EPD & Index Definitions
Economic Selection Index While EPD allow for the comparison of genetic merit between individuals for a single trait, this only provides a small piece of the economic puzzle for genetic improvement. Economic selection index, also referred to as $ Indexes, blend EPD for economically relevant traits (ERTs) and the economics associated with cattle production into a single value. Through well-conceived and rigorous computations, $ indexes estimate an animal’s overall impact on your bottom line. The same technology that led to the dramatic progress in swine, poultry, and dairy genetics over the last several decades was used in the development of ASA $ Indexes. The difference in $ Index can be used to determine how much a bull is worth compared to another. For example, when buying an all-purpose-type sire, you can quickly figure a bull scoring +100 for $API is worth an extra $6,000 over a +50 bull if both are exposed to 30 cows over 4 years ($50 diff. x 30 hd. x 4 yr. = $6,000). We are so grateful for our past customers, and look forward to future relationships with new customers. Your continued confidence in Twin Ridge genetics means more to us than we can express. When we get customer testimonials, calving reports, or mature bull pictures, it reminds us of what is truly important -- Customer Satisfaction.
ALL-PURPOSE INDEX ($API): •
Evaluates sires for use on the entire cow herd (bred to both Angus first-calf heifers and mature cows) with the portion of their daughters required to maintain herd size retained and the remaining heifers and steers put on feed and sold on a grid (carcass grade and yield). • Use if you are planning on retaining females. • A higher value is more favorable. TERMINAL INDEX ($TI): • Evaluates sires for use on mature Angus cows with all offspring put on feed and sold on a grid (grade and yield). • Use in a straight terminal breeding program. • A higher value is more favorable. $GAIN • Expressed as the dollar difference per head per day during the post-weaning period. • $Gain is a prediction designed to identify animals that are more economically efficient in the feedlot converting feed into weight. • $Gain is a combination of Dry Matter Intake (DMI) EPD and Average Daily Gain (ADG) EPD, where ADG is weighted by the value of a pound of gain, and DMI is negatively weighted by the cost of a pound of dry matter. • A higher value is more favorable.
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