The first Structured Sire Evaluation Program was specifically designed to develop growth-trait expected progeny differences (EPDs). A part of the National Sire Evaluation program, a new carcass evaluation program was adopted in 1972 that resulted in the first Angus Sire Evaluation Report and formed the foundation of the Angus performance records database.
Reestablished in the fall of 2015, the current Association-sponsored Structured Sire Evaluation has a different purpose than its predecessor. The current program aims to collect carcass data on widely used bulls in the Angus population that have little to no actual carcass data collected on their progeny. These widely used sires have ultrasound records on progeny but no true carcass records. The ability to use ultrasound data to predict carcass traits is a very powerful and useful technology, but since it is not a perfect correlation of 1, actual carcass records are still needed for more accurate predictions.
Widely used bulls are those included in the Top 300 Registration Sires the previous fiscal year, and in most cases are proven for growth traits and may even have hundreds of progeny ultrasound records reported. Targeted commercial participants then choose which bulls they would like to use in their operation, breed the females, and are provided compensation once carcass data records are submitted. The data from this program enters the weekly evaluation in the same way as every other data point — subject to contemporary group guidelines — and supports the evaluation in the same capacity. Ultimately, it increases the accuracies on widely used sires, which improves prediction accuracies of genomic evaluations, adds phenotypic data to the robust Angus database, and provides an opportunity to validate selection tools. Sires used in this program consist of both test and reference sires.
In January of 2022, the program grew to including sires nominated by Angus members. This allows Angus members to nominate unproven sires to be used in the program. Nominated sires selected by test herds to be used will have the opportunity to obtain carcass data on progeny compared to proven, high-accuracy Angus sires, improving accuracies on carcass traits. Nominations for sires are due by January 15 each year. To nominate a sire(s), fill out and submit the nomination form.
For more information on the Structured Sire Evaluation, contact the Performance Programs department at 816-383-5100 or email sse@angus.org.