THE GOALS OF OUR PROGRAM are to provide commercial and registered cattle producers with industry-leading genetics in each and every economically important trait. We utilize many technologies to accomplish this, particularly our extensive AI and ET programs. Due to their proven reliability, we focus heavily on the EPDs, but we also use visual appraisal, particularly for soundness, fleshing ability, hair shedding, adaptability, and docility. We strive to produce breeding stock that will replicate for our customers and produce cattle for them that calve easily, grow fast and efficiently to their end point, breed quickly and consistently, produce a great carcass, and do all this without obtaining a large mature weight. We also strive to provide our customers with assistance in marketing or managing their cattle in whatever manner they desire. B G
AAA SELECTION TOOLS
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Expected Progeny Difference (EPD), is the prediction of how future progeny of each animal are expected to perform relative to the progeny of other animals listed in the database. EPDs are expressed in units of measure for the trait, plus or minus. Interim EPDs may appear on young animals when their performance has yet to be incorporated into the American Angus Association National Cattle Evaluation (NCE) procedures. This EPD will be preceded by an “I”, and may or may not include the animal’s own performance record for a particular trait, depending on its availability, appropriate contemporary grouping, or data edits needed for NCE.
BIRKGEN VERACIOUS 4123
03-04-2024 Bull AAA +*20966011
Tattoo: 4123
#*Mill Brae Identified 4031
#*Koupals B&B Identity *Mill Brae Pro Blackcap 1092
+*HPCA Veracious
+*H P C A Sunrise A246
#+*G A R Sunrise +*H P C A Prophet A3 #+*G A R Ashland
*G A R Home Town
$M +87 $W +75 $F +115 $G +105 $B +221 $C +374
*Pine Hill Princess J003
+*Chair Rock Sure Fire 6095 #*Spring Cove Reno 4021 Summitcrest Princess 2Y27
+*Pine Hill Princess F030
DNA Testing
All cattle in this sale offering have been DNA Tested. Meaning, all EPDs in this sale book are Genomically Enhanced.
Top 1% Claw Top 2% $G Top 2% $C Top 2% $AXH
Top 3% RE Top 3% $AXJ Top 4% $B Top 5% MARB
Top 5% Angle Top 10% $M Top 15% RADG Top 20% $F
Top 20% FAT Top 25% CW Top 25% HP Top 25% WW
Top 25% YW
There’s little room for error in the cattle business. Producers need the most advanced information to make smart selection decisions, and Angus Genetics Inc. (AGI) provides it through genomic-enhanced expected progeny differences (GE-EPDs).
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CED BW WW YW RADG YH SC DOC CLAW ANGLE HS +7 +2.3 +79 +138 +.31 +.3 +.82 +10 +.25 +.34 +.32 HP CEM MILK MWT MHT $EN CWT MARB RE FAT +12.9 +4 +24 +74 +.2 -21 +68 +1.50 +1.35 -.014
Production EPDs GE-EPDs have become the industry standard for herd improvement, building on decades of science-backed genetic evaluation tools originated and maintained through the American Angus Association®, home to the largest and ever-growing single-breed beef cattle database. EPDs that traditionally contained all pedigree, performance and progeny information now also include results from available genomic, or DNA, tests. Breeders who use genomic technology give buyers access to AGI-generated GE-EPDs that provide: • Increased predictability and decreased risk for young and unproven animals due to enhanced accuracy of EPDs • Better characterization of genetics for difficult-to-measure performance traits (such as carcass traits, maternal traits and feed efficiency) • The ability to make more rapid progress for traits that are important to you, due to: • more accurate selection • easier identification of genetic outliers • the ability to propagate young animals with confidence earlier in their lives
Maternal EPDs Carcass EPDs
Management EPDs $Values
PRODUCTION EPDs Calving Ease Direct (CED), is expressed as a difference in per- centage of unassisted births, with a higher value indicating greater calving ease in first-calf heifers. It predicts the average difference in ease with which a sire’s calves will be born when he is bred to first-calf heifers. Birth Weight EPD (BW), expressed in pounds, is a predictor of a sire’s ability to transmit birth weight to his progeny compared to that of other sires. Weaning Weight EPD (WW), expressed in pounds, is a predictor of a sire’s ability to transmit weaning growth to his progeny compared to that of other sires. Yearling Weight EPD (YW), expressed in pounds, is a predictor of a sire’s ability to transmit yearling growth to his progeny compared to that of other sires. Residual Average Daily Gain (RADG), expressed in pounds per day, is a predictor of a sire’s genetic ability for postweaning gain in future progeny compared to that of other sires, given a constant amount of feed consumed. Yearling Height EPD (YH), is a predictor of a sire’s ability to transmit yearling height, expressed in inches, compared to that of other sires. Scrotal Circumference EPD (SC), expressed in centimeters, is a predictor of the difference in transmitting ability for scrotal size compared to that of other sires. MATERNAL EPDs Heifer Pregnancy (HP), is a selection tool to increase the probabil- ity or chance of a sire’s daughters becoming pregnant as first-calf heifers during a normal breeding season. A higher EPD is the more favorable direction and the EPD is reported in percentage units. Calving Ease Maternal (CEM), is expressed as a difference in per- centage of unassisted births with a higher value indicating greater calving ease in first-calf daughters. It predicts the average ease with which a sire’s daughters will calve as first-calf heifers when com- pared to daughters of other sires. Maternal Milk EPD (Milk), is a predictor of a sire’s genetic merit for milk and mothering ability as expressed in his daughters compared to daughters of other sires. In other words, it is that part of a calf’s weaning weight attributed to milk and mothering ability. Mature Weight EPD (MWT), expressed in pounds, is a predictor of the difference in mature weight of daughters of a sire compared to the daughters of other sires. Mature Height EPD (MHT), expressed in inches, is a predictor of the difference in mature height of a sire’s daughters compared to daughters of other sires. Cow Energy Value ($EN), expressed in dollar savings per cow per year, assesses differences in cow energy requirements as an expect- ed dollar savings difference in daughters of sires. A larger value is more favorable when comparing two animals (more dollars saved
