Back in May 2025, Steak in Genomics asked you to participate in a national survey about bull selection as part of a larger U.S. based research project. At the time, our goal was to better understand how beef producers make bull selection decisions, what information they use, and which traits receive the most emphasis. We wanted to know whether the genetic tools and information available to producers were being used in ways that align with the economic goals of their operations.
Now, we get to bring that conversation full circle and share what we learned.
The eBEEF group received responses from 721 producers across 43 states. That is a lot of valuable input from people making bull selection decisions every year, and we appreciate everyone who took the time to participate. The results provide an interesting look at how producers approach bull selection and, perhaps more importantly, where there may be opportunities to improve how we use genetic information.
One of the encouraging findings was that producers recognize the importance of profitability. When asked how important profitability was in their bull selection decisions, producers gave it an average score of 8.1 out of 10. More than 83% rated profitability at least a 7. That tells us producers are thinking about the bottom line when they make breeding decisions.
We also found that EPDs are an important part of that process. Nearly 90% of respondents identified EPDs as either a primary or important source of information when selecting bulls. That is encouraging, especially considering how much effort has gone into educating producers about the value of genetic evaluations. But when we looked a little closer at how producers use that information, some interesting patterns emerged.
Take calving ease, for example. Nearly 88% of producers reported using Calving Ease Direct (CED) EPD when selecting bulls for calving ease. However, only 9.9% reported using CED EPD alone. Many producers also considered Birth Weight EPD, and more than a third considered the actual birth weight of the bull.
We saw a similar pattern when producers selected for growth. Although 81.4% reported using growth EPDs, only 36.1% relied on the EPD alone. More than half also considered the actual weight of the bull.
This raises an important question: Are we selecting for the genetic trait we actually want to improve, or are we relying on additional measurements that may not tell us what we think they do? EPDs are designed to predict genetic differences in future progeny. Actual measurements on an individual bull can be useful information, but they provide evidence of an animal's genetic potential in a very specific environment and management regime that may or may not be indicative of the environment on your own operation. Remember, (P)henotype = (G)enotype + (E)nvironment.
Another area that caught our attention was the amount of emphasis producers place on different traits. Calving Ease Direct received the greatest average emphasis in the survey, followed by Weaning Weight and Birth Weight. Mature cow weight, on the other hand, was used by only 25.1% of respondents.
We then compared those survey responses with economic emphasis estimates generated using iGENDEC, a decision-support tool for constructing economic selection indexes. Under the modeled scenario, when maximizing profitability was the only goal, the suggested emphasis was 8.1% for Calving Ease Direct, 31.6% for Weaning Weight Growth and 48.2% for Mature Weight.
That is quite a difference from what producers reported. In particular, the comparison suggests that producers may be placing considerably more emphasis on calving ease and much less emphasis on mature cow weight than the economic model indicates. Mature cow size has real implications for feed requirements and the resources needed to maintain a cow herd, especially in operations that develop and retain their own replacement females.
Now, these numbers do not mean that every operation should use those exact percentages. Every operation has different breeding objectives, environments, marketing endpoints and management systems. The point is that the traits we emphasize when selecting bulls should reflect the things that actually drive profitability in our own operations. Sometimes that means taking a closer look at traits that may not receive as much attention as the more familiar growth and calving ease numbers.
So, what do we take away from all of this? Producers recognize the importance of profitability and are using EPDs to make selection decisions. The next opportunity is making sure we are using those tools effectively, understanding which traits matter most to our operations and balancing selection across the traits that influence long-term herd profitability.
That is exactly why we wanted to conduct this survey in the first place. Understanding how producers are currently making decisions helps us develop better educational programs and resources that address real-world questions and opportunities.
When we asked you to participate back in May 2025, we were starting a conversation. Now, we are excited to share the results and continue that conversation.
Want to hear more? The eBEEF group has put together a presentation walking through the survey results and discussing what they mean for bull selection. You can watch the full presentation below. We also encourage you to check this article published in Drovers.
Watch the summary video: Bull Selection Practices in the U.S.
Read the producer-friendly article: Are You Selecting Bulls the Right Way?
And, as always, thanks for being part of Steak in Genomics!
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