Bright Raven":2131ttmz said:
True Grit Farms":2131ttmz said:
Nope I'm not talking a step back, EPD's are just another tool in the box. And genomic testing is also very important in the selection process for breeding stock. The more information you have as a buyer or seller the more likely you are to make the right decisions for your program.
Grit. That is such common knowledge, you should not have to get on here and say it.
It grieves me that such bright guys as Darren would hurt me with such nonsense.
:lol: :lol:
1 - EPDs and genomic testing are great tools. I spend substantial money each year on DNA tests and I use that information to make keep / cull decisions ... only after I've sufficiently done actual, live-animal, real world testing as well.
2 - Not every EPD is particularly accurate. But that doesn't stop people from overly relying on them to make final decisions.
3 - Since it was in KC, I went to the Angus Association conference two years in a row (2014 and 2015, iirc) to listen to the panels and speakers, and to check out the vendors. I was amazed at the number of people the Angus Association trotted out there who said, "The only thing I ever look at when buying a bull is the genomic tests; I don't even look at a picture; don't need to as all that other stuff is a waste of time." These speakers are among the leaders of the breed, the big time operations, telling the small timers that visually assessing the live animal is a waste of their time ... that the only thing that's important about the pedigree is that it's stamped by the Angus Association ... that the only important piece of information that matters about the animal is the genomic data. Udder quality? Feet? Fleshing ability? Temperament? Environmental adaptability? Parasite resistance? Hardiness? Fertility? Etc? None of that matters. And these are the among the leaders of the breed! No thank you. I am a reasonably smart person, and I'm saying that king has no clothes.