International Genetic Evaluation in the United States and the Role of the National Beef Cattle Evaluation Consortium

K. Darrh Bullock, E. John Pollak, J. Keith Bertrand, Dorrian Garrick, Mark Enns, Bob Weaber and Doyle E. Wilson

Currently beef cattle genetic evaluations in the this system was not sustainable. The four United States are computed by Cornell Universities involved agreed to form a University (Simmental, Simbrah, Maine Anjou consortium and coordinate their efforts more and ), Colorado State University (Red closely, if funding could be provided. Through Angus, Braford Red Brangus, Tarentaise, efforts from the four Universities, breed Braunvieh, and Santa Gertrudis), associations and individual cattlemen, funding Iowa State University (Angus) and the was provided in 2001 from the federal University of Georgia (Beef Master, Brahman, government at a fraction of the requested Charolais, , Limousin and Senepol). amount. This funding was increased in 2002 Additionally, Australia computes the genetic and reached over $600,000 in 2003. evaluations for several US breeds. In past years each University conducted their own The National Beef Cattle Evaluation research and developed their own software Consortium (NBCEC) has three primary goals: necessary to conduct the genetic evaluations. coordinate research necessary for genetic Other than publishing in the scientific evaluation, both within the member institutions literature, there was very little cooperation or and with other institutions; cooperate on the sharing of ideas. Each University recruited its service aspects of computing genetic own breed associations and generated funds evaluations in the form of sharing software or primarily from those associations. In order to actual computing of evaluations; and recruit or retain breeds the Universities often education. The educational portion is well under priced the research and services they underway and has included train-the-trainer were providing. programs, direct producer education and literature development. Research at the Beef Cattle genetic evaluations in the member institutions has had better United States is not an ideal model to be coordination, but until this year there were no copied. Because of the structure discussed additional funds for seeking expertise from above there is very little communication or institutions outside the consortium. This year cooperation, in contrast there is competition several other institutions will be sub-contracted and duplication of effort. There has been no for research support. Several pieces of direct government funding, although indirectly software are currently being shared and there is tax payer funds support the University system, at least one example of shared evaluation and the association funds have been limited. computation for certain traits. There have been Additional problems associated with genetic growing pains, but the consortium has had evaluations are that there is no mandatory successes and continues to build cooperation. identification system and many associations do not require whole herd recording. Currently, there are no international projects that are directly funded through the In 1999 it was recognized by many, and NBCEC. However, Cornell University, voiced through the Beef Improvement Colorado State University and the University Federation and the Beef Breeds Council of the of Georgia are currently computing National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, that international evaluations and they are certainly

156 benefitting indirectly. In general the Brahman and Hereford. The MB-ICE system international evaluations in the US are actually for weight traits accounts for breed effects by US-Canada joint analysis. There are no true breed fraction. Major breeds have their international evaluations being computed. The individual effect and lesser breeds are grouped US-Canada evaluations are computed in the together by type. Direct and maternal heterosis same manner as the national evaluations, with adjustments are made to animals records where assumed homogeneous variance. appropriate by breed fractions and type (breed groups are British, Continental, Bos Indicus, The members of NBCEC are very involved other). Age of dam (AOD) effects (in days of in multi-breed evaluations which have some age) are modeled using fourth order similarities to international evaluations with regressions, where the regression coefficients perhaps more considerations. Each institution are constructed by weighting each of the dams has developed there own procedures for multi- breeds AOD coefficients by her percentage of breed analysis, but they are similar. For that breed. For example if a calf is born to a simplicity, Cornell’s Multi Breed – 50% Simmental x 50% Angus dam, the AOD International Cattle Evaluation (MB-ICE) will adjustment equation would be 50% of the be described in more detail. Cornell's and Simmental AOD coefficient plus 50% of the American Simmental Association's Multi Angus AOD coefficient. Additionally, the Breed-International Cattle Evaluation (MB- system uses a methodology to correct Adjusted ICE) system is both multi breed and 205 day weights for interactions between age international in scope. The evaluation of calf, age of dam and percent Simmental. provides a multiple breed evaluation for the (B.W. Woodward et al. JAS 67:20-27) The following traits: birth, weaning, yearling, milk, system also incorporates external information maternal weaning weight, carcass weight, (EPDs) for Angus and Red Angus sires that percent retail cuts, marbling, fat thickness, and have produced progeny included in the MB- ribeye area. The new MB-ICE carcass ICE dataset. Angus and Red Angus EPDs and evaluation was just released and is multi-breed accuracies are leveraged using a Bayesian and incorporates both carcass and ultrasound approach to provide additional information data sources. Direct and maternal calving ease about the merit and ranking of those sires in Expected Progeny Differences (EPD) are the MB-ICE evaluation. provided for animals with >75% Simmental in a multiple trait model with calving ease as a Colorado State University is computing threshold trait and birth weight as a continuous US-Canadian evaluations for Limousin and trait (Y. Zhao et al. JAS 66:396-399 and Zhao Red Angus and multi-breed evaluations for MS and PhD Theses at Cornell Univ.). A Braford and Red Angus. The University of Warner-Bratzler shear force EPD is computed Georgia is computing US-Canadian for Simmental and Simbrah sires in two evaluations for Charolais, Gelbvieh and separate evaluations. Daughters' mature Limousin with Gelbvieh and Limousin being weight and height EPDs for Simmental and multi-breed evaluations. Simbrah sires (two evaluations) were computed in a multiple trait model with body In summary, the National Beef Cattle condition score as a fixed effect and age as a Evaluation Consortium was founded to covariate (May 2003, Simmental Register). coordinate beef cattle genetic evaluations in the United States and educate producers on the Expected Progeny Differences for the use of the information generated. Member American and Canadian Simmental institutions are individually conducting Associations, American Maine Anjou research and developing methodology for Association, American Chianina Association international genetic evaluations. are produced from the MB-ICE system. The Additionally, NBCEC is actively involved in primary breeds of cattle represented in the 5 multi-breed genetic evaluations of beef cattle. million record data set aside from Simmental, Simbrah, Maine Anjou and Chianina (Chiangus, etc) are Angus, Red Angus,

157