ANGUS GROUP BREEDPLAN

Angus GROUP BREEDPLAN is an advanced genetic evaluation system that provides a genetic description of Angus cattle for a large range of traits influencing fertility, growth and carcase performance.   It provides predictions of the genetic merit of individual animals called Estimated Breeding Values (EBVs).

EBVs are expressed in the units of measurement for each particular trait, and are shown as +ive or –ive values. The average EBV for different traits changes over time as the breed makes genetic progress. The averages for calves born in 2002 are displayed at the bottom of each page in the catalogue and are the easiest way to compare the merits of particular animals.

ACCURACY (%) ~ Provides an indication of the reliability of an EBV. As more performance information becomes available on an animal, it’s progeny and relatives, the accuracy of it’s EBVs for particular traits increases. The higher the accuracy, the less chance that the figure for each EBV will vary.

CALVING EASE DIRECT (%) ~ CE (dir) tells us the amount of calving ease we can expect from a particular bull, relating directly to the females he is joined to. The calving ease figures will generally only appear on the chart of a sire, but can also appear on a younger bull’s chart if there has been a lot of information gathered on his relatives. A positive value here is better.

CALVING EASE DAUGHTERS (%) ~ CE (dtrs) tells us the amount of calving ease we can expect from a particular bull’s daughters. A positive value here is beneficial.

GESTATION LENGTH (DAYS) ~ This figure gives us a value relating to the number of days from the date of conception to the calf birth date. A shorter gestation length is better as it gives more time for the cow to get back in calf and there is less chance of the calf getting too big in the uterus and increasing the chances of calving difficulties. A negative value here is better.

BIRTH WT (KG) ~ Birth weight gives us an indication of how much the calves of a particular animal will weigh at birth. This figure should be monitored, but be careful not to go too low as this can cause problems with calf mortality and calving ease down the track. We must also remember that only a small percentage of calving ease is related to birth weight.

200-DAY WT (KG), 400-DAY WT (KG) AND 600-DAY WT (KG) ~ Estimates the genetic differences between animals in liveweight at 200, 400 and 600 days of age. For example, if you have two bulls, one with a 600 day weight figure of +70 and the other with a figure of +80, you would expect the bull who is +80 to sire calves that would average 5kgs heavier at 600 days than the other (the sire provides 50% of the genes to the calf, 10kgs divided by 2). A positive value for these growth figures is better.

MATURE COW WEIGHT (KG) ~ This figure provides an estimate of the genetic differences between animals in cow weight at 5 years of age.

MILK (KG) ~ The Milk figure provides an estimate of the genetic differences between animals in milk production, expressed as a variation in the 200-day weight of their daughter's calves. Angus cattle generally don’t have a problem providing enough milk for their offspring, so we don’t really need to worry too much about pushing this figure. Too much milk can lead to udder problems and difficulty in getting back in calf, so try to keep it positive, but remember the implications of too much milk.

SCROTAL SIZE (CM) ~ This figure tells us about the scrotal circumference of an animal at 400 days of age. We measure scrotal size because there is a strong, positive correlation between scrotal size and fertility in the male and female offspring. The larger the testicles, the higher the likelihood of that bull siring more fertile daughters and getting more females in calf. A positive figure here is better.

DAYS TO CALVING ~ DC tells us about female fertility, it is expressed as the number of days from the start of the joining period until subsequent calving. A more fertile cow, i.e. one that gets in calf earlier is obviously more beneficial in a breeding program. A negative value here is better.

CARCASE WEIGHT (KG) ~ Carcase weight provides us with an estimate of the variation in carcase weight of a particular animal’s progeny at slaughter( this figure is adjusted to 650 days of age).

EYE MUSCLE AREA (CM2) ~ Results from ultrasound scanning of cattle at 15 – 18 months of age is used to calculate the expected genetic differences between animals in eye muscle area at the 12/13th rib site, in a 300kg carcase. This figure gives us a good idea of the muscling ability of the animal, the more muscling an animal possesses the better, so the higher the value here the better.

RIB AND RUMP FAT (MM) ~ Ultrasound scanning is also used to calculate these figures which estimate the genetic differences between animals in fat depth at the 12/13th rib site (Rib Fat) and P8 rump site (Rump Fat), in a 300 kg carcase. Very fat cattle may produce less yield, however cattle that are too lean, may run into fertility problems, so these figures need to be monitored. The best way to monitor yield and fertility however, is by not necessarily concentrating on fat, but by keeping an eye on yield and fertility!

RETAIL BEEF YIELD % (RBY%) ~ RBY% tells us the expected genetic differences between animals in percentage retail beef yield, in a 300kg carcase. A positive figure here is better.

INTRA-MUSCULAR FAT % (IMF%) ~ Marbling is very important for the premium markets. We can use ultrasound scanning (highly correlated to actual marble score) to provide us with an EBV that estimates the genetic differences between animals in marbling at the 12/13th rib site, in a 300 kg carcase.

