PrimeTime_Fall_2018

SELECTION INDEXES Continued from page 36

ling weight EPD. Of course we know that this isn’t the case. Because of this, selection in- dexes are superior to indepen- dent culling criteria. The American Akaushi As- sociation recently released two selection indexes. The first is a growth value index (G$), which weights birth weight, weaning weight, milk and carcass weight with economic factors to arrive at the bal-

ance between lighter weaning calves at birth and heavier calves at sale time. The second is a carcass composition value index (CC$), which weights ribeye area, back fat and mar- bling to arrive at the optimum balance between quality grade incentives and yield grade penalties. Both of these in- dexes are displayed in dollars, meaning a 10-point increase in the selection index should result in the offspring of the selected animal being worth $10 more at sale time. While indexes are a good tool for making selection deci- sions, they certainly are not idiot-proof. If you had given me Michelangelo’s chisel and a chunk of marble, I could not have produced his statue of David. That doesn’t mean that the chisel was bad; look what he produced with it. It means I don’t know how to make a sculpture out of marble. There is no replacement for good, practical animal breeding skills. The best tools in the world don’t turn poor breeders into great breeders. Produc- ing good cattle is as much an art as it is a science. But at the same time, don’t discount the value of selection indexes because you know of the mess that some poor breeders have made using them. Next time you’re at a bull sale, or putting one on, think about those Columbia re- searchers selling jam at an upscale Manhattan grocery store. (I’m sure they would be flattered to know their re- search is being used in diverse ways.) Think about how many jars of jam are figuratively on display in the catalog. Selec- tion indexes have the ability to move us from the large display with only a small percent of people actually being able to use the information to decide, to the smaller, more approach- able and useable display. PT

bulls, it does present a prob- lem. Let’s say a bull buyer decides he’s only interested in bulls with a yearling weight EPD of at least 80 pounds. This is good in the sense that it helps him in his decision- making process. However, he’s inherently saying that a 79-pound yearling weight EPD is as bad as a 10-pound year-

Junior Page Prime Time San Jancito Fall 2018

SAN JACINTO RANCH LLC Huntsville, Texas Half and ¾ blood Akaushi crossed with Red Angus and Brangus

We have several unique Akaushi sire bloodlines – Big Al • Heart Brand Red Emperor Shigamaru • Hikari • Tamamaru

On the dam’s side, bloodlines include – Kazutomo 1KYU 92958 • Heartbrand T0326N • Haruko • Akido • Heartbrand V7427U

Come visit us at the ranch just west of Huntsville! SJ Carolyn & Howard Davis 713-542-7777 • 713-899-4232 HBDavisJr47@gmail.com

Akaushi Prime Time • Fall 2018

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