Oct. 29, 2010

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

For more information contact:

Crystal Albers, assistant director of communications/web editor, at 816-383-5134 or calbers@angus.org

 

Angus to Release Weekly Genetic Evaluation

The American Angus Association^®’s biannual National Cattle Evaluation switches to weekly releases for all traits beginning mid-November.

 

Angus farmers and ranchers will soon have access to another industry breakthrough offered by the American Angus Association and Angus Genetics Inc.^® (AGI).

The Association currently offers weekly updates on its selection of genomic-enhanced EPDs for carcass, docility and the newly released feed efficiency selection tool, residual average daily gain (RADG). Now, the beef breed organization announces plans to expand that capability across the board.

That’s considerably more frequent than NCE updates traditionally released just twice a year.

“Angus members and their investment in technology have made this weekly capability possible,” said Bill Bowman, the Association’s chief operating officer (COO) and AGI president. “This was the next logical step in providing the most current set of EPDs for more reliable genetic decision tools.”

In fact, the Association and its entity AGI announced an evaluation milestone earlier this week. Carcass EPDs are now released on more than two million animals every Friday.

“Essentially, this offers Angus seedstock and commercial breeders using Angus genetics access to our selection tool database in a more timely manner as we continue to also expand our selection of EPDs incorporating genomic data,” said Sally Northcutt, Association genetic research director. “This means more accurate, more rapid genetic improvement in many cases for nonparent animals, by supplying the most current national cattle evaluation EPDs on a weekly basis.”

The docility EPD is the latest evaluation to also incorporate genomic data as well as traditional phenotypic measures. These EPDs will be updated every Friday at www.angus.org — along with all other Angus selection tools developed from the Association’s database of more than 19 million records.

Visit www.angus.org for the latest news and information regarding Angus genetic advancements.

 

The American Angus Association is the nation’s largest beef organization, serving nearly 30,000 members across the United States and Canada. It provides programs and services to farmers, ranchers and others who rely on the power of Angus to produce quality genetics for the beef industry and quality beef for consumers.

For more information about Angus cattle and the American Angus Association’s programs and services, visit www.angus.org

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