Net Feed Intake (NFI)
Estimates of the genetic differences in the feed intake for animals adjusted to the same growth rate and weight base. Feed efficiency is one of the most economically important production traits. It particularly affects profitability of feedlots, but is also significant for grazing enterprises.
Since 2003 we have been taking blood samples of our herd for the purpose of testing Insulin-Like Growth Factor (IGF-1) which is moderately heritable (0.4) and correlated to NFI.
A negative value here is better.

$INDEX VALUES
$Index values were developed to make it easier to determine which animals are more suited to particular markets.  Breedobject creates these indices, where it places relative emphasis on particular traits suited to each particular market. 

• Long Fed / CAAB $Index:  Estimate the genetic differences between animals in net profitability per cow joined for an example high fertility self replacing commercial Angus herd in temperate Australia targeting pasture grown steers with a 270 day feedlot finishing period for the high marbled Japanese export market.  Steers are assumed marketed at 740 kg live weight (420 kg HSCW and 25 mm P8 fat depth) at 26 months of age.  Significant emphasis is placed on marbling and 600 Day Growth.
  
• Heavy Grass Fed Steer $Index: Estimates the genetic differences between animals in net profitability per cow joined for an example self replacing commercial Angus herd in temperate Australia that sells heavy grass fed steers for markets like the EU and light grass fed Jap Ox.  Steers are assumed marketed at 600 kgs live weight (330 kg HSCW and 15 mm P8 fat depth) at 22 months of age.  Emphasis is placed in Growth and Carcase Yield while maintaining Fertility and Marbling.
  
• Short Fed Domestic $Index: Estimates the genetic differences between animals innet profitability per cow joined for an example high fertility self replacing commercial Angus herd selling feeder steers and heifers for the short fed domestic feedlot trade.  Steers are assumed marketed at 445 kg live weight (245 kg HSCW and 10 mm P8 fat depth) at 15 months of age.  Emphasis is placed on growth to 400 days and high carcase yield while maintaining fertility and marbling.
  
• Terminal $Index: Estimates the genetic differences between animals in net profitability for an example commercial crossbred herd where no animals are kept for breeding.  For example using Angus bulls over tropical cows targeting pasture grown steers and heifers with a 100 day feedlot finishing period.  Progeny are assumed marketed at 600 kg live weight (325 kg HSCW and 17 mm P8 fat depth) at 23 months of age.  Emphasis is on growth and carcase yield with no weighting on calving ease, female fertility

Different emphasis is placed on particular traits depending upon their relevance to the market.  These indices are expressed in $ terms to show us the value of the animal.  For example, a bull with a Long fed $Index value of $80 compared with another with $50, is expected to produce an extra $15 per cow joined (1/2 x (80 - 50)).  Don't forget that ½ is used because the dam provides the other half.  Example - if you are target the long fed market, select a sire with a higher $value for that Index.

RED COLOUR GENE (rc)
The red colour gene is a simple recessive gene.  Red Angus animals have two copies of the red colour gene (remember that all genes come in pairs).  Animals with only a single copy of the red colour gene will be black in colour, but can have red progeny if joined to other animals carrying the red gene.

If a Red Angus male and Red Angus female are mated, then 100% of the resultant progeny are expected to be red in colour.  If a Black hided red gene carrier is mated to a Red Angus then 50% of the progeny are expected to be Red in colour and the remaining 50% are expected to be Black animals carrying a single copy of the Red gene (I,e. red gene carrier animals).  If two Red gene carrier animals are mated, then 25% of the progeny are expected to be Red in colour, 25% will be Black non-red carrier animals and 50% will be Black carrier animals.

Te Mania Angus DNA test animals that we know could carry the Red Gene.  DNA results are available prior to sale day and can be supplied upon request.

TRIAL STRUCTURAL TRAIT EBVs    (Feb 2010)
At present, there are five traits analysed, for over 9000 animals which were scored prior to 750 days of age.   They are - 

FA: Front Feet Angle (ST indicates steep angle, SH indicates shallow angle)
FC: Front Feet Claw Set (OD indicates open divergent claws, SC indicates scissor claws)
RA: Rear Feet Angle (ST indicates steep angle, SH indicates shallow angle)
RH: Rear Leg Hind View (BL indicates bow legged, CH indicates cow hocked)
RS: Rear Leg Side View (SR indicates straight rear legs, SI indicates sickle hocked)

More positive EBVs indicate a higher genetic potential for the desirable form of the structural trait compared to the average for the analysis.

The EBV flags only appear against animals that have more extreme, negative breeding values. The flags indicate the type of undesirable structural variation the animal tends to have. For example, a bull with a flag of ‘ST' next to its FA EBV may produce about 35% or more progeny with steep feet angle; while a bull with a flag of ‘SH' may produce 35% or more progeny with shallow feet angle. Therefore, using EBVs and flags in combination will assist breeders in making the right decision to improve the structural soundness of their herd.

Sires with at least 40% accuracy for a Structural EBV are reported.

For more information on Breedplan, visit Angus Society website