American Angus Association survey shows preference for functional traits in $Value Index

Jason Archer of animal breeding technology consulting company AbacusBio outlined the findings of a review into value indexes during a presentation at the Association for the Advancement of Animal Breeding and Genetics conference in Armidale recently.

A total of 3174 responses were received from an online survey last year that was distributed to seedstock breeders, commercial cattle producers and finishers to understand their preferences for certain traits.

The results found cow survival, docility, foot score, heifer pregnancy and weaning weight ranked higher on average than expected on provisional bioeconomic model calculations.

At least 75 per cent of respondents agreed that functional traits should be included in an index.

"One of the things we find is there is a really high preference for traits that perhaps are the ones we haven't typically accounted for in our evaluation systems, such as survival, docility, foot score, heifer pregnancy, so things that are probably not the old traits but the newer traits that we might be putting in or in some cases haven't put in to our breeding evaluations yet," Mr Archer said.

"There is a very overwhelming view out there that these traits should be in the index and incorporate into the economics, rather than just published and used as independent culling levels."

Respondents were divided into the three different sectors relevant to their operation type; commercial cow/calf breeders, retained ownership herds and seedstock breeders.

Those that retained ownership of their animals put more emphasis on feedlot gain, while commercial cow/calf producers tended to have a higher preference for keeping cow weight down than seedstock breeders did.

Interestingly, structure was the top preference on bull selection with estimated breeding values or indexes ranking fifth.

The survey also found differences in trait preferences went beyond location or environmental demands.

"We actually took a map of the climatic zones of the USA and looked at the preferences they had within these climatic zones," Mr Archer said.

"There is differences between environments but within each of those environments are people of all three views. My interpretation is that sometimes there is just something inherent in people as to what they want."

As a result of the survey the American Angus Association Board of Directors approved $Value Index changes in February.

This included revision to Beef Value ($B), a new Maternal Weaned Calf Value ($M), updated economic models for Feedlot Value ($F), Grid Value ($G) and Cow Energy Value ($EN), and rounding all $Values to whole dollars to eliminate decimals.

Quality Grade ($QG) and Yield Grade ($YG) were set to be removed because $QG was deemed redundant to the marbling EPD, and $YG was redundant to fat thickness and ribeye area EPDs.

Additionaly, a Combined Value ($C) including all traits that make up both $M and $B would be implemented by June next year.