In conjunction with the American Angus Association® and the Canadian Angus Association, Angus Australia is excited to announce the launch of the World Angus Evaluation.
The World Angus Evaluation (WAE) is a globally focussed genetic analysis of Angus cattle. It combines data sources (phenotypes, genotypes and pedigree) from the American Angus Association, Canadian Angus Association and Angus Australia with the results being Expected Progeny Differences (EPD), which are similar to Estimated Breeding Values (EBV), for a specific list of traits on Angus sires.
The WAE is facilitated by Angus Genetics Incorporated (AGI), which is a subsidiary of the American Angus Association (AAA).
World Angus Evaluation Search Tool
WAE EPD results are accessible through an online sire benchmarking search tool. This search tool allows users to set EPD thresholds and other search criteria to directly compare sires from all three Angus Associations. Only sires will be listed on this site (i.e. no females or non-parent animals will be included at this time).
Sires will appear in the search facility based on the following criteria:
- Weaning Weight accuracy of at least 0.45
- 5 or more weaning weight progeny
- Have had 2 or more calves included in the herd book in the last 2 years
Following the initial release on October 14th, 2023, EPDs and sires will be updated in the search tool four times per year in the months of:
- March
- June
- September
- December
Please note:
- The sires included on the WAE search tool will update quarterly, but as data from all three countries flow into the WAE routinely, the EPDs on the sires are updated on a weekly basis.
- The update will generally occur early in the months listed above.
To access the search tool, CLICK HERE
Learn how to use the online search tool via the video below…
Background
In 2018 the World Angus Secretariat (WAS) discussed an initiative to pursue a global Angus evaluation. Following this, the American Angus Association, alongside Angus Genetics Incorporated (AGI), stepped up to explore this idea. What started as a WAS initiative quickly shifted to a strategic partnership among the three largest Angus Associations: The American Angus Association, Angus Australia and the Canadian Angus Association.
With this partnership in place, a multiple year research project was employed to understand the feasibility of a World Angus Evaluation. Multiple test evaluations and validation procedures were performed to ensure that phenotypes are compatible across databases, and that environmental differences such as age and contemporary groups are properly modelled.
An important step in the feasibility stage was to understand the relationship between animals across the three populations. To provide an effective evaluation, the populations must have overlap or links with each other through pedigree and genomic relationships.
Figure 1 represents the overlap in the populations based on the genotype of animals. This plot shows a large cluster of dots that represent individual animals from all three countries, which shows how closely the individual populations overlap. Individual colours, or countries are not clustered together by themselves, which supports that even though these animals have been in different herd books, and countries, the relationships among these animals are strong. This means the data being shared is valuable to inform genetic predictions of animals in differing countries.
The first major implementation step in describing global Angus genetics was released in 2019, when the three associations released a joint evaluation for both foot angle and claw set EPDs (or EBVs). This global collaboration was expanded with 11 additional traits on the 13th of October 2023.
Importantly, participating in the WAE ensure Angus Australia is meeting a strategic objective “to enable the genetic benchmarking of Australian and New Zealand animals, that are registered with Angus Australia, with other major Angus populations around the world”.
Why is Angus Australia Participating in the World Angus Evaluation?
Angus Australia is participating in the WAE for the following reasons:
- Collaboration: The world Angus community working closely together on common initiatives will benefit Angus breeders across the globe, including Angus Australia members.
- Strategy: Angus Australia achieves a strategic objective to enable the genetic benchmarking of Australian and New Zealand animals, that are registered with Angus Australia, with other major Angus populations around the world.
- Selection: Enhance the selection and genetic benchmarking of Angus sires in the global Angus population through one evaluation on a common evaluation platform and language (or currency).
- Capability: Angus Australia has the required expertise, relationships, data (quality, quantity primarily because of dedicated, performance focussed members) and data pipelines to participate in the WAE.
- Trade: Further invigoration to the international trade of Angus genetics, including the potential for the targeted marketing of Angus genetics from the Southern Hemisphere into North America.
