As the cattle industry gears up for herd rebuilding, a new tool to describe the genetic potential of replacement females is now available. The AngusLink Genetic Merit Scorecard (GMS) utilizes the industry’s database to assess the genetic merit of feeder cattle.
Its new Maternal Score will aid producers in selecting replacement females by showcasing an enrollment group’s maternal weaned calf value. Scores are determined by the average EPDs of the bulls used to sire the current enrollment group and the genetic makeup of the cow herd. To improve a cattle’s Maternal Score, a producer should select registered Angus sires with higher Maternal Weaned Calf Value ($M). The Maternal Score will be displayed alongside the Beef, Feedlot and Grid scores on the GMS when females are marketed.
According to Rafael Medeiros, a geneticist with Angus Genetics Inc. (AGI), this prediction tool operates on a similar principle to other genetic prediction tools managed by AGI, utilizing data from Angus sires and the USDA’s U.S. Meat Animal Research Center breed averages.
To enroll, a producer needs to be AngusVerified through IMI Global, submitting a list of sire registration numbers, and their cattle must predominantly have an Angus cow base, a requirement unique to the Maternal Score. There are no extra charges for participating in the GMS program or AngusVerified, except for IMI Global’s Age and Source verification enrollment, which includes an EID tag.
For more information or to enroll cattle, call 816-383-5100 or contact AngusLink via email at anguslink@angus.org.
