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What Does Mw Mean in Beef Terms

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Expected progeny differences (EPDs) have been applied to improve the genetics of beef cattle for most four decades. Expected progeny differences are predictions of the genetic transmitting ability of a parent to its offspring and are used to make selection decisions for traits desired in the herd. For a given trait, EPD values are calculated based on information submitted by producers to breed associations from an creature'due south actual performance, performance of progeny, performance of other relatives, and genomic data (DNA analysis, if bachelor).

When DNA data is bachelor, EPD accuracy is improved, and these calculations are referred to equally a Genomic-enhanced EPD (GE-EPD). Thus, in addition to pedigree, operation and progeny data, GE-EPDs apply genomic test for increased reliability of an fauna's EPD (Eenennaam and Drake, 2012; Rolf et al., 2014).

Source: American Angus Association

Combined with all bachelor sources of information, GE-EPDs are the all-time approximate of an animal'due south genetic value as a parent. Genomics permit improve accuracies for younger animals and allows a clear motion-picture show of genetic traits of involvement, especially those that are expensive to measure such as feed efficiency, carcass traits in breeding stock, reproductive traits or maternal traits in bulls.

When a producer buys a young balderdash that has GE-EPDs, he is buying with the same level of confidence in that brute as i that has already sired between x and 36 calves, depending on the trait. In this way, GE-EPDs increment accuracy in those animals much earlier in their lives. With all these benefits, go along in heed that genomically-enhancing the EPDs does not change how the EPD can be used, information technology simply increases its accurateness.

Table 1. Progeny Equivalents (PE) – Carcass trait PE equate to actual carcass harvest data, not ultrasound scan equivalents.

Trait PE
Calving Ease Directly 26
Birth Weight 23
Weaning Weight 27
Yearling Weight 23
Dry out Matter Intake 12
Yearling Summit 17
Scrotal Circumference xv
Docility 12
Claw Bending 10
Foot Angle ten
Heifer Pregnancy 17
Calving Ease Maternal xx
Milk 36
Mature Weight 15
Mature Acme 9
Carcass Weight 15
Carcass Marbling 11
Carcass Ribeye 17
Carcass Fat 14

Source: American Angus Clan (www.angus.org).

EPD Accuracy

Accuracy (ACC) reflects the precision of a prediction for a given animal'southward EPD and provides united states of america with a level of confidence for that animal's genetic merit. Bulls with greater accuracy values may be chosen "proven sires."

The EPD prediction of genetic merit for a trait is the best indicator of expected performance of future progeny, which is expressed as deviation from the population's base value. Recognizing that base values may exist different amongst breeds is important; some breeds utilise an average within a specific yr, whereas other breeds use a nonspecific historical point.

To improve the accuracy of EPDs for younger bulls, producers may collect and submit DNA samples, which, depending on the trait, may equates to about x progeny records for a sire with no other progeny records contributing to his EPDs. As more progeny data are obtained for a sire, the relative contribution of genomic data to overall EPD accuracy is reduced.

The lack of confidence associated with EPDs on immature cattle comes from not having progeny or operation information, both of which increment the accurateness of the EPD. In young bulls, for case, most of their genetic value is based on their pedigree. As these animals age and take offspring, we know more and more virtually their genetic merit. This increased conviction is denoted by an increase in the accuracy value (0–ane scale) associated with each EPD. Information technology does not necessarily mean that the EPD increases if accuracy increases. It only means the EPD becomes closer to the true value, whether it increases or decreases. Remember that EPD stands for expected progeny difference. Genotyping a young animal increases accuracy because SNP genotypes accept similar value to evaluating additional progeny.

How to Use EPDs

Before getting started with EPDs, producers should define their specific production goals commencement then select based on the EPDs that will all-time allow them to run across those product goals. For instance, producers selling calves at weaning may prioritize EPDs differently than producers wishing to retain heifers or producers wishing to retain ownership through the feedlot. Therefore, producers should utilise EPDs based on the choice of breeding bulls that meet their personal product goals.

Here are some traits that can be used by those producers who sell the entire calf crop at weaning or following a backgrounding stage:

  • Nativity Weight (BW);
  • Calving Ease (CE) or Calving Ease Straight (CED);
  • Weaning Weight (WW);
  • Yearling Weight (YW).

