Multibreed Evaluation Generates New EPDs continued from page 14 ference, stayability, docility, carcass weight, ribeye area, yield grade and marbling score), NALF’s evaluation includes its 4year-old Mainstream Terminal Index ($MTI), which simplifies mating decisions by ranking animals for expected net economic merit through simultaneous consideration of many traits. $MTI combines information about calf survival, weaning and yearling weights, average daily gain (ADG) in the feedyard, feed intake, dressing percentage, yield grade, and marbling. Generally, $MTI values of +43 and greater rank animals in the top half of the breed for mainstream-market growth and carcass merit. (See the table on page 14.) “The EPDs and index predict genetic rankings among animals, and they are the most accurate predictors of genetic merit,” Hyde explained. “Our genetic evaluation provides Limousin breeders and their commercial customers with helpful selection tools for genetic improvement.” Tools on the NALF Web site that interface with the genetic evaluation include the Sire Selector, pedigree and EPD lookup, and the Limousin Exchange’s Bull Listing Service and Females for Sale components. The site’s “Genetic Evaluation” section includes the latest EPD statistics, percentiles and trends; sire-summary qualifications; general-sire listing; proven and young trait leaders; and downloadable sire summary. The fall edition also includes the breed’s list of Focus Dams, which are females with proven reproductive performance and producing ability.
Cattle Industry Anticipates Genome-Assisted Selection
Will you be selling Limousin-influenced calves this fall? If so, look no further than the Limousin Exchange Feeder Calf Classifieds on the North American Limousin Foundation (NALF) Web site to help market them. Now, more than ever, it is especially important to get your calves listed in the classifieds because various buyers (including Strauss Brands and Laura’s Lean Beef) use them to source calves for their marketing programs. As part of the Limousin breed’s continued commitment to the commercial sector, NALF provides the Web-based calflisting service so sellers can post their Limousin-influenced calves for sale in an easy-to-use, free, classified advertisement with worldwide exposure. The desired method of sale does not matter. Whether you consign them to an auction market or video auction or trade them directly, the Limousin Exchange helps ensure every bidder possible competes for your calves. Potential buyers browse the site using the selective search engine to see the cattle available for sale and sort them by state or gender. NALF staff members promote the listings through e-mail messages, faxes and direct-mail communication with order buyers, feedyards and individuals interested in feeding Limousin-influenced calves. To list your Limousin or Limousin-influenced calves, visit www.nalf.org on the Web and click the “Limousin Exchange: Feeder Calf Classifieds” link. Or contact Frank Padilla in the NALF office.
Genetics Reborn
continued from page 13 The following traits are in one or another phase of genomics research, validation and commercial testing: feed utilization, animal health, healthfulness and palatability of beef products, adaptability or tolerance to environmental stress, and cow fertility and productivity. Industry adaptation to an evolving suite of MBVs for additional traits represents a formidable challenge. First, we need a clear understanding of the efficacy of each new MBV in specific populations. Second, assuming the MBV possesses significant predictive power, ascertaining its relative economic importance as compared to other traits is necessary for appropriate weighting in selection. Next, threshold levels for some of those new MBVs exist – beyond which economic returns diminish; producers should factor that into multipletrait selection. As a result, incorporation of MBVs for those traits into existing and new economic selection indexes and decisionsupport tools likely offers the best prospect for easiest and most appropriate use of available selection information. LIMOUSIN’S COMMERCIAL CONNECTION
Limousin Exchange Helps Market Feeder Calves
Over time, more sophisticated selection tools should drive notably greater genetic improvement. That should reduce costs for producers (including feed, labor and heifer development) and add revenue from a higher proportion of animals that they can market readily at premium prices. Breed-association commercial marketing programs could help commercial bull buyers more fully exploit the economic benefits of seedstock with more accurate and comprehensive evaluations. Breakthroughs in genomics technology and the emergence of MBVs for a variety of traits offer the potential to enhance the accuracy of existing EPDs and enable selection for important traits not currently evaluated. Depending upon the extent to which industry segments effectively collaborate, adaptation to genomics technology could be relatively seamless. Most appropriate and profitable adoption likely hinges on the establishment of symbiotic relationships focused on delivering tangible value to commercial cow-calf producers. Editor’s note: Kent Andersen, Ph.D., was the executive vice president for NALF. He resigned July 1 to become an associate director for Pfizer Animal Genetics. This article is an adaptation of the presentation he made at the 2009 Beef Improvement Federation (BIF) annual meeting and research symposium.
Fall 2009
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