The World's source for Bovine Genetics
SIRLOIN TIPS - Spring 2003
Proof - There is a Difference!

Select Sires has long been a promoter of multi-herd proving of our beef bulls. Our Young Sire Program is the industry standard for proving young bulls in multiple herds in a variety of environments. Through the use of this program, the resulting progeny records generate high accuracy, multi-herd EPDs that are less subject to change over time. We, as well as our customers, benefit from increased reliability and confidence in our bulls.

Because the way a bull is sampled can influence how 'proven' he really is, the American Angus Association implemented accuracy 'holds' for growth and maternal traits with their Spring 2003 Sire Summary. It is explained as follows:

Adjustments for Growth Trait Accuracy Values on Sires
Sires must meet the following specifications to allow their EPD Accuracy to exceed .85:

The three largest contributing herds for each sire must have a combined total of no more than 50 percent of the sire's progeny. Therefore, the sire accuracy value remains unchanged as calculated and is allowed to exceed .85

If a sire has more then 50 percent of his progeny in the 3 largest herds and his calculated accuracy exceeds .85, then his accuracy is dropped back to or 'held' to .85. All other sires with a calculated accuracy below .85 have no changes made to their value.

Certainly, one of the areas where this scenario comes into play is in the selection and marketing of A.I. sires. It is relatively easy to locate 'one herd proof' bulls with numbers that are sometimes 'too good to be true'. In many cases, these bulls, as well as their sons, are marketed and used quite heavily before they become fully proven. Let’s take a look a the Spring 2003 Angus Sire Summary compared to the Fall 2002 Summary. With the implementation of this correction, quite a few bulls in A.I. that were above .85 for Accuracy in the Fall 2002 Sire Summary were dropped back or ‘held’ at the .85 level in Spring 2003. So how many A.I. bulls had enough proof and enough herds in their record to exceed .85 accuracy?

82 percent of the Select Sires Angus bulls that were .85 or higher in the Fall 2002 Sire Summary exceed this level in Spring 2003. Our three biggest competitors had an average of 58 percent of their Angus lineups meeting this same criteria for proof from Fall 2002 to Spring 2003, ranging from 65 percent down to only 52 percent of their ‘proven’ bulls exceeding .85 accuracy this spring.

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Why the big difference? Simply put--the difference is a program that believes in and relies on proof. The multi-herd sampling of the Select Sires Young Sire Program forms the groundwork for stability and confidence in the bulls that we offer.

The Young Sire Program has been in place for 35 years with a primary purpose in mind--to properly evaluate the genetic potential of young sires so that our customers can have greater confidence in them. The implementation of this 'correction' further substantiates the value of our Young Sire Program to our sales staff and our customers. We applaud the American Angus Association for their efforts in helping to identify Angus sires that are truly proven.

Select Sires continues to be the source when breeders want genetics they can count on--from a program that backs them up as well--that’s why we call them BULLS THAT WORK. Superior Service, Quality Semen, and Bulls and Breeding Systems That Work--that’s what Select Sires customers have come to know and expect--and we’re proud of that.

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Select Sires Inc., 11740 U.S. 42 North, Plain City, Ohio 43064 / Phone: (614) 873-4683 Fax: (614) 873-5751