Selecting for these traits adds ease to the beef producers daily workload, by attempting to reduce the number of assisted births, while adding sale value (with weight) to those calves that volition be sold every bit feeders.

For producers who retain replacement heifers, the following EPDs are often used in addition to the previous listing:

  • Calving Ease Full Maternal (CETM), Calving Ease Maternal (CEM) or Maternal Calving Ease (MCE);
  • Milk Production (Milk) or Maternal Milk (MM);
  • Total Maternal (TM), Maternal Weaning Weight (MWW) or Maternal Milk and Growth (Thousand&G);
  • Mature Weight (MW) or Mature Cow Weight (MCW);
  • Maintenance Free energy (ME);
  • Heifer Pregnancy (HP or HPG);
  • Stayability (STAY);
  • Mature Height (MH);
  • Scrotal Circumference (SC or SCR).

These traits are all related to the predicting the success of replacement heifers at becoming valuable dams in the herd.

Producers who raise their own animals through the feedlot will oft focus on the traits beneath, in addition to the maternal traits previously mentioned:

  • Carcass Weight (CW) or Hot Carcass Weight (HCW);
  • Fat (Fat) or Back Fatty (BF);
  • Marbling (MB, MRB or MARB)
  • Yield Grade (YG);
  • Shear Force (SHR);
  • Rib-Eye Area (REA or RE).

In this case, the traits selected are value traits for cattle marketed at the cease of life.

Instance 1 of Using EPDs for Bull Selection

In this example, a producer is looking for a Charolais bull to utilise on black Angus-influenced cows that take had at least ii calves. In this case, the producer is using the Charolais in what is called a terminal cross, all calves being sold at weaning or afterwards a backgrounding period for slaughter. The producer wishes to maintain calving ease and take the benefit of enhanced weight at the time of auction. Based on the table beneath, which bull would be more appropriate for the stated purpose based on EPD values?

Table ane. Charolais bulls1 for use on mature crossbred females.

Bull CE BW WW YW MCE MILK SCR CW REA FAT MARB
A 11.half-dozen -4 27 58 3.9 23 1.1 20 0.66 0.041 0.18
B 2.9 3 59 99 2.ii ane two.1 49 0.96 0.041 0.22
Brood Average 3.1 0.7 24.4 43.8 four 7.9 0.six 14.7 0.26 0.002 0.04

1Bulls information retrieved from Select Sires Beef and Genex.

With the focus on this phase of production, emphasis should be given mainly to 3 traits: CE, BW, and WW. We are assuming that these bulls are almost likely young and accept low accuracies, or are not proven.

Calving ease (CE) relates straight to the bull's pressure level on nascence weight. Bull B is expected, on average, to accept 8.7 percentage fewer unassisted births when bred to two-yr-old heifers than Balderdash A (a disadvantage if breeding to heifers). Bull B has an expected nativity weight that would be 7 pounds heavier, on average, than Bull A. Thus, while clear that Bull A would be more advisable for breeding heifers, our producer is interested in breeding multiparous cows. Therefore, because bull B has a BW EPD that is only 2.3 lb. heavier than the breed average, the producer likely will want to put their emphasis on other traits. Exam of the WW EPD indicated that Bull B would be expected to produce calves that are 32 pounds heavier at weaning, on boilerplate, than Bull A. This difference is what usually drives sales and profits at weaning. Thus, if the producer decides to sell calves at weaning time, Balderdash B may be the appropriate choice. In addition, while perhaps non as important if the producer sells at weaning, this producer may also want to await at YW and some carcass traits when selecting their bulls. In this example the logic is that selling high quality calves at weaning that volition perform well around yearling age and through the feedlot may create a reputation of raising high-value calves that are profitable for feedlot owners. Considering this is a last cross, no heifers volition be retained, and maternal traits tin be ignored.

Option by Index

Now, in addition to private trait option using EPDs, animals can also be selected on an "index". An economical index is a tool used to select for several traits at once based on a specific breeding objective. An economic index approach considers genetic and economic values likewise as the relationships betwixt traits to select for profit. When genetic improvement is desired for several traits that may differ in variability, heritability, economic importance, and in the correlation among their phenotypes and genotypes, simultaneous multiple-trait index selection has been more effective than contained alternative levels or sequential choice (Philipsson et al., 1994; Garrick and Golden, 2009).

