Performance Line
While it is important to genomically enhance
herd sires and elite females, genomically
enhancing the entire herd will help your star
animals stand out even more. AI sires and donor
dams are required to be tested on the GGP
150K ($85), but the GGP 50K is the most popular
profile with the rest of the NALF herdbook.
An animal that has been genomically enhanced
will show an adjustment in EPDs that may have
otherwise have only been attained by keeping
a female for two to three calf crops. If animals
are gnomically enhanced at birth, producers
can use the enhanced numbers to help make
culling decisions earlier on, reducing input
costs in cows that would eventually be culled.
Genomics are not a substitute for
performance data. Now more than ever, it
is important that all performance data be
logged on each animal. Together, genomics
and performance data provide invaluable
information for economically relevant traits.
NALF always has our members’ best interests at
heart. Though genomics may sometimes not tell
us the most popular opinion, they substantially
increase an animal’s accuracies at a much earlier
stage in their life. Chances are, if your animal’s
numbers take a hit on a particular trait, the animal
was not accurately represented prior to the
release of BOLT EPDs. If you have any questions
about genomics or performance, please feel free
to contact me at 303-220-1693, ext. 59. LT