Page 18 - MWC 10-27-2022s

The Midwest Cattleman · October 27, 2022 · P18
MULTIPLE PATHS, SAME ENDPOINT

By Matt Woolfolk, American Shorthorn Association
When you’re setting your EPD included in the index. American Shorthorn Asso- arrive at almost equal $BMI
destination into your Google These indexes are based on ciation produces a trio of in- when you study these three
Maps on a road trip, often economic factors in certain dexes for members to use in sires. Bull A excels in calv-
you will be given multiple production scenarios; the their breeding programs. The ing ease, solid carcass, and
routes to get to the destina- weightings of an EPD trait $Calving Ease index ($CEZ) high milk, while also being
tion. Options include short- are not arbitrary. An index is is designed to identify genet- low enough growth to not be
est travel time, least miles, usually expressed in a unit ics that excel in eliminating penalized for (likely) larger
or avoiding the toll roads of dollars. Comparing two calving difficulty in heifers. mature sized cows. Bull B’s
and back roads. Even if you bulls for an index, the high- Our $Feedlot index ($F) is value in a $BMI scenario is
choose to ignore the guid- er figure is projected to pro- constructed to help commer- largely in siring calves that
ance, it can be a helpful tool duce more revenue for the cial producers find the bulls will bring the most value at
when heading to a new place. operation when he is used in that will best work for their weaning through his high
Much like directions to your a breeding scenario like the herds in a strictly terminal growth genetics. And Bull
destination, there are often one the index is designed for. operation, focusing on growth C is a combination bull that
several ways to land at the Situations that indexes are and carcass quality. has good growth data, high
same end point when we are constructed for usually cen- Finally, $British Mater- milk, and solid calving ease.
calculating selection index- ter around a commercial cow nal ($BMI) aims to identify Obviously, these bulls take
es. To dive deeper into this herd with a specific end point the Shorthorns that are best three very different paths to
subject matter, we’re going or marketing goal (replace- suited for commercial breed- the same destination. With
to make a U turn and go back ment females, feeder steers, ers in a situation where they a more complex index like
to the basics of selection in- retained ownership, etc.). In are retaining their own re- $BMI, there’s going to be
dexes to get a better grasp of a seedstock situation, these placement females. multiple paths to the same
the harder stuff later in the indexes find value in helping Much like developing a answer. Remember, while
journey. the genetic provider (YOU) ration to feed your calves, $BMI does focus on aiding
Selection indexes are es- produce cattle better suited there are multiple ways to the rancher that is keeping
sentially a complex algebra- for the commercial custom- get to the same outcome his own females, it does not
ic equation with weights of ers in those production sce- when using selection index abandon the steer mates
importance placed on every narios. technology in your program. to his heifers. That is why
While the ingredients may all you see growth and carcass
be the same, the proportions traits involved in $BMI. A
and amounts can vary, all bull’s peak value may be in
while still getting your cat- making top-class daughters
tle to the desired endpoint. I with minimal regard to her
Located 45 mi. SE of Kansas City, Mo on 58 Hwy. east at want to take the time to dive brothers, or he may sire good
Modern Kingsville Livestock Auction Center at Kingsville, MO further into this concept, so females while siring killer
below are some examples of feeder calves. Both possi-
how not all $BMI and $F are bilities are viable options to
Make Plans To Attend Our Next created equally. We’ll study generate similar financial re-
how these bulls’ genetic pro- turns to the operation.
Special Cow & Bull Sale files don’t necessarily look
the same but can produce the $Feedlot
This index is designed to
- Saturday, November 19th - same outcome from a reve- so it’s logical that growth is
nuegenerating perspective or focus on terminal marketing,
index value.
11:00 am $British Maternal a driver of $Feedlot. With
Bull 1, you get good growth
There are several ways to with above average carcass
In conjunction with

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