Beef Sire Selection Manual Second Edition—2010 National Beef Cattle Evaluation Consortium Mention or display of a trademark, proprietary product, or firm in text or figures does not constitute an endorsement and does not imply approval to the exclusion of other suitable products or firms. National Beef Cattle Evaluation Consortium Scientific Council Dorian Garrick Ikhide Imumorin Executive Director Cornell University Iowa State University Ignacy Mistzal Darrh Bullock University of Georgia University of Kentucky Steve Kappes R. Mark Enns ARS, USDA Colorado State University Industry Council Dave Nichols Charles Hunt Producer and Chairman Producer Nichols Farms Hunt Limousin Ranch Paul Bennett Mark Thallman Producer USDA Knoll Crest Farm U.S. Meat Animal Research Center Tommy Brown Producer Alison Van Eenennaam Sunshine Farms Cooperative Extension University of California-Davis Jack Cowley Producer Jack Ward Cowley Family Ranch Beef Breeds Council American Hereford Association Mike Engler Producer – Feedlot Kevin Yon Cactus Feeders Producer Yon Family Farms Paul Genho National Cattlemen’s Beef Association Farm Management Company Review Panel A special “thank you” goes out to the following individuals who re- viewed the material included in this publication. Donald Boggs Sally Northcutt Kansas State University American Angus Association Darrh Bullock John Pollak University of Kentucky U.S. Meat Animal Research Center Larry Cundiff U.S. Meat Animal Research James M. Reecy Center Iowa State University Jack Dekkers Harlan Ritchie Iowa State University Michigan State University James A. Gosey Ronnie Silcox University of Nebraska-Lincoln University of Georgia Charlie Hunt Daryl Strohbehn Hunt Limousin Iowa State University David Kirkpatrick Michael Tess University of Tennessee Montana State University Don Kress Mark Thallman Montana State University U.S. Meat Animal Research Center Keith Long 4L Grazing, LLC Fred Thrift University of Kentucky Mike MacNeil Fort Keogh Livestock and Range Kevin Yon Research Laboratory Yon Family Farms Twig Marston University of Nebraska-Lincoln Contents Dedication ............................................................................................................................................................8 Foreword ...............................................................................................................................................................9 The Importance of Sire Selection ..............................................................................................................10 Dan W. Moser, Kansas State University Assessing Management, Resources, and Marketing ...........................................................................11 Darrh Bullock, University of Kentucky Genetic Principles ...........................................................................................................................................14 Darrh Bullock, University of Kentucky The Role of Economically Relevant and Indicator Traits ..................................................................17 R. Mark Enns, Colorado State University Data Collection and Interpretation ..........................................................................................................21 Jennifer Minick Bormann, Kansas State University Expected Progeny Differences (EPD) .......................................................................................................27 Janice M. Rumph, Pfizer Animal Genetics Interpretation and Use of Expected Progeny Differences (EPD) ...................................................34 Janice M. Rumph, Pfizer Animal Genetics Selection Decisions: Tools for Economic Improvement Beyond EPD ........................................42 R. Mark Enns, Colorado State University Crossbreeding for Commercial Beef Production ................................................................................50 Bob Weaber, University of Missouri-Columbia Breed and Composite Selection .................................................................................................................58 Bob Weaber, University of Missouri-Columbia Visual and Phenotypic Evaluation of Bulls .............................................................................................65 Dan W. Moser, Kansas State University DNA-Based Biotechnologies ......................................................................................................................68 Alison Van Eenennaam, University of California-Davis Utilizing Molecular Information in Beef Cattle Selection................................................................79 Matt Spangler, University of Nebraska-Lincoln; Alison Van Eenennaam, University of California-Davis Summary .............................................................................................................................................................85 Daryl Strohbehn, Iowa State University Author Biographies .........................................................................................................................................86 Dedication he authors and editor of the NBCEC Sire Selection Manual dedicate this publication to Dr. John Pollak. John was the foundingT director of the NBCEC and has worked tirelessly for the advancement of beef cattle genetic evaluations for many years. John’s tenure as Director of the NBCEC ended in January of this year and his leadership will be missed. John continues to serve the beef industry as Director of the Roman L. Hruska U.S. Meat Animal Research Center in Clay Center, Nebraska. 8 Foreword his manual was sponsored by the National Beef Cattle Evalu- with bull breeders and other stakeholders in genetic improve- ation Consortium (NBCEC). The NBCEC is an organization ment. Knowledge and understanding of these and other issues ofT universities that have been involved in beef cattle genetic has never been more relevant than today, with some calling for evaluations over the last several decades, plus affiliate universi- belt-tightening due to economic pressures on the beef industry, ties doing research critical to beef cattle selection and evaluation. while others are offering new investment opportunities such as The consortium, which started operations in 2000, is funded by DNA-based technologies that may assist in the selection process. a Special Research Grant from the Cooperative State Research, This second revised edition of the sire selection manual builds Education, and Extension Service of the USDA. The focus of on the successful first edition and provides many details as to the the NBCEC is research, but we strongly believe in the need for important aspects of beef cattle improvement. It has been written, an active extension program in beef cattle genetics. As such, we edited, refereed and revised by experts in the nation, driven by have held workshops and symposia on a variety of topics and have their interest in education, informed decision making, and the conducted several series of distance-education programs. This genetic improvement of the beef industry. They deserve special manual represents another effort by the NBCEC Extension team thanks. The manual will be of interest to stakeholders in all sectors to provide current and meaningful information to the industry. of the beef industry, those bull breeders and bull buyers involved As director of the NBCEC, I would like to take this opportunity directly in animal management and selection, those that assist to pay special thanks to the editors, authors, and reviewers who them in this task, including breed associations, sales representa- made this manual come to life. tives, extension agents, and aspiring students looking for career We live in an age of accelerated scientific discovery, which opportunities in any of those areas. The Scientific and Industry leads to new technologies that must be understood by members Councils of the National Beef Cattle Evaluation Consortium are of the production sector of the industry to assure that technology proud of their role in facilitating this publication and trust you is applied appropriately. Today, producers face the challenges of will find it can add value to your business, wherever that may be learning about DNA testing and its application to their selection in the beef industry. programs. However, one very appropriate use of any new tech- Dorian Garrick nology is to synchronize it with tried and tested programs. The Lush Chair in Animal Breeding and Genetics beef industry still must use tools like EPD and programs such as Iowa State University crossbreeding and/or composite breeding. The Beef Sire Selec- Executive Director tion Manual incorporates information on both tried and tested National Beef Cattle Evaluation Consortium programs as well as on new genetic technology. It is meant to be a reference to help producers understand the important genetic concepts that are the tools for profitable cattle breeding. he first edition of the Beef Sire Selection Manual, sponsored Knowledge is a powerful asset for any undertaking, and profit- by the National Beef Cattle Evaluation Consortium, was able beef production is an endeavor the members of the NBCEC printedT in 2005. The Consortium is pleased to present this sec- are committed to support. As such, we the faculty members of ond edition in 2010. A talented set of beef genetics experts from the NBCEC hope that you find this to be a useful educational across the USA have authored the chapters. We are