What to Expect with Multi-breed Genetic Evaluation powered by BOLT

from The American Black Hereford - Winter 2023

NAILE

By IGS Genetic Evaluation Team and Consultants

Change can be a scary concept to some yet sought after by others. Many breeders wonder about the changes on the horizon once the new evaluation, Multi-breed Genetic Evaluation powered by BOLT, is fully implemented. That change may be nerve-racking but in reality, things should change. Why invest in new and improved methods if you get the same answers? Here are key changes to expect with the new genetic evaluation:

1. Movement of EPDs and reranking. EPDs will change especially in younger, lower accuracy cattle. Members should expect movement in lower accuracy cattle, as seen in the existing evaluations, because they may have new progeny data reported. Some cattle will move in a favorable direction while others will do the opposite. Keep in mind even if the EPDs get worse, the prediction of them is more accurate. With Multi-breed Genetic Evaluation powered by BOLT, we will have more accurate EPDs earlier in an animal’s life.

2. More accurate accuracy. This idea takes a little time to sink in. The accuracy reported for each EPD will be more directly calculated and thus closer to the “real” accuracy. The methods to solve accuracy directly are extremely difficult and take a lot of computer power. With the previous Cornell software it was not possible to solve for accuracy directly so an approximation method was used to estimate accuracy for each EPD. There were inherent flaws with approximating the accuracy with the previous method. Now with BOLT software, the accuracy reported with the EPD will be more reliable.

3. Reported accuracies will tend to be lower. One of the inherent flaws in the approximation methods used to find accuracy in the previous evaluation, and in all evaluations not produced through BOLT, was they frequently overestimated accuracy, especially for younger animals. This was known for a long time, but there was no way to calculate the accuracies directly. With BOLT, having accuracy more directly solved results in a more reliable accuracy but that accuracy will often be numerically lower than the previous evaluation would predict. However, the new reported accuracies with BOLT should better represent the possible changes for the EPDs.

4. DNA testing will have a larger impact. With the switch to BOLT software, IGS will use Single-step genomic evaluation on all EPDs (currently using Single Step for Stayability EPDs). Single-step uses the DNA markers, pedigree information, and phenotypic data simultaneously in the prediction of the EPDs. Previously molecular breeding values (MBVs) were calculated from the genomic information and those MBVs were blended separately into the EPD prediction. The Single-step method squeezes more information from the DNA markers than the previous approach allowed. Also, there are biases inherent in the blending process that aren’t a problem with the Single-step approach. Additionally, with Single-step, the genomic information will not only enhance EPDs for the genotyped animal but also will be used in the EPD estimates of relatives.

5. Weekly genetic evaluation runs. With the horsepower behind BOLT, IGS can run genetic evaluations weekly. This has many benefits. It allows members to get more immediate feedback after submitting their records. If members miss a deadline, they can catch the next evaluation run the following week. It allows for more accurate EPDs throughout the year and faster incorporation of the genomics. This also means the EPDs put in print will quickly be outdated.

Genetic evaluation is not stagnant. There will always be improvements as new research in animal breeding, genomics, and statistics advance. BOLT software is revolutionary in the innate flexibility, the computational power, and the statistical methods made possible using this software. Multi-breed Genetic Evaluation powered by BOLT promises more accurate EPDs, accuracies, and better use of genomics all delivered to you on a weekly basis. ◆

New Annual Members

Arkansas

BIGGS CANEHILL FARM

TRENTON OR MIKAELA BIGGS 18675 NUTMEG RD LINCOLN, AR 72744

BIGGSCANEHILLFARMS@GMAIL.COM 479-871-3654

Arizona

WILMS LAND & CATTLE

JEFFREY & AMY WILMS 22607 E. PLEASANT VIEW RD. FORT MCDOWELL, AZ 85264 JEFFREY@JEFFREYWILMS.COM 480-236-8784

Georgia

ROSE OAK FARMS

JOSHUA ALAN JAMESON 765 GA HWY 17 SOUTH GUYTON, GA 31312 JJAMESON1023@GMAIL.COM 912-663-6200

Illinois

GOLD BUCKLE CATTLE

DUANE,JULIE,ALLISON,LANEY STEPHENS 1946 CR 800 E WEST SALEM, IL 62476 GOLDBUCKLECATTLE@GMAIL.COM 812-887-1523

Indiana

Miller Lane Black Herefords

DANIEL MILLER 11462 E MILLER LANE SPRINGVILLE, IN 47462 812-360-1915

Kansas

RANGER’S RANCH

LANI & DAMON COOK 24582 195TH STREET LEAVENWORTH, KS 66048 LANIFINN3@GMAIL.COM 913-704-9948

Kentucky MALONEY FARMS

JESSICA & CHRIS MALONEY 665 PINE HILL RD JEFFERSONVILLE, KY 40337 JLCLINE90@GMAIL.COM 859-398-9266

4G CATTLE @ PECAN RIDGE FARM

CURTIS GREGORY 628 CONVICT RD SHARPSBURG, KY 40374 CURTISGREGORYM@YAHOO.COM 859-509-5376

WALLS FAMILY FARM

TROY WALLS 1311 BRUNER RD LAWRENCEBURG, KY 40342 TWALLS@LEXINGTONDOORAUTHORITY. COM 502-445-5863

Louisiana

ERIN HOFFPAUIR BILLIOT 3959 VIDRINE RD VILLE PLATTE, LA 70586 ERIN.HOFFPAUIR@OUTLOOK.COM 337-655-0840

Missouri

OZARKS DOUBLE L RANCH STEVE & COURTNEY HAYS RR 1 BOX 150 C WILLOW SPRINGS, MO 65793 OZARKSDOUBLELRANCH@GMAIL.COM 417-252-3566

