Whole Herd Performance Data Reporting

Sep 23, 2021

By Steve Boyles

Some breeders choose to report performance data only on calves that they want to register. However, this is not in the best interest of either the producer or their customers as this practice leads to biased and inaccurate EPDs. Complete reporting of every animal in the herd is critical to obtain the best estimates of genetic merit. By only reporting the best calves, producers are inadvertently penalizing their highest-performing calves. In the following example, we will use weaning weight ratios to illustrate the effect of only reporting the best calves. Suppose we have 10 calves with an average adjusted weaning weight of 625:

weaning weight of 625

Now suppose that the producer only reports the top 5 calves, which means the new average adjusted weaning weight is 675:

weaning weight is 675

Incomplete reporting has the same effect on EPDs that it does on ratios. Therefore, the highest performing calves (calves 1 and 2) now receive much lower ratios, and subsequently EPDs, than if they had been compared to their entire contemporary group. Calves 3, 4, and 5 were once above average (ratios of 102-105) but are now below average and receive ratios below 100, which will result in lower EPDs than if they were compared to the entire group.

Next week we’ll take a look at Expected Progeny Differences and their Accuracy.

Source : osu.edu

Video: Season 6, Episode 7: Takeaways from the Second International Conference on Pig Livability

This year’s conference fostered open, engaging conversations around current research in the swine industry, bringing together hundreds of attendees from 31 states and six countries. Two leaders who helped organize the event joined today’s episode: Dr. Joel DeRouchey, professor and swine extension specialist in the Department of Animal Sciences and Industry at Kansas State University, and Dr. Edison Magalhaes, assistant professor in the Department of Animal Sciences at Iowa State University. They share key takeaways from the conference, including the importance of integrating data when evaluating whole-herd livability, building a culture of care among employees and adopting new technologies. Above all, the discussion reinforces that this industry remains, at its core, a people business.