Kris Ringwall
BeefTalk
Terminal breed indexes available
at your breed association website.
The objective for beef cows is to produce a calf.
About 15%-20% of the calves are destined as replacements, so the remaining 80%-85% of the calves go to the feedyard as terminal cattle. Given that fact, breed associations have developed selection indexes that help producers select bulls destined to sire terminal calves.
Selection indexes correlate production and financial outcomes by combining performance records with economic weightings. They are reported as dollar values ($Values) to indicate the amount of profit or savings the producer could expect when utilizing that index. This sounds complicated, but indexes do work.
The following terminal index definitions are from the respective breed association websites (with some edits):
- The American Angus Association $Beef Value ($B) index is expressed in dollars per head and is the expected average difference in future progeny performance for postweaning and carcass value, compared with progeny of other sires.
The American Angus Association produces two additional terminal indexes: $Feedlot ($F) and $Grid ($G). $F, expressed in dollars per head, is the expected average difference in future progeny performance for postweaning merit, compared with progeny of other sires. The $F incorporates weaning weight and yearling weight expected progeny differences (EPDs), along with feed intake data, genomic information and trait interrelationships. Typical feedlot gain value and cost differences are accounted for in the final calculations, along with a standard set of industry values for days on feed, ration costs and cash cattle price.
$G is expressed in dollars per head and is the expected average difference in future progeny performance for carcass grid merit, compared with progeny of other sires. The $G combines quality grade and yield grade attributes and is calculated for animals with carcass EPDs. - The American International Charolais Association produces a Terminal Sire Index (TSI). The TSI combines USDA economic data with the EPD for growth (birth weight, weaning weight and yearling weight) and carcass traits (ribeye area, hot carcass weight, marbling and back fat) into one single EPD value. This EPD value represents a dollar index and is used like single-trait EPD values.
- The American Hereford Association Certified Hereford Beef Index (CHB$) is a terminal sire index in which Hereford bulls are used on British-cross cows. All offspring are sold as fed cattle on a CHB pricing grid. This index places no emphasis on milk or fertility because all cattle will be terminal. This index promotes growth and carcass.
- The American Gelbvieh Association Feeder Profit Index (FPI) is an economic selection index designed to aid producers in selecting sires whose progeny will perform in the feedlot and are sold on grade and yield. Well-ranking sires for FPI have higher marbling and carcass weight than their contemporaries.
- The Red Angus Association of America’s GridMaster Index (GM) is built using Red Angus bulls mated to cows, and all progeny are sold on a quality-based carcass grid. The GridMaster Index goal is to maximize profitability of feeders in the feedyard and on the rail.
- The American Simmental Association Terminal Index (TI) evaluates sires for use on mature Angus cows, with all offspring put on feed and sold on grade and yield.
In closing, I would like to come back to the $G index for the American Angus Association. Read the definition of the index slowly and carefully and ask yourself, “How would one actually utilize all the data variables mentioned without an index?”
A three-year rolling average is used to establish typical industry economic values for quality grade and yield grade schedules. Quality-grade premiums are specified for Prime, the Certified Angus Beef® (CAB®) brand and Choice carcasses, as well as Select and Standard discounts. Yield-grade (YG) premiums are incorporated for YG 1 and YG 2 (high-yielding carcasses), with discounts for YG 4 and YG 5 (low red-meat yields). Grid impact in dollars per hundredweight (cwt.) and dollars per head is calculated from the yield and quality-grade components, then combined to arrive at the $G.
Wow, that is a lot of information and, thus, the value of an index. Perhaps some might feel the utilization of indexes actually makes sire selection too easy. The truth is, selecting cattle on an index, through time, works. The bottom line: Individual producers must establish goals and objectives. Once developed, indexes are a great tool to accomplish those goals.
May you find all your ear tags.
Editor’s Note: Kris Ringwall is a beef specialist for North Dakota State University Extension. For more information, contact www.ag.ndsu.edu/news or North Dakota State University Extension Service, NDSU Dept. 7000, 315 Morrill Hall, P.O. Box 6050, Fargo, ND 58108-6050.
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