These are some examples of the economic indices offered by brood associations. Each breed association has many more option indices and producers are encouraged to investigate these options.

From the American Angus Association (AAA, 2020):

  • Beefiness Value ($B), an index value expressed in dollars per caput, is the expected average difference in future progeny operation for postweaning and carcass value.
  • Combined Value ($C), expressed in dollars per caput, is an index which includes all traits that brand upwards both Maternal Weaned Calf Value ($M) and Beefiness Value ($B) with the objective that commercial producers will supercede 20% of their breeding females per yr with replacement heifers retained inside their own herd.

From the American Hereford Association (AHA, 2020):

  • Baldy Maternal Index (BMI$) is an index to maximize profit for commercial cow-calf producers who employ Hereford bulls in rotational crossbreeding programs on Angus-based cows.
  • Certified Hereford Beef Index (CHB$) is a concluding sire index in which Hereford bulls are used on British-cross cows and all offspring are sold as fed cattle on a CHB pricing grid.

From the American Simmental Association (2020):

  • All-Purpose Index (API) is an alphabetize that evaluates sires for employ on the entire cow herd (bred to Angus start-calf heifers and mature cows), with the portion of their daughters required to maintain herd size retained and the remaining heifers and steers put on feed and sold on grade and yield.
  • Terminal Index (TI) is an index that evaluates sires for utilize on mature Angus cows, with all offspring put on feed and sold on form and yield.

Example 2 of Using EPDs for Balderdash Selection

A producer is looking for an Angus bull to breed a directly-bred Angus herd. The producer plans to retain ownership of the females to use in the breeding herd and sell the calves at weaning. Thus, maternal traits of the females will exist of import.

Table 2. Angus bulls1 for use on straight-bred Angus females.

Balderdash CED BW WW YW CW Marb RE Fat $M $West $F $Grand $B
A xvi -0.vi 68 129 62 i.8 one.11 -0.028 62 79 124 120 244
B 16 -two.five 64 118 32 0.42 0.53 0.046 51 78 69 38 106
Breed Average2 iii ane 26 45 22 0.42 0.32 0.008 52 54 82 44 126

1Bulls information retrieved from Select Sires Beef.
twoBreed boilerplate retrieved from The American Angus Association.

To accost the producer's goal as stated, we can look at the Maternal Weaned Calf Value ($G) because information technology provides an indication of expected maternal ability and turn a profit based on sale of weaned calves. Bull A volition produce calves that volition profit, on average, $11 more than Bull B using the $Yard. Balderdash A will be the improve buy for this scenario where female retentivity and weaned calf value are both of import.

Beyond-breed EPD Comparisons

Within a brood, EPDs tin be directly compared. Bulls of different breeds tin can as well be compared, just adjustment factors to the EPDs are needed because an EPD from i breed evaluation is not directly comparable to an EPD from some other breed evaluation. Since 1993, the U.S. Meat Animal Inquiry Center (USMARC) has produced a table of these aligning factors so that the merit of individuals can exist compared across breeds.

Example iii of Using EPDs for Bull Option

In this example, suppose a producer needs to make a decision betwixt a Simmental bull and a Limousin balderdash to brood his crossbred cow herd. The important traits for him are BW, WW, YW, and Milk.

Table iii. DEPs from different breeds to use on a commercial crossbred herd.

Balderdash CE BW WW YW Milk DOC YG CW REA Marb
Simmental1 17.ane -iii.9 68 95.7 26.three 7.4 -0.22 28.ii 0.58 0.35
Limousin1 14 1.7 61 90 21 8 -0.73 16 1.23 8

1Bulls information retrieved from Select Sires Beef.

With the above information, the producer also needs to access the table beneath:

Table 4. Adjustment Factors to Approximate across-breed EPDs.

