Thank you and Congratulations to the winners and participants of the NABC Market Animal Show.

Champion Market Animal - Mark Philips
Res. Champion Market Animal - Amanda Scott
Honorable Mention - Mike McFarlane

This was a new event for the NABC which is aimed at adding a new element to the traditional market animal show. Entrants submitted a DNA hair sample with their entries for genetic evaluation (Merial's Igenity Testing); as well each market animal was subject to an ultrasound evaluation during the on-site processing at the NABC. The outcomes of these two evaluations represented the "carcass portion" of an aggregate score that was added to an on-hoof placing/scoring that was provided by the Judge Jeff Mafi of Oklahoma State University.

The carcass portion of the score accounted for 40% of the overall score - 20% derived from the ultrasound evaluation, which took into consideration Rib eye, Back Fat and Marbling figures, which when calculated against the carcass weight using Beef Improvement Ontario's standardized co-efficient models, provided a Ultrasound Lean Meat Yield (ULMY), which is relative to industry standard lean meat yield. The Igenity Genetic Profile evaluation (the remaining 20% of the carcass score) provided data on the animal's genetic potential with regards to carcass traits. The animals, DNA was evaluated for Rib Eye, Back Fat, Marbling, Tenderness and Yield traits. The figures provided by the Igenity evaluation are an indication of what the animal's genetic potential is for rib eye, back fat, marbling, tenderness and yield compared to its peers. For the NABC's purposes in this competition, an animal with a yield score of 6 is genetically predisposed to out perform an animal with yield score of 5 (scale of 10). The animal with the highest Igenity score - has more potential to out perform its peer with the next highest score. In theory, the animal with the highest score would spend fewer days on feed, or be more easily managed/finished that it's peers. T

he live confirmation scores were that were provided by our judge made up the remaining 60% of the score. We stipulated in the scoring that the live champion would automatically receive 60 points, then we asked our judge to provide us with a scoring to rank the class, with a spread of no less than 1 and no more than 2 between each placing - as to keep the scoring tight and to retain the validity of the carcass scoring.

Please see the scores attached. Please consider when reviewing the numbers that again, the carcass score is made up of one figure that is actual, and one that represents potential. Ranking differences between the live confirmation score and the carcass score aren't to be viewed as discrepancy, but more as validation/indication as to the management of the animal. Look at the ULMY versus the Igenity scores, then look at the live scores versus each, then at the overall ranking.

Three things to consider when reviewing the scores:

1. Consider that an animal with a low carcass score based on Igenity, but did well in the ring, simply speaks to the management of the animal (it was done well, or perhaps took more).
2. Consider that an animal with a higher carcass score based on Igenity, and that didn't do as well in the ring, simply had time working against it, as it had the potential to finish sooner than its peers.
3. These are higher-end show animals and 4H projects that are managed differently (and longer) than most, ULMY (Yield) number is obviously effected by that. However, taking that into consideration it is interesting to weigh the ULMY (yield) against the genetics potential, and think how that could effect the management of that animal's sibling in a finishing scenario.

Net effect of the new NABC Market Animal Show, we hoped to develop an interesting aggregate point show that provided learning for the participants and attendees. Overall learnings - producers may consider using genetic profiling as a tool to help manage animals to maximize results based on potential. Using the genetic potential along with other management tools and nutrition,could create more efficiencies for producers. For more information or feedback for the show please call the NABC office: (519) 787 2280. For more information on Igenity Genetic Profiling contact Greg Stewart of Merial (705) 727 7229.

Our thanks to Barry Sutherland and the team at Agribrands Purina, Bruce Read of Elanco, as well as Merial for their sponsorship and support of the NABC Market Animal Show.