Page 5 - Tokach Angus Annual Production Sale – Feb. 19, 2024
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Driving the science of better breeding
There’s little room for error in the cattle business. Producers need the most advanced information to make smart selection decisions, and Angus Genetics Inc. (AGI)
provides it through genomic-enhanced expected progeny differences (GE-EPDs).
GE-EPDs have become the industry standard for herd improvement, building on decades of science-backed genetic evaluation tools originated and maintained
through the American Angus Association, home to the largest and ever-growing single-breed beef cattle database.
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EPDs that traditionally contained all pedigree, performance and progeny information now also include results from available genomic, or DNA, tests. Breeders who
use genomic technology give buyers access to AGI-generated GE-EPDs that provide:
Increased predictability and decreased risk for young and unproven animals due to enhanced accuracy of EPDs
Better characterization of genetics for difficult-to-measure performance traits
(such as carcass traits, maternal traits and feed efficiency)
The ability to make more rapid progress for traits that are important to you, due to:
· more accurate selection
· easier identification of genetic outliers
· the ability to propagate young animals with confidence earlier in their lives
In fact, GE-EPDs on unproven animals have the same amount of accuracy as if they have recorded an average of 15 progeny, depending on the trait. That’s valuable
insight, offered regularly through the breed’s weekly national cattle evaluation.
TRAIT PROGENY EQUIVALENT TRAIT PROGENY EQUIVALENT
Calving Ease Direct 25 Pulmonary Arterial Pressure 17
Calving Ease Maternal 19 Hair Shed Score 8
Birth Weight 23 Heifer Pregnancy 17
Weaning Weight 27 Maternal Milk 35
Yearling Weight 22 Mature Weight 14
Yearling Height 15 Mature Height 9
Dry Matter Intake 11 Carcass Weight 14
Scrotal Circumfrence 13 Marbling Score 10
Docility 11 Ribeye Area 16
Foot Claw Set 13 Backfat Thickness 13
Foot Angle 13
How do you know if EPDs are genomic-enhanced?
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Ask your breeder, refer to the registration paper, or look for the AGI GE-EPD logo, Angus GS powered by partner Neogen or the HD50k by partner Zoetis. These
images indicate animals for which genomic testing has been conducted and incorporated by AGI into GE-EPDs
www.angus.org
