Angus Genetics Inc.® (AGI) and Merial have entered into an exclusive agreement to provide American Angus Association® (AAA) breeders with genomic-enhanced expected progeny differences (EPDs) powered by IGENITY®. This is the first time beef producers have access to genomic-enhanced EPDs for multiple traits at once – and from an Angus-specific DNA profile.

The combination of a breed-specific DNA profile with the Angus National Cattle Evaluation will result in higher-accuracy EPDs, says Bill Bowman, president, AGI. This will be an especially powerful tool for evaluating young animals, as cattle will now have accuracies that were previously only possible once they had multiple progeny on the ground, he adds.

The list of available genomic-enhanced EPDs is being finalized by AAA, but it’s expected that Angus producers will be able to tap into this offering with the availability of the test this fall. The spring 2010 Sire Evaluation Report, available online in December 2009 and in print January 2010, will be the first report to include genomic-enhanced EPDs. These EPDs are enhanced by analyses from IGENITY, but producers will continue to communicate and work with AAA.

In addition to genomic-enhanced EPDs for Angus producers, IGENITY offers analyses for more than 15 economically important traits. IGENITY also offers user-friendly info management software and expert consultation to help producers customize this advanced info to their individual herd goals.

For more on IGENITY, visit www.igenity.com. For more on the genomic-enhanced EPDs available from AAA, call 816-383-5100 or visit www.angus.org.
-- AAA news release