Breed Nascence Wt. (lb) Weaning WT. (lb) Yearling Wt. (lb) Maternal Milk (lb) Marbling Scorea Ribeye Area (intwo) Fat Thickness (in) Carcass Wt. (lb)
Angus 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.00 0.00 0.000 0.0
Hereford 1.4 -16.5 -44.four -12.5 -0.30 0.02 -0.073 -71.one
Carmine Angus 2.6 -19.4 -31.4 1.5 -0.03 0.25 -0.040 -13.2
Shorthorn 4.5 -34.4 -46.6 -0.ane -0.07 0.47 -0.032 five.half-dozen
Southward Devon two.6 -29.nine -55.four 3.ane -0.53 0.64 -0.213 -68.eight
Beefmaster four.0 23.four 1.1 7.7
Brahman ten.three 53.three fourteen.four 16.7 0.03 -0.166 -35.ix
Brangus 3.1 14.9 5.3 12.9
Santa Gertrudis five.2 40.iv 39.8 sixteen.8 -0.44 0.12 -0.085 -12.iii
Braunvieh 2.two -21.1 -46.half-dozen 4.1 -0.61 1.00 -0.100 -53.iv
Charolais six.6 32.7 23.2 eight.i -0.29 0.79 -0.201 5.1
Chiangu ii.8 -21.1 -36.two 2.5 -0.47 0.59 -0.142 -nineteen.iii
Gelbvieh 2.9 -15.5 -27.1 viii.2 -0.37 0.66 -0.066 ane.five
Limousin 2.5 -xvi.nine -53.9 -2.4 -0.03 0.59 -0.024 -5.1
Maine-Anjou 2.4 -30.iii -55.two -vii.0 -0.43 0.95 -0.179 -35.1
Salers 0.ix -11.ii -48.0 five.6 0.07 1.08 -0.177 -47.6
Simmental ii.eight -xi.6 -19.2 1.8 -0.12 0.45 -0.049 -7.five
Tarentaise 2.7 20.ii -12.1 15.vii

aMarbling score units: iv.00 = s1°0; v.00 = Sm00
Source: US Meat Fauna Enquiry Centre (2020) through Beef Improvement Federation.

With both tables of data, a table for across breed comparisons can exist made, similar to Table v.

Table five. Instance of using across-breed aligning factors to convert noncomparable within-breed EPDs to comparable across-breed EPDs.

Bull BW (lb) WW (lb) YW (lb) Milk (lb)
Simmental EPD1 -iii.nine 68 95.7 26.3
AB Adj. Factors2 two.8 -eleven.6 19.two i.8
AB-EPDiii -1.1 56.4 76.v 28.one
Limousin EPDone i.7 61 90 21
AB Adj. Factors2 2.v -16.9 -53.nine -2.4
AB-EPD3 4.2 44.1 36.1 eighteen.6

1EPDs are the within-breed EPD values from the breed's genetic evaluation for the bull of interest.
2AB adj. factors are the across-breed aligning factors from Table ane.
iiiAcross-breed EPDs after adjustment factors are applied to within-breed EPDs.

The beyond-breed (AB) adjustment factors for BW are 2.8 lb for Simmental sires and 2.v lb for Limousin sires. The AB-EPD for that trait is -3.ix lb + 2.8 lb = -1.1 lb for the Simmental bull and 1.vii lb + ii.5 lb = 4.ii lb for the Limousin bull. The expected nativity weight difference of offspring when both are mated to cows of another breed (e.chiliad., Angus) would be -one.i lb - 4.2 lb = -5.3 lb. At weaning, the Simmental bull will produce heavier calves. This weight divergence becomes more axiomatic at yearling historic period, when the expected yearling weight of the Simmental bull offspring will surpass the Limousin bull offspring by almost 40 lb. On height of that, its daughters will produce, on average, nine.six lb more milk than the daughters of the Limousin bull. Therefore, the Simmental bull volition exist easier on heifers (lower nativity weight), provide faster growth pre- and post-weaning, and have daughters that produce more milk.

Benefits of genomic testing females

Selecting females for replacement is one of the about challenging aspects of commercial cow-calf product. Also, heifer development is an expensive proposition. Therefore, producers may decide whether a given heifer can be productive and profitable before she has had an opportunity to express productivity associated with profitability, including fertility, calving ease, milking ability, growth and mature size. By using a adept breeding strategy and being specific almost selection principles, producers tin can heighten the right replacement heifers for the herd to optimize profitability. Genomic testing enables seedstock and commercial beef producers to make more informed decisions, and with more conviction, and capitalize on animals with superior genetic merit.

