By Lynn Gordon

Beef producers raise cattle for many reasons, But without profitability, a production system is not viable or sustainable.

At least that what Darrh Bullock thinks. “There are different methods of how we reach profitability, but it is the end goal,” the animal science professor at the University of Kentucky told producers on a recent webinar hosted by the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) and eBEEF.org. The webinar — Show me the money, EPDs for profit — discussed the advancement of genetic evaluation from single EPD traits to the use of a selection index.  

One way to define profitability is net return.  Among the ways to increase net return and impact profitability are selection indexes, the genetic evaluation tool producers can use to help with multiple trait selection.

“A selection index combines several traits into one value to allow genetic improvement for net return,” Bullock says. “We take the economic weight of each trait in the index (e.g., calving ease, weaning weight and milking ability), multiply it by the corresponding EPD and add them all together, the result is an expected dollar value difference.”

In the case of determining which bull to purchase, comparing the selection index of bull A to bull B means you would be comparing the expected dollar value difference per calf produced by the bulls, explains Bullock.

EPDs focus on production traits expressed in pounds, percentages, centimeters, etc., and selection indexes are measured in dollars of economic valuation, commonly known as economic selection indexes.  

Types of selection indexes

Jared Decker, animal science professor from University of Missouri, joined Bullock to further explain selection indexes. Decker noted the three types of selection indexes currently used in the beef industry:

Breeding program objectives

To successfully implement selection indexes as a genetic tool in your breeding program, Bullock and Decker suggest developing a breeding objective; in other words, a genetic plan for your program, which includes factors such as management, marketing and environment. This process will allow you to identify a selection index which should most closely match your breeding program goals.

It is important for producers to take the time to study what traits are used in the calculations of selection indexes. One way is researching the indexes on breed association websites.

“It’s better to know what is under the hood,” says Decker, rather than find out later what traits are included. And, “don’t make the mistake of sitting on the sidelines.”  

That’s because, as these professors explain, if the selection index scenario doesn’t perfectly match your operation, you should still consider utilizing them to help simplify selection for genetic improvement and conduct multi-trait selection. Overall, selection indexes can facilitate genetic improvement in profitability and become major elements in production/marketing systems.

“They are robust,” says Bullock. “Even in changing markets and varying production marketing systems, as you go from one index to another, bull rankings tend not to change drastically.”

“Selection indexes might not be 100% accurate but they consistently help farms and ranches be more profitable,” concludes Decker.  

Gordon is a freelance agricultural writer and regular contributor to BEEF from Sioux Falls, S.D.