Beef Sire

Selection Manual
S e c o n d E d i t i o n — 2 0 1 0

National Beef Cattle Evaluation Consortium

Mention or display of a trademark, proprietary product, or firm in text or figures does not constitute
an endorsement and does not imply approval to the exclusion of other suitable products or firms.
 National Beef Cattle
Evaluation Consortium

Scientific Council
Dorian Garrick Ikhide Imumorin
Executive Director Cornell University
Iowa State University
Ignacy Mistzal
Darrh Bullock University of Georgia
University of Kentucky
Steve Kappes
R. Mark Enns ARS, USDA
Colorado State University

Industry Council
Dave Nichols Charles Hunt
Producer and Chairman Producer
Nichols Farms Hunt Limousin Ranch

Paul Bennett Mark Thallman

Producer USDA
Knoll Crest Farm U.S. Meat Animal Research
Center
Tommy Brown
Producer Alison Van Eenennaam
Sunshine Farms Cooperative Extension
University of California-Davis
Jack Cowley
Producer Jack Ward
Cowley Family Ranch Beef Breeds Council
American Hereford Association
Mike Engler
Producer – Feedlot Kevin Yon
Cactus Feeders Producer
Yon Family Farms
Paul Genho
National Cattlemen’s Beef
Association
Farm Management Company
Review Panel
A special “thank you” goes out to the following individuals who re-
viewed the material included in this publication.

Donald Boggs Sally Northcutt

Kansas State University American Angus Association

Darrh Bullock John Pollak

University of Kentucky
Larry Cundiff
U.S. Meat Animal Research
Center
U.S. Meat Animal Research
Center
James M. Reecy
Iowa State University

Jack Dekkers Harlan Ritchie

Iowa State University Michigan State University

James A. Gosey Ronnie Silcox

University of Nebraska-Lincoln University of Georgia

Charlie Hunt Daryl Strohbehn

Hunt Limousin Iowa State University

David Kirkpatrick Michael Tess

University of Tennessee Montana State University

Don Kress Mark Thallman

Montana State University U.S. Meat Animal Research
Center
Keith Long
4L Grazing, LLC Fred Thrift
University of Kentucky
Mike MacNeil
Fort Keogh Livestock and Range Kevin Yon
Research Laboratory Yon Family Farms

Twig Marston
University of Nebraska-Lincoln
 Contents
Dedication............................................................................................................................................................. 8

Foreword................................................................................................................................................................9

The Importance of Sire Selection...............................................................................................................10

Dan W. Moser, Kansas State University

Assessing Management, Resources, and Marketing............................................................................11

Darrh Bullock, University of Kentucky

Genetic Principles............................................................................................................................................14
Darrh Bullock, University of Kentucky

The Role of Economically Relevant and Indicator Traits...................................................................17

R. Mark Enns, Colorado State University

Data Collection and Interpretation...........................................................................................................21

Jennifer Minick Bormann, Kansas State University

Expected Progeny Differences (EPD)........................................................................................................27

Janice M. Rumph, Pfizer Animal Genetics

Interpretation and Use of Expected Progeny Differences (EPD)....................................................34

Janice M. Rumph, Pfizer Animal Genetics

Selection Decisions: Tools for Economic Improvement Beyond EPD.........................................42

R. Mark Enns, Colorado State University

Crossbreeding for Commercial Beef Production.................................................................................50

Bob Weaber, University of Missouri-Columbia

Breed and Composite Selection..................................................................................................................58

Bob Weaber, University of Missouri-Columbia

Visual and Phenotypic Evaluation of Bulls..............................................................................................65

Dan W. Moser, Kansas State University

DNA-Based Biotechnologies.......................................................................................................................68
Alison Van Eenennaam, University of California-Davis

Utilizing Molecular Information in Beef Cattle Selection................................................................79

Matt Spangler, University of Nebraska-Lincoln; Alison Van Eenennaam, University of California-Davis

Summary..............................................................................................................................................................85
Daryl Strohbehn, Iowa State University

Author Biographies..........................................................................................................................................86
 Dedication

T he authors and editor of the NBCEC Sire Selection Manual

dedicate this publication to Dr. John Pollak. John was the
founding director of the NBCEC and has worked tirelessly for the
advancement of beef cattle genetic evaluations for many years.
John’s tenure as Director of the NBCEC ended in January of this
year and his leadership will be missed. John continues to serve
the beef industry as Director of the Roman L. Hruska U.S. Meat
Animal Research Center in Clay Center, Nebraska.

