Borrowed from Western Livestock Journal, June 26, 2018: — Due to objective genetic predictions such as EPDs (expected progeny differences) and indexes, the cattle industry has made tremendous progress in production and efficiency. However, as the models that produce the predictions become more sophisticated and producers understand less of...
How to use EPDs
EPDs have been around for more nearly 40 years and are still confusing for many unless they are exposed to the basics. Although there are many ideas about how to understand or use EPDs, please take some time to watch the link below where use of EPDs is simplified....
Bull Buying Simplified
By Marty Ropp If you are among the many out there who feel as if it is becoming more difficult to identify the genetics you need to move forward and make more profit, hopefully the following words will be of help. There is little doubt that the amount of...
Balanced, maternal or just mediocre?
Thank you Troy Marshall for this excellent article! SPOT ON! http://www.beefmagazine.com/seedstock/balanced-maternal-or-just-mediocre
Composite Bulls increasing in Demand in Small Herds
COMPOSITE BULLS HAVE BECOME POPULAR IN SOME AREAS by: Heather Smith Thomas Heterosis (hybrid vigor) has proven its value in many agricultural sectors—whether production of hybrid corn, hogs or beef. There are three kinds of heterosis; individual (the calf), maternal, and paternal. Of the three, paternal heterosis has had...
Will’s Dilemma
Will Townsend is a great man and a good friend. Information gives him profit. Not sure where he sampled his Shorthorn genetics from, but if you see in the article, they just aren’t kicking it for him. Are you using the technology available through the sire summary (EPD database)...
Testing our Sires
BSG has and will continue (when we can) to test our sires in the Trial-County Steer Carcass program, once recognized by the American Shorthorn Association. You know a lot of people assume they have cattle feeding figured out because you just need to select for growth and muscle. At...
Why use these scary numbers called EPDs?
One thing that tended to really grind my gears in a previous career, and still does today, is when people ask about performance by asking, “What’s the average Weaning Weight?” or “What was the average MARB score?” The fact of the matter is when this is asked, people are...
Indexes? Whats this “new” stuff?
We understand there is heartburn among cattle breeders to embrace the idea of $Value Indexes. We say, “Fear Not!” Although the basic function of EPDs is often thought unreliable, the truth of the matter is that the populations of breeders that have utilized these tools, tend to be the...
Profit via Genetics – Dr. Wade Shafer
The days of the argument that “My breed is better than yours” are numbered. As our society changes, and margins become thinner, cattle will follow the way of the pork and poultry industries in search of the most profitable animal. At BSG we embrace this science, while always being...