FAQ and Helpful Information

Overview of the IBEP Bull Test (updated 5/26/22)

IBEP Board of Directors and Other Personnel

IBEP By-Laws - June 2022

IBEP Hall of Fame - Recognizes the top bulls going back to the first test in 1976, where possible. Includes the Top Performance Indexing Sale Eligible Bull, Top Carcass Merit Sale Eligible Bull, Top Sale Indexing Bull, and Top Performance Indexing Get-of-Sire Group.

Interpreting Performance Information in the sale catalog - Part 1, Part 2
Caring for Your New Young Herd Sire

Cattlemen's Genetics Webinar Series: eBEEF partnered with the National Cattlemen's Beef Association to present a series of webinars in 2018
- Fake News: EPDs Don't Work - Dr. Alison Van Eenennaam and Dr. Matthew Spangler
- Show Me the Money! Are there EPDs for Profit? - Dr. Darrh Bullock and Dr. Jared Decker
- The 4 S's of Crossbreeding: Simple, Structured, Successful, and Sustainable - Dr. Robert Weaber and Dr. Megan Rolf
- Putting the Tools to Use: Buying Your Next Bull - the eBEEF Team
Angus Explains: How to Foot Score - American Angus Association
Angus University: Foot Scoring - American Angus Association
Utilizing EPDs in the Selection of Sires - Dr. Matthew Spangler

Managing Genetic Defects in Beef Cattle Herds - Mississippi State University

Breed Association Information on Genetic Defects

Angus
The Genetic Defects Policy is given in the Breeder's Reference Guide, starting on page 55.
- The policy for Arthrogryposis Multiplex (AM), Neuropathic Hydrocephalus (NH), Contractural Arachnodactyly (CA), and Osteopetrosis (OS) starts on page 56
- The policy for Double Muscling, Myostatin nt821 gene deletion (M1), Developmental Duplication (DD), and Oculotaneous Hypopigmentation (OH) starts on page 59
- The policy for Dwarfism PRKG2 Mutation (D2) starts on page 62
Hereford
- Descriptions of Genetic Abnormalities with links to lists of known carriers
  These include Hypotrichosis (HY), Dilutor (DL), Idiopathic Epilepsy (IE), Maple Syrup Urine Disease (MSUD), Mandibulofacial Dysostosis (MD), and Delayed Blindness (DB)
- Managing Genetic Abnormalities
Red Angus
- Genetic Defects Monitored by RAAA (click on the "Genetic Defects" option); descriptions and some photos
  These include Arthrogryposis Multiplex (AM), Contractural Arachnodactyly (CA), Neuropathic Hydrocephalus (NH), Pulmonary Hypoplasia with Anasarca (PH), Developmental Duplication (DD), Double Muscling (DM), Hypotricosis (HY), Osteopetrosis (OS), Syntactyly (SN), Dwarfism (DW), Alpha-Mannosidosis (MA), Protoporphyia (PR), and Tibial Hemimelia (TH)
- Genetic Defect Policy
Simmental
- DNA Testing and Sample Submission

Overview of Contemporary Groups
Contemporary Grouping - American Angus Association
Contemporary Groups - American Simmental Association (select the "Contemporary Groups" option)
Contemporary Groups - Beef Improvement Federation Guidelines Wiki Article

EPDs and $Indexes
Across-Breed EPDs - comparing EPDs from different breeds
Beef Genetic Data Tools Defined - understanding EPDs and indexes - Kansas State University
Dealing with Ever-Changing Expected Progeny Differences - Red Angus Association of America
EPDs and What They Tell Us - American Angus Association
Expected Progeny Differences and Selection Indices for Beef Cattle Selection - Mississippi State University
Expected Progeny Differences: Trait Definitions and Utilizing Percentile Tables - University of Kentucky
Genetic Improvement Tools - American Simmental Association
How to Interpret Sire Summaries - Oregon State University
Interim EPDs - American Angus Association
The Rancher's Guide to EPDs - Red Angus Association of America
Understanding and Using Expected Progeny Differences (EPDs) - University of Arkansas
Using Expected Progeny Differences - University of Kentucky
Why Doesn't My Animal Have EPDs? - American Angus Association

Genomic Testing and Genomic-Enhanced EPDs

American Angus Association Genomic Enhanced EPDs (GE-EPDs) - American Angus Association
Beef Blueprints: The Role of Phenotypic Data in the Age of Genomics - Morning Ag Clips
Impact of Genomics on EPDs - American Angus Association
Speer: Genomic Testing an Investment in Herd Profitability - Drovers.com
What Are the Benefits of Cattle Genomic Testing? Is paying for a genomic test or to "DNA" my cattle worth the money? - Morning Ag Clips

Ultrasound Scanning to Measure Body Composition in Beef Cattle - University of Arkansas
Using Live Animal Carcass Ultrasound Information in Beef Cattle Selection - Mississippi State University

An Analysis of Beef Cattle Conformation - University of Arkansas
Bull Soundness - Structural - New South Wales Department of Primary Industries, Australia
Feet and Leg Traits are Moderately to Lowly Heritable in Red Angus Cattle - Kansas State University
Foot Score Brochure - American Angus Association
Foot Score Guidelines (poster) - American Angus Association
Look Him Over: Visual appraisal is still important in bull selection - Angus Beef Bulletin
Selecting Bulls for Structural Soundness in Beef Cattle - Dept. of Primary Industries and Fisheries, Queensland, Australia

All bulls that are sale eligible based on Performance Index are checked for breeding soundness. A Breeding Soundness Examinations presentation is available online. For more information, contact Dr. Wayne Singleton, reproductive physiologist.

Breeding Soundness Exams - Angus Beef Bulletin
Bull Power: Examination of Beef Cattle Bulls for Breeding Soundness - University of Hawaii
Understanding Bull Breeding Soundness Exams - Utah State University

Beef Blueprints: Rethinking Cattle Breeding for Modern Demand - Maximizing growth without sacrificing efficiency: a seedstock producer's dilemma - Morning Ag Clips
Beef Sire Selection Manual - National Beef Cattle Evaluation Consortium, 2010
Beef Sire Selection - University of Arkansas
Beef Sire Selection Recommendations - University of Kentucky
Bull Buyer's Guide - University of Georgia
Bull Purchasing and Management - University of Arkansas
Bull Selection and Management Guide - University of Arkansas
Data to Count On: Feeders say genetic data boosts buyer confidence by removing risk - Angus Beef Bulletin
Don't Play Russian Roulette With Your Cattle Genetics - Beef Magazine, 2017
The Genetics Behind Calving: Focus on Calving Ease and the Maternal Side When it Comes to EPD's - Beef Magazine, 2023
Identifying the Right Bull for Your Operation - Angus Beef Bulletin
Investing in Genetics - Utah State University
Shopping for a Bull? Here's how to make the most of your bull-buying strategy - Angus Beef Bulletin
10 Steps to Buying the Right Bull - American Hereford Association
What Should Be Considered in Bull Selection - University of Tennessee

Getting Bulls Ready: Nutrition considerations before, during and after the breeding season - American Hereford Association
To Make Your Breeding Season Successful, the Work Starts Now: A checklist for effective bull management - American Hereford Association

Hair Shedding Scoring Guide - American Angus Association
Hair Shedding Scores: A Tool to Select Heat Tolerant Cattle - ebeef.org
How Hair Shedding Scores Can Help Select Cattle for Heat Stress - Angus Beef Bulletin

Crossbreeding for the Commercial Beef Producer - University of Kentucky

Updated 11/13/24