An EPD for Dry Matter Intake (DMI) and an economic subindex have been released by the American Simmental Association (ASA) in a research release format. The purpose of these traits is to help breeders better characterize terminal performance by evaluating genetic differences for feed intake and the profitability potential associated with growth relative to intake.
The International Genetic Solutions (IGS) science team is committed to the development of genetic tools that aid breeders in making commercially relevant selection decisions. Being able to identify animals with genetics for more efficient growth relative to feed intake is an industry-wide concern.
Feed intake records submitted to IGS partner breed organizations and the existing growth records database were used to develop the DMI EPD and an economic subindex that weighs an animal’s growth potential with respect to its intake to provide a snapshot of that animal’s profitability potential in the feedlot growing phase (growth relative to intake).
The DMI EPD is expressed as the difference in pounds of daily dry matter intake. A lower EPD is more desirable, as this is representative of the genetic potential for progeny to consume less feed. For example:
• Bull A = 1.00 DMI EPD.
• Bull B = 0.00 DMI EPD.
You would expect progeny from Bull B to eat 1 pound less daily dry matter of feed compared to progeny from Bull A.
The economic subindex is expressed as the difference in daily profitability of animals in the feedlot based on their combination of DMI and ADG (Average Daily Gain) EPD. ADG is positively weighted by the value of a pound of gain, and DMI is negatively weighted by the cost of a pound of dry matter.
The result of the DMI/ADG Subindex is already factored into both $API and $TI, meaning we already factor the relationship of value of gain to the cost of intake in $API and $TI; however, we are beta testing the merit of publishing a subindex that focuses solely on profit differences due to the genetic levels an animal possesses for gain and intake. For example:
• Bull A = $0.10 subindex value.
• Bull B = $0.00 subindex value.
You would expect progeny from Bull A to be $0.10 more profitable per day than progeny from Bull B due to a combination of feed requirements and growth potential.
As research EPD, these will not be evaluated weekly nor published on an animal page on Herdbook.org. It is important to acknowledge that development of both metrics into a weekly genetic evaluation is still under development and may take some time.
ASA encourages membership to submit feed intake records on their animals to ASA staff. Reporting feed intake data will greatly help bolster the genetic evaluation, improve prediction accuracy, and help to accelerate the launch of DMI into a weekly genetic evaluation. Individual feed intake records are often taken post-weaning or around yearling age.
Membership is encouraged to evaluate DMI and DMI/ADG subindex predictions and compare with their expectations. Please remember that DMI is already incorporated in $API and $TI. That said, the new DMI EPD will be more accurate, particularly on animals with genotypes and/or feed intake phenotypes on multiple progeny. Members who have any questions, or those who have submitted feed intake data and would like a full download of EPD on their animals, should contact Lane Giess, ASA geneticist, at lgiess@simmgene.com. — ASA
