Guidelines For Uniform Beef Improvement Programs Ninth Edition “To develop cooperation among all segments of the beef industry in the compilation and utilization of performance records to improve efficiency, profitability and sustainability of beef production.” First Edition 1970 Second Edition 1972 Third Edition 1976 Forth Edition 1981 Fifth Edition 1986 Sixth Edition 1990 Seventh Edition 1996 Eighth Edition 2002 Ninth Edition 2010 Guidelines is a publication of the Beef Improvement Federation, Joe Cassady, Executive Director, North Carolina State University, Campus Box 7621, Raleigh, NC 27695 www.beefimprovement.org CONTRIBUTORS Editors Larry V. Cundiff, U.S. Meat Animal Research Center, ARS, USDA, L. Dale Van Vleck, U.S. Meat Animal Research Center, ARS, USDA and the University of Nebraska William D. Hohenboken, Virginia Tech Chapter 1, Introduction Ronnie Silcox, University of Georgia Chapter 2, Breeding Herd Evaluation Bill Bowman, American Angus Association Bruce Golden, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo Lowell Gould, Denton, Texas Robert Hough, Red Angus Association of America Kenda Ponder, Red Angus Association of America Robert E. Williams, American International Charolais Association Lauren Hyde, North American Limousin Foundation Chapter 3, Animal Evaluation Denny Crews, Colorado State University Michael Dikeman, Kansas State University Sally L. Northcutt, American Angus Association Dorian Garrick, Iowa State University Twig T. Marston, University of Nebraska Michael MacNeil, Fort Keogh Livestock and Range Research Lab., ARS, USDA, Larry W. Olson, Clemson University Joe C. Paschal, Texas A&M University Gene Rouse, Iowa State University Bob Weaber, University of Missouri Tommy Wheeler, U.S. Meat Animal Research Center Steven Shackelford, U.S. Meat Animal Research Center Robert E. Williams, American International Charolais Association Doyle E. Wilson, Iowa State University -----------------------------BIF Guidelines 1------------------------- Chapter 4, Biotechnology Sue DeNise, Pfizer Animal Genetics Bridger Feuz, MMI Genomics Ronnie D. Green, Pfizer Animal Genetics Tom Holm, MMI Genomics Stephen D. Kachman, University of Nebraska Michael Tess, Montana State University Chapter 5, National Cattle Evaluation Keith Bertrand, University of Georgia Larry Cundiff, Agricultural Research Service, USDA Bruce Golden, Colorado State University Stephen D. Kachman, University of Nebraska Richard Quaas, Cornell University Dale Van Vleck, University of Nebraska Robert E. Williams, American International Charolais Association Chapter 6, Utilization Darrh Bullock, University of Kentucky Mark Enns, Colorado State University Lowell Gould, Red Angus Association of America Mike MacNeil, Agricultural Research Service, USDA Dan Moser, Kansas State University Gary P. Rupp, University of Nebraska Glossary John Hough, EPD International Ronnie Silcox, University of Georgia ________________________________________________________________ Acknowledgments The Beef Improvement Federation acknowledges, with appreciation, the efforts of the many committee members and authors who have contributed to previous editions of Guidelines for Uniform Beef Improvement Programs. It was the work of these people over the last fifty-two years that laid the foundation for this publication. -----------------------------BIF Guidelines 2------------------------- TABLE OF CONTENTS Chapter 1 Introduction ..................................................................................... 4 Chapter 2 Breeding Herd Evaluation ............................................................... 6 Chapter 3 Animal Evaluation ......................................................................... 16 Chapter 4 Biotechnology................................................................................ 56 Chapter 5 National Cattle Evaluation ............................................................. 65 Chapter 6 Utilization ...................................................................................... 83 Glossary Beef Performance Glossary ........................................................ 105 Appendix 1.1 BIF Member Breed Organizations ............................................... 126 Appendix 2.1 NAAB Uniform Coding System for Identifying Semen ................. 128 Appendix 2.2 International Year/Letter Designations for Animal Identification .. 133 Appendix 3.1 BIF Standard Adjustment Factors for Birth & Weaning weight .... 134 Appendix 3.2 Marbling Scores and Quality Grades in the U.S. and Canada .... 135 Appendix 4.1 Incorporation of Marker Scores into National Genetic Evaluations ... .................................................................................................... 