Since 2021, phenotypic traits have been listed on EPD (expected progeny difference)/Pedigree Lookup, indicating what phenotypes have been submitted to the Association for the individual animal (Figure 1). 

In 2024 the phenotypic traits were updated to indicate which phenotypes are being used in the genetic evaluation to help predict the EPDs by bolding those that are included. Why would data not be included in the genetic evaluation?

FIG. 1: Example of phenotypic traits listed on EPD/Pedigree Lookup.

Phenotypic traits: CE, BW, WW, YW, YH, HP, MW, MH, Doc, Claw, Angle, UScanWT, UIMF, URE, URibFat, URumpFat
Bold Phenotypes are included in the National Cattle Evaluation.

Contemporary group 

Regardless of the trait, a common reason data is excluded from the genetic evaluation is because of contemporary group size. If an animal is in a single-animal contemporary group, there are no other animals to compare it to, so information is unable to be included in the genetic evaluation. 
For most traits, a minimum of two animals is needed in a contemporary group to be eligible. For more information on contemporary groups guidelines and structure, visit www.angus.org/ahir/how-to-collect/contemporary-grouping. 

While there are instances where an animal should be in a contemporary group alone — such as an orphan, illness, managed differently than other animals in the herd (e.g., a show calf) — sometimes animals are in a single-animal group because of when or how the record was submitted or because of incorrect group codes being used. 

Process date, meaning if data is submitted over multiple days for the same group, is a key reason why contemporary groups are unintentionally divided for several traits like birth, weaning, and yearling. Contemporary groups build from birth, so if an animal is in a single contemporary group at birth, it will remain in a single-animal group as data for other traits is collected. 

Data guidelines

Phenotypes collected on animals outside of the eligible age window are not eligible to be included in the genetic evaluation. For example, if weaning weight is collected on an animal at 295 days of age, the weaning weight will not be used in the genetic evaluation. The acceptable age window for collecting weaning weights is 120-280 days of age. 

Another example would be if a mature weight on a cow is submitted but there is no body condition score with the mature weight, the mature weight will not be included in the genetic evaluation. Both traits, mature weight and body condition score, are required to use the weight in the genetic evaluation. In addition, the weight and body condition score must be collected either 45 days prior to or 45 days after weaning a calf, and the calf’s weaning information must also be reported.

Angus Herd Improvement Records Data Collection Guide

Embryo transfer calves

Phenotypes from calves that are produced using embryo transfer (ET) can vary slightly based on how the embryos were produced and recipient registration status. Conventional ET calves raised by a registered recipient can have their birth and weaning weights included in the National Cattle Evaluation (NCE). Any IVF (in vitro fertilization) ET calf regardless of recipient and conventional ET calves from commercial recipients do not have their birth and weaning weights included in the NCE. The reason is because both birth and weaning weights have a maternal component; without having information about the recipient dam, the maternal components cannot be accounted for in the model. ET calves as a result of IVF, regardless of recipient, are not included because of large offspring syndrome that cannot be accounted for today.

Variation

For traits that are scored such as foot scores, hair shed scores, docility scores, etc., if there is no variation in the contemporary group, the data is not included in the genetic evaluation. In order to make comparisons between animals, there needs to be variation in the scores.

There are a variety of other reasons data might not be included in the genetic evaluation, depending on the trait. Sometimes when the traits are not bolded on EPD/Pedigree Lookup, it is simply a result of a timing issue. If data is submitted but has not had the opportunity to be included in the genetic evaluation, it will remain not bolded. The genetic evaluation starts each Friday, and the results are released the following Friday. If data is submitted on Tuesday, it would have the opportunity to be included in the genetic evaluation starting on Friday, and traits would have the opportunity to be bolded the following Friday when the results are released. 

All data submitted to the Angus Herd Improvement Records (AHIR^®) program is stored and available for your reference in your AAA Login account. While not all records in AHIR are able to be used in the genetic evaluation because of reasons such as those listed above, you can make sure you are making the most of your records by following the data collection guidelines from the Association.