NALF RELEASES NEW INDEXES
What are the new indexes and how should you use them?
TERMINAL PROFIT INDEX (STPI)
The new Terminal Profit Index (STPI) has been constructed to identify sires that produce the highest profit potential for fed cattle utilizing traits that directly impact feed performance and superior carcass traits. The new index was created using the most recent 10 years of USDA reported fed cattle and grid pricing data. K-State reported feedlot cattle performance and NALF data. The new TPI index models the use of Limousin sires on Angus based cows with calves marketed on a value-based carcass grid. This index reported represent estimated differences in profit per mating. The following EPD traits are included in TPI and their corresponding Marginal Economic values used in the Terminal Profit Index. HCW, REA, FAT, MS, DMI, CE and PWG spread. It is important to remember that the TPI index is not an index for selecting replacement heifers or female selection. This index is for identifying Terminal Sires that excel in feeding performance in today’s formula and grid-based marketing of today’s fed cattle environment. The range seen on NALF’s 4500 active sires reflects a high of $210 and a low of -$16 with a mean of $94.
DRY MATTER INTAKE (DMI)
Dry matter intake is a key component to $G along with an animal’s PWG potential to reflect an animal’s feed conversion capability. The key to DMI is to remember lower percentile ranks not necessarily a bad thing. Cattle that are giving you back adequate gain for their intake are still producing pounds efficiently. The real use of DMI is to get to the correct expression of feed conversion rates. $G is used to find cattle that are superior for Feed Efficiency. You will find cattle that range in the 50th to 90th percentile for DMI but rank exceptionally well on their new $G (Gain EPD) if they are converting their intake. $G is used to find cattle that are superior for Feed Efficiency. $G for feed conversion represents the marginal value of gain over feed cost. The higher the $G sub-index EPD, the better or effective of superior conversion of feed to pounds gained. The $G sub-index measures cost of feed and an animal’s individual intake versus the value of a fed steer on a 5-year average adjusted by an individual animal’s gain. When evaluating a sire’s $G, the EPD range for all Limousin active sires reflects a high of 25, an average of 10 and a low of -0.03. GAIN INDEX ($G)
MATERNAL PROFIT INDEX ($MPI)
In this production scenario, Limousin bulls are mated to Angus-based cows with replacement heifers retained from the calf crop and surplus calves marketed at weaning. EPDs weighted in this index are CE, CEM, WW, MK, MW, DMI, and STAY. Mature weight is the primary driver and represents the significant cost of maintenance energy requirement in the cow-calf sector. Weaning Weight and Milk (expressed in pounds of calf weaning weight) represent the principal revenue stream. Stayability helps account for differences in replacement costs in the system and the effect of heifer retention on revenue streams. This index should be used by commercial cattlemen whose production scenario includes marketing calves at weaning and retaining replacements from the herd. The production scenario for $IPI includes mating Limousin sires to Angus-based cows with retention of replacements from the herd and all other calves fed out and marketed on a value-based grid that rewards quality and yield. $IPI balances both maternal and terminal selection criteria by combining replacement female retention from the herd with carcass endpoint for marketed surplus heifers and steers. Due to the challenges faced by commercial cattlemen in this production scenario, $IPI incorporates the largest and most diverse set of EPDs, including carcass traits as the primary revenue drivers, along with cow Mature Weight, Stayability and Dry Matter Intake as cost drivers. INDUSTRY PROFIT INDEX ($IPI) This full suite of indexes gives users of registered Limousin genetics one of the most progressive index suites in the industry. They are updated annually with current market price data for feeder cattle prices, fed cattle prices and carcass prices. All price data uses the most recent 10-year average for price data updates and incorporate marginal economic values that are relevant to each index produced.
For detailed information regarding these new indexes as well as the entire line-up of NALF EPDs, visit www.nalf.org
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