A Steak in Genomics™

There was standing room only for the Breed Improvement Session of the Angus Means Business National Convention  on November 4th, 2014. Genomic Recalibration Dan Moser, Angus Genetics Incorporated Performance data reported to the American Angus Association has become more important than ever. Not only is this data necessary to get highly precise estimates from sires, but it is the foundation of developing genomic predictions for genomic-enhanced EPDs. In the training or recalibration of genomic predictions, basically an EPD effect is estimated for every DNA variant included in the genomic prediction test. The genomic prediction (also called the Molecular Breeding Value, MBV) is the sum of every EPD effect for approximately 50,000 DNA variants evenly spread throughout the cattle chromosomes. Initial GE-EPDs in 2010 were based on 2,253 animals. In 2012 the training set increased to  11,756, by 2013 the training set was larger than 38,000 animals, and now in 2014 has reached over 5

In October, we reported that Angus Genetics Inc would be including feed intake data into $F and $B indexes. On December 5th, 2014 those changes took effect. In our October poll, 91% of the respondents indicated that they considered including feed intake data as an improvement to the $B index. And, the data backs this up (see here for more about our data-driven philosophy). Since 2004 the American Angus Association has seen an increasing genetic trend for feed intake. This means Angus producers have been indirectly selecting for increased feed intake, which is a negative when we are striving for more efficient cattle. Figure 1. Deregressed estimated breeding values for birth and weaning weight plotted against birth date. Deregressed estimated breeding values plotted against birth date for 3,570 Angus animals. The blue lines represent fitted linear and red lines represent fitted quadratic regressions. a . Deregressed birth weight EBV, and b . Deregressed weaning weight EBV. Dec