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GE-EPDs Deliver Progeny- Proof to Commercial Bull Buyers What are the chief advantages to buying bulls with genomic enhanced expected progenydifferences (GE-EPDs) powered by High Density (HD) 50K?

In cattle breeding with or without expected progeny differences (EPDs), the proof – and truth – has always come from progeny. Expected progeny differences backed by performance data on hundreds of offspring (weight records, daughter production records, etc.) represent the gold standard in accurate genetic predictions.

Access to such proven genetics by commercial cow-calf producers typically requires the use of artificial insemination (AI), which is currently practiced on less than five percent of the nation’s beef cows, primarily by seedstock producers. Aside from the use of progeny-proven A.I. sires, technologies are available that deliver the equivalent of an initial progeny proof and boosted accuracy - enter the use of GE-EPDs powered by Angus HD 50K for more dependable Angus bull buying decisions.

EPD, AccurAcy AnD AnGus HD 50K bAsIcs:

Expected progeny differences are predictions of genetic merit based on available pedigree, animal performance, progeny performance and now genomic information. Accuracy values quantify the reliability, or possible change (error) associated with EPDs, and range from zero to one with higher values indicating more dependable EPDs based on more information.

Thanks to the collaboration between Angus Genetic Inc. and Pfizer Animal Genetics, DnA marker information from the HD 50K platform (over 50,000 markers) also contributes to EPDs and accuracy values for tested animals, progeny and relatives. This marker information is especially informative for young, unproven animals that are not old enough to have progeny performance information available for the genetic evaluation. Incorporation of HD 50K information into EPDs boosts accuracy by 0.15 to 0.30 units as compared to pedigree-based EPDs (0.05 accuracy), depending upon the trait.

unDErsTAnDInG EPDs AnD AccurAcy bAsED on PEDIGrEE, own PErformAncE AnD ProGEny InformATIon:

The lowest accuracy, least dependable EPDs are those based only on pedigree information. An animal’s pedigree (parents, grandparents, etc.) can be thought of as the backdrop for genes that it had the opportunity to inherit.

Pedigree EPDs are simply the average of the EPDs of the parents:

½ EPD of sire + ½ EPD of dam

= Pedigree EPD of offspring

when buying young bulls, EPDs for maternal traits (cEm – calving ease maternal, milk, mw – mature cow weight, etc) are predominantly driven by only pedigree information. The accuracy of pedigree EPDs is commonly denoted by a “P”, “I” or numeric value between 0.05 and 0.10 (on a scale from 0 to 0.99), depending upon the breed.

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All brands are the property of Pfizer Inc., its affiliates and/or its licensors. ©2012 Pfizer Inc. All rights reserved. PAG12017

GETTInG wHAT you PAID for:

by most accounts, spring 2012 bull sale prices have exceeded historic highs. with such substantial bull investment and overall capital at risk, it is critical for commercial Angus bull buyers to know that selection of tested animals based on GE-EPDs powered by HD 50K has significant advantages as compared to buying untested bulls based on traditional EPDs. This advantage is equivalent to having an initial progeny-proof - or offspring with performance data in the genetic evaluation - adding accuracy to the EPDs. The added accuracy of EPDs for tested animals helps reduce the magnitude of unfavorable economic consequences from selection mistakes that can occur when low accuracy predictions fail to represent the animal’s true genetic merit (getting what you paid for).

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An individual animal’s own performance as compared to its contemporaries, combined with pedigree information, tells more of the story as to predicted genetic merit. The animal’s own performance offers indirect insight as to genes actually inherited and possessed by the animal, as evidenced by its expressed performance.

Accuracy values designated as “P+”, “I+” or with numeric accuracy in the 0.15 to 0.25 range, indicate that an animal’s own performance or a correlated trait has likely contributed to its EPDs for that trait. when buying young bulls, typically their birth, weaning and yearling weight information, including scan data if available, has contributed to their EPDs, while the remaining trait predictions are still primarily based on pedigree information.