8
 Foreword
T his manual was sponsored by the National Beef Cattle Evalu-
ation Consortium (NBCEC). The NBCEC is an organization
of universities that have been involved in beef cattle genetic
evaluations over the last several decades, plus affiliate universi-
ties doing research critical to beef cattle selection and evaluation.
The consortium, which started operations in 2000, is funded by
a Special Research Grant from the Cooperative State Research,
Education, and Extension Service of the USDA. The focus of
the NBCEC is research, but we strongly believe in the need for
an active extension program in beef cattle genetics. As such, we
have held workshops and symposia on a variety of topics and have
conducted several series of distance-education programs. This
manual represents another effort by the NBCEC Extension team
to provide current and meaningful information to the industry.
As director of the NBCEC, I would like to take this opportunity
to pay special thanks to the editors, authors, and reviewers who
made this manual come to life.
We live in an age of accelerated scientific discovery, which
leads to new technologies that must be understood by members
of the production sector of the industry to assure that technology
is applied appropriately. Today, producers face the challenges of
learning about DNA testing and its application to their selection
programs. However, one very appropriate use of any new tech-
nology is to synchronize it with tried and tested programs. The
beef industry still must use tools like EPD and programs such as
crossbreeding and/or composite breeding. The Beef Sire Selec-
tion Manual incorporates information on both tried and tested
programs as well as on new genetic technology. It is meant to be
a reference to help producers understand the important genetic
concepts that are the tools for profitable cattle breeding.
Knowledge is a powerful asset for any undertaking, and profit-
able beef production is an endeavor the members of the NBCEC
are committed to support. As such, we the faculty members of
the NBCEC hope that you find this to be a useful educational
tool and a unique resource.
John Pollak
Director
U.S. Meat Animal Research Center, ARS
Director Emeritus
National Beef Cattle Evaluation Consortium
I n principle, genetic improvement is a straight-forward exercise
that results from using above-average selection candidates
as the parents of the next generation. In practice, the devil is in
the details. Both bull breeders and bull buyers need to consider
their breeding objectives, defining the list of traits that need to
be modified to advance the towards their goal. The bull breeder
further needs to determine the characteristics that can be cost-
effectively measured on the live animals in order to predict the
merit of the candidates for the traits in their objective. The bull
buyer needs to know how to interpret the sale information, and
to have a working knowledge of the jargon to sensibly converse
with bull breeders and other stakeholders in genetic improve-
ment. Knowledge and understanding of these and other issues
has never been more relevant than today, with some calling for
belt-tightening due to economic pressures on the beef industry,
while others are offering new investment opportunities such as
DNA-based technologies that may assist in the selection process.
This second revised edition of the sire selection manual builds
on the successful first edition and provides many details as to the
important aspects of beef cattle improvement. It has been written,
edited, refereed and revised by experts in the nation, driven by
their interest in education, informed decision making, and the
genetic improvement of the beef industry. They deserve special
thanks. The manual will be of interest to stakeholders in all sectors
of the beef industry, those bull breeders and bull buyers involved
directly in animal management and selection, those that assist
them in this task, including breed associations, sales representa-
tives, extension agents, and aspiring students looking for career
opportunities in any of those areas. The Scientific and Industry
Councils of the National Beef Cattle Evaluation Consortium are
proud of their role in facilitating this publication and trust you
will find it can add value to your business, wherever that may be
in the beef industry.
Dorian Garrick
Lush Chair in Animal Breeding and Genetics
Iowa State University
Executive Director
National Beef Cattle Evaluation Consortium
T he first edition of the Beef Sire Selection Manual, sponsored
by the National Beef Cattle Evaluation Consortium, was
printed in 2005. The Consortium is pleased to present this sec-
ond edition in 2010. A talented set of beef genetics experts from
across the USA have authored the chapters. We are indebted
to their abilities to present sometimes challenging materials in
clear form that is easily understood by readers with a wide array
of backgrounds. Many others have reviewed and critiqued the
authors’ efforts. A new chapter appears near the end, adding new
developments in the utilization of molecular information in beef
cattle selection decisions. Some chapters have remained quite
similar to the initial version, while others have been updated
and improved. There has been some reordering of chapters too.
Whether a seedstock breeder, a commercial breeder, a pro-
vider of selection decision tools, an educator or simply a casual
reader, we believe everyone will gain from the manual. Sire selec-
tions are the premier selection decisions that all cattle breeders
make, whether in a seedstock situation or in a commercial,
crossbreeding one. Understanding the concepts and the tools is
the first step in increasing our chances of success.
Merlyn K. Nielsen
Wagner Professor
University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Editor, Second Edition