Summary

Birth

Calving Ease Direct – (%) – Genetic differences in the ability of a sire’s calves to be born unassisted from 2-year-old heifers. Higher EBVs indicate fewer calving difficulties in 2-year-old heifers.

Calving Ease Daughters – (%) – Genetic differences in the ability of a sire’s daughters to calve unassisted at 2 years of age. Higher EBVs indicate fewer calving difficulties in 2-year-old heifers.

Gestation Length – (Days) – Genetic differences between animals in the length of time from the date of conception to the birth of the calf. Lower EBVs indicate shorter gestation length.

Birth Weight – (Kg) – Genetic differences between animals in calf weight at birth. Lower EBVs indicate lighter birth weight.

Growth

200 Day Growth – (Kg) – Genetic differences between animals in live weight at 200 days of age due to genetics for growth. Higher EBVs indicate heavier live weight.

400 Day Weight – (Kg) – Genetic differences between animals in live weight at 400 days of age. Higher EBVs indicate heavier live weight.

600 Day Weight – (Kg) – Genetic differences between animals in live weight at 600 days of age. Higher EBVs indicate heavier live weight.

Maternal

Mature Cow Weight – (Kg) – Genetic differences between animals in live weight of cows at 5 years of age. Higher EBVs indicate heavier mature weight. 

Mature Body Condition Score – (Score) – Genetic differences between animals in the body condition of mature females. Higher EBVs indicate more body condition of mature females. 

Mature Cow Height – (cm) – Genetic differences between animals in the height of mature females. Higher EBVs indicate taller mature females. 

Milk – (Kg) – Genetic differences between animals in live weight at 200 days of age due to the maternal contribution of its dam. Higher EBVs indicate heavier live weight. 

Fertility

Days to Calving – (Days) – Genetic differences between animals in the time from the start of the joining period (i.e. when the female is introduced to a bull) until subsequent calving. Lower EBVs indicate shorter time to calving.

Scrotal Size – (cm) – Genetic differences between animals in scrotal circumference at 400 days of age. Higher EBVs indicate larger scrotal circumference.

Carcase

Carcase Weight – (Kg) – Genetic differences between animals in hot standard carcase weight at 750 days of age. Higher EBVs indicate heavier carcase weight

Eye Muscle Area – (cm²) – Genetic differences between animals in eye muscle area at the 12/13th rib site in a 400 kg carcase. Higher EBVs indicate larger eye muscle area.

Rib Fat – (mm) – Genetic differences between animals in fat depth at the 12/13th rib site in a 400 kg carcase. Higher EBVs indicate more fat.

Rump Fat – (mm) – Genetic differences between animals in fat depth at the P8 rump site in a 400 kg carcase. Higher EBVs indicate more fat.

Retail Beef Yield – (%) – Genetic differences between animals in boned out saleable meat from a 400 kg carcase. Higher EBVs indicate higher yield.

Intramuscular Fat – (%) – Genetic differences between animals in intramuscular fat (marbling) at the 12/13th rib site in a 400 kg carcase. Higher EBVs indicate more intramuscular fat.

Feed Efficiency

Net Feed Intake (Feedlot) – (Kg/Day) – Genetic differences between animals in feed intake at a standard weight and rate of weight gain when animals are in a feedlot finishing phase. Lower EBVs indicate more feed efficiency.

Temperament

Docility – (%) – Genetic differences between animals in temperament. Higher EBVs indicate better temperament.

Structure

Claw Set – (Score) – Genetic differences between animals in claw set. Lower EBVs indicate more curl of the claw set.

Foot Angle – (Score) – Genetic differences between animals in foot angle. Lower EBVs indicate less heal depth.

Leg Angle – (Score) – Genetic differences between animals in leg angle. Lower EBVs indicate a more angular leg angle.

Selection Indexes

The Angus Breeding Index ($A) & Angus Breeding Low Feed Cost Index ($A-L) – ($) – Genetic differences between animals in net profitability per cow joined in a typical commercial self-replacing herd using Angus bulls.

• Self-replacing herd 
• Daughters are retained for breeding 
• Identifies animals that will improve profitability in the majority of commercial, self-replacing, grass and grain finishing beef production systems.  
• $A includes an objective of maintaining mature cow weight, whereas the $A-L does not include this objective. 

Higher selection index values indicate greater profitability.

Domestic Index ($D) & Domestic Low Feed Cost Index ($D-L) – ($) – Genetic differences between animals in net profitability per cow joined in a commercial self-replacing herd targeting the domestic supermarket trade.

• Self-replacing herd 
• Daughters are retained for breeding 
• Steer progeny are either finished using pasture, pasture supplemented by grain or grain (e.g. 50 to 70 days).  
• Steer progeny are slaughtered at a carcase weight of 280kg at 16 months of age.  
• Eating quality traits important to suit MSA Program.  
• $D includes an objective of maintaining mature cow weight, whereas the $D-L does not include this objective. 

Higher selection index values indicate greater profitability.

Heavy Grain Index ($GN) & Heavy Grain Low Feed Cost Index ($GN-L)  – ($) – Genetic differences between animals in net profitability per cow joined in a commercial self-replacing herd targeting pasture grown steers with a 250-day feedlot finishing period for the grain fed high quality, highly marbled markets.

• Self-replacing herd 
• Daughters are retained for breeding 
• Steer progeny are pasture grown with a 250-day feedlot finishing period.
• Steer progeny are slaughtered at a carcass weight of 455kg at 24 months of age. 
• Targeting high quality, highly marbled markets with a significant premium for superior marbling.
• $GN includes an objective of maintaining mature cow weight, whereas the $GN-L does not include this objective.

Higher selection index values indicate greater profitability.

Heavy Grass Index ($GS) & Heavy Grass Low Feed Cost Index ($GS-L) – ($) – Genetic differences between animals in net profitability per cow joined in a commercial self-replacing herd targeting pasture finished steers.

• Self-replacing herd 
• Daughters are retained for breeding 
• Steer progeny are finished on pasture. 
• Steer progeny are slaughtered at a carcass weight of 350kg at 22 months of age.  
• Eating quality traits important to suit MSA Program.  
• $GS includes an objective of maintaining mature cow weight, whereas the $GS-L does not include this objective.

Higher selection index values indicate greater profitability.

Angus Terminal Sire index ($T) – ($) – Designed for situations where Angus bulls are being used as a terminal sire over mature breeding females and all progeny, both male and female, are slaughtered.

• Terminal breeding program where Angus bulls are being used as a terminal sire over mature females. 
• All progeny, both male and female, are slaughtered.  
• Focus on increasing growth, carcase yield and eating quality. 
• No emphasis is given to female fertility or maternal traits. 

Higher selection index values indicate greater profitability.

AngusPRO index ($PRO) – ($) – Genetic differences between animals in net profitability per cow joined in a commercial self-replacing herd based in New Zealand that targets the production of grass finished steers for the AngusPure programme.

• New Zealand production system 
• Self-replacing herd 
• Daughters are retained for breeding.  
• Steer progeny are finished on pasture for the AngusPure programme. 
• Steer progeny are slaughtered at a carcase weight of 290kg at 20 months of age.  
• Significant premium for steers that exhibit superior marbling.

Higher selection index values indicate greater profitability.