Genotyping females can aid producers know where their heifers are genetically, and so that they volition exist able to make bull selection with more confidence (Pryce and Hayes, 2012). Focusing on profitability indexes that include wellness traits, performance, carcass quality, and maternal traits, the commercial herd as well equally the pure breed herd will steepen the genetic progress bend and herd will be more than profitable, creating ameliorate genetics long term. Genomic testing is that borderland that allows us to go the most value with the least amount of inputs through smart selection pressures.

It is important to continue in mind that success in the cattle business concern is a office of both genetics and phenotype. The all-time genetics may still occasionally produce offspring with poor feet and legs that will not hold upward well in pasture or feedlot systems. Understanding how and where the herd is excelling and where changes need to exist made can help producers make improvements. Go on in mind that single trait pick, selecting, for example, solely on milk production, is unremarkably a disaster. Cattle genetics must exist selected to fit the environment and production practices of the operation or the operation they will be marketed to. Know what your market wants and learn how to provide the blazon of cattle that fit that market by applying advisable choice principles.

Summary

For seedstock producers, genomic testing is a no-brainer and the way of the future. The adoption of this applied science by seedstock producers has already begun to determine their success in the market. For commercial cattlemen, as genomic testing costs keep to drop, genotyping females should become increasingly popular to capture extra value.

Herds with a superior genetic profile have a key advantage over other herds and, in many cases, volition outperform their contemporaries over their lifetime. When young animals are part of a genetic improvement plan, the use of GE-EPDs on the bull side and genomic testing on the heifer side are critical. Using adept option techniques volition let producers to select and develop the correct replacement heifers and consistently mate them to complementary sires to optimize profitability.

Implications

Remember, EPDs need to be used in conjunction with performance goals and resource. Limited available feed may limit the how aggressively you select for traits that requires a great deal of inputs and knowing what creates value for your marketplace volition result in focusing on traits that are relevant. Your genetic parameters may be different from someone else based on your environment, then focus on your needs. Call back, cattle must still be sound structured and reproductive to last, abound, and reduce your workload. A counterbalanced approach is crucial for a sustainable enterprise, and that includes making sure that your genetics still friction match your system with desired physical features that will last in your system and run into buyer demand.

Bibliography

American Angus Clan. 2020. Combined Value Index - December 13, 2019 Update Accessed on April 21st, 2020.

American Angus Association. 2020. Value Indexes. Accessed on April 21st, 2020.

American Hereford Association. 2020. Trait Definitions. Accessed on April 21st, 2020.

American Simmental Clan. 2020. Quick Reference to ASA EPDs and $ Indexes. Accessed on Apr 21st, 2020.

Beef Sires by Brood. 2020. Accessed on April 16thursday, 2020.

Beef Sires Catalog. 2020. Accessed on April 16thursday, 2020.

Garrick, D. J., Golden, B. L. 2009. Producing and genetic evaluations in the United States beef industry of today. J. Anim. Sci. 2009, 87: E11-E18. DOI: 10.2527/jas.2008-1431.

Kuehn, L., and Thallman, Thou. 2019. Across-Breed EPD Table and Improvements. Accessed on April 15th, 2020.

Philipsson, J., G. Banos, and T. Arnason. 1994. Present and futurity uses of pick index methodology in dairy cattle. J. Dairy Sci.77:3252–3261. DOI: 10.3168/jds.S0022-0302(94)77266-0

Pryce, J., Hayes, B. 2012. A review of how dairy farmers can apply and turn a profit from genomic technologies. Beast Product Scientific discipline 52, 180-184.

Rolf, K. 1000., Decker, J. Due east., McKay, S. D., Tizioto, P. C., Branham, K. A., Whitacre, 50. One thousand., Hoff, J. L., Regitano, L. C. A., Taylor, J. F. Genomics in the United States beef manufacture. Livest Sci. 2014;166:84–93. DOI: 10.1016/j.livsci.2014.06.005

Van Eenennaam A. L., Drake D. J. 2012. Where in the beef-cattle supply chain might Deoxyribonucleic acid tests generate value? Anim. Prod. Sci. 52:185–96. DOI: 10.1071/AN11060

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Source: https://extension.psu.edu/understanding-epds-and-genomic-testing-in-beef-cattle

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