Piedmontese Bull Sale Report 6

In preparation for the event, the selection of sale bulls from their respective GrowSafe contemporary group is always managed the same way. Only those bulls that have gone through the GrowSafe Performance test have the depth of data collected to make meaningful sale selections possible.

The breed improvement committee use a combination of EPDs and performance test data on the individual bulls, with basic cut-off points for high birth weight, poor disposition, low weight gain, small scrotal size, less desirable feet/leg conformation, and size. For example, at the close of the test the committee can use the group average final weight to determine a cut off minimum weight the bull must have to be considered for the sale.

In order to avoid discounting those light-birth-weight-bulls who may exhibit slightly lower growth rate on test, the committee also uses an average of the bull’s EPD rank within the breed for five traits: birth weight (BW), calving ease (CE), weaning weight (WG), yearling weight (YG) and scrotal (SC). The rank-within-the-breed for each trait is added together and divided by 5, and in order to be considered for the sale a bull should achieve an average of at least close to 50.

Obviously, bulls also need to be DNA test-verified 2-copy, NAPA registered with EPDs, and to have passed their breeding soundness exams, before they can be considered for the sale.

It really is all about CONFIDENCE.

All of this information on a bull gives confidence to the seller, the association and sales management, that a selected bull will represent the producer’s program and the breed in a positive manner.

Another record-breaking sale tells us that the buyers also have confidence in the process and in the breed!

by Vicki Johnson

Pictured right are the four bulls that had semen pre-orders placed on the day of the Sale. This breed improvement project allows for producers present that day to pre-order semen, ahead of the sale, at a special price of $14./unit. 2645 units were ordered on these bulls for a combined value of over $37,000. - with proceeds going to the bull buyers. A great way to sample the newest genetics!

The Tip of the Iceberg – Generating EPDs

87.5% of the genetics of a calf crop is determined by the previous three sire generations.

That fact is the driver behind the highly successful practice of ‘stacking pedigrees’ to build a lineage of elite animals. But in order to be successful it requires confidence in the accuracy of pedigrees, and confidence in classic EPDs, professionally designed and computed, based primarily on actual animal weights and measures in performance trials.

Anyone can “stack pedigrees” and see positive results - IF and only IF the data behind those pedigrees and EPDs is accurate.

What makes a solid foundation for the NAPA Piedmontese EPDs?

• accurate pedigrees as verified by parentage testing prior to animal registration; • accurate DNA confirmation of myostatin status (homozygous or heterozygous); • impeccable professional research over several years into the real phenotypic effects of 1-copy versus 2-copy myostatin on various traits using thousands of USDA animal records, plus 38-years of historical Canadian Piedmontese Association and NAPA breed records combined; • and most importantly, 15 years of Bull Performance Test data with more continually flowing into the system.

The NAPA Piedmontese EPDs are truly custom designed to the highest standards, taking into account the real effects of our myostatin gene on various traits, and using a custom system of equations for each trait.

That is the unseen and all-important stability at the foundation. 90% of an iceberg is “unseen” below the waterline. That unseen mass is what gives the iceberg stability and makes it a force to be reckoned with. EPDs are much the same – it is what lies beneath the surface that gives it weight.

Anyone familiar with EPDs understands that each breed association computes their data in a unique way, using different adjustment factors. The math is always a little different! That is why you cannot directly compare Angus EPDs with Simmental EPDs, for example, but all Simmental animals computed using the same system are directly comparable.

For Piedmontese seedstock producers, it is very important to understand that you cannot directly compare any PAUS EPD information with the NAPA EPDs because they were not calculated in the same way. In fact, I understand that PAUS has simply added the online NAPA EPD reports to their dataset in an effort to expand their EPDs. This can only result in inaccuracy in the PAUS system because, again, the methods of calculating are unique in the NAPA system and cannot be duplicated in ongoing PAUS evaluations.

You simply cannot combine two datasets computed in different ways and expect any accuracy in the result. continued p. 10

The Tip of the Iceberg – Generating EPDs

Genomic-enhanced EPDs is another topic where ‘what lies beneath’ is very important to consider. Currently available genomic panel tests are based on markers validated in research using non-Piedmontese cattle (predominately Holstein and Angus).

Angus were leaders in adopting genomic-enhanced EPDs and began years ago, BEFORE they had their own Angus Reference Genome available. When they started, they were using markers from Angus cattle mapped to the Hereford Reference Genome (which was then the only Reference Genome available). Basically, all other breeds today are using markers mapped to a Hereford Reference. This leaves potentially large gaps of breed-specific data out of the equation.

In recent years, when the Angus began using their own Angus Reference Genome rather than Hereford, to map markers in their panel tests – it resulted in a significant re-ranking of sires in their genomic-enhanced EPDs. In other words, breeders were less than pleased to see some of their top ranked sires slide downward, others were pleased to see their sires move upward, and the entire system was thrown into disarray (especially for those who had been stacking pedigrees for generations only to see them slip in the rankings).

As many of you know, NAPA is currently working via the USDA on two unique Fullblood Piedmontese Reference Genomes.

Once that work is completed, we will be in a position to develop genomic-enhanced EPDs that are actually based on our own breed’s genetic features.

It is worth waiting for, and perhaps most importantly, it avoids the confusing re-ranking of genomic EPDs as experienced by the Angus due to starting with the ‘old’ and then switching to the ‘new’. continued p. 12