Additionally, the significant influence of North American genetics on the Angus Australia population is well understood. For example, in 2023, within the 20 most widely used sires with registered progeny (in 2023 and 2022), 10 were US bred sires. Out of the remaining 10 Australian bred sires, 6 were sons of US bred sires. This shows why participation in the WAE is important to allow more informed selection from the North American population.
Understanding EPDs
An Expected Progeny Difference (EPD), is the genetic prediction of how future progeny of each selection animal are expected to perform relative to the progeny of other animals. EPDs are expressed in units of measure for the trait, with plus or minus.
EPDs are like Estimated Breeding Values (EBVs), in that they are estimates of genetic differences. However, EPDs focus on describing progeny differences, while EBVs focus on describing the genetic differences in the selection candidates (e.g. sires and dams). Simply, an EPD is half an EBV, all other things being equal (EBV/2=EPD).
There are thirteen EPDs published from the WAE covering calving ease, growth, carcase and structural soundness. The specific EPDs and their descriptions are:
Calving Ease Direct (CED), is expressed as a difference in percentage of unassisted births, with a higher value indicating greater calving ease in first-calf heifers. It predicts the average difference in ease with which a sire’s calves will be born when he is bred to first-calf heifers.
Calving Ease Maternal (CEM), is expressed as a difference in percentage of unassisted births with a higher value indicating greater calving ease in first-calf daughters. It predicts the average ease with which a sire’s daughters will calve as first-calf heifers when compared to daughters of other sires.
Birth Weight (BW), expressed in pounds, is a predictor of a sire’s ability to transmit birth weight to his progeny compared to that of other sires.
Weaning Weight (WW), expressed in pounds, is a predictor of a sire’s ability to transmit weaning growth to his progeny compared to that of other sires.
Yearling Weight (YW), expressed in pounds, is a predictor of a sire’s ability to transmit yearling growth to his progeny compared to that of other sires.
Scrotal Circumference (SC), expressed in centimetres, is a predictor of the difference in transmitting ability for scrotal size compared to that of other sires.
Maternal Milk (Milk) is a predictor of a sire’s genetic merit for milk and mothering ability as expressed in his daughters compared to daughters of other sires. In other words, it is that part of a calf’s weaning weight attributed to milk and mothering ability.
Claw Set (Claw) is expressed in units of claw-set score, with a lower EPD being more favourable indicating a sire will produce progeny with more ideal claw set. The ideal claw set is toes that are symmetrical, even and appropriately spaced.
Foot Angle (Angle) is expressed in units of foot-angle score, with a lower EPD being more favourable indicating a sire will produce progeny with more ideal foot angle. The ideal is a 45-degree angle at the pastern joint with appropriate toe length and heel depth.
Carcass Weight (CW), expressed in pounds is a predictor of the differences in hot carcass weight of a sire’s progeny compared to progeny of other sires.
Marbling (Marb), expressed as a fraction of the difference in USDA marbling score of a sire’s progeny compared to progeny of other sires.
Ribeye Area (RE), expressed in square inches, is a predictor of the difference in ribeye area of a sire’s progeny compared to progeny of other sires.
Fat Thickness (Fat), expressed in inches, is a predictor of the differences in external fat thickness at the 12th rib (as measured between the 12th and 13th ribs) of a sire’s progeny compared to progeny of other sires.
Note:
- Additional EPDs may be added to the WAE in the future. This will depend on further R&D to assess technical feasibility including phenotype compatibility.
- Due to the production system specific nature of Selection Indexes, no standard Selection Indexes will be published at this stage.
- Most EPDs will be listed in an imperial unit of measurement (e.g. pounds not kilograms). Please refer to the description of each EPD.
What’s the difference between and EPD and an EBV?
Expected Progeny Difference (EPD) is the genetic prediction of how future progeny of each selection animal are expected to perform relative to the progeny of other animals. EPDs are expressed in units of measure for the trait, plus or minus. They are the usual language for genetic descriptions used in the North American beef industry.
EPDs are like Estimated Breeding Values (EBVs), in that they are estimates of genetic differences. However, EPDs focus on describing progeny differences, while EBVs focus on describing the genetic differences in the selection candidates (e.g. sires and dams). Simply, an EPD is half an EBV, all other things being equal.
