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B.I.F. Handbook

Sixth Edition - May 1990
Aknowledgements

First Edition - April 1970
Second Edition - October 1972
Third Edition - May 1976
Fourth Edition - September 1981
Fifth Edition - April 1986

Beef Improvement Federation
University of Georgia
Athens, GA 30602

Table of Contents

				Page
Preface				vi

1:	Introduction			1

	1.1:		Importance of Performance Testing	1
	1.2:		Importance of Performance Records	2

2:	Reproduction

	2.1:	Female		3
	2.1.1:		Breeding dates	3
	2.1.2:		Pregnancy status	3
	2.1.3:		Calving date	3
	2.1.4:		Calving difficulty or ease	3
	2.1.5:		Birth weight of calves	3
	2.1.6:		Calf history	3
	2.1.7:		Cow reproduction or disposal history	4
	2.1.8:		Gestation length	4
	2.1.9:		Age at first calving	4
	2.1.10:		Calving interval	4
	2.1.11:		Yearly prolificacy	4
	2.2:	Male		4
	2.2.1:		Physical examination	4
	2.2.2:		Scrotal circumference	4
	2.2.3:		Semen evaluation	4
	2.3:		Herd	5
	2.3.1:		Number of cows exposed	5
	2.3.2:		Percent palpated pregnant	5
	2.3.3:		Live calving percent	5
	2.3.4:		Weaning percent	5
	2.4:		Pelvic Measurements	6
	2.4.1:		Measurement of heifers	6
	2.4.2:		Why measure bulls?	6

3:	Evaluation of Growth Rate and Efficiency of Gain			7

	3.1:	Preweaning Phase		7
	3.1.1:		Measurement of birth weight	7
	3.1.2:		Measurement of weaning weight (205 days)	7
	3.1.3:		Weaning weight ratio	8
	3.1.4:		Produce-of-dam summary	8
	3.1.5:		Most Probable Producing Ability (MPPA)	8
	3.2:	Postweaning Phase--On the Farm and Ranch		9
	3.2.1:		Measurement of yearling weight (365 days) or long yearling weight (452 or 550 days)	9
	3.2.2:		Weight ratios	9
	3.3:	Efficiency of Gain		10
	3.3.1:		Cow efficiency	10
	3.3.2:		Postweaning feed efficiency	10

4:	Beef Carcass Evaluation			13

	4.1:	Basic Factors of Carcass Evaluation		13
	4.1.1:		Quality	13
	4.1.2:		Quantity	14
	4.1.3:		USDA Yield Grade	14
	4.1.4:		Cutability percentage	15
	4.1.5:		Growth rate	15
	4.2:	Obtaining Carcass Evaluation		15
	4.3:	USDA’s Beef Carcass Evaluation Service		15
	4.4:	Main Station Grading and Meat and Certification Branch Offices		17
	4.5:	Application of Carcass Evaluation to Improvement Programs		17
	4.5.1:		Data collected and eligibility	17
	4.5.2:		Data collection-options	18
	4.6:	Ultrasound Proficiency Guidelines		19

5:	Live Animal Evaluation			21

	5.1:	Frame Score		21
	5.1.1:		Adjusted Weaning Heights	23
	5.1.2:		Adjusted Postweaning Heights	23

6:	Guidelines for Performance Programs for Seedstock Producers and Their Organizations			25

	6.1:	Guidelines for Individual Herds		25
	6.2:	Information Needed for Selection and Culling by Seedstock Producers		25
	6.2.1:		Calf performance	25
	6.2.2:		Cowherd information	26
	6.2.3:		Herd sires	26
	6.3:	Merchandising for Seedstock Producers		26
	6.3.1:		Breeding value lists	27
	6.3.2:		Performance pedigrees	27
	6.4:	Example of a Performance Program		27
	6.4.1:		Outline of a performance program	27
	6.5:	Guidelines for Performance Programs of Organizations of Seedstock Producers		28
	6.6:	Basics of Sound Performance Testing		28
	6.6.1:		Basic performance tests	29
	6.6.2:		Measure differences	29
	6.6.3:		Contemporary groups	29
	6.6.4:		Input records	29
	6.6.5:		Record analysis	30
	6.6.6:		Output records	31
	6.6.7:		Integrate basic and ancillary programs	31
	6.6.8:		Future opportunities	31

7:	Guidelines for Commercial Performance Programs			33

	7.1:	What Is a Performance Record?		34
	7.2:	Utilization of Performance Records		34
	7.3:	Measuring Performance		35
	7.4:	Implementing Improvement Programs		38
	7.4.1:		Selecting and implementing a breeding program	38
	7.4.2:		Selecting and implementing a performance program	39
	7.5:	Summary		41

8:	Central Test Stations			43

	8.1:	Full-Feed Central Bull Test		44
	8.2:	Forage Bull Tests in the Souteast		44
	8.3:	General Considerations		44
	8.4:	Test Station Reports		45

