Canadian Angus Association - Breed Development
C A N A D I A N
Making Sense of Selection Tools Available to Angus Breeders Today Breeding Goals: Healthy calves and profitability are what most Canadian Angus breeders are aiming for when making breeding decisions. And, the more accurately you can select the animals to use for breeding—the faster you will see progress towards that goal. The Association’s Breed Development department exists to provide tools that help with animal selection. EPD Tools: Expected Progeny Differences are estimates
of Angus animals’ breeding values, and are provided for several economically relevant traits. These can be used to predict how an Angus animal’s calves will perform for specific traits in comparison to other Angus calves. DNA Tools: DNA testing is available for several recessive genes including Arthrogryposis Multiplex (AM), Neuropathic Hydrocephalous (NH), Osteopetrosis (OS), and Alpha Mannosidosis (MA). These too are tools that help you select breeding animals—with the goal of eliminating these genes from the herdbook. The DNA test for Mannosidosis has only recently become available in North America even though the inherited condition is one of the oldest defects known in several breeds of beef cattle including Galloway, Murray Grey and Salers. Like AM, NH, and OS, MA is simply inherited so a carrier animal, one that is normal phenotypically, will pass on a normal gene to half its calves and the defect causing gene to the other half of its calves. An affected calf would only be seen if two carrier animals are bred. Affected calves are born alive and do not display any symptoms of the condition until they reach sexual maturity. Around yearling age these affected calves will
A N Canadian Angus Association - CACP G red in colour or the newly released green Universal Total U Tagger +. These taggers are designed to apply our tags and do not stretch the neck of the tag during application. This S ensures the two pieces of the tag fit together perfectly and A S S O C I A T I O N
Maximize Tag Retention Nothing lasts forever and there are plenty of factors which can affect the retention rate of Angus tags. Angus tags are manufactured by Allflex. Only six tag manufacturers including Allflex are approved for CCIA use and all tags are subjected to rigorous retention testing before being added to the list. Tags must pass a trial with a 99% retention rate in the lab and in the field. This means that under normal circumstances the tags will remain in the animal’s ear for life. Management styles and poor application will limit tag retention. Bale twine left in a feeder will lead to lower retention rates and improper application can greatly reduce your retention and also lead to problems like infection and can make tags difficult to read. Maximizing retention rates also reduces cost as tags cannot be reused. Using the proper tag equipment is a critical step in achieving optimum tag retention. Each tag manufacturer has a tagger built for their specific tags. Angus tags must be applied with the Allflex Universal Total Tagger which is Page 38
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fully engage the locking mechanism in the tag. When applying RFID tags with either tagger, the black insert must be removed for the tag to fit under the jaw properly. The insert then snaps back in to apply a dangle tag. To load the RFID tag, depress the silver clip and insert the female half of the tag. Slide the male portion of the tag completely onto the blunt applicator pin. Test the alignment of the tags by slightly squeezing the jaws together. The RFID tag should be placed in the middle of the ear between the two cartilage ribs. If the ear is split in half from the head to the tip, the RFID tag should be applied in the middle of the half closest to the head. The dangle tag should be applied as close to the middle of the ear as possible. The female portion of the tag must be on the inside of the ear, and should sit perpendicular to the ground; it should not be on the top of the ear, parallel to the ground. This location may cause poor readability with certain electronic readers. To help prevent infection every tag should be submersed in disinfectant or antiseptic solution after being loaded into the applicator and prior to application. The application site should be clean before touching the tag to the ear. Be sure to inspect the tag after it is applied to ensure there is sufficient space between the ear and tag. This air space aids in proper healing and retention. Keeping the tags in the ear or properly identifying animals when they do not stay in are key to programs like Canadian Angus Rancher Endorsed. If an Angus tag falls Angus World
become aggressive and will have difficulties with muscle control, and ultimately die. Animals that have been tested for the gene that causes MA are listed on our website (www.cdnangus.ca). MAF indicates that they have been tested free and MAC indicated that they have been tested as carriers of the causative gene. DNA testing for markers that have been associated with certain traits like growth and carcass are also available on the market, and the Association is currently evaluating these to incorporate this information into EPDs. Experience and Expertise: EPDs and DNA tests can identify a good animal to breed on paper, but they do not identify healthy and profitable phenotypes. Sound structure and profitable body shape are traits that only experience and expertise can identify accurately. Canadian Angus breeders are a wealth of knowledge when it comes to visual appraisal of beef cattle. Balance: All of the above are tools which should be used collectively to select animals that will propel your breeding programs towards your own specific goals, and towards profitability and health. Kajal Devani, Breed Development
out at a feedlot for example, that feedlot must retag the animal but will not have access to Angus tags, the animals will no longer qualify for some Angus branded beef programs. Like most things the onus of this falls on the primary producer at application but with little effort the tags can be utilized to their full capacity and retain their desired effect, which is to stay with the animal for life. Cheryl Hazenberg, CACP Co-ordinator Have you ordered your Angus Tags yet? The Canadian Angus Association represents 3,000 Angus producers nationally. When members succeed, the Association succeeds. Our programs are built by Angus members to aid not only the Angus breed in Canada but Angus members as well. While the Angus tag program targets commercial cattle by requiring tagged animals to be progeny of one registered parent, purebred animals qualify as well. Requiring a registered, transferred bull or cow to get tags drives demand for Angus breeding stock, which means greater demand for your product. Show your pride in the Angus breed and use Angus tags in all your qualifying animals. Remember to let all your bull customers know! To learn more or to order contact: Canadian Angus Association 142, 6715-8th St. NE, Calgary, AB, T2E 7H7 (403) 571-3580 Toll Free: 1-866-571-3580 www.cdnangus.ca