NEW EPD INDEXES!
Feeder Profit Index (FPI) : Envisioned as a completely terminal index, FPI assumes all calves are marketed as finished beef car- casses priced on a value-based grid. Thus, it shouldn’t be used in production scenarios where replacements are kept from these matings. The new FPI formulation more precisely weights eco- nomically relevant traits (ERTs) available for selection, including the key carcass traits of Carcass Weight,Ribeye Area, and Dry Matter Intake that were not included in the original formulation. The new FPI also weights Fat Thickness, post-weaning Average Daily Gain, and Calving Ease Direct. Carcass value determined by carcass weight, quality, and yield grade influencing traits accounts for approximately 75% of the index as principal revenue drivers. Dry Matter Intact captures differences in expected costs to the terminal carcass endpoint. Total Profit Index (TPI) : Combining replacement female reten- tion from the herd with carcass endpoint for marketed surplus heifers and all steers, TPI balances both maternal and terminal selection criteria. Because of the challenges faced by commercial cattlemen by the antagonisms in selection for this production scenario, TPI includes the largest and most diverse set of EPDs in the model, including carcass traits as the primary revenue drivers with cow Mature Weight, Stayability and Dry Matter Intake as cost drivers. Maternal Profit Index (MPI) : In this production scenario, Gelbvieh bulls are mated toAngus-based cows with surplus calves marketed at weaning, with replacement heifers retained from the calf crop. EPDs weighted in this index are Calving Ease Direct and Maternal, Weaning Weight, Milk, Mature Weight, Dry Matter Intake, Stayability, and Heifer Pregnancy. Mature weight is the primary driver and represents the significant costof 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 commercialcattlemen whose production scenario includes the traditional marketing of calves at weaning and replacement retention from the herd.
Made with FlippingBook - Share PDF online