GENEMAX TRAIT DEFINITIONS
$VALUE INDEXES Maternal Weaned Calf Value 1 ($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 follows: calving ease direct, calving ease maternal, weaning weight, milk, heifer pregnancy, docility, mature cow weight, claw set and foot angle. Feedlot Value 1 ($F) , An index , expressed in dollars per head, to predict profitability differences in progeny due to genetics for postweaning feedlot merit compared to the progeny of other sires. The underlying objective assumes producers will retain ownership of cattle through the feedlot phase and sell fed cattle on a carcass weight basis, but with no consideration of premiums or discounts for quality and yield grade. Traits contributing directly to the index are as follows: yearling weight (Gain), carcass weight and feed-to-gain. Grid Value 1 ($G) , This rank shows where the individual animal ranks within the commercial Angus female population for each individual trait or index. Beef Value 1 ($B) , A terminal index, expressed in dollars per carcass, to predict profitability differences in progeny due to genetics for postweaning and carcass traits. This terminal index assumes commercial producers wean all male and female progeny, retain ownership of these animals through the feedlot phase and market these animals on a carcass grid. Traits influences the index are as follows: yearling weight, feed-to-gain, marbling, carcass weight, ribeye area and fat. Combined Value 1 ($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. Individual traits directly influencing the combined index are: 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), feed-to-gain, marbling (Marb), carcass weight (CW), ribeye area (RE) and fat thickness (Fat). PRODUCTION & MANAGEMENT Birth Weight (BW) , Higher BW scores are generally more desirable and indicate genetics for lower BW. BW scores rank a candidate’s replacements for its genetic merit of birth weight compared to that of other cows. Weaning Weight (WW) , Higher scores represent genetic merit for more growth - heavier weaning weight (Ibs.), transmitted to progeny. Post-Weaning Gain (Gain) , Higher scores mean more genetic potential for post- weaning growth, or gain in the feedyard, transmitted to progeny. Typically, scores for weaning weight and gain are highly related. Yearling Height (YH) , Higher YH scores indicate genetic merit for taller frame size - intermediate optimums suggested Claw & Angle Composite (CAC) , Higher CAC scores are more desirable and indicates more favorable foot score soundness with a better combination of both claw set and foot angle confirmation. Hair Shed (HS) , Higher scores are associated to animals that shed off earlier in the summer increasing the environmental adaptability of cattle living in areas with toxic fescue grass and heat stress Pulmonary Arterial Pressure (PAP) , Higher scores are desirable and are associated to animals that have a lower chance of contracting high altitude disease. MATERNAL Mature Weight (MW) , Higher scores equate to heavier mature cow weights, which can be less favorable due to associated feed requirements and possibly expressed reproductive performance (similar to Milk), but favorable for a higher cow salvage value. As with Milk, intermediate MW score values are probably optimal for many production scenarios. Calving Ease Maternal (CEM) , Higher scores indicate a greater likelihood of unassisted calving due to underlying genomic predictions for maternal (i.e., pelvic size) and direct (i.e. birth weight) effects on calving ease. Milk (Milk) , Higher scores represent greater predicted genetic potential for the maternal component of weaning weight - which favorably impacts progeny weaning weights but unfavorably influences feed requirements, associated costs and possibly expressed future reproductive performance (if feed requirements are not met). As with MW, Intermediate Milk score values are likely optimal for many situations. Teat Size (Teat) , Higher Scores represent genetic merit for smaller teat size Udder Suspension (Uddr) , Higher Scores represent genetic merit for smaller udder suspension
Functional Longevity (FL) , Higher Scores are more favorable and represents higher genetic merit for number of calves a cow will produce by 6 years of age. Docility (DOC) , Higher scores indicate genetic merit for calmer temperament Heifer Pregnancy (HP) , Higher scores correspond to higher probability of pregnancy at the end of the first breeding season due to genomic predictions for inherent fertility. Cow Cost (CC) , Higher Cow Cost scores indicate less feed cost (input) due to combinations of lower MW, MH and Milk - should be evaluated relative to production output and feed resources FEEDLOT & CARCASS Feed-to-Gain (F:G) , Higher scores are more desirable and indicate genetics for less dry matter intake (DMI) per unit of Gain. Carcass Weight (CW) , Higher scores indicate genetic merit for heavier carcass weights transmitted to progeny. While heavier carcass weights are generally more valuable, nonconforming excessively heavy carcasses - currently greater than 1,050 Ibs - are discounted. Marbling Score (Marb) , Higher scores are associated with genetic merit for more marbling and more favorable USDA Quality Grades expected to be transmitted to offspring. Ribeye Area (RE) , Higher scores communicate genomic predictions for larger ribeye areas (square inches) and more favorable associated USDA Yield Grades passed on to progeny. Fat Thickness (FAT) , Higher scores indicate genetics for less fat thickness (inches) as measured between the 12th and 13th rib on carcasses, and more favorably associated USDA Yield Grades, transmitted to offspring. Tenderness (TND) , Higher TND scores indicate genetic merit for more favorable shear force. ADVANTAGE INDEXES Cow Advantage Index 2 (COW) , Index scores rank candidate replacements for net return from combined genetic merit for heifer pregnancy, calving ease maternal and direct (includes birth weight), direct and maternal weaning weight (milk), docility and foot soundness (claw and angle composite), the newly added traits Teat Size, Udder Suspension, Hair Shed and Functional Longevity, as well as associated costs of production due to differences in mature cow size and milk production, while also accounting for variation in cull cow value. Feeder Advantage Index 2 (Feeder) , Index scores rank candidate replacements for net returns from combined genetic merit transmitted to progeny for post- weaning gain, carcass weight and grade (USDA Quality and Yield Grades as predicted by component traits), and costs of gain due to genetic differences in dry matter intake and associated feed-to-gain. Total Advantage Index 2 (Total) , Index scores rank candidate replacements for net returns from combined genetic merit across economically relevant traits captured in the Cow and Feeder Advantage indexes. As such, this is the simplest, most comprehensive prediction of systemwide production efficiency upon which to primarily base selection and breeding decisions. Percent Rank (%Rank) , This rank shows where the individual animal ranks within the commercial Angus female population for each individual trait or index. 1 $Value Index ($Value) = The $Value is a collection of individual traits weighted by their economic value such that traits with greater impacts on the production goals have a larger economic weight associated with them. Higher $Values equate to more predicted profitability. $Values reported on through GeneMax are directly comparable to $Values used to rank registered Angus bulls. 2 Advantage Index = The Advantage Index is a collection of genetic merit weighted by their economic value such that traits with greater impacts on the production goals have a larger economic weight associated with them. Advantage Index is express in scores (0-100).
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FRIDAY MARCH 27, 2026
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