BAILEY BLACK HEREFORD

CHET & EMILY BAILEY 18 TWILIGHT RD CONWAY, MO 65632 EMILYNICOLE92@ME.COM 417-650-1474

Ozark Mountain Black Herefords Llc

JACOB BLACK & HUNTER EARNEST 28299 BLOOMFIELD RD RICHLAND, MO 65556 417-664-7235

KLUG BLACK HEREFORDS

ROY & CHARLENE KLUG 2037 COUNTY RD 2910 HIGBEE, MO 65257

CHARLENEKLUG03@HOTMAIL.COM 573-881-3436

TRIPLE B FARMS BO BROWN 15774 HWY V PURDIN, MO 64674

BROWNFARMS311@PROTONMAIL.COM 660-412-3027

PARKS-STANEK LLC

OWEN&SANDRA PARKS/JASON STANEK 4409 S. HIGHWAY 123 FAIR PLAY, MO 65649

TWISTEDTRUCKINGCO@GMAIL.COM 417-654-4604

LEWIS FAMILY BLACK HEREFORDS JORDAN LEWIS 3069 UU RD ELKLAND, MO 65644-8318 LEWIS_6609@HOTMAIL.COM 417-733-2795

Mississippi

SAM AND JACK RAKESTRAW 913 BECK SPRINGS RD HICKORY FLAT, MS 38633

JOSHRAKE@XCAVATORS-INC.COM 662-668-0356

Oklahoma MORGAN RANCH ED MORGAN 3733 N 81 HWY DUNCAN, OK 73533

EDMORGANRANCH@GMAIL.COM 580-656-1601

Tennessee

J&J BARNES FARM JACK BARNES 4589 HIGHWAY 126 BLOUNTVILLE, TN 37617 JBARNES2113@YAHOO.COM 423-429-5662

BALENTINE FARMS

ROSE & JAMES BALENTINE 407 PISGAH PIKE PULASKI, TN 38478

RUNINROSE@YAHOO.COM 931-279-1146

Texas CIRCLE M FARMS

LAURA MILLER 306 S CEDAR RIDGE CIRCLE ROBINSON, TX 76706

LAURA-MILLER@LIVE.COM 254-717-6180

JADE-ANN SCHNEIDER 2401 CR 461 GORMAN, TX 76454

JADEANDMARKKELLEY@GMAIL.COM 940-999-1045

JACKSON CATTLE COMPANY

JARED & JEFF JACKSON 2043 CR 2014 WALNUT SPRINGS, TX 76690 JJACKSON@TARLETON.EDU 254-396-0567

Wyoming HANGING LAZY B

DAVID & KIMBERLY BIRT 1986 ROAD 217 CHEYENNE, WY 82009 SIXBIRTS@MSN.COM 307-286-2942

Hey, y’all! My name is Emily Tabor, and I am your reigning National Black Hereford Queen. I am 18 years old and reside in Kentucky. I have been a member of the AJBHA for 3 years now and I can easily say that joining this amazing association has been one of the best decisions I have ever made. The American Black Hereford Association welcomed me with open arms and the best way I could think of to offer my gratitude was to become its queen. My heart belongs to the ABHA, but I also have a passion for the beef industry in its entirety. I am an active member of the Kentucky Jr. Cattlemen’s Association and the KY Beef Council. Early in December, I was selected to attend the Nebraska Youth Beef Leadership Symposium where I learned more about the beef industry and how Nebraska beef production differs from that in Kentucky. While participating in these organizations, I take every opportunity to promote and/or discuss the Black Hereford breed.

As we roll into 2023, I just want to take a second to acknowledge and congratulate all the breeders who work to make this breed the best. The quality of the Black Hereford breed keeps getting better and better and I expect the bar to continue to rise this upcoming year. I would also like to congratulate all the exhibitors who work day in and day out making their cattle look the absolute best. I have been fortunate to be in the presence of both exceptional breeders and exhibitors over the last 3 months while attending the American Royal, North American International Livestock Exposition, and at Cattlemen’s Congress. As we finish up in OKC, our next big national show is Junior Nationals, which will be held in June in Cookeville, Tennessee. I am excited to see all our juniors there and especially the ones that have joined us in the last year. The Junior Board is working diligently to bring some new opportunities, learning experiences, and most importantly fun for all of the 2023 participants. ABHA Junior Nationals get bigger and better every year, and I am sure that this year will not be any different. Hope to see y’all in June! ABHA

By Colt Thomas, Junior President

What a year 2022 has been for the for the Juniors of this wonderful breed. Having the largest Junior Nationals to date with tons of new faces, I feel 2023 will bring even more growth and interest for just what this breed and its members have to offer.

As we grow as a breed, I hope we continue to stay connected and willing to lend a helping hand to all the new members. I would like to thank all the sponsors of the AJBHA, without your support we wouldn’t be where we are today. I look forward to seeing all of you around and throughout the coming year. Remember, save the date for the 2023 Junior Nationals taking place June 14-17 in Cookeville, TN! Keep an eye out for new announcements throughout the coming year as we share more information on one of our most anticipated Junior events of the year.

Best Wishes in 2023! ABHA