What is an Index and How Do I Use It?
Using Indexes
Indexes allow for selection pressure on multiple traits at the same time, depending on a producer’s breeding objectives. Producers today are likely to believe more than a single trait is important. Furthermore, it is not difficult to believe selection for one trait would impact other traits as well. For example, selection for increased weaning weight is likely to result in increased yearling weight and average daily gain. While Igenity® Profiles provide index values centered around total production, maternal, or terminal breeding programs, the beef dashboard allows individuals to also design an index tailored to their needs.
Reading the Chart
Selection Pressure: The amount of emphasis placed on the animal’s breeding value for that trait.
Traits: Each Molecular Breeding Value (MBV) reported in an Igenity Beef Profile.
Impact on 1-10 Scores: This is the estimated change in Igenity scores following one generation of selection using this index. These impacts are graphically provided in the chart.
Igenity Production Index
The Igenity Production index balances maternal traits with gain and carcass characteristics, placing a large emphasis on stayability, marbling, and hot carcass weight, with a negative emphasis on residual feed intake.
This index is designed for producers wanting to keep their own replacement females while either marketing calves with superior carcass potential or retaining ownership and harvesting on a grid.
Production Index Trends – How to Interpret
- Significant increases in marbling and hot carcass weight due to larger emphasis
- Positive increases in maternal traits such as stayability and calving ease
*Herd results may vary dependent on individual selection intensity.
Igenity Maternal Index
The Igenity Maternal index places emphasis on fertility, weaning weight, and calving ease, with a negative emphasis on residual feed intake.
This index is designed for producers wanting to keep their own replacement females and market calves at weaning.
Maternal Index Trends – How to Interpret
- Improved stayability and cow maintenance trends
- Favorable impacts on birthweight and calving ease
- Modest increases in milk
*Herd results may vary dependent on individual selection intensity.
Igenity Terminal Index
The Igenity Terminal index is specialized to identify animals with superior carcass performance. It places the highest emphasis on hot carcass weight, followed by marbling and rib eye area. There is, however, a negative emphasis placed on residual feed intake and fat thickness to control feed costs.
This index is designed for producers who retain ownership of progeny to identify calves who are likely more profitable as feeder calves compared to replacement heifers.
Terminal Index Trends – How to Interpret
- Substantial increases in terminal traits including average daily gain, weight traits, rib eye area, and marbling
- Mild effects on birth weight and calving ease
*Herd results may vary dependent on individual selection intensity.