Executive Summary
envelope for breeding cattle that enhance
profitability for all sectors of the beef industry.
Even with DNA advancements and improved NCE
programs, it is extremely important to remember
to continue to incorporate performance data on
cattle to achieve maximum accuracies on EPDs.
In the accompanying graphic produced by Dr.
Robert Weaber of Kansas State University, he
illustrates the effective progeny counts and the
impact of utilizing all components available to the
industry when not only incorporating genomics
and pedigree data (PE+GE) to predict an EPD, but
also illustrates the added benefit of recording and
keeping good performance date on your cattle.
As you can see, in the very right-hand column
with the performance record included in EPD with
genomics, (PERF+GE), effective progeny counts
can increase dramatically. The early look into an
animals’ genetic potential, even prior to progeny
hitting the ground not only has financial value
and can greatly enhance culling practices, it aids
with the retention and propagation of cattle with
high genetic merit. This also gives a commercial
bull buyer confidence with his new bull purchases
that the cattle will actually add to his bottom
line in terms of efficiency and profitability.
Some traits are highly heritable and reflect that on
progeny count equivalents even with the initial
use of genomic testing combined with pedigree
data. Marbling is one of those traits as you can
see it circled in red in the accompanying graphic.
Many traits climb as high as the 40-50 head
level though once performance data is added.
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