Sire Selection
Interestingly , data from the Cow Herd Appraisal Performance Software ( CHAPS ), through the North Dakota State University Extension Service and North Dakota Beef Cattle Improvement Association ( NDBCIA ), suggest that with most performance traits , threshold values seem to exist that commercial beef producers can attain for relative performance within the herd , including growth , reproduction and livability . Assuming CHAPS producers are similar to other beef producers , they simply need to better understand the numbers to adequately maintain or tweak their current cow-calf enterprise .
Breed : Red Angus
Sample Bull Selection Worksheet
Reg . No . |
Sire Name |
BW |
WW |
YW |
Milk |
Marb |
REA |
HBI |
GMI |
123 |
Bull 001 |
-3.0 |
58 |
84 |
16 |
0.34 |
0.70 |
$ 118.00 |
$ 49.00 |
234 |
Bull 001 |
-1.9 |
59 |
90 |
14 |
0.68 |
0.42 |
$ 89.00 |
$ 51.00 |
345 |
Bull 001 |
-1.2 |
60 |
92 |
17 |
0.87 |
0.23 |
$ 113.00 |
$ 51.00 |
456 |
Bull 001 |
1.2 |
71 |
111 |
17 |
1.08 |
0.60 |
$ 93.00 |
$ 53.00 |
567 |
Bull 001 |
-3.1 |
57 |
88 |
21 |
0.75 |
0.51 |
$ 144.00 |
$ 51.00 |
678 |
Bull 001 |
-2.7 |
68 |
105 |
17 |
0.68 |
0.57 |
$ 128.00 |
$ 52.00 |
789 |
Bull 001 |
-2.4 |
63 |
100 |
17 |
0.60 |
0.57 |
$ 113.00 |
$ 52.00 |
AVG |
-1.9 |
62 |
96 |
17 |
0.71 |
0.51 |
$ 114.00 |
$ 51.29 |
Percentile Scores For Actual EPD |
Breed 10 % |
-1.9 |
77 |
121 |
30 |
0.79 |
0.45 |
$ 159.05 |
$ 53.29 |
Breed 30 % |
-3.2 |
66 |
103 |
25 |
0.59 |
0.26 |
$ 122.39 |
$ 51.35 |
Breed 50 % |
-1.8 |
59 |
91 |
21 |
0.46 |
0.13 |
$ 97.00 |
$ 50.00 |
Breed 70 % |
-0.4 |
52 |
79 |
17 |
0.33 |
0.00 |
$ 71.61 |
$ 48.65 |
CURRENT SIRES AS OF 9-18-2017 |
http :// redangus . org / genetics / epd-percentiles |
Enter the bull . The bulls impact production and are the tools of the trade to meet the specifications of a demanding consumer and help the cow-calf producer sustain the cowcalf herd through the selection of replacements . The message for today ’ s cattle producer : Understanding value and balance is more important than the perceived , ever-desired increase in cattle performance . It ’ s what ’ s inside beef that counts .
Historically , we run races , and we believed that biggest is best . What happens when all of the cattle are big ? As the beef cattle industry continues to mature , bull selection shifts from a simpler straight race to a more complex maze . As the race ends , we enter the maze , a maze that will drive bull selection .
The hard work starts now . Future success will be a balancing act now , weighing inputs and costs against potential additional improvement . Thus , the need for EPDs and bull selection . If puzzled , seek some advice , attend some workshops and ask for help for the questions that do not seem to have answers . carry the genes , which make up 50 percent of a calf . The sire of the cow makes up 25 percent of the calf and the sire of the mother of the cow makes up 12.5 percent of the calf . In simple terms , the last three bulls have furnished 87.5 percent of the genes in the most recent calf crop .
The same could be said of the cow side of the pedigree ; however , the cow does not have the opportunity to produce copious numbers of calves , so data is more limited . And data - that is , the numbers - are the point of this discussion .
So , begin by finding registration numbers of recently purchased bulls , look up their current EPD values for the traits of interest and write them down . Once the numbers are written , data are emerging .
An average EPD calculation for the traits of interest will develop a benchmark . The benchmark relates to the calves in the pen . Modification of the benchmark is sire selection . I
The goal in the bull workshops is connectivity , connecting what one sees to the previously purchased bulls . The bulls
30 | FEBRUARY 2018