New AGA Indexes and EPDs Released

Dear American Gelbvieh Association Member,

It is an exciting time to be in the beef business, as prices are the highest of our lifetimes and the demand for beef only continues to soar. All of us at the American Gelbvieh Association (AGA) are excited to update you that we have launched three new economic indexes and four new EPDs! We have listed definitions for each new index and EPD below.

Indexes

Maternal Profit Index (MPI): In this production scenario, Gelbvieh bulls are mated to Angus-based cows with surplus calves marketed at weaning, with replacement heifers retained from the calf crop. EPDs weighted in this index are Calving Ease Direct (CED) and Maternal (CEM), Weaning Weight (WW), Milk (MM), Mature Weight (MW), Dry Matter Intake (DMI), Stayability (STAY), and Heifer Pregnancy (HP). Mature weight is the primary driver and represents the significant cost of maintenance energy requirement in the cow-calf sector. Weaning Weight and Milk (expressed in pounds of calf weaning weight) represent the principal revenue stream. Stayability helps account for differences in replacement costs in the system and the effect of heifer retention on revenue streams. This index should be used by commercial cattlemen whose production scenario includes the traditional marketing of calves at weaning and replacement retention from the herd.

Feeder Profit Index™ (FPI™): Envisioned as a completely terminal index, FPI assumes all calves are marketed as finished beef carcasses priced on a value-based grid. Thus, it shouldn’t be used in production scenarios where replacements are kept from these matings. The new FPI formulation more precisely weights economically relevant traits available for selection, including the key carcass traits of Carcass Weight (CW), Ribeye Area (REA), and Dry Matter Intake (DMI) that were not included in the original formulation. The new FPI also weights Fat Thickness (FAT), post-weaning Average Daily Gain (ADG), and Calving Ease Direct (CED). Carcass value determined by carcass weight, quality and yield grade influencing traits accounts for approximately 75% of the index as principal revenue drivers. Dry Matter Intake captures differences in expected costs to the terminal carcass endpoint.

Total Profit Index (TPI): Combining replacement female retention from the herd with carcass endpoint for marketed surplus heifers and all steers, TPI balances both maternal and terminal selection criteria. Because of the challenges faced by commercial cattlemen by the antagonisms in selection for this production scenario, TPI includes the largest and most diverse set of EPDs in the model, including carcass traits as the primary revenue drivers with cow Mature Weight (MW), Stayability (STAY), and Dry Matter Intake (DMI) as cost drivers.

EPDs

Mature Weight (MWT): Body weight of cows adjusted to six years of age at body condition score 5. MWT is reported in pounds and is computed from a genetic model that leverages information from weaning weight, post-weaning gain, and mature weights of cows. Reported weights are adjusted for both age at observation and for body condition. Body weights of cows 2 to 12 years of age are utilized in the evaluation so producers can report data at any age for the evaluation. Preferably, cows should be evaluated at or shortly following weaning, as that’s a convenient time for many producers to process cows. Weights collected at other times in the production cycle are acceptable. Producers should measure full contemporary groups on the same day as the observation date, which helps form the contemporary group.

Cow Energy Requirement-Yearly (CERY): Mature body weight, lactation potential, and birth weight are primary predictors of energy requirements. Mature Weight, Milk, and Birth Weight EPDs are utilized to inform prediction equations from beef cow nutrition research to estimate differences in energy requirement over a production year. The CERY EPD is reported in pounds of Total Digestible Nutrients (TDN) required for an age 6 cow.

Dry matter intake (DMI): the genetic difference in pounds of expected average daily dry matter intake of progeny.

$GAIN: reports the difference in expected marginal value of gain, less the cost of feed to achieve that gain. Reported in dollars of marginal profit with more positive values representing increased efficiency and profit.

You will find the updated indexes and EPDs are now available on each animal’s profile. Please watch Gelbvieh.org for updated sale catalog inserts to provide for your customers.

I would like to personally invite you to our upcoming webinar regarding the new indexes and EPDs on September 23, 2025, at 7:00 p.m. CST. Dr. Bob Weaber, AGA Genetics Consultant, will be discussing how each index was developed and the production scenarios in which they are best used, as well as discussing the four new EPDs and their purpose. Please register today at: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/HzC4BuLCQ-q6siX5zA0Dig

In the meantime, if you have any questions, please contact the AGA office at (303) 465-2333.

Thank you,

Harold Bertz, AGA Executive Director