Page 5 - Thompson Farms Annual Angus Bull & Female Sale – March 3, 2024
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AMERICAN ANGUS ASSOCIATION SELECTION TOOLS  Maternal Milk (Milk), is a predictor of a sire’s genetic merit for milk and mothering  $VALUE INDEXES
                                             ability in his daughters compared to daughters of other sires. In other words, it is   $Value Indexes, reported in dollars per head, are multi-trait economic selection
        Expected Progeny Difference (EPD), is the prediction of how future progeny of   that part of a calf’s weaning weight attributed to milk and mothering ability.   indexes where a higher values suggest more profit when comparing two individuals.
        each animal are expected to perform relative to the progeny of other animals listed  Mature Weight (MW), expressed in pounds, is a predictor of the difference in   Maternal Weaned Calf Value ($M), expressed in dollars per head, predicts prof-
        in the database. EPDs are expressed in units of measure for the trait, plus or minus.   mature weight of daughters of a sire compared to the daughters of other sires.   itability differences in progeny from conception to weaning by decreasing mature
        Accuracy (ACC), is the reliability that can be placed on the EPD. An accuracy of   Mature Height (MH), expressed in inches, is a predictor of the difference in mature  cow size and improving docility, foot structure and fertility while maintaining
        close to 1.0 indicates higher reliability. Accuracy is impacted whether the animal   height of a sire’s daughters compared to daughters of other sires.  weaning weights consistent with current production.
        has a genotype and the number of progeny and ancestral records included in the   Weaned Calf Value ($W), expressed in dollars per head, provides the expected
        analysis.                            MANAGEMENT                          difference in future progeny preweaning performance from birth to weaning.
        Calving Ease Direct (CED), is expressed as a difference in percentage of unassisted  Docility (DOC), is expressed as a difference in yearling cattle temperament, with   Cow Energy Value ($EN), is expressed in dollar savings per cow each year due to
        births, with a higher value indicating greater calving ease in first-calf heifers. It   a higher value indicating more favorable docility in a sire’s offspring compared to   lower cow maintenance energy requirements (due to lactation and body size) with a
        predicts the average difference in ease with which a sire’s calves will be born when  another sire.   larger number being more favorable.
        he is bred to first-calf heifers.    Claw Set (Claw), is expressed in units of claw-set score, a lower EPD is more   Feedlot Value ($F), expressed in dollars per head, is the expected average
        Birth Weight (BW), expressed in pounds, is a predictor of a sire’s ability to transmit  favorable, indicating a sire will produce progeny with more symmetrical, even and   difference in future progeny performance for postweaning feedlot merit (growth
        birth weight to his progeny compared to that of other sires.   appropriately spaced toes.  and feed efficiency) compared to progeny of other sires assuming producers retain
        Weaning Weight (WW), expressed in pounds, is a predictor of a sire’s ability to   Foot Angle (Angle), is expressed in units of foot-angle score, a lower EPD is more   ownership of cattle and sell on a carcass weight basis.
        transmit weaning growth to his progeny compared to that of other sires.   favorable, indicating a sire will produce progeny with an angle closer to 45 degrees  Grid Value ($G), expressed in dollars per carcass, is the expected average
        Residual Average Daily Gain (RADG), feed efficiency expressed in pounds per   at the pastern and appropriate toe length and heel depth.  difference in future progeny performance for carcass grid merit, including quality
        day, is a predictor of a sire’s genetic ability for postweaning gain in future progeny   Pulmonary arterial pressure EPD (PAP), is expressed in millimeters of Mercury   and yield grade attributes, compared to progeny of other sires.
        compared to that of other sires, given a constant amount of feed consumed.   (mmHg), with a lower EPD being more favorable indicating a sire should produce   Beef Value ($B),  expressed in dollars per carcass, represents the expected average
        Yearling Weight (YW), expressed in pounds, is a predictor of a sire’s ability to   progeny with a lower PAP score to decrease the risk of progeny contracting high   differences in the progeny postweaning performance and carcass value compared
        transmit yearling growth to his progeny compared to that of other sires.   altitude disease most commonly experienced at 5,500 ft or greater in elevation.  to progeny of other sires. This index assumes commercial pro ducers wean all male
        Yearling Height (YH), is a predictor of a sire’s ability to transmit yearling height,   and female progeny, retain ownership of these animals through the feedlot and sell
        expressed in inches, compared to the that of other sires.  CARCASS       on a carcass merit grid.
