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New Multi-Breed Evaluation Debuts
The American Gelbvieh Association (AGA) has made significant
genetic evaluation advancements during the past year. Thanks to the efforts of the University of Georgia, the AGA has the most advanced genetic evaluation system in the nation
beginning with the January, 2003 analysis. This new analysis dubbed the multi-breed evaluation (MBE) successfully takes into account hybrid vigor and the genetic contributions of all breeds represented in the pedigree when calculating EP Ds. This is a
monumental advancement for the calculation of both hybrid animals and purebred animals raised in the same contemporary group as hybrid animals.
Improved Across Breed conversions
The new MBE methodology allowed AGA to compare EPD differences among Gelbvieh animals, Angus animals and Red Angus animals within the analysis. Historically, the AGA and the beef industry was forced to rely on data from the Meat
Animal Research Center (MARC) in order to convert EPDs from Gelbvieh to either Angus or Red Angus or vice versa. While the MARC data was the best information available at the time, the data was developed using very small sample sizes at a single
location.
The AGA across breed conversions were developed using literally thousands of high accuracy Angus and Red Angus sires compared against tens of thousands of Gelbvieh sires in hundreds of contemporary groups across the entire United States. We
recommend that you use the following across breed conversion table when converting Gelbvieh EPDs to Angus or Red Angus equivalents:
Across Breed Conversion Tables
Add to convert to an Angus EPD base
|
December, 2002 |
Across Breed Conversion to Angus Base |
|
Breed |
BW |
WW |
YW |
Milk |
|
Gelbvieh |
4.6 |
6.8 |
-2.7 |
4.7 |
|
Angus |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
|
Red Angus |
1.8 |
0.9 |
2.4 |
-1.1 |
|
Add to convert to Gelbvieh EPD base |
|
December, 2002 |
Across Breed Conversion to Gelbvieh Base |
|
Breed |
BW |
WW |
YW |
Milk |
|
Gelbvieh |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
|
Angus |
-4.6 |
-6.8 |
2.7 |
-4.7 |
|
Red Angus |
-2.8 |
-5.4 |
5.1 |
-5.8 |
Taken from the AGA website and used with permission
WHAT ARE EPD'S?
Expected Progeny Difference (EPD) may be used to estimate how future
progeny of the subject animal will compare to progeny of other animals within the breed. The key words are estimate, future, compare and within breed.
EPDs are not designed to predict the performance of one or two progeny of a sire, but rather should be used to compare bulls based on estimated progeny
performance. EPDs predict differences, not absolutes. They describe the genetic value of an animal much like a feed tag describes the content of a feed
sack.
EPDs are reported in pounds for all traits except calving ease, which is given as a ration (100=average), gestation length reported in days, scrotal circumference
in centimeters, ribeye area in square inches, marbling in degrees of marbling score, and fat thickness in inches. Higher calving ease EPDs correspond
to less calving difficulty. Maternal calving ease relates to the ability of daughters to calve. Larger gestation length EPDs equal longer gestation of
progeny sired by the subject bull. Milk EPD reflects differences in the weaning weights of progeny of daughters as affected by milk production of the
daughters.
GELBVIEH EPDs
American Gelbvieh Association
Spring 2004 International Cattle Evaluation--Gelbvieh Blended Breed Base
2002 - 2003 Born Non-Parent Percentile Breakdown
|
CE |
BW |
WW |
YW |
Milk |
TM |
GEST |
CE Daughters |
|
104 |
1.2 |
37 |
68 |
17 |
36 |
-1.2 |
103 |
This information is taken from the 2002 Gelbvieh Sire Summary with permission
ANGUS EPDs
Average Angus EPDs for non-parent bulls:
| BW |
WW |
YW |
Milk |
| 2.6 |
36 |
67 |
1
8 |
Example 1
Using a Gelbvieh bull’s EPD’s and comparing them to an Angus bulls EPD
’s...
|
CE |
BW |
WW |
YW |
Milk |
TM |
GL |
CED |
|
111 |
-2.3 |
29 |
64 |
20 |
35 |
-3.9 |
1
03 |
|
|
BW |
WW |
YW |
Milk |
|
compute |
+4.6 |
+6.8 |
-2.7 |
+4.7 |
|
Angus |
+2.3 |
35.8 |
61.3 |
24.7 |
Using an Angus bull’s EPD’s and comparing them to a Gelbvieh bull’s EPD’s.....
|
CE |
BW |
WW |
YW |
Milk |
TM |
GL |
CED |
|
+2.0 |
40 |
68 |
16 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
BW |
WW |
YW |
Milk |
|
compute |
-4.6 |
-6.8 |
+2.7 |
-4.7 |
|
Gelbvieh |
-2.6 |
33.2 |
70.7 |
11.3 |
Both of these bulls would likely work on heifers without sacrificing much growth.
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