The accumulation of honest, unbiased and carefully recorded and submitted progeny performance, carcass and daughter productivity information finally delivers moderate and high accuracy predictions of true progeny differences. but such accumulation of progeny information requires considerable time and ongoing investment, and is only fully achieved by a relatively small number of prominent A.I. sires.

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In order to illustrate this boost in accuracy delivered by HD 50K in practical terms, Pfizer and AGI have quantified the added dependability of GE-EPDs, as compared to pedigree predictions for each trait, in units of progeny equivalents (table 1). In other words, how many progeny would have to be available with documented performance data to achieve these same gains in accuracy? Across the spectrum of traits evaluated by GE-EPDs, progeny equivalents from HD 50K ranged from 7 to over 30 progeny.

TraitApproximate

Progeny Equivalents

Time Savings (Years)1 Approximate Data Expense2

calving Ease Direct (cED) 14 1.5 Time, Labor, sleep

birth weight (bw) 8 1.5 Time, Labor, scale

weaning weight (ww) 16 2 Time, Labor, scale

yearling weight (yw) 20 2.5 Time, Labor, scale

milk (mA) 12 4 Time, Labor, scale

residual Average Daily Gain (rADG) 13 3 $1,300

scrotal circumference (sc) 9 2.5 Time, Labor, feed

Docility (Dc) 8 2.5 Time, Labor, feed

mature weight (mw) 7 4+ Time, Labor, feed

carcass weight (cw), marbling 7-12 3 $50

ultrasound (marb, rE, fAT) 30+ 3 $450

Tenderness (Tend) 10 3 $250

Value of progeny intake, carcass, ultrasound and shear force tenderness data collection: $2,050

1Estimated added time to collect progeny records assuming HD 50K test at weaning on subject animals. 2Growsafe records valued at $100/head; carcass progeny records - $5/head; ultrasound scans -$15/head; shear force evaluation - $25/head.

Table 1:

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summAry:

The added accuracy possessed by Angus animals with GE-EPDs powered by HD 50K is generally equal to having a significant initial progeny proof backing up the dependability of EPDs. Given the far-reaching economic and production ramifications, it’s difficult to justify why commercial cow-calf producers would knowingly want to buy untested Angus bulls without GE-EPDs, especially since the seedstock producer typically makes the test investment. similar to a first breeding season guarantee, insurance for specified injury or death, or a futures market hedge against price risk, HD 50K helps insure that predicted genetic merit (GE-EPDs) for young animals more accurately reflects true genetic potential transmitted to progeny, carcasses and daughters. buying bulls based on more reliable information yields more profitable results.

Having the equal of an initial progeny proof is especially valuable when you consider specific bull buying objectives, for example:

• Given the consequences, buying heifer bulls based on GE-EPDs for superior calving ease direct and moderate birth weight makes sense because it reduces the likelihood of unpleasant surprises when calving heifers.

• with high feed costs, effective selection for efficient gain pays obvious dividends. buying young bulls based on GE-EPDs for growth (ww and yw) and efficient gain (rADG) - with accuracy equivalent to having 16 to 20 progeny with weaning and yearling weights and 13 progeny with dry matter intake data available - enables selection for feed efficiency at a level of dependability that otherwise was not historically possible. obtaining such feed intake records on progeny would typically cost more than $1,300 and not be available for over two years.

• As the number of cows in the u.s. has declined to levels not

seen in roughly the last 50 years, and increased profitability and moisture conditions combine to drive herd expansion, selection of Angus sires based on GE-EPDs for maternal traits offers a variety of benefits. namely, depending upon the trait, GE-EPDs powered by HD 50K have accuracy roughly equal to having 7 to 12 observations for early puberty (sons with greater scrotal circumference) and daughters in production with calving ease maternal, milk (calf weaning weights), mature cow weights, and docility score records. such information from daughters requires considerable time to accumulate, and selection mistakes have long-lasting impacts.

• To consistently reap carcass premiums from grade (marbling) and yield, as well as s upport consumer demand, selection of young sires based on GE-EPDs for carcass traits and tenderness possess added reliability equivalent to upwards of $750 worth of progeny carcass, ultrasound and shear force tenderness records.

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