        Scrotal Circumference (SC), expressed in centimeters, is a predictor of the   Carcass Weight (CW), expressed in pounds, is a predictor of the differences in hot  Combined Value ($C), an index, expressed in dollars per head, includes all traits
        difference in transmitting ability for scrotal size compared to that of other sires.   carcass weight of a sire’s progeny compared to progeny of other sires.   that make up both $M and $B with the objective that commercial producers will
                                             Marbling (Marb), is expressed as a fraction of the difference in USDA marbling   replace 20% of their breeding females per year with replacement heifers retained
        MATERNAL                             score of a sire’s progeny compared to progeny of other sires.   within their own herd. The remaining cull heifer and steer progeny are then assumed
        Heifer Pregnancy (HP), is a selection tool to increase the probability or chance of   Ribeye Area (RE), expressed in square inches, is a predictor of the difference in   to be sent to the feedlot where the producers retain ownership of those cattle and
        a sire’s daughters becoming pregnant as first–calf heifers during a normal breeding  ribeye area of a sire’s progeny compared to progeny of other sires.   sell them on a quality-based carcass merit grid.
        season. A higher EPD is more favorable.   Fat Thickness (Fat), expressed in inches, is a predictor of the differences in
        Calving Ease Maternal (CEM), is expressed as a difference in percentage of   external fat thickness at the 12th rib (as measured between the 12th and 13th ribs) of
        unassisted births, with a higher value indicating greater calving ease in first-calf   a sire’s progeny compared to progeny of other sires.
        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.
                                        American Angus Association $Value Indexes


                                       Maternal Weaned Calf Value ($M), an index expressed in dollars per head, predicts profitability differences
                                       in progeny due to genetics from conception to weaning. $M is built off of a self-replacing herd model where
                                       commercial cattlemen replace 25% of their breeding females in the first generation and 20% in subsequent
                                       generations. Remaining cull females and all male progeny are sold as feeder calves. Increased selection pressure
                                       on $M aims to decrease overall mature cow size and improve foot structure and fertility while maintaining
                                       weaning weights consistent with today’s production.
                                       Weaned Calf Value ($W), an index expressed in dollars per head, provides the expected difference in future
                                       progeny preweaning performance from birth to weaning. $W assumes that producers retain 20% of their female
                                       progeny for replacements and sell the rest of their cull female and male progeny as feeder calves. Over time,
                                       increased selection pressure on $W will increase weaning and maternal milk traits while also continuing to
                                       increase mature cow size.
                                       Feedlot Value ($F), an index expressed in dollars per head, is the expected average difference in future progeny
                                       performance for postweaning merit compared to progeny of other sires. The underlying objective assumes
                                       commercial producers will retain ownership of cattle through the feedlot phase and sell fed cattle on a carcass
                                       weight basis with no considerations of premiums or discounts for
                                       quality and yield grade.                     EPDS DIRECTLY INCORPORATED INTO EACH $VALUE
                                       Grid Value ($G), an index expressed in dollars per carcass, is the
                                       expected average difference in future progeny performance for   MATERNAL  TERMINAL
                                       carcass grid merit, including quality and yield grade attributes,   TRAIT  $M $W $F $G $B  $C
                                       compared to progeny of other sires.
                                       Beef Value ($B), an index expressed in dollars per carcass,   CED
                                                                                    BW
                                       facilitates simultaneous multi-trait genetic selection for feedlot and   WW
                                       carcass merit. $B represents the expected average differences in the   YW
                                       progeny post-weaning performance and carcass value compared to   CEM
                                       progeny of other sires. This index assumes commercial producers   Milk
                                       wean all male and female progeny, retain ownership of these   MW
                Dollar value indexes, or   animals through the feedlot phase and market these animals on a
            $Values, are a tool used to select  quality-based carcass grid.         DOC
             for several traits at once based on a   Combined Value ($C), an index expressed in dollars per head,   HP
             specific breeding objective. An   includes all traits that make up both $M and $B with the objective   Claw
            economic index approach takes into   that commercial producers will replace 20% of their breeding   Angle
             account genetic and economic   females per year with replacement heifers retained within their own   DMI
            values as well as the relationships   herd. The remaining cull heifer and steer progeny are then assumed   CW
                between traits to select   to be sent to the feedlot where the producers retain ownership of   RE
                     for profit.       those cattle and eventually sell them on a quality-based carcass   Marb
                                       merit grid.                                  Fat
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