COLLECTING ULTRASOUND DATA
Ultrasound is the indicator trait for carcass characteristics on live animals.
KNOW BEFORE YOU SCAN:
- Weaning weight is required for each animal.
- Age window:
- Bulls – 320 to 440 days of age
- Heifers – 320 to 460 days of age
- Steers – 320 to 480 days of age
- Scan weights must be collected within seven days of scanning.
- Weights should be collected in the morning, prior to feeding. The animals should not have access to water or feed overnight. Weights are to be recorded on the barnsheet that is given to the technician for submission to the authorized lab with the ultrasound images.
- Animals must be scanned within a three-day window.
Certified Technician Required
Ultrasound data must be recorded by a certified technician and sent to an authorized lab. Raw data will then be sent to the Association, adjusted and sent to the breeder.
BREEDER PROTOCOL
A detailed, step-by-step guide to ensure your ultrasound data is counted.
Weaning weights must be submitted to AHIR to obtain a barnsheet which you will need to provide to the certified technician.
- Determine age of animal to be in the age window at time of scan
- Select a field technician from the list of certified technicians from the Ultrasound Guidelines Council (UGC)
Find a certified tech
Scanning fees are determined by the ultrasound field technician. The technician will invoice the breeder for the scanning fees. There is no Association charge for processing ultrasound data.
- Prepare for the technician
- Suggested to use a squeeze chute with access via the side, to ensure image quality and ease of scanning
- Cattle must be dry in the scanning areas and out of direct/bright sunlight to allow technician to see monitor
- Provide a grounded 110-volt outlet
- When to weigh:
Individual scan weights must be recorded within seven days of when the animals are scanned and weights are to be taken when cattle are empty (e.g. prior to feeding).
It is preferred animals be held off feed and water overnight prior to scanning.
- Where to record:
Weights are to be recorded on the barnsheets and provided to the technician for submission to the authorized labs with the ultrasound images.
- Collect other data:
Many breeders will collect other yearling measurements at the same time as scanning. The scan weight will not automatically be used as the yearling weight for an animal. The breeder must submit the yearling weight to the Association.
- How to group:
Group cattle based on weaning contemporary groups plus any additional group codes. A contemporary group must be scanned within a three-day window.
- Use in EPDs:
Yearling bulls and heifers sent to a central test station can be included in National Cattle Evaluation procedures for carcass EPDs if in a proper ultrasound contemporary group.
For example, two or more bulls in the same weaning contemporary group taken to a central bull test will have carcass EPDs generated relative to their weaning group.
In contrast, if only one bull is sent to a bull test, that bull is evaluated in a group of one.
If two bulls from separate weaning contemporary groups are sent to a bull test, those two bulls will be evaluated as separate contemporary groups of one.
Note: The bull's own scan record will not be used to calculate EPDs if the bull is a single animal in a contemporary group.
Test type:
- R = Ranch test (bulls)
- C = Central test (bull test)
- D = Developing heifers
- F = Feedlot
Diet:
- 0 = Unknown
- 1 = 0% concentrate (no grain, on pasture, some hay)
- 2 = Less than 50% concentrate (e.g. whole corn silage, or supplemented with hay)
- 3 = Greater than 50% concentrate (e.g. full feed, show feed, bull test)
- Data submitted to lab:
The field technician will submit ultrasound images and barnsheet to an authorized lab for interpretation.
- Images required to be submitted:
- Rump fat thickness
- Rib fat thickness
- Ribeye area
- Percent intramuscular fat (marbling)
Assuming there are no errors found, it takes about seven business days for images to be processed and sent to the Association.
- At the Association:
Once the Association receives the data from the lab, our staff processes the data for adjustments, EPD calculations and summaries.
Individual ultrasound measurements are adjusted to 365 days for bulls and 390 days for heifers, and those measures are used as part of the EPD calculations.
Reminder: Natural service or AI calves must have a weaning weight reported meeting all contemporary group criteria for Angus's weekly genetic evaluation for ultrasound data to be utilized in the calculation for carcass EPDs. This means at least two calves of the same sex from the same weaning contemporary group must be place in a correct ultrasound contemporary group for the ultrasound data to be utilized.
- Breeder report:
The Association will send the breeder the completed ultrasound reports/summaries.
AUTHORIZED LABS
Ultrasound data must be collected by a certified technician and processed by a authorized lab.
