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ReproductiveStrategies
American Angus Association
Commercial Producer Focus
•Lead the industry
•Provide data and decision tools
•Continue to capitalize on maternal advantage
Angus Traits of Interest
• Reproductive traits
• Udder Traits
• Docility
• Efficiency
• Adaptability
Commercial Producer FocusFinding the Balance
Survival RetailProduct
WeaningWeight
PregnancyRate
MilkProduction Growth Carcass
Traits
Hot Carcass Weight
10 2 2
Melton, 1995
...Decision...DecisionMakingMakingTools...Tools...
American Angus Association 2007
$Value Indexes$Value Indexes
Weaned Calf
$W
Weaned Calf
$W
Postweaning
$F $G $B
Postweaning
$F $G $B
AMERICAN ANGUS ASSOCIATION
Cow Energy
$EN
Cow Energy
$EN
$QG, $YG$QG, $YG
ReproductionReproduction
2
Reproduction (low) <.20
Growth (moderate) .20 -.40
Carcass (high) >.40
Heritability EstimatesHeritability EstimatesHeritability Estimates
Heifer Pregnancy .13Heifer PregnancyHeifer Pregnancy .13.13
Heifer Pregnancy EPD (HP)Heifer Pregnancy EPD (HP)
Bull ABull A +10%+10%
Bull BBull B +3% +3%
DifferenceDifference +7%+7%
Heifer Pregnancy EPDsHeifer Pregnancy EPDs
•• Use as a tool to increase the chance of moreUse as a tool to increase the chance of morepregnant daughters from Bull A versus Bull B.pregnant daughters from Bull A versus Bull B.
•• On the average, expect On the average, expect 7 out of 1007 out of 100 more more
pregnant daughters of Bull A compared withpregnant daughters of Bull A compared withdaughters of Bull B.daughters of Bull B.
•• Higher EPDs areHigher EPDs are
more favorable.more favorable.
0
50
100
150
200
250
300
-4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10111213141516
Distribution of Heifer Pregnancy EPDs, %
EPD, %
No
. S
ire
s
EPDs expressed as adifference in % daughterspregnant as heifers
July 2007
Angus Heifer Pregnancy
Initial Release – July 2007
• Sire EPDs (ACC at least .30)
429 sires
• Web-based listing anddownloadable spreadsheet
Genetic Evaluation
3
+3
+4
+6
+8
+10
+11
+12
+14
95%
90%
75%
50%
25%
10%
5%
1%
Top Pct HP, %
Heifer Pregnancy EPDs: Percentile BreakdownHeifer Pregnancy EPDs: Percentile Breakdown
(Current Sires, Fall 2007)(Current Sires, Fall 2007)
The Performance Life of an Angus CowThe Performance Life of an Angus Cow
• Breeding records
• Cow disposal information
• Pregnancy check results
• Calving data
Breeding Records
End
Date
Begin
Date
Events in a cow’s reproductive life
•Breeding dates
•Preg check/days preg (heifer data encouraged)
•Opens recorded
•Disposal code and date
Breeding Seasonfor a cow/heifer
AI AI PasturePasture
AHIR Database Progress: 2007
11,990
15,974
0
5,000
10,000
15,000
20,000
May June
No
. H
eif
er
Bre
ed
ing
Reco
rds
AAA Login: Entry Performance Breeding Data Offline Entry: Breeding Records
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AIMS: Breeding Data