of age of puberty. While

puberty is a prerequisite, many factors influence pregnancy

rate. Higher the number the better.

Breed Avg. = 10 (Spring 2016)

RED ANGUS EPD STATISTICSwww.redangus.org

SIRE SELECTION

SIRE SELECTION

• Establish the type of cows that produce in your given resources.

• Determine what traits need improvement to meet the needs of your end target product? Genetically design the final product with sire genetics.

• Calving ease

FRAME 11

FRAME 1

?GROWTH ?CALVING EASE ?CARCASS ?FERTILITY ?BREED ?

3 to 5

SELECTION TOOLS FOR BULLSGrowth EPDs:

Birth Wt.- expressed in pounds, is a predictor of a sire's ability to transmit birth weight to his progeny compared to that of other sires. Dead calves at birth produce terrible carcasses

CED (CALVING EASE) is expressed as percentage of unassisted births, with a higher value indicating greater calving ease in first-calf heifers. It predicts the average difference in ease with which a sire's calves will be born when he is bred to first-calf heifers. Dystocia has a negative effect on reproduction.

.

Growth EPDs (cont’d)

Yearling Wt. expressed in pounds, is a predictor of a sire's ability to transmit yearling growth to his progeny compared to that of other sires. Excessive numbers can cause increased size of replacement heifers.

Yearling Ht. is a predictor of a sire's ability to transmit yearling height, expressed in inches, compared to that of other sires. Positive numbers increase Frame size.

Weaning Wt. expressed in pounds, is a predictor of a sire's ability to transmit weaning growth to his progeny compared to that of other sires

CARCASS EPD TRAITS

Carcass Weight EPD (CW), expressed in pounds is a predictor of the differences in hot carcass weight of a sire's progeny compared to progeny of other sires.

Marbling EPD (Marb), expressed as a fraction of the difference in USDA marbling score of a sire's progeny compared to progeny of other sires. Higher numbers result in increased marbling.

Carcass EPDs (cont’d)

Ribeye Area EPD (RE), expressed in square inches, is a predictor of the difference in ribeye area of a sire's progeny compared to progeny of other sires. Higher numbers result in heavier muscled cattle

Fat Thickness EPD (Fat), expressed in inches, is a predictor of the differences in external fat thickness at the 12th rib (as measured between the 12th and 13th ribs) of a sire's progeny compared to progeny of other sires. Positive numbers may be associated with easier fleshing cattle

ANGUS SPRING 2016

• Utilize genetics of small to medium framedanimals (low maintenance requirements), that areearly maturing, efficient converters of grass tomuscle/fat, and have the genetic capability formarbling.Genetic evaluation programs by Breed associations provide a roadmap to find the optimum genetics for your operation.

ANGUS SEARCHTAEP GENETICSCALVING EASEREQUIREMENTS

Qualifies for TAEP – Calving ease (12 TOTAL)

16107741

Easy calving, moderate yrl. Wt., less than avg. frame, high marbling, large REA