Originally published in the Western Livestock Journal, Oct 21, 2022 By Dr. Bob Hough There is a common myth that all performance cattle have bad structure and all show cattle have bad EPDs. These beliefs are simply not true on both accounts. For show cattle, it is true...
Multiple Paths, Same Endpoint
Luke’s Preface… The greatest gift the ASA membership has received in the twenty-first century is the incorporation of economic selection $Indexes into our national cattle evaluation (performance database). It has literally taken us away from single trait selection and forced breeders to consider animals that are more (or less)...
Expected Progeny Difference FAQs
Reprinted from The Register magazine. By retired IGS Geneticist, Dr. Lauren Hyde. Expected Progeny Difference FAQ Q 1. How do you balance EPD selection and actual phenotypes? Expected progeny differences (EPD) have a clear advantage over less sophisticated predictors such as raw weights and contemporary group ratios....
The History of Progress
Linked is an excellent piece that covers the highlights of the evolution of genetic evaluation in the American beef seedstock industry. It begs the question, “Where is my emphasis on making cattle ‘better’…?”Are you up to date in using selection tools that make cattle that fit the modern industry,...
Prestige or Profit?
The quote below was shared with Luke by Dr. Bob Hough. Bob is the author of many great and important beef breed books. Interestingly enough, he is the co-author of the 2021 book, “Shorthorn and the American Cattle Industry” with Dr. Bert Moore. This quote, written in 1875, is...
America’s First
Dr. Bob Hough is a true industry icon and one of the great beef leaders who sees the uniqueness, and more importantly, the role of every major breed within the cattle industry. It was Bob and our good friend, Dr. Bert Moore, who recently wrote the engaging book, “Shorthorn...
Stayability EPD. Does it Work?
A great piece by Luke’s coworkers, Dr. Randie and Dr. Jackie! “Female longevity is one of the most economically impactful traits of commercial cow-calf operations. When choosing genetics for replacement females, emphasizing stayability will optimize the genetic potential for longevity in the herd.” Read the full, short article here: https://www.internationalgeneticsolutions.com/site/index.php/component/content/article/95-igs-news/104-stayability-epd-does-it-works?Itemid=437
2022 Across-Breed EPD Table
See link to the latest from the USDA Meat Animal Research Center. Of the breeds with a critical mass, Shorthorns rank #3 for MARB behind Angus & Red Angus. No other surprises or big shifts from previous years. There is work to be done, but Shorthorns aren’t sitting in...
Genetics and EPDs 101
Here is International Genetics Solutions’ lead geneticist, Dr. Randie Culbertson, discussing the basics of genetics all the way to basic genetic selection tools (EPDs & $Indexes). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YsHlbFb_hEI&t=2453s
Sire Selection Manual
“We live in an age of accelerated scientific discovery, which leads to new technologies that must be understood by members of the production sector of the industry to assure that technology is applied appropriately. Today, producers face the challenges of learning about DNA testing and its application to their...