Additive genetic groups for animals evaluated in more than one breed association national cattle evaluation

Additive genetic groups were included in the 1993 Red Angus Association of America national cattle evaluation for phantom parents of individuals who were registered with the American Angus Association (AAA). Genetic groups were formed for each component in two multiple-trait evaluations in which all animal effects were fit. Additive direct effects were included for birth weight, weaning weight (WW), and milk (MILK). In a second analysis the additive direct effect of 160-d postweaning gain was analyzed with WW and MILK. Of the 387,665 animals, 50,838 had at least one phantom parent assigned to one of five genetic groups fit as fixed effects for each additive component. Of these 50,838 animals, 1,324 were identified as registered with the AAA. An average of 906 animals per component had an AAA EPD available. Animals with a known AAA EPD were designated into one of three groups of equal numbers based on AAA EPD for each component (1 = low, 2 = medium, 3 = high). Animals in the fourth genetic group were those registered with the AAA but with no EPD available for the component. The fifth genetic group included all other animals with phantom parents. Grouping on AAA EPD allowed for EPD on animals out of parent(s) registered with the AAA to be more closely aligned to the AAA EPD because they were regressed from the group solution instead of zero. Grouping based on EPD from another NCE should be considered in the production of multibreed EPD.