In May, the American Angus Association introduced three new maternal EPDs to enhance female selection.
These include Functional Longevity (FL), Teat Size (Teat) and Udder Suspension (UDDR), developed by Angus Genetics Inc. These traits aim to improve udder quality and herd productivity over time.
The new EPDs have been incorporated into the Maternal Weaned Calf Value Index ($M) and the Combined Value Index ($C), refining maternal function within these indices. While $M has been updated to include these traits, its core structure remains intact with correlations above 0.90, allowing for refined selection without overhauling the model.The $C index shows an even greater correlation at 0.98.
Producers can access further research on these updates at angus.org.
