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| Volume IX Number 4 |
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July/August 2001 |
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Research Discovers that Cattle Over
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Gelbvieh Unveils Grid Merit EPD
The American Gelbvieh Association (AGA) unveiled its Grid Merit EPD. Grid Merit consolidates the EPDs for carcass weight, ribeye area, marbling and fat thickness down to one number -- a dollar figure. This dollar figure is derived using economic selection index theory. Models were developed using performance and economic data from the Gelbvieh Alliance with Monfort/ConAgra to predict the percent progeny falling into yield and quality grades and the percent outs. These models were used to calculate the relative economic value for each of the four carcass traits.
As with other EPDs, the Grid Merit EPD may be used to estimate how future progeny of one animal will compare to progeny of another animal within the same breed. In this case, the performance measured is the dollar value associated with marketing progeny on a value-based grid.
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