9:	National Animal Evaluation Program			47

	9.1:		Preamble	41
	9.2:	Basic Considerations		41
	9.3:	Performance		41
	9.4:	Current Analysis Procedures		47
	9.4.1:		Introduction	47
	9.4.2:		Animal model	48
	9.4.3:		Reduced animal model	49
	9.4.4:		Reduced animal model with maternal effects	50
	9.4.5:		Multiple traits	53
	9.4.6:		Sire maternal grand sire model	56
	9.4.7:		Accuracy	56
	9.5:	Current Analysis Procedures at the University of Georgia		56
	9.5.1:		University and breeds	56
	9.5.2:		Model(s)	57
	9.5.3:		Equations	57
	9.5.4:		Solutions	57
	9.5.5:		Back solutions generated	57
	9.5.6:		Definitions of solutions generated	57
	9.5.7:		Accuracy calculations	57
	9.5.8:		Values reported	57
	9.5.9:		Interim predictions	57
	9.5.10:		Future plans	57
	9.6:	Current Analysis Procedures at Cornell University		57
	9.6.1:		University and breeds	57
	9.6.2:		Model(s)	58
	9.6.3:		Equations	58
	9.6.4:		Solutions	58
	9.6.5:		Definitions of solutions generated	58
	9.6.6:		Accuracy	58
	9.6.7:		Parameters used	59
	9.6.8:		Values reported	60
	9.6.9:		Interim predictions	60
	9.6.10:		Extensions planned	60
	9.7:	Current Analysis Procedures at Colorado State University		60
	9.7.1:		University and breeds	60
	9.7.2:		Model(s)	60
	9.7.3:		Equations	64
	9.7.4:		Solution procedure	64
	9.7.5:		Back solutions generated	64
	9.7.6:		Definitions of solutions generated	65
	9.7.7:		Accuracy calculations	65
	9.7.8:		Values reported	65
	9.7.9:		Interim predictions	65
	9.7.10:		Extensions planned
	9.8:	Summary		65

10:	Embryo Transfer			67

	10.1:	Identification		67
	10.2:	Recipient		67
	10.3:	Performance Data		67

11:	The Systems Concept for Cattle Production and Improvement			69

	11.1:	The Systems Concept		69
	11.2:	General Conclusions from Systems Research		69
	11.2.1:		Specification of selection objectives and criteria	69
	11.2.2:		Rankings of genotypes based on biological productivity	70
	11.3:	Using the Systems Concept for Beef Improvement		70
	11.4:	Long Term Goal of the Systems Committee		72

12:	Appendices			73

	12.1:	Codes		73
	12.1.1:		Standard codes	73
	12.1.2:		Proposed state code numbers	73
	12.1.3:		Comments codes	73
	12.2:	Breed Standards and Additive Adjustment Factors		75
	12.3:	Uniform Breed Codes		80
	12.4:	Uniform Coding System for Identifying Semen		81
	12.4.1:		Stud code	81
	12.4.2:		Breed code	81
	12.4.3:		Bull code	81
	12.5:	Table for Converting Average Weights During Test to Metabolic Weight for Adjusting Feed Efficiency Values		82

13:	Beef Production Glossary			83

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Acknowledgements

Acknowledgement is made for the contributions of the Beef Improvement Federation Committees that voluntarily prepared the recommendations from which this publication was developed

Special acknowledgement is made to the persons listed below who served as writers and editors for the many sections of the publication.

Technical Editor	Frank H. Baker Winrock International
Assistant Editors	Gary M. WeberExtension Service, USDA
	Charles McPeake Head, Extension Animal Science University of Georgia
Production Editor	Tom D. Diel Agricultural Communications Oklahoma State University
Section of Publication	Authors and Editors
Introduction	A. L. Eller Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Reproduction	Keith Vandervelde American Breeders Service
	Roy Wallace Select Sires, Inc.
	Wayne Singleton Purdue University
Carcass Evaluation	John Crouch American Angus Association
	Dave Schaffer Kansas State University
	Dixon D. Hubbard Extension Service
Live Animal Evaluation	John Crouch American Angus Association
	Bob Schalles Kansas State University
Sire Evaluation	Larry Cundiff Agricultural Research Service USDA
	Richard Wiliham Iowa State University
	Doyle Wilson Iowa State University
	Merlyn Neilson University of Nebraska
	Dale Van Vleck University of Nebraska
	Larry Bennyshek University of Georgia
	Keith Bertrand University of Georgia
	Del Little University of Georgia
	Maribeth Johnson University of Georgia
	John Pollak Cornell University
	Richard Ouaas Cornell University
	Bruce Golden Colorado State University
	Rick Bourdon Colorado State University
	Jim Brinks Colorado State University
	Roger McCraw North Carolina State University
Seedstock Producers Guidelines	David Notter Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Commercial Producers Guidelines	Doug Hixon University of Wyoming
Central Test Stations	Ron Bolze Kansas State University
Systems	Jim Gibb American Gelbvieh Association
	Richard Bourdon Colorado State University
	C. Richard Benson University of California
Embryo Transfer	Craig Ludwig American Hereford Association
	Carla Nichols University of Kentucky

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