137 Appendix 5.1 National Cattle Evaluation Methods ............................................ 145 Appendix 5.2 Heritabilities and Selected Genetic Correlations Used in NCE Programs for Several U.S. Breed Associations .......................... 156 Appendix 5.3 Threshold Traits .......................................................................... 157 Appendix 5.4 Genetic Evaluation of Survival Traits .......................................... 164 Appendix 5.5 Analytical Models for Across-Breed Factors ............................... 169 Appendix 6.1 Guidelines for the Bull Breeding Soundness Examination as Recommended by the Society for Theriogenology...................... 172 Index .................................................................................................... 176 -----------------------------BIF Guidelines 3------------------------- CHAPTER 1 - INTRODUCTION The Beef Improvement Federation was formed on February 1, 1968 to standardize programs and methodologies and to create greater awareness, acceptance and usage of beef cattle performance concepts. The purposes of BIF as expressed in its by-laws are: Uniformity – To work for establishment of accurate and uniform procedures for measuring, recording and assessing data concerning the performance of beef cattle which may be used by participant organizations. Development – To assist member organizations and/or their affiliates in developing their individual beef improvement and quality management programs consistent with the needs of their members and the common goals of such generally accepted record keeping programs. Cooperation – To develop cooperation among all segments of the beef industry in the compilation and utilization of performance records to improve efficiency, profitability and sustainability of beef production. Education – To encourage the Federation’s member organizations to develop educational programs emphasizing the use and interpretation of performance data and quality management programs in improving the efficiency, profitability and sustainability of beef production. Confidence – To develop the increased confidence of the beef industry in the economic potential available from performance measurement and assessment. BIF is a federation comprised of member organizations that include: Provincial, state and national beef cattle improvement associations and other organizations that sponsor beef cattle improvement. Breed associations in the United States and Canada that are involved in performance programs. Other organizations involved in beef improvement such as the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, National Association of Animal Breeders, and artificial insemination organizations. Associate memberships are available to individuals or agencies interested in beef cattle performance. -----------------------------BIF Guidelines 4------------------------- The ninth edition of Uniform Guidelines for Beef Improvement Programs represents a legacy of work that spans over fifty years of cooperation among the various segments of the beef cattle industry. The first edition of Guidelines was published in 1970 and it was revised in 1972, 1976, 1981, 1986, 1990, 1996, 2002 and 2010. Committees established by the BIF Board of Directors develop recommendations based on scientific research results and industry experience. Through the years Guidelines has evolved as new information has become available. Contributing authors have updated, revised or added sections in this edition based on BIF committee recommendations. The Guidelines are published primarily to assist member organization in the development and operation of performance programs for their members. The objectives of this publication are to outline standard procedures for measuring, recording and using beef cattle performance data and to facilitate greater uniformity in terminology and methodology in the beef industry. BIF shows no preference for, or discrimination against, any breed of cattle or industry organization. The Guidelines contain recommended procedures. BIF does not mandate or dictate that any organization follow all or any of these recommendations. There are situations where individual organizations can develop procedures that are more suitable for their members. For example, this publication contains BIF’s weaning weight adjustment factors. Most associations, while adopting the BIF standard adjustment ages of 205 and 365, have used their extensive databases to develop adjustment procedures that are more appropriate for the specific breed. It is not the purpose of BIF to recommend one standard program for all segments of the industry or to discourage the development of better procedures when specific data are available. The Guidelines contain standard procedures based on research and industry