World's Largest Beef Cattle Genomic Calibration for GE-EPDs
With a fifth refinement or calibration, Angus breeders and commercial users of Angus genetics can now make even more dependable and informed decisions using DNA test results which are incorporated into weekly genetic evaluations available at angus.org.With genotypes for more than 100,000 animals, the updated training population encompassing more than 15 maternal, growth, efficiency and carcass traits.
Zoetis Director of Genetic Technical Services for US Cattle and Equine Group Kent Andersen shares what this means for the commercial cow-calf bull buyer
Andersen: “Is that buying a tested bull with genomic enhanced EPDs is like buying a bull that already has the better part of a first calf crop whose data would otherwise need to be included in order to achieve the same level of accuracy. So they are buying bulls with more dependable genetic information upon which to base decisions. So if they are buying heifer-bulls for ease of calving, there is going to be fewer unpleasant surprises come calving time if the decision is based on the genomic enhanced EPD for calving ease direct and say a trait like birth weight. Or if the customer is buying bulls from which daughters are to be saved or to produce feedlot and carcass progeny, you can buy a tested bull with more confidence that the transmitted genetic merit will be the same as the predicted genetic merit because the marker information enhances the accuracy of the prediction.”