Exploring the Herd

The Feeder Profit Calculator A genetics-based tool for marketing calves

By OCA’s Beef Cattle Improvement Chair Jon Elliott

jceandsle@gmail.com Last time I reported on the Angus Association’s Genetic Merit Scorecard (GMS) program and how, finally, there is a benefit for cow/calf producers to look at EPD’s beyond calving ease, calf and yearling numbers and maternal traits. The Angus GMS program uses several combined EPD values to produce numbers for a specific group of calves or yearlings that predict feedlot performance, carcass value and carcass grid merit. I promised to follow up with a survey of other programs that can add value to your calves and yearlings before you sell them through the use of EPD’s.

The search for programs similar to the GMS program revealed that there is just one. The Simmental folks implied that it is their program. In fact, it is the Feeder Profit Calculator (FPC) program of International Genetic Solutions, a collaboration of 17 “cattle associations and organizations,” which includes the Simmental Association along with the Red Angus, Limousin, Salers, Gelbvieh, and Shorthorn associations and more.

Unlike the GMS program, the FPC program is free. You need not register or join or belong to any group to participate. It is, however, intended for non-Angus herds, where fewer than 75 percent of the bulls are Angus and the cow herd is not predominately Angus. Like the GMS program, you will get a document that scores a group of calves. But where the GMS program focuses almost completely on EPD data, the FPC program looks at more. The questionnaire wants information like what you provide for the video folks, including the location, sale weight range, color, horn status, vaccination, and deworming protocols. Additionally, implant use, weaning date, and if the calves are enrolled in an official verification program. It also asks about replacement heifer percentages and, like GMS, you must provide the registration numbers of your bulls. Also like the GMS, there is no provision made for non-registered bulls.

In some ways the FPC program is more sophisticated than the GMS program. Feeder Profit Calculator wants to know if each of your bulls is essentially distributed over all of your cows or if, for instance, you AI your heifers or a group of your cows with one bull, they want to know that number. The end product is similar in that you get a certificate that you can use about however you want. It can be published in the video catalog or at a sale or in sale literature you publish yourself. You can put it in a file and compare from year to year without anyone knowing anything about it.

If you use fewer than 75 percent Angus bulls, you cannot participate in the GMS program. I am told, though I could not verify, that if you do use 75 percent or more Angus bulls you cannot participate in FPC. Like the GMS program, FPC wants as many generations of bull data as you can provide, and they assume you retain replacement heifers. Beam up International Genetic Solutions and click on Feeder Profit Calculator.

In the search for more of this type of program, I did find another interesting program. Zoetis has begun “Inherit Select,” a genetic test to help select commercial replacement heifers. Since most of us retain our own replacement heifers, there will be limited interest, especially from those who keep records and can identify a heifer’s lineage. For those of you who buy replacements, you might want to investigate the Inherit Select information. •

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(politi c a l action committee)

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