1

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

4

AIMS: Breeding Data