SG_USA_July_2021

Trail Talk EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S REPORT By Webb D. Fields (361) 592-9357 | wfields@santagertrudis.com

evaluation is a series of statistical models where phenotypic performance, DNA and pedigree information are all included to best predict the genetic merit of an individual animal. The genetic evaluation is able to dif- ferentiate environmental factors from genetic influence to create these predic- tions. We know that climates differ; therefore, an animal might perform dif- ferently in one part of the country com- pared to another. We have also prob- ably seen examples where your own cattle might look very different than your neighbor's just across the fence from your own. These would be consid- ered environmental factors that are no fault of the animals themselves or their genetics, so this statistical modeling in the genetic evaluation is able to take into account and remove these factors. Properly assigned contemporary groups are the best way to account for these factors and what the genetic evaluation relies on for accurate data. As we continue to add data points into the genetic evaluation on a month- ly basis, the accuracy and strength of our evaluation increases. As I have these conversations daily with mem- bership, we often talk about how low birth weight bulls on paper resulted in the lightest calves at birth, high mar- bling EPD animals scanned the highest in their contemporary groups, etc. At the end of the day, we hang our hat on the accuracy of the genetic evalu- ation to tell membership how to utilize an animal within their own breeding program. We look forward to seeing you down the road this summer and having more conversations about how SGBI can help add accuracy and value to your program.

S omething about summertime brings in a more relaxed feeling. The days are longer, so it seems I can get more accomplished each day while, simultaneously, the heat and tradition of summertime vacations bring a slower paced mentality. One quick glance over my calendar and I quickly find it’s the mentality alone that has slowed down and not the to-do list. We are coming off a full schedule last month with sales, Florida Cattle- man’s Association Convention, Beef Improvement Federation Symposium and our own junior nationals. We are also looking forward to events such as the Cattle Industry Convention & NCBA Trade Show, the Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association Convention, Beef Cattle Short Course, as well as the Arkansas Cattlemen’s Convention, which Santa Gertrudis Breeders Interna- tional (SGBI) will have a presence at. After a year of many of these events being cancelled or moved online, it is nice to get back on the road and tell the Santa Gertrudis story. Internally, the new pedigree-platform build is coming along. We have been able to look at the structure and we continue to be excited about this new addition for membership. The board also remains active, electing to have summer meetings to ensure that

new-and-improved projects – such as a whole herd reporting system, com- mercial data program and advance- ments to the way we do business in the new pedigree platform – are all set into motion. It seems I am daily involved in ques- tions surrounding expected progeny differences (EPDs). While our member buy-in has been, and continues to be, excellent in these breeding tools, we must remember the value and expec- tations of an EPD. The set of EPDs SGBI provides membership is simply a way to quantify performance to make genetic improvement. We know that performance relies on both genetic and environmental factors, so the genetic evaluation provides a way to separate the two and identify the genetic value of an animal for a given trait. While we know phenotypic selection for improve- ment can be utilized, the rate of genetic improvement is much slower in relation to utilizing the entire information data- base, which removes potential environ- mental bias and allows for information to be gained across the breed, not just within your own herd. The genetic evaluation is run month- ly to provide the suite of EPDs SGBI offers. You can think of these EPDs as the solution resulting from an equation run in the genetic evaluation. A genetic

Cherokee Ranch, Sedalia, Colo.

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