American Hereford Association Indexes
In 2005, the American Hereford Association (AHA) introduced 4 profi t indexes. These indexes allow Hereford members and their commercial custom- ers to select sires that maximize profi t under dif- ferent production situations.
In 1962 Butch Funk, right, and Donlie McMullin, left, met at Fort Hood. They were assigned to the same unit. Today — both retired from the Army — they are neighbors and partners who enjoy raising Hereford cattle.
through Paul (who remains on active duty) and by serving on different boards.” Today Funk serves as president and chief operating
offi cer of the Mounted Warfare Foundation and is also a member of its board of directors. The foundation is rais- ing funds to build a world-class museum next to Fort Hood to honor mounted soldiers and tell their previously untold story. The museum will represent the history of mounted
soldiers — the ones who rode into battle on horseback — as well as the tankers and infantrymen, artillerymen and aviators, logisticians, engineers, military policemen, signal- ers and intelligence soldiers who fought alongside them. “We hope to build a good museum that will honor the
soldiers who have done such a great job in the mounted force,” Funk says.
Looking forward Funk reduced his herd numbers due to the drought, but
that doesn’t affect his plans to remain current with indus- try trends, to avoid fads and continue to improve his herd. “The drought has been a problem. If I had the land
available I would continue to increase numbers, but at this time that is not an option, so I will continue to improve sire lines; continue to focus on being a performance breeder and improve the genetics of our herd,” he says. Just like a commanding offi cer in the Army, Funk says
Hereford breeders have to be willing to change and some- times take risks. “Whether fi ghting in a war, raising cattle or a family, you’ve got to be able to change, to be able to grow,” he says.
tscra.org
The indexes are formulated on general represen- tations of beef production systems used in the U.S. and consider a group of economically relevant traits that characterize those systems. Relative economic values for this group of traits are paired with expected progeny differences (EPDs) to pro- duce a dollar ($) index value. The difference in the $ value of the index predicts the difference in profi t potential.
The 4 Hereford indexes are: Baldy Maternal Index (BMI$) – This is an index to maximize profi t for commercial cow-calf produc- ers who use Hereford bulls in rotational cross- breeding programs on Angus-based cows. Re- tained ownership of calves through the feedlot phase of production is maintained and the cattle are to be marketed on a Certifi ed Hereford Beef (CHB) pricing grid.
Brahman Infl uence Index (BII$) – This index uses Hereford bulls in a rotational crossbreeding sys- tem with Brahman. This index emphasizes fertility and age at puberty and less on growth. Because Brahman cattle are not used in the CHB program, a commodity pricing grid is used.
Certifi ed Hereford Beef Index (CHB$) – This is a terminal-sire index, where Hereford bulls are used on British-cross cows and all offspring are sold as fed cattle on a CHB pricing grid. There is no em- phasis on milk or fertility since all cattle will be terminal. This index promotes growth and carcass.
Calving Ease Index (CEZ$) – This index is used to select bulls that will be used in a heifer program. This index has increased emphasis on direct and maternal calving ease.
August 2015 The Cattleman 95
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