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$ Indexes:
These are multi-trait selection indexes calculated by some breed associations. These combine
EPDs for several traits into a single economic value, which can be used to make selection decisions.
The index values are interpreted like EPDs; the difference in index value between two bulls is the
expected difference in average dollar value per head of their progeny, when the bulls are bred to
similar cows. Typical beef production and economic values are used in calculating the indexes.
Indexes are expressed in dollars per head, and higher indexes mean a higher dollar value per head.
An index value only has meaning when it is compared to the index value of another animal of the
same breed. Currently, indexes are calculated for Angus, Gelbvieh, Gelbvieh Balancer, Hereford,
Limousin, Red Angus, Simmental, and SimAngus bulls.
Angus
indexes are Weaned Calf Value ($W), Feedlot Value ($F), Grid Value ($G), Quality Grade
($QG), Yield Grade ($YG), and Beef Value ($B).
Charolais
index is Terminal Sire Index (TSI).
Gelbvieh
indexes are $Cow, Efficiency Profit Index (EPI), and Feeder Profit Index (FPI).
Hereford
indexes are Baldy Maternal Index (BMI$), Calving Ease Index (CEZ$), Brahman
Influence Index (BII$), and Certified Hereford Beef Index (CHB$).
Limousin
index is Mainstream Terminal Index ($MTI).
Red Angus
indexes are HerdBuilder Index (HB) and GridMaster Index (GM).
Simmental
and
SimAngus
indexes are All-Purpose Index (API) and Terminal Index (TI).
See the article
EPDs and $ Indexes
for more information. The numbers in asterisks indicate the
percentile group ranking of the bull in the breed, in 10% groups: *10* is in the top 1-10%, *9* is
11-20%, and so on; *2* is 81-90%; and *1* is 91-100% (the bottom 10%). Bulls are compared to
non-parent indexes from their respective breed associations; it is a ranking within the entire breed,
not just the bulls in this test.
HOW SALE ORDER IS DETERMINED
Each bull is given a within-breed percentile group ranking (in *’s) for many
traits, including performance during the test, EPD’s, and $ Indexes. These are
in 10% groups, so a bull can get 1-10 *’s for each trait.
Total *’s
is the sum
of the number of *’s for the bull for
seven
of these traits: ADG Ratio, WPDA
Ratio, % Retail Product, % IM Fat, Direct Calving Ease EPD, Weaning
Weight EPD, and Maternal Milk EPD (Birth Weight EPD will be used if the
bull does not have an EPD for Direct Calving Ease). The maximum number
of *’s for a bull is 70.
Sale Order
is determined by Total *’s - the sum of the number of *’s for the
seven traits listed above. A bull with 70 *’s would sell first. If two bulls have
the same Total *’s, sale order for these bulls will be based on Performance
Index.