on feed energy expenses). Components for computing the cow $EN savings difference include lactation energy requirements and ener- gy costs associated with differences in mature cow size. MANAGEMENT EPDs Docility (Doc), is expressed as a difference in yearling cattle tem- perament, with a higher value indicating more favorable docility. It predicts the average difference of progeny from a sire in com- parison with another sire’s calves. In herds where temperament problems are not an issue, this expected difference would not be realized. Claw Set EPD (Claw), is expressed in units of claw-set score, with a lower EPD being more favorable indicating a sire will produce progeny with more ideal claw set. The ideal claw set is toes that are symmetrical, even and appropriately spaced. Foot Angle EPD (Angle), is expressed in units of foot-angle score, with a lower EPD being more favorable indicating a sire will produce progeny with more ideal foot angle. The ideal is a 45-degree angle at the pastern joint with appropriate toe length and heel depth. Hair Shed EPD (HS), is expressed in units of hair shed score, with a lower EPD being more favorable indicating a sire should produce progeny who shed their winter coat earlier in the spring. Selection for this trait should improve the genetic potential for a sire’s prog- eny to shed off earlier increasing the environmental adaptability of cattle living in heat stressed areas and producers grazing endo- phyte-infected (hot) fescue. CARCASS EPDs Carcass Weight EPD (CW), expressed in pounds is a predictor of the differences in hot carcass weight of a sire’s progeny compared to progeny of other sires. Marbling EPD (Marb), expressed as a fraction of the difference in USDA marbling score of a sire’s progeny compared to progeny of other sires. Ribeye Area EPD (RE), expressed in square inches, is a predictor of the difference in ribeye area of a sire’s progeny compared to prog- eny of other sires. Fat Thickness EPD (Fat), expressed in inches, is a predictor of the differences in external fat thickness at the 12th rib (as measured between the 12th and 13th ribs) of a sire’s progeny compared to progeny of other sires. $VALUE INDEXES Maternal Weaned Calf Value ($M) , an index, expressed in dollars per head, predicts profitability differences from conception to weaning with the underlying breeding objective assuming that individuals retain their own replacement females within herd and sell the rest of the cull female and all male progeny as feeder calves. The model assumes commercial producers will replace 25% of their breeding females in the first generation and 20% of their breeding females in each subsequent generation. Traits included are as fol-
lows: calving ease direct, calving ease maternal, weaning weight, milk, heifer pregnancy, docility, mature cow weight, claw set and foot angle. Weaned Calf Value ($W), an index, expressed in dollars per head, to predict profitability differences in progeny due to genetics from birth to weaning. The underlying objective being producers will re- tain 20% of the female progeny as replacements and sell the rest of the cull females and their male counterparts as feeder calves. Traits included are as follows (in no particular order): birth weight, wean- ing weight, milk, and mature cow weight. Feedlot Value ($F), an index, expressed in dollars per head, to predict profitability differences in progeny due to genetics for postweaning feedlot merit compared to the progeny of other sires. The underlying objective assumes producers will retain ownership of cattle through the feedlot phase and sell fed cattle on a carcass weight basis, but with no consideration of premiums or discounts for quality and yield grade. Traits contributing directly to the index are as follows: yearling weight (gain), carcass weight and dry-mat- ter intake. Grid Value ($G), an index, expressed in dollars per carcass, to pre- dict profitability differences in progeny due to genetics for carcass grid merit compared to progeny of other sires. The underlying objective assumes producers will market cattle on an above-indus- try-average carcass grid. Traits included in the index are as follows (in no particular order): carcass weight, marbling, ribeye area, and fat. Beef Value ($B), a terminal index, expressed in dollars per carcass, to predict profitability differences in progeny due to genetics for postweaning and carcass traits. This terminal index assumes com- mercial producers wean all male and female progeny, retain owner- ship of these animals through the feedlot phase and market these animals on a carcass grid. Traits included in the index are as follows: yearling weight, dry-matter intake, marbling, carcass weight, ribeye area and fat. Combined Value ($C), an index, expressed in dollars per head, which includes all traits that make up both Maternal Weaned Calf Value ($M) and Beef Value ($B) with the objective that commercial producers will replace 20% of their breeding females per year with replacement heifers retained within their own herd. The remaining cull heifer and steer progeny are then assumed to be sent to the feedlot where the producers retain ownership of those cattle and sell them on a quality-based carcass merit grid. Expected progeny differences (EPDs) directly influencing a combined index: calving ease direct (CED) and maternal (CEM), weaning weight (WW), yearling weight (YW), maternal milk (Milk), heifer pregnancy (HP), docility (DOC), mature cow weight (MW), foot angle (Angle), claw set (Claw), dry matter intake (DMI), marbling (Marb), carcass weight (CW), ribeye area (RE) and fat thickness (Fat).
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